Par for the course with my ill conceived adventures, I didn’t bother packing until
this morning, which is when I actually wanted to leave. No worries. I took kids to
school, ran some errands, packed, and hit the road around 11:00 a.m.
1 Pics
Within the last 2 days the Tiger received a fresh set of Michelen Anakees 80/20. The
Anakees were scrubbed in by noon and they stick like glue! I can’t believe I waited
so long for new rubber. They are holding air on the tubeless conversion as thought
they had a tube in them.
Also, I am running with a brand spanking new pair of tank saddle bags designed by
me and built by my woman the night before I left 
.
They are actually a pair of Marine Core A.L.I.C.E. packs sewn together to fit my tank.
All my clothes are in them and I am loving the air-blocking bulk of them.
My primary route today was north up HWY 55 to 93. With no time frame and no riding
partner to consult, I took 2 detours today: The Seven Devil’s Road and Old HWY 95
through the battlegrounds of the Nez Pierce war.
The Seven Devil’s road west out of Riggins climbs to 8412 ft. where it overlooks Hell’s
Canyon. Unfortunately for me today, the road climbed to only about 7000 ft. before
the snow covered the road to the point that 2 wheels just wouldn’t cut it. This little
detour only took about 45 minutes out of the day, but it let me see over the edge
into a valley of giant snow capped mountains. Not a bad trade.
Old HWY 95 just south of White Bird Summit is a switchback road the likes of which
most riders will only see in magazines. The road is only occasionally maintained through
the old Nez Pierce battleground, but today was good enough! There is a slight dusting
of gravel in some of the turns, so this is no Laguna Seca run, but it sure looks like
it. It would almost be worth sweeping it.
I made it as far as Kooskia, Idaho, just west of Hwy 12 that climbs over Lolo pass.
I stopped in a flea bag hotel for the night because dusk was settling in and I didn’t
want to waste the ride over Lolo. Riders come from all over the west to ride Lolo
pass. It is right up there in the same class of ride as the Dragon in Tennessee (okay,
almost).
Tomorrow I hope to at least make Glacier National Park via Missoula. I have to stop
in Missoula where my wife is having my proof of insurance faxed to a local Farmer’s
agent. Scheller, I don’t want to hear it.