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Spearfish to Baker City and Back - Why Not?
- bigjohnsd
- Contributor
- I post more than I ride
- Posts: 6043
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- FJRModel: 2021 BMW R1250GSA "Gray Ghost II"
- Location: Black Hills, SD I-90 Exit 14
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Spearfish to Baker City and Back - Why Not?
My friend Scott Henley joined me for the ride to Baker City - "take me out and make me ride my motorcycle" said he.
We left Spearfish at 0800 on Tuesday, September 5th, rode over the Cloud Peak Skyway, stopped at the Ten Sleep Brewery for a sandwich and a beer (they were out of sandwiches,
and on to Cody WY where we rendezvoused with a couple of Washington reprobates, escapefjrtist and Panman.
Wednesday morning we awoke to a beautiful but brisk day, rode through Yellowstone Park on a Northerly loop, George led us through a fog, breakfasted in the park then exited through the west exit— taking various courses and speeds along the Big Hole River and then the Salmon River ending up in Challis, ID for the evening. A superb day of riding hence no pictures taken by me.
Thursday morning it was KSU at 0700 for a blast down US 93 to Stanley ID for breakfast. The first 50 miles were beautiful if a bit nipply, low 40s to low 50s then George again led us through dense fog as we approached Stanley, hard to see 200 yards. Breakfast was tasty and the coffee was welcome.
From Stanley, we rode West on ID 21, getting out of the fog about five miles from Stanley just in time to give Scott his first look at the Sawtooths then on to Lowman, down the Lowman Banks Highway to Banks with very little traffic on both roads. At Banks, we headed towards Payette ID where George, having concerns about rear tire life, headed directly up I-84 to Baker City while Panman, Scott, and I took the more adventurous route through Oxbow OR and Hells Canyon. We took a short break at Cambridge ID in honor of 'Pants
We arrived at Baker City about 1700 (5:00pm for some of you)
Only to find things already in full swing.
JP must think he is on a Harley - he beat George to the wash rack.
He had plenty of supervision.
The onsite restaurant was pretty good - the Thursday night Chicken Fried Steak was quite popular and quite filling.
Parking lot social was still going on when I went to bed at 2200 (10:00pm).
Friday, JREW (John Wilson) joined Scott and I for a ride. We left the motel at about 0830 and headed North and West of Baker City:
The Little Alps were beautiful, there was little traffic, the whole day was fantastic.
We spotted this beautiful clump of flowers down the hillside and risked life and limb to grab a picture in true "Tyleresque fashion" only to discover that they were fake flowers
Saturday morning the lot was full -
As Scott and I packed up to head back through Hells Canyon and up to Kamiah ID for the evening.
Neither of us had been up to the Dam so we rode up and back through 10 miles of fresh chip seal.
We left Spearfish at 0800 on Tuesday, September 5th, rode over the Cloud Peak Skyway, stopped at the Ten Sleep Brewery for a sandwich and a beer (they were out of sandwiches,
and on to Cody WY where we rendezvoused with a couple of Washington reprobates, escapefjrtist and Panman.
Wednesday morning we awoke to a beautiful but brisk day, rode through Yellowstone Park on a Northerly loop, George led us through a fog, breakfasted in the park then exited through the west exit— taking various courses and speeds along the Big Hole River and then the Salmon River ending up in Challis, ID for the evening. A superb day of riding hence no pictures taken by me.
Thursday morning it was KSU at 0700 for a blast down US 93 to Stanley ID for breakfast. The first 50 miles were beautiful if a bit nipply, low 40s to low 50s then George again led us through dense fog as we approached Stanley, hard to see 200 yards. Breakfast was tasty and the coffee was welcome.
From Stanley, we rode West on ID 21, getting out of the fog about five miles from Stanley just in time to give Scott his first look at the Sawtooths then on to Lowman, down the Lowman Banks Highway to Banks with very little traffic on both roads. At Banks, we headed towards Payette ID where George, having concerns about rear tire life, headed directly up I-84 to Baker City while Panman, Scott, and I took the more adventurous route through Oxbow OR and Hells Canyon. We took a short break at Cambridge ID in honor of 'Pants
We arrived at Baker City about 1700 (5:00pm for some of you)
Only to find things already in full swing.
JP must think he is on a Harley - he beat George to the wash rack.
He had plenty of supervision.
The onsite restaurant was pretty good - the Thursday night Chicken Fried Steak was quite popular and quite filling.
Parking lot social was still going on when I went to bed at 2200 (10:00pm).
Friday, JREW (John Wilson) joined Scott and I for a ride. We left the motel at about 0830 and headed North and West of Baker City:
The Little Alps were beautiful, there was little traffic, the whole day was fantastic.
We spotted this beautiful clump of flowers down the hillside and risked life and limb to grab a picture in true "Tyleresque fashion" only to discover that they were fake flowers
Saturday morning the lot was full -
As Scott and I packed up to head back through Hells Canyon and up to Kamiah ID for the evening.
Neither of us had been up to the Dam so we rode up and back through 10 miles of fresh chip seal.
Hppants, Niehart, escapefjrtist and 5 others loved this
"The only Dumb Question is the unasked Question " - Anonymous
Eat every Sandwich like it is your last!
Eat every Sandwich like it is your last!
- bigjohnsd
- Contributor
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- Posts: 6043
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- Location: Black Hills, SD I-90 Exit 14
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Re: Spearfish to Baker City and Back - Why Not?
We ended our Saturday in Kamiah ID at a pretty swank B&B along the Clearwater River
Sunday morning we had a little breakfast that came with the room at a bakery in downtown Kamiah -
Full Order Biscuits and Gravy - I could only eat half
Half Order Biscuits and Gravy
We then headed to Elk City - Why Not? - neither of us had been there and the road looked pretty squiggly on the map. It did not disappoint!
After riding in and out of Elk City we headed up over Lolo Pass to meet Pterodactyl and Annie at the Lochsa Lodge for a late lunch
After lunch we headed to the Outpost and enjoyed a fine evening.
Scott and I were KSU at 0730 this morning and made it back to Spearfish about 1600 (4:00pm)
A week's worth of grime and bugs to be dealt with tomorrow as well as a fresh set of Dunlop Trail Max Mission tires to be mounted before Skooter G and JREW arrive for a few days riding in the Black Hills on their way to EOM.
Hppants, Niehart, Brodie and 12 others loved this
"The only Dumb Question is the unasked Question " - Anonymous
Eat every Sandwich like it is your last!
Eat every Sandwich like it is your last!
- LKLD
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Re: Spearfish to Baker City and Back - Why Not?
Fair skies, fun, FJR’s, and friends…looks like you succeeded in having a wonderful trip, thanks for sharing, John.
Being alive, is not living. R.I.P. Don,Petey, & Jason レイクランド
- PhatAir4Me
- Squid
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Welcome Samual 2010 - Location: Bend, OR
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Re: Spearfish to Baker City and Back - Why Not?
Didn't know you were leaving Baker City Saturday! Saturday evening "hey where's John" he headed out this morning. You missed the Tri-Tip sliders!
Good to see ya my friend!
Good to see ya my friend!
Niehart, Bugnatr, bigjohnsd and 1 others loved this
It's not the way you wear your hair it's whats inside your head
- bigjohnsd
- Contributor
- I post more than I ride
- Posts: 6043
- Joined: Sun May 18, 2014 4:28 pm
- FJRModel: 2021 BMW R1250GSA "Gray Ghost II"
- Location: Black Hills, SD I-90 Exit 14
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Re: Spearfish to Baker City and Back - Why Not?
Had to get back to turnover the dogs as SWMBO and Anne left for a week this morning.PhatAir4Me wrote: ↑Tue Sep 12, 2023 10:49 am Didn't know you were leaving Baker City Saturday! Saturday evening "hey where's John" he headed out this morning. You missed the Tri-Tip sliders!
Good to see ya my friend!
Sorry to miss anything you cooked!
Great event, sign me up for 2024!
Cav47 and wheatonFJR loved this
"The only Dumb Question is the unasked Question " - Anonymous
Eat every Sandwich like it is your last!
Eat every Sandwich like it is your last!
- escapefjrtist
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Re: Spearfish to Baker City and Back - Why Not?
Thanks for the ride recap BigJohn! Pleasure riding with you and Scott from Cody, through Yellowstone and the fog.
Same time/same place in Cody next year?
~G
Same time/same place in Cody next year?
~G
Niehart, bigjohnsd, and wheatonFJR loved this
IBA34365
'15 FJR-USD-A
'18 Tenere
'15 FJR-USD-A
'18 Tenere
- bigjohnsd
- Contributor
- I post more than I ride
- Posts: 6043
- Joined: Sun May 18, 2014 4:28 pm
- FJRModel: 2021 BMW R1250GSA "Gray Ghost II"
- Location: Black Hills, SD I-90 Exit 14
- x 10184
- x 9556
Re: Spearfish to Baker City and Back - Why Not?
Certainly and hopefully Festar will be here too!escapefjrtist wrote: ↑Tue Sep 12, 2023 11:04 pm Thanks for the ride recap BigJohn! Pleasure riding with you and Scott from Cody, through Yellowstone and the fog.
Same time/same place in Cody next year?
~G
escapefjrtist and 0face loved this
"The only Dumb Question is the unasked Question " - Anonymous
Eat every Sandwich like it is your last!
Eat every Sandwich like it is your last!
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2007 KLR650... the Goldwing of thumpers - Location: Northwest Peardale, Ca
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Re: Spearfish to Baker City and Back - Why Not?
Nice report and pictures. Even better with a smoke free sky!
Good times in eastern Oregon ...btw have you seen my phone?
Good times in eastern Oregon ...btw have you seen my phone?
bigjohnsd, Brodie, and Auburn loved this
It's too deep, this is a bike not a canoe.
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- Squid
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Re: Spearfish to Baker City and Back - Why Not?
Good times in eastern Oregon ...btw have you seen my phone?
[/quote]
Nice report Big John and could to see you again.
[/quote]
Nice report Big John and could to see you again.
-Rich
17 Tenere
20 FJR
17 Tenere
20 FJR
- Hppants
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Re: Spearfish to Baker City and Back - Why Not?
If it is said during a eulogy at my funeral that: ".... he encouraged us to ride motorcycles and eat ice cream...", then... I will surely have lived a good life.
Way to stay thirsty, my friend....
Way to stay thirsty, my friend....
bigjohnsd, gixxerjasen, and Dan Cooper loved this
"I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living. Or get busy dying."
- Andy Dufresne, Shawshank Redemption
- Andy Dufresne, Shawshank Redemption
- gixxerjasen
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Re: Spearfish to Baker City and Back - Why Not?
How could it not be said?
There will also be a mention of shampoo.
There will also be a mention of shampoo.
Bugnatr and bigjohnsd loved this
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Current Bikes:2007 Yamaha FJR1300AE | 2016 KTM 1190 Adventure R | 2001 Suzuki DRZ-400E | 2020 KTM 500 XCF-W
Son's Bike:2019 Honda CRF250L
I'm here to serve as an example of what NOT to do.
Current Bikes:2007 Yamaha FJR1300AE | 2016 KTM 1190 Adventure R | 2001 Suzuki DRZ-400E | 2020 KTM 500 XCF-W
Son's Bike:2019 Honda CRF250L
I'm here to serve as an example of what NOT to do.