Day 2 - Wednesday, August 1 2018
Grangeville, ID to Bowman, ND
GPS Distance: 976 miles
Travel time: 15h 01m
States Claimed: WA, MT, ND
I had to cross town (oh, a bit less than a mile…) to get to my fuel stop to begin the day. Today I knew that this wouldn’t quite be a 1000 mile day, but my goal was to ride it as if I was attempting to ride a 1500 mile day - a BunBurner Gold. The first couple hundred miles would again be thru the twisty canyons of Idaho along US-95. The rest of the ride would be along I-90 & I-94 across much of Montana, then a beeline toward North Dakota along US-12. Good pace will help set the tone for today’s ride.
When I loaded the bike each morning, I tended to just get the gear in the bike, then get away from the motel as quietly as I can. At the gas pumps, with plenty of lighting provided by the gas islands, I can get my trunk situated. The clipboard and photo album (receipt repository) are on top, available for easy access.
As got this stuff arranged, I took another moment to clean a layer of insect guts off my windshield. Grangeville’s finest decided to pull up to chat. At first, his questioning was if I coming into town.
No, sir, I’m headed out - heading to North Dakota - by way of Coeur d’Alene. At that point, the ten second ‘elevator speech’ happened.
“I’m beginning day two of a ten day motorcycle ride touching all of the lower 48 states.”
“Quite a ride - good luck!”
I thanked him, wished him a safe morning, then began the gear-up process.
When I loaded the bike each morning, I tended to just get the gear in the bike, then get away from the motel as quietly as I can. At the gas pumps, with plenty of lighting provided by the gas islands, I can get my trunk situated. The clipboard and photo album (receipt repository) are on top, available for easy access.
As got this stuff arranged, I took another moment to clean a layer of insect guts off my windshield. Grangeville’s finest decided to pull up to chat. At first, his questioning was if I coming into town.
No, sir, I’m headed out - heading to North Dakota - by way of Coeur d’Alene. At that point, the ten second ‘elevator speech’ happened.
“I’m beginning day two of a ten day motorcycle ride touching all of the lower 48 states.”
“Quite a ride - good luck!”
I thanked him, wished him a safe morning, then began the gear-up process.
Leaving Grangeville, ID
Another twisty road in the woods, auxiliary lights for the win!
Welcome to Washington - too dark to get that sign.
My second fuel stop of the day...really wish it was light, but it was not to be - and probably a good thing, too. The southeastern part of Washington is partially bordered from Idaho by the Snake River. There are a pair of communities that straddle the river at this location - Lewiston, ID and Clarkston, WA. History class from school once again proves to be a help “Oh, yeah, Lewis and Clark - explored this region of North America in the early 1800’s”
Washington...getting there around the bridges and the river was only easily done with good clear GPS instructions. I made certain that I’d fully crossed into Washington to get that gas receipt.
Another ten minutes, another state claimed! Now, these little twisty, two-lane roads have been fun for the last few hours of riding, both this morning and yesterday - but I’d really like to be able to relax just a bit on some good ol’ Interstate highways!
Washington...getting there around the bridges and the river was only easily done with good clear GPS instructions. I made certain that I’d fully crossed into Washington to get that gas receipt.
Another ten minutes, another state claimed! Now, these little twisty, two-lane roads have been fun for the last few hours of riding, both this morning and yesterday - but I’d really like to be able to relax just a bit on some good ol’ Interstate highways!
Another sunrise while on the back of a motorcycle
"On The Road Again" - Willie Nelson. Rattle that around in your head for a bit.
Grain silo -or- potatoes??
A couple of hours later, and enjoying another sunrise, I barreled my way thru the panhandle of Idaho, my next fuel stop was in Coeur d’Alene.
One quick stop after the fuel stop for a bit to eat from the grocery store in the same shopping center, and it was time to zip across Montana.
One quick stop after the fuel stop for a bit to eat from the grocery store in the same shopping center, and it was time to zip across Montana.
Beautiful scenery
Twists & turns along I-90 in western Montana
Roughly six hundred miles of Interstate reminded me a lot of the travel across Texas I did for my 50cc ride a couple years ago. Having divided the legs of today’s ride into roughly equidistant lengths made clicking off the miles - and the stops - pretty ordinary.
The St. Regis River parallels the Interstate for miles
Slowly coming out of the Rockies
Much of this Interstate is posted at 80MPH
It was here that I started noticing a few more motorcycles - both going the same direction I was, but a few groups headed west. Yellowstone...the other end of Lolo Pass...Cody, Wy. A lot of good riding up here still to do.
A group of trike riders towing trailers. Most of the females seemed to be rather miserable. No gear, and baking in the sun.
I'm not preaching for or against ATGATT, but there's times if you're going to be miserable...be protected and miserable. That 92 degrees was warm, I'll give you that.
Saw this at the fuel stop. Big bucks from NY, she was riding a Spyder, he was driving the rig.
Obviously headed east to a little get-together in Sturgis, SD - Arrr!
Prairie farms - a lot more to come, I’m sure
Main highway into southwest ND
A thousand bugs in 200 miles
Roadside crucifix - state does this marking fatality location.
In scouting lodging locations for this day, I’d found another inexpensive mom-and-pop place. This one did have a diner next door; I just hadn’t looked up what time they closed.
While checking in to the motel, “When does the diner close?”
“In about 20 minutes.”
I parked the bike, then went over and got my first true meal of the day. I sat at the counter, chatting with a local fellow about traveling. This guy really didn’t seem like one to be doing a lot of that, but then again, I probably didn’t look the part either. In these little towns, folks will chat up strangers. It must be the charm, not looks or smell, that does it. The server got a good tip that night.
I got back to the room, spent a few more minutes removing bug guts from the windshield and the lights. Something’s telling me I’m gonna need ‘em tomorrow morning. I called home, took a nice warm shower, and went to bed.
As I laid there in bed, the realization hit me...two more thousand-mile days? Who was the genius that dreamed this plan up?
Oh, yeah…. Zzzzzzz.
While checking in to the motel, “When does the diner close?”
“In about 20 minutes.”
I parked the bike, then went over and got my first true meal of the day. I sat at the counter, chatting with a local fellow about traveling. This guy really didn’t seem like one to be doing a lot of that, but then again, I probably didn’t look the part either. In these little towns, folks will chat up strangers. It must be the charm, not looks or smell, that does it. The server got a good tip that night.
I got back to the room, spent a few more minutes removing bug guts from the windshield and the lights. Something’s telling me I’m gonna need ‘em tomorrow morning. I called home, took a nice warm shower, and went to bed.
As I laid there in bed, the realization hit me...two more thousand-mile days? Who was the genius that dreamed this plan up?
Oh, yeah…. Zzzzzzz.
THE RIDE CONTINUES - CLICK HERE!
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