Jonesin for a Ride!

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Started early for a change so we could beat the heat. Woke up at quarter to five and we started at 6:00 am sharp under high clouds. We were tired of droning on the freeway and we were glad to be on the two lane highways. We started on Highway 95 north through Nevada. Now the air is cool and we stop later as we gain some elevation to put on our jackets, and later our rain pants as it got cooler and the sky's darker. We were witnessing lighting strikes maybe 100 yards away. The smell of smoke was in the air and the haze was in the sky indicating forest fires somewhere….

Starbucks Via's – a bikers best friend in crummy hotels.

Our Morning Ride

Now picture this. We are traveling in Nevada on a two lane road and it is deserted. The posted speed limit is 65, but I like to peg it 10 mph over that, so we are crushing averaging 74-75 mph. Somme times you inch up to 80 but back down. Steve is riding after me taking pictures, so at times he slows down then speeds back up to catch up… Maybe 85 or 90 at times. The rubber band effect.

The Open Road – Not a Soul in Site…

Then we enter into Oregon. I now remember why I don't like riding in Oregon. The scenery is the same as Nevada – like a desert, no homes in site, no crossroads anywhere, no traffic at all. Just a desolate highway with the occasional trucker and car. The posted speed limit is 55. Surely this must be wrong. I continue in the same manner.

We are 160 miles into our morning ride, about 15 miles from our first gas stop and about 25 miles till we enter Idaho. I am approaching a crest of a hill and a black and white comes over the hill. I let go of the gas and notice I'm at about 70 and falling fast. Shit! I continue to slow down and keep cruising and looking into my mirror and sure enough I see light flashing. I see a spot at the bottom of the hill and pull over. I see Big Steve pulls over about half way down the hill. The cops pulls behind him. I get off my bike and gather my items I'll need for the cop. I figure when he is done with Steve he will come for me. Then 15 minutes later Steve starts heading towards me and the cop turns around and heads the opposite way. I lucked out, Steve gets the service award….

Service Award Ceremony

BS expressing his appreciation

We finally get to Bosie and wanted to take highway 21 into the Sawtooth Mountains to Stanley, on to see a roadside sign stating road closes at mile post 90 to 110 because of a fire. The other road north from Boise is 55, and that is closed too. So we backtrack and continue east to try highway 75, which is the way to Sun Valley, to get to Stanley. Luckily that road was open.

From Sun Valley to Stanley the road through the Sawtooth mountains is awesome. The road north (93) from Stanley to Salmon Idaho is just fantastic. The road is sweepers running along the Salmon River. Very little traffic and great scenery.

Sawtooth Range – and the road below we will be on.

600 miles later we end. The day in Salmon and had a prime rib dinner at the local brewery in town, which was just one of the tastiest meals in a while.

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