I arrive in Bend at 3:17 (mountain time). About 30 miles outside of Bend, I remember that tonight is “grill your own” — but I can’t remember if I’m supposed to *bring* my own. So I decide to stop at Safeway – buy a steak (porterhouse, ymmmm), worchestershire sauce, tillamook cheese (for snacking while we wait to eat), and dark chocolate (it’s no longer in the 90s and 100s!). Read the rest of this entry »

The day starts with trying to figure out why the brake light doesn’t work – I discovered a loose wire last night while washing the bike. Thought I’d fixed it. Wait! The horn stopped working yesterday – check fuses. Yep, brake and horn are on the same (7.5) fuse. Guess which fuse size is _not_ in the spares?

So, fiddle with the wire – test with the good 7.5 amp fuse – voila, light and horn. Now need to get a replacement fuse before leaving. Read the rest of this entry »

A miscellaneous, catch-all type of post before I leave for the gather.

One more time, I prove I can’t read a calendar. Yesterday’s post should have read “day twelve” not “day eleven.” Time does funny things when you’re on the road. I don’t normally read a daily newspaper – but I still have to think about what day it is. And don’t always guess right. ;-) Read the rest of this entry »

Up at 6:15 and out the door, packed, at 7:30. It’s chilly this early in the \morning in Idaho Falls. I wear my long-sleeved Jackson Hole tee-shirt.

I’m at the Motel West, on the way out of town on 26/20. Make Very Good Time \running through country that gives new meaning to the word desolate. I keep \thinking I’ve seen “desolate” … then there’s an even better (worse?) \example. Read the rest of this entry »

Left Casper about 8:30 am — another cool day. Yesterday was in the 70s and 80s in Nebraska – at one point, I got downright cold. Today feels cool – so I pull on the heavier polarfleece pants — they’ve *almost* lost their petroleum product signature fragrance.

Jon was right – 20/26 is pretty darn desolate. At one point, I pass two road kill deer within a half mile – one on each side of the road. A reminder of the risks of traveling this area after dark. Read the rest of this entry »