Day 46 - Repair day

Day 46 – Wednesday: July 31, 2013, miles ridden today: 304.0

Woke up and began the packing ritual, the fellow in the next Tee-Pee is from Ventura, CA. Again, what a small world! He and his sister from Alberta are vacationing in the area and he kept apologizing for his sisters coughing through the nigh. Maybe he doesn’t like her smoking?

Anyway, off to Downtown Anaconda for:

• Fuel. Done.
• Barge Cement to affect some kind of repair to my left boot where the rubber sole is separating from the leather upper. Found it at ACE Hardware.
• Breakfast at Donavan’s. Blueberry Pancakes and Coffee today. Just OK… 

Took a quick picture of the remaining Smelt Plant Smoke Stack; this is the plant Gary W’. (Pat’s father) father worked at before he died in ’35. Gary W. left Wisdom, MT. in ’44 when his mother move him and his four siblings to ID to find work. The Anaconda Mine halted production in 1983 and now exists only as an environmental liability for BP, the current owner of ARCO.

Stopped in Missoula, MT to repair the burnt out headlamp. Another parking lot repair to the motorcycle. Used Gorilla Tape again to hold the bulb it in place due to the broken plastic clevis that holds the retention device to hold bulb in the socket. Previous repair survived the Dalton, I succeeded again, it’s in place. Had lunch at McD’s to do another blog update on their free Wi-Fi.

Missoula County Court House

Driving north from Missoula I could now see the landscape that escaped me due to weather back in June. It could pass for California, the brown & dry grass scattered with bits of green trees. Turning onto MT-200 West it paralleled the Flathead River, pretty sites along the way. I stopped in Trout Creek, MT for a snack and a fellow named Larry Wannabe who asked about my trip. He’s a Harley rider, been to Deadhorse himself and gave me some routing tips from Sandpoint, ID for tomorrow’s journey.

Looks like California

Riding along the Flathead River

Wildlife, Herd of Mountain Goats

So, I made it to Sandpoint, ID, found a campsite at the Bonner County Fairgrounds. Its practically brand-new, nice facilities and Dennis the Host told me to setup under the pavilion just incase it rains…

 

My Campsite, nice & dry

Since I had such a great day I decided to go into town for Dinner at Jalapeño’s Mexican Restaurant again (Day 6 Chris & I ate lunch there). I splurged!

Back at camp I got onto the Wi-Fi but it wouldn’t allow head and me to update my Blog, so I’ll turn in to Starbucks in the morning. Glued my Boot Sole to the Leather Upper, used one of the picnic tables as a weight and let it cure through the night. Hope it works...

Goodnight,

Day 45 - Onward to Seattle, WA to meet Walter

Day 45 – Tuesday: July 30, 2013, miles ridden today: 324.0

Total Miles traveled to date: 12031.0

I awoke early, took a picture of the hanging Smiths:

Hammocks w/Tarp protecting them from Rain

Tim, sons Wes & Riley, and Yours Truly George

Gathering my things, I hiked to the showers, which happened to be at the base camp pavilion. Upon my return they were pretty much packed up and ready to roar off in the direction of Deadhorse via Glacier NP. I decide to let my tent dry and went back to the restaurant for my morning meal of OM+T+C.

When I returned, things were still pretty damp, so I packed the tent gear into a mess bag Winnie had provided me for such circumstances, and off I went headed for Jackson Hole.

Interesting Archway 

I decided to turn west at Rt 22, Teton Mountain Pass. At the summit it was such a beautiful day I decided to stop, snack, and pull out that wet tent to dry. Here I am holding the corners and letting it flop in the breeze; I must have looked like a parasailer to those driving by.

Pullout near Summit where I dried out Tent

Back Side of Tetons

Unfortunately I had to ride a couple of hundred miles of I-15, boring! However it got real exciting when I observed a big black cloud ahead with no avenue for escape. When it hit, it scared the shit out of me. Never felt such sever cross winds, and I attempted to slow down to pull over and it got worse. I know I’d go over had I stopped. It only lasted 10 minutes, but the rain, hail, and winds made it hell.

Interesting sight, noticed this and from a distance, they had me fooled:

I decided to return to Fairmont RV Campground since it was on the path to Missoula, MT that is on the way to Seattle, WA. I was able to get the same Tee-Pee I had Sunday evening. I just happened to ask the attendant if a black cap turned up. She said no, and I responded that’s too bad, as it was my favorite because it folded. She said, hold on a minute, the word “Folding” caught her attention and she checked. Sure enough, I have my hat again. So, I stowed gear, showered and changed, walked to Fairmont Springs Resort for dinner and sat in same booth as I did Sunday evening.

Sitting there finishing up dinner and reading the news on my iPhone, a woman came up to my table and asked, “Are you George”? I looked up and it was Pat Holly my next-door neighbor. What the hell! She was sitting across the room with her Dad and son and kept looking over and said “that’s George”. What a small world!

They have been at the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort for a week, her other three sibling had already returned home, so that her 83 year old father Gary W. could attend his high school reunion in Wisdom, MT (just outside of Anaconda, MT where we’re all staying).

Gary and I had a lot to discuss, he did work for Kawasaki USA a Controller and in the legal department, and knew Walt F. who I know too from Streetmasters. Again, what a small world! Pats son just returned from an Adventure too. He backpacked down through South America.

They gave me a tip to go into Anaconda for breakfast at Donavan’s in the morning. I said my good-byes, see you in a few weeks and off to the camp to do my laundry, update blog, and hit the crib (Tee-Pee).

Goodnight,

Day 44 - Turn Around to Seattle

Day 44 – Monday: July 29, 2013, miles ridden today: 257.0

Packed and left the campground and headed toward Butte, MT for gas and a bite to eat at Mad’s. Leaving there it was kickstands up at 8 AM and I was headed for Yellowstone NP and beyond. Along the way I met Chuck from Orange, CA who owned Renegade Wheels in Fullerton, CA. I took a picture of him and his bike in front of the Yellowstone NP Entrance Sign and told him I’d forward a copy to him if it were a quality picture. He invited me to visit his company when I’m in the area.

On the way to Yellowstone NP:

I think she was teaching the young one to fly

Periodically this one would flap the wings, but not leave the nest

Sad Story to be told here 

Read this story about The Night of Terror

I stopped here for lunch

Big Blueberry Pancake - delicious!

Yellowstone NP

Look carefully, find all the animals laying down

Wildlife abounds

...even humans

Took a picture against a Red Bus, why not a Yellow one too

I'm not waiting another 88 minutes for next show

Entering Grand Teton NP

Does Not Look Good!!!!

Got to find a Campsite Quickly!

I was hoping to end the day in the Jackson Hole area, but once again that Black Cloud was hanging over my head. So I headed to Colter Bay Campground located south of Jackson Lake. As I pulled up to the kiosk, it started to pour and three more motorcycles like mine pulled up behind me. So I really tasked the attendant by requesting a group site for the four of us. She went back in and did some computer finagling and came back with a request for $21. That’s $5.25 each, fantastic! Now that I was totally soaked we drove to our site and the rain stopped for 5 minutes, enough time to erect my tent and the other three to string up their hammocks. Usually when it rains I put on my folding ball cap Eric Buell gave me years ago, my favorite. Oh no, it’s MIA and I haven’t the faintest idea where I left it. I’m crushed, my favorite hat!

So it was time for introductions: Tim Smith and his two sons Riley and Wes, from Hawkinsville, GA. Starting last Friday, they are headed for Deadhorse and of course I had to share my recently acquired familiarity and knowledge of what was coming up for them on their (32) day journey. Well all sat under one of the tarps during the next downpour and traded notes and etcetera’s. Just last week both Riley & Wes graduated fro GSU in Accounting and Business respectively. Congratulations guys and Kudu’s to Tim who is quite proud of them.

When we though the rain was through, I put on my Yellow Rain Slicker I purchased in Valdez and Wes and I walked to the base camp Restaurant and General store. The other two remained behind and ate “C-rations”.

Again, we were warned about the Bear problems here and we took precautions by using the appropriate storage bins and Tom M’s. Bear Can he loaned me. During the nigh we each heard something rustling around near our site, I had my hand on the Bear Spray immediately when I heard it :).

Lata’