Rafting Snake River

Gerald & Rory took a rafting trip down the white water, foaming torrent of Snake River just near Yellowstone park. They survived to tell the story.

Yellowstone and some time out

Sat/Sunday/Monday the 17th.

We had three nights in Gardiner Montana. A small town on the nth entrance to Yellowstone Nat Park in the Rockies.

On Sat we had a trip through part of the park including a look at Old faithfull the geiser that blows every 90 minutes or so. It is still very early season and many roads in the park are not open. As we discovered on Sunday morning not too many shops or eating establishments are open either. I would not like to be visiting Yellowstone in peak holliday season. The traffic on these narrow roads would be hell.

On sunday mroning three of us took an early ride back into the park to see the animals before they retreated into the woods. Plenty of Bison are around all day. ELk are quiet tame and we just missed a bear which crossed the road into a large bare hill. Two more corners and cars were stopped, tripods out and cameras ready incase the bear came their way.

We had some bike trouble on that trip. One Honda had a flat battery and Hugh had to roll start it several times. Being on large hills helped. We went back to the Motel and investigated and decided the system was not charging.Charged the battery off the SUV and got through today, Monday. We stopped at a large m/cycle dealer who did not have the parts but bought a new battery and charger. Should get a few more days out of it if we do not ride at night.

Enjoyed a break Sunday afternoon. the high altitude saps energy and I think most had a nap.

Rode through the park today and came out of the Sth entrance at about 5 degrees air temp. Even saw a few frozen lakes due to the altitude. Lakes at lower levels are not frozen.

Have moved Sth East into Idaho. Looking for interesting roads to Vegas. I think this is the seventh state plus Canada in our trip. Have done around 3,100 miles or 4,800 Klm's. Hope to slow a little or we will be back in LA too soon. The other stat that occured to me today is we have ridden many mountain passes and have possibly had snow in site and a stream/river full of snow melt on all but one riding day over the last eight or so days. We came away for adventure and to see things that are different from what we see at home. Todate we have exceeded beyond expectation.

Hope all is well with the folks back home. We are well and still enjoying the trip.

Gardiner with snow capped peaks

Friday the 15^th

Missoula to Gardiner

Had a short shopping visit in a Wal-Mart at Missoula. Gerald bought a year’s supply of jeans and shirts for about $70. Graham bought a new pair of boots for a bargain price. Then on the road to Gardiner, which is just outside the gates to Yellowstone. Graham had a full day on the bike. He’s back! But he declined an offer to go boot scooting tonight.

As we travelled the country opened up to a wider valley. The mountains were a little lower at first and less wooded than Washington but always we had a view of snow capped peaks. Lunch at Butte and a chance chat to a local. He had taken up riding in the last five years and gave us some directions to good bike roads South and West of Yellowstone for later. The snow capped mountains got larger and at times were 180 degrees around us, but still the valley was wide and many ranches had cattle but very little grass. Apparently they had snow last week and the weather was foul. Today it is low 70’s, how lucky have we been with the weather? The view from the motel tells some of the story.

Apparently to send a message on the blog you have to go to Google and sign up as a “friend connect” or similar. Not difficult I am led to believe. Alternately you can email me and I will relay the message. I can be emailed at onroad@nutwood.net.au

Homeless sleep on grass.

Thursday the 14^th

Half a day in Spokane Washington State

Spent the morning being shown around the centre of Spokane by Hugh’s friend Anne and Michael. Lovely city with a very vibrant snow melt river running through it. In 1974 Spokane held the World’s Expo. We were shown many interesting features and buildings. Some restored to their magnificent glory and past deco style as in the Fox theatre. Had morning tea at Anne and Michael’s house then said our farewells and on the road again to Missoula Montana. Lost an hour on the time zone.

Rory had been updating the seat on his bike with much foam and duct tape over several days but today he got serious. He added what seemed like all the foam from a queen size mattress and two cushions. Then taped it on with a carton of gaffa tape. See photo. We are wondering if some homeless person in Spokane is still looking through parks for his mattress?

Back to USA

Wed 12 Kelowna BC to Spokane Washington State.

My last post came up with today’s date also. It really was Tuesday that we left Seattle but the post automatically puts today’s date on it.’

Today we left Kelowna and travelled for many kilometers along the shores of Lake Okanagan. It reminds me a little of Queenstown NZ but it has summer fruit orchards on the land around. Travelled again through a mountain range pass as high as the snow line with the last of the winter snow still melting. The stream running alongside us is small but grows larger as we go. Eventually becoming a river.

We cross the border again back into USA and Washington State. We take some minor roads this time and through farming land, some poor others more prosperous. A shorter ride today into Spokan a city of about 450,000 people. We meet a couple who are Hugh’s friends and they take us to a fish restaurant overlooking the Sookane River. We walk to the restaurant and cross the river twice on walking bridges. It is fast wide, and in the middle of the city. A small power generator building built in 1922 is humming. A little further on the river is louder as it crashes over falls. From the dinner table the flood lights highlight the white water falling over the rocks. A special place to celebrate with friends over a classy meal.

We are one and a half weeks into our adventure and have already hit the northern most point and turned south. Time to slow a little and look for some extra rides in the area. Myabe Yellowstone Park?

From Seattle to Kelowna Canada

Tuesday the 11th

Leave Seattle in morning, roads are busy, made it to Canadian border at Sumas and passed through the border check without problems and rode onto Abbotsford, British Columbia, through a wide valley with steep mountains and some snow caps. The valley was interesting from a farming point. The smells were varied, from the many dairies with the cows still in barns, ploughed fields, hay cutting and raking. The scene was different again. Stopped for a sandwich lunch at Hope, with a wide flat flowing river across the road and snow capped mountains again close by. After checking with locals we took the mountain pass to the Okanagan River.
The trip turned to high tension when at the near top of the climb we realized we were low on fuel in the bikes and still too far to run to the next town. Stopped at the peak and threw some snow at each other debated whether to use the gallon of fuel we had in the vehicle. Decided to see how far we could drive only to realize we had a long downhill run. So into neutral for 25 kilometers and saw a sign to Peachland. Had to use power for the last few meters and one bike actual ran out a few meters from the fuel bowser. Enough excitement for one day. Started at 8.15 am and go to our hotel at Kelowna at 7.15 pm.

The photo above is of lake Okanagan which is 200 Klm long, about 3 Klm wide and 1.6 Klm deep. Fresh water and in a dry climate that has a warm spring summer season. There are many vineyards here and also cherries, apples, berries and fruit orchards. It seems unatural given the high mountains and abvious snow fields close by. Altitude about 800 feet. A very popular reirement area and the town and surounds are modern and fresh.

Lay Day In Seattle

Monday 10^th

Lay day in Seattle

Great to have a day off the bikes. Let the bum recover. Some of us had a Boeing Factory tour. Interesting 43 Hectare building 5 stories high with at least three models being built. Some turn out a complete plane every 3-5 days. Some parts and large section of fuselage are flown in from Japan and other countries in oversize jumbos. Three large paint sheds complete the planes. They have a new model 787 which is a twin engine plane with over size seating and isles. No cameras allowed.

Visited the markets in Seattle and had lunch overlooking the large harbor. (No truth in the rumor we are eating our way to Canada, rather than riding to Canada, as suggested by one rider’s partner.) Visited the Pikes fish market and watched the fish vendors throwing large fish to the filleting and packing crew. Very entertaining, but too quick to catch on camera.

Woke to see wet streets and light rain. How lucky are we? The bikes are under cover and we didnt have to ride today. Rain cleared early.

(Spell check by Microsoft word (about time some would say))