Road Thoughts - Trip 1
Riding the HOG ABCs
This
is going to be my first big motorcycle trip – almost 1000 miles in two
days with one night of camping out.
I
have used the Harley-Davidson Ride Planner to plot the best trip to pick
up the most Cities, Counties, and States for the HOG ABC program and also
the Idaho Intermountain HOG Ride Idaho program.
We
started early Saturday morning. I packed the bike (2005 Road King Classic) the night before
– because I had never packed my bike for an over night trip before.
Everything fit – with a little persuasion.
Off
we go.
First
stop Elmore county. Humming
along about 80 and then “Woah!” Brakes.
Backup, Backup, Backup. Just
about missed the sign.
On
down I-84. “Woah!!!” Brakes
Again! Backup, Backup, Backup, Backup! Missed the sign again.
Cruise control is just too handy.
Shoot the picture of Jerome Country.
Head
North on 93 and stop on the sidewalk to get Jerome City.
Next
is Lincoln County. “Where’s
the sign?” “We should be
seeing the sign soon?” Oh oh we’re in Shoshone. There wasn’t a Lincoln County sign. Cheap County
Oh
well lets head to Picabo and we’ll rubber neck and look back to see if
we can find a Lincoln sign on the way out of the county.
Click to Enter
“Crud!
Road construction. One-way
road. Wait, Wait, Wait – Ok
now our turn. Wheee!
20 MPH. Hey wait –
there’s a Lincoln county sign – quick U-turn.
Got it. Ok, now we
have to wait for the pace car again.
Wow,
it’s starting to get hot. Here’s Picabo for the Idaho Tour. Off comes the jacket. Bathroom break.
So
that’s the Craters of the Moon. Doesn’t look like the moon at all, but the lava rocks look
interesting.
Is
it time to eat yet?
Ok,
here’s Arco. I still needed
and A City and just incase there isn’t a sign in Atomic City. “Where
to eat?”
That
looks good, a big green building with the letters E A T on the roof.
Pickle’s Place. Sound
good. Lets see.
I’ll have the Atomic Burger (house special) and a Chocolate
Shake. Yummy.
Well
time to ride.
Atomic
City 1 mile that way. Lets check it out. Well I’ve never seen a subdivision of
Trailers before (no not trailer houses – just trailers). And here’s a dirt racetrack – looks like they are getting
ready for a race this afternoon – but alas no city sign. Good thing we got Arco.
Well
we made to Blackfoot, now how to find Shelley.
Think we go left at the next light?
“Where
you headed?” Yells a guy in the car next to us.
“Shelley”
“Yeah,
take 91 North at the next light”
“Thanks”
Click to Enter
Hey
there’s Shelley. Another Idaho Tour City.
“Hey
you guys need some help?” Shouts a guy from a pickup as we’re stopped
digging out cameras.
“Nah,
were just taking a picture”
“Must
be the HOG ABCs huh?”
“Yeah”
“Take
it easy” He drives off with a Harley-Davidson sticker in the back
window.
Ok
lets get gas.
“That’s
a tasty looking hog you got there.” A guy says in a great southern
accent as he gets in his truck to drive off.
“Uh,
thanks, I think”
Ok
how to get to Ucon? Think
there will be sign? I haven’t seen a sign yet.
Ok, lets break the cardinal “guy rule” – Ask.
“So
how do you get to Ucon”
“I
think it’s that way, but I’m not sure.” points the little lady
behind the counter.
“Uh,
thanks” I think I knew that much – “why did we stop and ask
again?”
“Where
you headed?” the guy in the blue tie-dye shirt asks.
“Ucon.”
I reply, wearing my own orange/yellow tie-dye shirt.
“Yup,
take a left at the light and you can’t miss it”
U
cities are probably pretty rare. Not quite an X or Z but close.
All
right – on to Swan Valley – another Idaho Tour City.
Next
stop Wyoming. Got it.
I figured the sign would be cooler.
Oh well it counts.
Now
on to Henry, Idaho. Hold up.
We were supposed to turn there?
Get out the map. Freedom
that way. Yeah we were supposed to turn.
Lets go.
Watch
for Stock – Yeah right.
Watch
for Stock – Whatever
Watch
for Stock – Enough already
Whoah!
Those are cows in the road and they are not moving.
Careful Bessie, just a hog coming through. Go on about your
business.
Watch
for Stock – Ok, I’m watching now.
Click to Enter
Ok
– got Henry (Idaho Tour) lets eat in Soda Springs.
That looks good we can park around back.
Warning – mineral deposits in the geyser may cause paint damage
to your vehicle. Ok – lets
park out front.
Chicken
Fried Steak – No mashed potatoes, no baked potatoes, ok, I guess I’ll
have fries.
Food
was ok, but it’s a good thing we stopped to eat now – the town’s
closing up – 9PM on a Saturday night.
Time
to find a campground.
“You
know there’s one just out of town on HWY 30” the convenience store
clerk mentioned.
We’ll
give that a try.
So
does this allow overnight parking? Worst
that can happen is we can be kicked out.
That would be fun at 2AM.
Oh
well.
Set
up tents in the dark. Should
have brought a bigger flashlight.
Ah,
rest at last.
Zoom,
Zoom, Zoom – Oh, great we’re right next to the highway.
Ok time for some Tissue ear plugs.
Ah, better.
Toot,
Toot, Chuga, Chuga – Oh, even better an active rail line. Maybe that’s
the only train of the night – NOT.
Ah,
I think I got a whole hour of sleep now.
What time it is. 4AM. Cool, still
more time to sleep.
Drip,
Drip, Drip. WHAT!!!
It’s raining in my tent. Damn
condensation! Right next to
the lake. ARRGGHHH!!
Where’s my towel. Wipe
down the inside of the “rain forest”
Too
bad we couldn’t have been kicked out at 2am!
Oh
heck. Let’s get up, pack,
and find a place to eat. Surely
there is a Micky-D’s in Soda Springs. Or not.
Well
let’s head to Georgetown – there is supposed to be a Truck Stop just
outside of town.
Ok,
damp clothes, 50F, and 75 MPH is not a good combination.
How far is Ga-Ga-Ga-Gerogetown? There it is.
Boy what a fancy sign. Another
Idaho tour city. Now lets
eat.
There
is a truck stop. Great road food – The daily special, Bisquits and
Gravy, Two Eggs, and Sausage. Can’t go wrong.
Lets
change clothes in the lounge and head out on the road.
Next
stop Utah!
There
it is Utah another HOG ABC state. Ironically
I still need Idaho.
Well
time to split from my co-rider. He’s
got almost 3 more weeks of riding to do.
I
head West on 89.
Crap!
Road construction. Great
gravel. Ok not so bad, just a
few hundred yards here and there.
Ah,
top of the pass, road construction is done, and there’s the Rich county
sign right behind me. Wow,
that the highest county sign so far.
On
to Logan, UT. Wow, I’ve
never seen trees cover a road like a tunnel before. That’s pretty cool.
Now
back to Idaho – North on 91. Great! More road
construction.
Well
I guess I’m back in Idaho. Didn’t see a sign. Hey,
aren’t I in Franklin County? Didn’t
see a sign for that either. Crud
– probably dug up during the construction.
I’ll try the rubber necking Lincoln County trick again. Well there is the Bannock County and no Franklin sign the
other way. Double Crud.
Well
there’s Swanlake – Idaho Tour City.
And
Downey – HOG D City.
And
15 North.
Ok
where’s the turn to Twin Falls. Where’s the turn. Should
I try this one? This one? No.
There’s a sign finally.
Gee,
this is the straightest, brownest, most boring stretch of road that I’ve
been on for a while.
What
is the exit for Rupert?
There
it is. Rupert 3 miles.
There’s a town back here. Rupert
that way. Ok. Here Rupert, Rupert, Rupert.
There you are. R City.
Next
stop Twin Falls County. Head to Twin Falls naturally. There the Snake River and the
Twin Falls County sign right on the bridge.
Well
here goes.
Please
don’t hit my bike. Please
don’t hit my bike. Please
don’t hit my bike. Got it.
T County. Let go.
84
West to Hammett. Gee it got
hot. 110F?
Time for a Gaterade stop. Hopefully
Hammett has a store. Yeah.
Hammett – Idaho Tour.
Next
stop home.
Over
all 972 miles and dozens of ABC pictures.
Tally
the Score
2
States - Utah, Wyoming
5
Counties – Elmore, Jerome, Lincoln, Rich, Twin Falls
5
Cities – Arco, Downey, Jerome, Rupert, Ucon
6
Idaho Tour – Picabo, Shelley, Swan Valley, Henry, Georgetown, Swanlake,
Hammett
Great
trip!
Now
to plan the next trip
|
