The picture of Frank under the gas station conopy does not do the rain in Salt Lake justice. We awoke to a downpour and were soaked just getting the bikes loaded. After a quick breakfast and the strategic application of a hair dryer, we were on our way. Onto the freeway and into a sea of cars, water and rain spray. I kept thinking, it can't get any worse than this, au contrare. We had planned to do another 5oo miles up to Lewiston, yea right! 325 miles of rain and gale force winds was like getting flogged with a very cold wet corsett by an angry ex girlfriend. We made it as far as Boise and were glad to be here. In over 40 years of riding motorcycles I have never had a day like this. The whole way we had hard driving rain, incredible wind and even some snow. Temperatures ranged from 45 in Salt lake when we left to the mid thirties along the way. I never knew the wind could blow so hard from so many different directions. Even the big rigs were getting off the road. But your intrepid explorers kept at it. I had so many clothes on I looked like an experiment gone bad mating the Michelin man and Mrs. Butterworth. A lady at a gas station asked if we were going to turn around and go home because the weather was so bad. The thought never entered either of our minds. Didn't take any pictures except the one of Frank getting gas, didn't want to stop and worried that the rain would really mess up the camera.
The land north of Salt Lake all the way to Boise is rolling hills of grass and hay farms. We didn't really pay much attention to the scenery because we were just hanging on for dear life. The people are very friendly even to bikers. When we stopped for lunch at a small town reataurant they let us hang our wet clothes everywhere and put our wet gloves in their oven to try and dry them out. They all wished us well and were excited by our trip. Funny how some people just look at us and shake their heads while others are really pleased by our adventure. When we stopped at a Cabella's in Boise to get some more rain gear one of the employees had made the same trip by motorcycle a couple of years ago and gave us some good advice on travelling the haul road up to Prudhoe Bay. Great people experience. Hopefully the wind dies down for tomorrow.
6 comments:
you 2 are so Brave! I would have been crying on my way back home. Or in a hotel until the weather got better. Take care.
Hey Poncho,(if Frank is Cisco you must be Poncho) Man, I'm sorry I missed all the rain and wind, NOT! Hope you have a better day tomorrow. I'm enjoying this armchair adventure at your expense. Thanks for the blog.
Now I really think you are crazy!! I think the "pungent and particulate" manure storm would have been enough for me!!
The boys are enjoying looking at your photos and hearing what you've been doing. They especially liked the part where you put your gloves in the restaurant's oven!
Take care of yourself and be safe.
Wait...I'm trying to get the image of you being flogged w/ a wet corset by your angry ex-girlfriend out of my head.
I was jealous of you guys yesterday morning and now I am glad to be in windy-but-dry Flagstaff still.
Whatever you do, stay safe. (Much easier with me this far away.)
Tell Frank that the Guzzi tailpipe looks great, thanks!
Hi Jeff,
I'm envious - even with all the water you are swimming in.
Casey, Beth and Laura all say... YEEHAW! And hello from the land of ashes... and sunshine! (jealous yet?) no wind, no wet corsets, and definitely no toilet seat beatings.... Casey and Beth are going to a Shakespeare play tonight. Laura was on stage last night and rocked the tango on the bassoon. Hang in there buddy... should we order you some velcro to stay attached?
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