Roden's Scooter Ride

To start out I have found a setting that shut off comments so it should be possible now to send me comments. Yesterday after warming up, drying out and cleaning up we walked the town.   Turns out this weekend is the BBQ give away where the local stores give free bbq to residents to thank for supporting their business.   This has been a tradition for more than 50 years.   Today was just chilly with some periods of down right cold but much improved from yesterday.   We fooled by the weather forecast and started out without a coat.   I made it only 1/2 a mile and realized that was not going to work.   Dianne being tougher made it 15 miles and then gave up. Today was the last day for us on Hwy 12 I believe and all 141 mile from Kamiah to Lolo was on it.   The scenery was fantastic the road followed right on the bank of the Clearwater River then up two creeks up to the Lolo pass. The run down from the top of the pass to the town of Lolo was 32 and all of it...

Well if yesterday’s word was windy today’s words are “wet and cold”.   We woke up knowing it had a 40% chance of rain which turned into 100% chance as soon as we walked outside.   So that sums up the day how the rest of the day went.] After completing the blog yesterday and planning the ride for today we explored the town.   It was nice.   The stores that were empty had displays in them including May Tag washer dryers, old desks, 50s clothes, and old gas pumps.   Then drove down to the local agricultural museum and saw giant wind mill, small wind mill and steam tractor all which I thought interesting.   The first set of pictures are from that walk.   Then had a dinner of pizza at the local gas station and that surprisingly good.   I have often said anyone who thinks they can hike the AT can do it so long as they can pictures themselves doing it on cold rainy days.   Well today was one of those and did complete our ride. We arose early and sto...

The word for today is WINDY (blusterous, Gusty, blowy) it was very strong and times almost blew me over.   The trucks when they past us the gust would move my helmet.   It was also cool boarding on cold.   It bothered me enough that i decided to stop and put. wind breaker on.   That stopped my shivers and at least   made a little move comfortable. I then convinced Dianne to put her coat on too.   In addition to the wind we a several rain drops and heard thunder and saw lightening a couple of time.   I was sure we would get wet but currently have not.   Yesterday’s hotel was poor broken dresser holes in the wall and needed new paint.   However it was clean so it worked out.   The restaurant down the street was great.   Today’s hotel is great on the inside a little questionable on the outside.   But the town does not have a restaurant at all, the advise being given is to go the gas station and have some pizza there.   The ro...

  Today ride was much faster but a little longer than yesterdays ride.   We covered 110 mile in just under 6 hours.   The route crossed over the Columbia River just outside of The Dalles and then crossed back over at our distention at Umatilla OR.   So although most of the day was in Washington State we started and finished in Oregon state.   We followed above and beside the river on State Highway 14.   The weather started off cool (67F) and windy that moved the scooter around a lot.   Then changed to calm winds and 103 which seems hot to me.   Navigation which falls to me had one sticky point crossing back into Oregon.   The directions read, “ride the road marked Dead End through the tunnel and then up the bike trail onto the bike beside I82”.   Given yesterdays problems both Dianne and I were a little concerned.   But it was as written and we had no problems.   Highway 14 was a good surface with very broad shoulders.   W...

  We are finally riding and not a day too soon.   I find it much more relaxing to be riding a Scooter than driving that huge truck.   So after some rest I can say I am not grumpy tonight.   Still tried but that is to be expected after long day with some surprises.   First I had to fill the truck there was little trash around the vehicle but I thought nothing of its. But it required a lot of gas to fill so I suspect someone siphoned out about 10 gallons.   Got to the budget location a little early and started to unload.   My scooter came down the ramp easy but turning it around on the gravel it hit a rock and skidded and then fell.   I have a few minor scratches but no cuts.   I had no problem with Dianne’s bike.   So by ten we were loaded and off we went.   The Portland traffic was busy but the ride was easy.   Then the off trail stuff the suggested route directed us to take a back road and some very rude fat red neck turned us...

Well in the last 3 days I drove more than 2500 miles (about 4000 K for you Metric people out there). On Wednesday I drove 8 hour, Thursday 14 hours, Friday 15 hour and today 8 total.   I found it stressful and exhausting especially today when there was a lot of two lane roads with steep hills and lots of bends.   The scenery for the drive was spectacular with mountains badlands and pine forests.   We also some elk, deer, eagles and one dead armadillo which surprised me.   Today we drove to the coast and saw Fort Clatsop the wintering over location for Lewis and Clark 1805.   Listened to two talks, about how hard it was on the men, and history of Sacagawea the only women on the trip.   I was surprised to learn that men ate dog while here in addition some a limited amount of fish that they traded for and almost all elk.   The claim was one elk per day was required the men meaning they each ate 6 pound of meat a day.   Well I am exhausted and grumpy ...