Route: New Meadows, ID to Boise, ID and then over the Sawtooth Mountain Range to Challis, ID
GPS Tracks for the trip are posted here:https://tworoads.shutterfly.com/pictures/40#41
Miles: 316
Total Time: 10:36
Total On Bikes: 5:56
Total Miles For Trip so far: 1706
Today included the best motorcycle road I've been on -- so far -- Highway 75 from Stanley to Challis, ID. But the entire day was another spectacular day. I could have done without the downtown traffic and freeway traffic to get to the Ducati dealer in Boise -- but it was a necessary stop to get the permanent fix to Vince's "bung plug" problem. They had the part -- a stainless steel plug that cost around $11 -- and we were on our way. Actually the entire trip up Highway 21 out of Boise and connecting to Highway 75 was GREAT as we passed over the Sawtooth Mountain Range and were treated to wonderful roads and vistas.
Interestingly, their were few other cars/trucks on the road with us today and that got me to thinking that the cost of gas has likely had a good impact in this regard: we have seen very, very few motor homes and cars pulling trailers. In my prior long distance trips, the motor homes seemed to clog the twisty roads, but during this trip -- and especially today -- we saw very few of these gas hogs. I guess it shouldn't be so surprising when gas prices for regular were as high as $4.44 along the route.
We had postponed making reservations for this night of the trip until today -- and when I began to try to make reservations I quickly learned that there was NO availability near the area we had hoped to spend the night -- at about 250 miles. So, we got on the road to Boise without reservations -- deciding to await until we had our first mission accomplished -- getting the Ducati part. Once we arrived at the dealership and Vince was beginning his repair, I proceeded to a nearby shady spot of a Wendy's parking lot and set up "office" to find reservations. The picture below will show my mobile of
fice -- maps, computer with air card and cell phone. After several calls to learn of "no availability" -- I changed our destination to 50 miles farther -- and found a room. Little did we know at the time that this random change to go farther today would allow us to traverse such a perfect road (excellent conditions, right beside a beautiful river, high cliffs on either side, no traffic, sun on our backs, 70 degrees).
fice -- maps, computer with air card and cell phone. After several calls to learn of "no availability" -- I changed our destination to 50 miles farther -- and found a room. Little did we know at the time that this random change to go farther today would allow us to traverse such a perfect road (excellent conditions, right beside a beautiful river, high cliffs on either side, no traffic, sun on our backs, 70 degrees).
We arrived with both a satisfied and "spent" feeling from the concentration of the road to find that the motel "office" was in the very busy and loud bar. You can imagine our surprise when we were told we had no reservation and no rooms were available. As we talked through how this could happen -- and who I might have given my credit card and name to -- they finally figured out they were looking at the wrong page of the reservation list. In short order we were back in the lounge to feed our hunger, review the day over a beer and be entertained by the full house of local personalities and drunks.
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