Forth and Back-TOR '18

[BikerMiker]

Great pics. Looks like fun.

[RBMann]

Day 16-Balance Rock to Salmon, ID 330 miles



Starting out with some new friends-



We spent some time in Twin Falls, ID at a couple dealers looking for a new clutch lever but no luck. Then we took off for Craters of the Moon Nat. Mon. I guess we weren't the mood and I only shot a picture of a lava rock-



We stopped in Arco, ID for a late lunch and tried to wait out a thunderstorm. Gave up on waiting and suited up in rain gear. Stopped to top up our tanks in Mackay, ID before heading east over the Lost River Range on Pass Creek Pass Rd.-







The goal today was to find the headwaters of the Pahsimerio River. This would be my third attempt and Ralf's second. Last year we tried coming in from the east but ran into a fence. The secret is dropping in off Pass Creek Rd. 35 mile round trip from the pass road to both the East and West forks. Probably the toughest riding I have done on a big ADV bike but oh so beautiful-

[RBMann]

Day 16 cont.-

Sometimes you just have to stop and take it all in-



r

Decision time E. or W. We did West first but I don't know why-





Now it was time for the East which turned out to be more scenic-

[RBMann]

Day 16 cont. #2-

As it was getting late we had to get moving to make Salmon, ID for our campground-









Another great day on the road and another item checked off my list.

[RBMann]

Ooops! Slipped up and forgot to add the last pic to Day16 cont.-, fixed now.

[Droptarotter]

I gotta go to that part of Idaho!

Cheers

[buzzerbee]

The road less traveled. And the journey continues.......

[RBMann]

Day 17-Salmon to Red River Hot springs, ID 218 miles



Today we started out heading north to Gibbonsville, ID to take the FS road over Big Hole Pass. We came out on Hwy 43 then headed west over Lost Trail Pass to Sula, MT for lunch-



The big adventure today would be riding west on the Magruder Corridor from Nez Perce Pass, ID/MT-





The temperature started rising so Ralf donned his cooling vest-



Starting to look a little shagging-



At 80 miles the corridor seems to go on forever. I felt the same way the first time I rode it. Surprising how long it takes. It didn't help when my GPS mount gave out about 20 miles from the west end at Elk City, ID. I then had to rely on Ralf and my maps, neither of which is very interaction while riding-

[RBMann]

Day 17 cont.-




No shortage of views-







I have to say it was nice ending a long day floating around for hours in the hot springs pool.

[Droptarotter]

I love that area. Cycled to Nez Perce Pass from Darby and did the Magruder a few years ago. We got snow in September while riding it.

Cheers

[RBMann]

Hey Mr. Rotter-

Checkout our campsite from late year, post #53-

Forth and Back-TOR '17

For me the Lost River Range wins hands down. I like the more open terrain.

[RBMann]

Day 18-Red River to Skyline Drive outside Potlatch, ID 212 miles



This morning was the coldest point of the whole trip at 42ºF. with lots of dew.



I could not stay warm so I tried more layers. Ironic, packing away a wet cooling vest-



By the time we got packed it was warming up. We really enjoyed Hwy 14 from Elk City to Kooskia, ID., such a fun road-



We had breakfast/lunch in Kooskia and while we were there I removed my windshield because the support bracket had come loose deep inside the fairing. While working on the bike a women came up and said, 'That is a really a big motorcycle and you are not big enough for it.' What? Then she said, 'Oh you are tall enough but not big enough.' I still don't know what she meant but Ralf got a laugh out of it. It had really warmed up now and we put our cooling vest on again.

Not much later while ripping along Hwy 12 Ralf's bike suddenly became very loud. He had lost the muffler bolt near Salmon and replaced it but I guess it needed more love as the muffler had come off the header pipe. Imagine working on your hot muffler in near 100ºF. while some smart guy keeps throw beers at you for shim making material-



With the repairs completed we continued west to Dworshak Dam near Ahsahka, ID then NW up Old Hwy 7 through Cavendish, ID. We stopped in Potlatch, ID for some food then camped along Skyline Drive-



That night a lightning storm rolled through the valley below and lite up the tents but spared us-

[flatbutt]

You sure it was lightning and not Ralf sparking farts?

[RBMann]

Maybe.

[RBMann]

Day 19-Skyline to Republic, WA 242 miles



Morning time and Ralf is ready to go-



Skyline is about 15 miles long, all dirt and kind of dusty. Lots of vista around every corner-



Looking out across Palouse country with Steptoe Butte in the middle distance-







Finally down off the ridgetops-



Look out here comes Bessie-



Somewhere near farmington, WA when we stopped to take pics of old farm equipment-

[RBMann]

Day 19 cont.-

Love the backroads and small towns-



Ralf's personal MX track, only he has the video-



Here is Hole-in-the-Ground, cool name for place with Columnar Basalt cliffs-



We made our way north after lunch in Sprague, WA. Nice drive along Franklin D Roosevelt Lake on Hwy 25 then took the car ferry across the lake to Inchelium, WA-





If I ever need more power I now know who to call-



Some where near Sherman Pass, Ralf is on a mission-



When we got to Republic the entire town had lost power. While getting food I asked the grocery store manager for a good place to camp. He said to try the fair grounds on the east edge of town. Score, it is where they held the WA State BMW Rally the week before. Maybe six other campers, nice and grassy with hot showers all for $10 for both of us-



This had been another one of those beautiful relaxed riding days.

[John Lyon]

Cool ride, guys. I grew up in Spokane and miss that area.

[Droptarotter]

Did you go up Steptoe? Great views from up there!

Cheers

[RBMann]

John-

I have lived in WA for almost 50 years and had never heard of Skyline Drive before this trip. I must have ridden by it several times.

Drop-

We didn't go up since we had the same views from Skyline plus they want you to have WA Discover Pass or pay $10 to park at the top. I went up a couple years ago and there was a ranger at the top. He gave me the evil-eye when I stopped took some pics and drove off. I talked to Ralf last night. We will try to stop by next year on the way to Banff. Ralf can run around your backyard with or without underwear, your choice.

[RBMann]

Day 20-Republic to home in Kenmore, WA 300 miles



The bittersweet last day of the trip for me. Great to be home but I will miss being on the road riding with Ralf. In the morning east of Twisp, WA we see moose in a field. It is Ms. Bullwinkle and Bullwinkle Jr. out for Sunday brunch. This is not a common sight for me-





We had lunch in Twisp, WA but drove right through Winthrope. About the only time I stop in touristy Winthrope is when I want some ice cream. However I always stop at Washington Pass to enjoy the view-



The other must stop is the stunning Diablo Lake view point-





Ralf enjoyed it more then his expression in this photo would suggest-