I knew I should have asked you guys…

[Beardo]

Wife and I are on our bike trip, kind of going south and west, no real plan. I usually start a thread on here asking for recommendations while I’m in a certain area and you guys never fail…this time I should have.

We first made our way over to Glacier National Park. I’ve done it several times over the years but not since Covid happened. 1000km to get there only to find out we needed a reservation to get in. Apparently the park was bumper to bumper last year so they implemented this genius plan.  I understand the reasoning for it after a “discussion” with a nice young park Ranger lady, but jeez, after 2+ years of the government restricting us, I wasn’t enthusiastic about another restriction.  I’m sure if I’d have mentioned going there on here, someone would have given me the heads up. That’s what you get for just riding without a plan sometimes I guess.

Then headed south to do the Lolo Pass. Have never been before and it didn’t disappoint. If you like faster sweepers, little traffic, good pavement and great scenery, you can’t complain. My son saw our location on his phone and gave me crap for not bringing a fishing rod…apparently there’s fishing here he’d die for.

Only complaint was/is the heat. Lady at the motel desk just said it was 108. I’ll take her word for it, I don’t speak Fahrenheit.  Was not that hot through the pass but Missoula was hell just before rush hour.

Good thing is I just bought a 3/4 helmet that was a godsend. My AGV full face visor doesn’t stay up in the wind so I got a HJC i30 for tie hot riding/trips. Added the Sena mount kit onto it and was good to go. The visor covers the whole face and the visibility is great, coming from a full face.  A few times I actually put my finger into the visor to scratch my nose, forgetting it was even there. When it got really hot, took the visor off and just wore sunglasses to get more wind. I wear ear plugs so the wind wasn’t an issue but honestly I didn’t notice it being any louder than my full face, could hear the music and the wife just fine. I would have passed out with the full face on. So…I blew it with the Glacier Park thing, but I was smart with the helmet thing. Batting .500. Well maybe .333 for not bringing a fishing rod.

Will be doing the Old Spiral Highway by Lewiston tomorrow morning then meandering north. Any recommendations you guys have for good roads along the way north would be great. Thinking we’ll make our way to Kettle Falls then over on hwy 20 them up to Osoyoos but were open to suggestions.

[DDT (12)]

Jason,

I know how you feel about missing out on Glacier NP! The first two times I rode there (from Florida, mind you) it was still closed, not to open until later in the season! Years later I led a dear friend out there to show it off... I'd really bragged about the stunning views and all he was going to observe, and I had him really primed and stoked... Yep, the opening had yet again been delayed that year, too! Far as I know he never did make it back there before he died...

When we are disappointed that way, we sometimes encounter things we never would have discovered instead... as you certainly have experienced yourself. On one of those two 'too early' trips there, I was of course forced to alter my route and plans... Well, I stumbled into a little cafe at a campground just for breakfast, but I didn't leave there until four days later! They had cabin rentals, and I took one. I had a really big time with the folks there and didn't actually want to leave when I did!

I also went with a face shield on my three-quarter helmets... at first. I liked it so much better without it, though, that I haven't used one since. Only very rarely is that decision ever regretted! Enjoy your ride, my friend, and relish all the surprises that blindside you... For this random rider at least, those often become the highlights of a trip!!!

DDT

[Beardo]

Well Bruce, I just saw your post but we apparently think alike on the visor. I removed the visor the day after my first post and put it in the trunk and just went with sunglasses to help get more wind. Even better in the heat. We went through a pretty nasty downpour today so I put it back on briefly to protect the non-beard covered parts of my face from the stinging rain…but I had to remove the visor once we outran the storm and it got hot again.

Has been a great trip, we did have  to go up through my favourite part of BC to ride those beautiful technical twisties as opposed to the longer sweepers of the Lolo Pass. Such a nice contrast, both are so much fun.

One more easy 600 km day tomorrow and we’re done. So nice to get back to the States again. So many differences between our countries but also so much in common. I still don’t get the white gravy though. And the ranch dressing with fries. .