A Fools Progress: Big Land

Whew. What a couple days.
After unloading the poor, stricken Ambassador I got on the road in the morning with the Quota.

I back tracked the I-90 run to Idaho...again. I hade beed down that road 2 times too many for this trip. By the time I finished the day, I was 500 miles from home, but the GPS noted over a thousand traveled.

Imanaged to make Idaho early enough to press on for a couple hours.

The Quota performed flawlessly and having the extra power, better handling and brakes was a big change. Surprisingly I got 42 mpg meaning 200+ miles to a tank. That is pretty damned good for a notoriously poor MPG bike like the Q.

I got wind off the port side for a good piece...then it flopped over to port and evened out the tire wear.

I wont dweel much on the I90 slab-a-thon except to note that 90 through the mountains in Idaho is actually quite nice. Particularly nice are the shadowed areas. To an overhearted bike rider it is like a cool lover's touch to a fevered brow. As I rounded a high sweeper by Lake Couer D' Alene, I was started by a bald eagle swooping straight up, fish in talon. He seemed to be just feet away from me. In the Idaho mountains are nestled cool littler mining towns with houses clinging to the sides of the mountains like mussels on a pier. I am definitely regretting not having the time to explore more.

But I had time to make up. I pressed on to Missoula. I wanted to make it before dark and deer-time, but I didnt. The last hour of riding was spent clutching the seat with my tense bunghole. The Quota has, well, shittly lights, to put none to fine a point on it. So I had less than the usual near-nil chance of spotting those bastards

Missoula turned out to be a disappointment. One big strip mall. Food was only available from a big chain and everysingle joint closed at 10 pm. Even IHOP for cryin outloud. The hotel was ok...but again..a bargain at 65 bucks. That tore it ..next day I was gonna be camping. Enough of this.

The downsides continued..but were not at bad. I forgot the registration for the Quota. Then I forgot to get my change when I prepaid for gas in Idaho. *sigh* I hope the gal liked the tip.

This trip has been like a horse stumbling out of the gate at a race. Flat on its face and then stumbles and staggers into a run, each step better than the last.

I got up in Missoula and hit the road. My god this is beautiful country. Even out here tonight in the flatlands..this is beautiful country. The brown hills dotted with long needle pine trees. The brown grass giving the hills a velvet look. I wanted to leave the road and ride out across it. The stance and ergos of the Quota make me feel like I am riding a very fast horse.

I stopped in Butte to find some food. That town has one of the coolest historical sections I have ever seen the steep streets remind me of Juneau. The old mining elevators still stand. I have to come back some day. The town has sort of a rundown feel but lots of new shops too. Like it can't decide whether to prosper or die. I grabbed a club sandwich advertised as "The Best in Montana" intending to eat it at a rest stop. Which I did.

I stopped on top of the continental divide to eat. I had eaten no more than 2 bites before I was swarmed by yellow jackets looking for the meat the smelled. The truckers got a good laugh out of me dancing around the bike, waving bugs away in between bites.

I had intended to make the last town inside Montana tonight, but it didnt happen. The heat was sucking the life out of me. Of course I could strip down to a t-shirt and doff the helmet, but I wont. If I get in a wreck like that and I dont die outright, my wife would finish the job. Weird thing about Montana; smoking is prohibited nearly everywhere...but riders dont have to wear a helmet.

I did make it to a town called Forsyth that had a camp icon next to it. I figured on camping out. But when I stopped at the local bar for a cold beer and directions..a local feller rang up the hotel 100 yards away and got me a room for 23 bucks. Now who can pass up a hotel called "The Howdy Hotel" for less than half the previsous stay and it is in a 1905 building with a bar and cafe? I sure can't.

I'm beat. It's bed time