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Published: August 15th 2009
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On our last night I had spoken to Chloe who said that the weather was going to be patchy on the way home.
We eventually left Sturgis at 10.30, after waiting around for Wolf........
The plan was to get some miles done before stopping for food. It was quite warm when we left so I was only wearing a t shirt under the leathers. I had the forsight to leave the thick gloves and more tops on the top of the panniers. Riding through Wyoming the weather looked a bit black up ahead and we started to get a few rain drops. After stoping to put on water proofs and more clothing the thoughts were of what is that white stuff on those hills over yonder.
Five miles later we came across the road covered in hail stones the size of small golf balls. I kid you not when I say that it was over an inch deep on the hard shoulder. Fortunately there had been a few cars go through cos there were tyre lines through it. A hail stone was flicked up by a car and hit me between my goggles and the helmet, OUCH...
The hail stones were
only on the road for about 1/2 a mile then it was clear. It would appear that Chloe was right and the weather was definately patchy!! I just didn't realise the patches would be that small.
We then kept the waterproofs on just in case....
Other than loads of sugar and caffine then next bit of the journey was uneventful until....
About 30 miles from Billings it started to rain and it slowly got heavier and heavier. What with that and the wind it was quite hard going. Wolf pulled off the freeway to ask us if we fancied sitting it out under a bridge. An hour and a half sat under a bridge cold and wet with a load of other bikers or facing 20 odd minutes to get somewhere warm and dry in Billings. No contest off we went again. The last three miles were entertaining as the goggles were constantly steamed up. To unsteam them ment putting a finger under them and waiting. I tried that and they just got wet inside!!!! As I said the last three miles was err ......... very scarey.
We stopped in Livingston to get fuel before the last 50 or so
Scott
That man can sleep anywhere!!! miles to Three Forks. As we payed to leave the heavens opened. The norm when in the US is to leave the helmet and gloves on the seat. So a quick sprint to the bikes to retreave stuff and back in the gas station. There was two other guys in the same situation. The three of us were in stitches at some of the stories these guys had about their week in Sturgis. They had ridden from Eugene in Oregon to Billings, Montana in a day. That's just over a 1000 miles!!!!!
The rain let off enough by 10.45 so that we could get to Three Forks. Scott, the clever chappie, had booked a motel room earlier in the week. After unpacking and having a shower we walked to the nearest bar. It was $6 for 3 pints. We had be paying $12 for three cans at the site....
We spent a happy three beers putting the world to rites and were then kicked out.
In the morning Wolf rang his mate in Three Forks to explain that we got up late, dah de dah de dah....
I was quite getting used to the idea of long distance riding and
Locust
They hurt when they hit you!! was looking forward to another day of surprises.
When Wolf had loaded his bike we left....
Wolf pulled over for a pee about 20 miles from the state line with Idaho. The roads were just starting to get twisty and going up in to the mountains. The roads were dry and fast. I am still not entirely sure why Scott disappeared from my rear view mirrors, probably because the bends were so close????
Wolf and I were having a wail of a time. I don't think the guy on the Honda Varadero thought so when we passed him. He was trying to get past for quite a while. Couldn't have two fat old Harleys overtaking now can we.......
We got to Coeur d'Alene and had gained an hour because of going through a time zone. We had put our waterproofs on in the morning and were riding through clouds all day without a drop of rain. Off they came as the clouds were clearing and the sun shining. With another dose of sugar and caffine the intrepid trio set off up the I90.
Mosses Lake was the next stop for tea. A telephone call to the girls at 8pm insisting
Montana
just before we crossed the state line in to Idaho that we could be back by 10.30, what was the worst that could happen?
By the time we got to the Columbia river it was dark and getting windy. I was feeling the strain of the previous 7 days and getting very tired. It was 100 miles home at this point. Going across the bridge was an experience I don't wish to repeat very often. I could see Scotts back light getting tossed about by the side winds from the river. The following 60 miles were exactly the same, leaning in to the wind and getting blown across the carriageway every so often. Our last stop in Cle Elum was one of exhaustion and elation of having done it. Stories of sillyness and stupidity, rides out and things seen abound in the warmth of a gas station.
Definitely the best, without a shadow of a doubt, the best motorcycling experience of my life. And believe me I have had quite a few of those.
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