Not So Fast There… (To Be Continued)
Well, the Yooper Ride exceeded my expectations… All the way across that part of America from Idaho to the UP, I’d diligently studied the weather forecast… One day rain was called for at our ultimate destination, the next clear skies would be awaiting us… Of course, one of those predictions would actually come true… I couldn’t help but wonder which one?
Since I’m never overly wild about any gathering, except, of course, the one where ALI and I were to be reunited, I’d long ago decided I’d do what I normally do… Head in that direction and see what unfolded. If I encountered rain or other complications, I’d make an adjustment… if not, I’d press on. If it worked out where we didn’t make the gathering, then so be it. If we did make it, then… so be that, too. This time it all worked out just fine…
I took advantage of this more or less meander back east to take care of some unfinished business. My riding resume was sadly deficient in several ways, but none more glaring than having failed to ride the ‘Spiral Highway’. It’s the original HWY 95 north out of Lewiston, ID, towards Moscow, ID. I’d ridden by and/or near it several times over the years, but I’d never taken the time to actually ride up or down it… Time to ‘git ‘er done’…
In the space between the unprotected overlook and the Clearwater River is what appears to be several roads… Nope, it’s all the same road! It was a hoot to ride up, so I rode it back down too…
Have I ever mentioned that I’m fond of Idaho?
It was here that I finally decided I would likely attend the ‘Yooper Ride’. It was an easy place to be lazy, so I’d spent four days there… Part of the attraction was a restaurant on-premises that served truly great chow… even superior biscuits ‘n gravy and coconut pie!
Actually, we had a pretty easy time on the ride eastward. We did play ‘Hide-N-Seek’ with rain a couple of times, but we always came out OK; and, I didn’t have to suit-up even once. No really long days to speak of, and the roads were in decent shape. Traffic was light for the most part, and… well, there just wasn’t anything to complain about. Yes, I did manage to booger-up directions a time or two, so naturally there were adjustments to be made for those, but… not bad at all.
Heck, fact is, it had been another great time to be in the saddle and aboard our girl! North America is sensational, ya know, and I just can’t seem to get enough of exploring it!!! My landlady asked me once upon a time if I thought I might ever tire of this lifestyle at some point… I’d responded at the time that, “It was simply too soon to tell; I’d only been doing it for twenty years so far…!”
I missed a turn just a few miles from our ultimate destination and rode nearly fifty miles out of the way. Oh well, a wee bit longer day, but no harm done. Then we found out the hard way that the name of the motel had been changed, and… Yep, I had to ask for directions twice just to get to the parking lot… then had to actually go next door to check-in. Yeah, that day had been longer than anticipated, but… who really cares when doing all that aboard a phat gurl, huh…?
I’d been getting warm – OK, I was a bit overdressed, because I hadn’t de-layered as the temp had risen - and a bit tired by the time we’d finally arrived, but that’s when it happened. That instant when this weary trekker made eye-contact for the first time with a member of our tribe… and, things went the same way they always do! I went from near ambivalence about being there to being overjoyed that we’d come! Everything seems to change for this solo wanderer in that magical instant whenever I’m around the wonderful folks who comprise our little community. Every single time it goes that way without fail… when I first realize I’m back in the warm fold of ‘family’.
Lots of old and dear friends there, and some new folks showed up too. A couple of other riders just happened to be there when our group started to arrive, and they sort of became drawn into our circle… that Valk magnetism thing, I suppose. Anyway, Harley riders, a Yamaha, and a Spyder joined the mixed assortment of bikes normally part of our assemblies…
The ‘Yooper Ride’ isn’t the ‘meat’ of this tale, but events there did set the stage for all that would follow for more than the next two weeks regarding our girl and her most fortunate rider. Mitch & Laura were there, so we had a reunion of sorts… you know, big-dogging, yarn swapping, reminiscences of times gone by and other such usual stuff… Troutdude and Waterbug also rode in, and that really… Let me put it this way… Ever thoughtful Shelia introduced me to ‘pasties’ (not to be confused with a scant apparel item sometimes found in strip joints), and she even brought me my very first delectable delight… Heck, I’d never even heard of those before!
Two full evenings, three for us, came and went. During that first evening, a Wing trike rider (Ron), who happened to be on his wife’s Spyder at that ride, and his buddy, a Harley rider (Tim), were there on their own trip. Well, they were invited to join us, and they did. They wanted to stay, but no rooms were available, so they got a room at a nearby motel and stayed a part of our evening celebration for a second session. Most of us thought it entirely possible we just might see those two again sometime… and so we did!
In the meantime, Mitch mentioned to yours truly the upcoming ‘Quad State Ride’ being put-on by Don & Barbo. I hadn’t known there was one even happening this year… Well, there was, and Mitch invited me to go with him. Actually, I was to meet him in Clinton, IA, the following Friday afternoon, as he had to return home in the interim for a couple of chores, honey-dos, and to get Laura home for all her duties. So, not so fast there, buckaroo, this gift would keep on giving…
DDT
