Topic: Interesting Roads and Destinations

[madmtnmotors]

Another beautiful stretch of road, beautiful sky, not a car in sight!

If this were my backyard I might have 170,000 miles on my CB750 too!

Thanks for sharing.

[ofreen]

I'll do another old road that's been supplanted by a new one.  US95 in Idaho again, this time the road now known as the Old Winchester Grade.  US95 followed this route until the present day road was completed circa 1960.  The bird's eye view below shows the present road to the north and east, which is an interesting stretch in its own right, but nothing like the original route that descends Culdesac Hill.  I recommend riding the old route in both directions if you happen to be in the area.  Well worth your time if you like curvy roads and great scenery.  Here's a few photos and the obligatory hand held video -

[ofreen]

This one is about one of my favorite rides anywhere, a string of interesting roads, namely Idaho ID71, Forest Service Road 39 in Oregon, Oregon 350/82/3 to Washington 129.  It is nothing but twisty roads and eye-popping scenery the entire way. This route was a pretty well-kept secret for a long time but word is getting out.  American Motorcyclist called part of it one of the country's 10 best roads a year or so back, and there is a write-up on a portion of it in this month's issue. (Walla Walla to Boise)  You can't miss this if you are in the area.  Let me know if you are around.  Maybe I'll go with you.

Here's what it looks like from orbit -



ID71 to Brownlee Reservoir -






Brownlee-Oxbow Highway -



Forest Service Road 39 -




Hells Canyon Overlook -




Off OR350 above Joseph, OR -




OR3 -



WA129 -





Boggan's Oasis on the Grande Ronde River -



More WA129 to Anatone, WA, including a look back at Boggan's Oasis -

[Stev-o]

That looks fantastic Greg, nice write up. That's one part of the country I haven't been to...yet.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

I rode north into Washington from Hells Canyon area then followed a river NE before heading to Glacier. Same route maybe.

I'm looking for some riding this year. Let me know. Low dollar high fun riding. My riding partner isn't too interested this year so he can stay at home. He's doing his favorite 'vacation' spots and may be interested in rides post retirement in 2 years. Ain't waiting on his ass!

[70CB750]

Cambridge to Anatone

Nice video to watch with the morning coffee, thanks!

I couldn't help wondering about those rubber lines in the first part of the movie, looked like semi with locked rear axle, but the way he negotiated turns was quite scary - for the oncoming traffic at least.

[ofreen]

That looks fantastic Greg, nice write up. That's one part of the country I haven't been to...yet.

It's great to have something to look forward to, ain't it?

I'm looking for some riding this year. Let me know. Low dollar high fun riding. My riding partner isn't too interested this year so he can stay at home. He's doing his favorite 'vacation' spots and may be interested in rides post retirement in 2 years. Ain't waiting on his ass!

Good plan, Jerry, life is too short.  If you head this way, look me up.  I don't know what we are doing yet, but Colorado is always a possibility.  I'd give you fair warning.

Nice video to watch with the morning coffee, thanks!
I couldn't help wondering about those rubber lines in the first part of the movie, looked like semi with locked rear axle, but the way he negotiated turns was quite scary - for the oncoming traffic at least.

I know what you mean.  Must have lost his air.  The trailer had to be empty otherwise the tires would never have made it that far without blowing.  Amazing they didn't anyway.  The way it was tracking, I'd guess a livestock trailer, something with the axles way back.  Glad you enjoyed the video. 

[Duanob]

Awesome scenery Greg. My wife and I and the dog took a road trip through central and northern Idaho last June 2012. Your vids remind me of how beautiful the country side is. I wished I was on 2 wheels. We were on parts of HWY95 then to McCall and wound our way to Stanley, one of my favorite places. Then to Salmon and followed the lewis and Clark trail into Missoula MT. All fantastic scenery and no crowds!

We usually take the northern part of HWY95 from Post Falls up into Canada when we drive to Calgary to see my wife's family. Not as pretty as the southern part but still lots of nice scenery.

[ofreen]

Awesome scenery Greg. My wife and I and the dog took a road trip through central and northern Idaho last June 2012. Your vids remind me of how beautiful the country side is. I wished I was on 2 wheels.

I know what you mean about wishing you were on a bike.  My wife and I took a car trip to southern California to see our daughter last week.  We found CA371/74 into Palm Desert that is spectacular.  What a route.  If I get down there on a bike, the route will go into this thread for sure.  Glad you liked the post.

[Duanob]

North Cascades Hwy 20

I wish I could take credit for this vid but I found it on Youtube. Looks like it came from memebr funjimmy. I hope he doesn't mind that I post it here but this is one of my fav routes in our state especially on a weekday when there are no crowds. HWY 20 is like this through our entire state although most people only use it from Interstate 5 to Winthrop, WA. Thanks funjimmy!

Café Clips - Honda CB550F & CB750 - North Cascade Hwy

[ofreen]

Here's a short post for a short road.  On the east side of Glacier National Park, Montana 49 (aka Looking Glass Hill Road) is overshadowed by the famous Going To The Sun highway, but it is very worthwhile to check out.  At only about 11 miles, from Kiowa on US89 to East Glacier on US2, it packs a lot of curves and scenery in a short distance.  I was up there again about a week and a half ago, and figured the road is a good fit for this thread.

[ofreen]

The first post in this thread featured the Moki Dugway in southern Utah.  I was down there again last Tuesday and took another vid heading down.  There's some comic relief toward the begnning where I am threading the needle between a pickup and a washout and decide both hands on the bars might be a good idea -

[Mooshie]

Darn it Greg, now all I want to do is ride...One of these trips we need to meet up.

[ofreen]

Darn it Greg, now all I want to do is ride...One of these trips we need to meet up.

Sounds good to me.  Maybe an upcoming relay.  I didn't mention it before but you guys passed within 30 miles of our house in Idaho on your Canada trip.  I enjoyed the great photos you put up from that ride.

[Mooshie]

Oh, you should have let me know I would have stopped by and invaded your space.  Or at least bought you a lunch.  Idaho was very pretty, reminded me of New Jersey (the western side of NJ)

[ofreen]

Oh, you should have let me know I would have stopped by and invaded your space.  Or at least bought you a lunch.  Idaho was very pretty, reminded me of New Jersey (the western side of NJ)

I would have, but thought you were heading up by way of the coast.  Next time for sure.

I wouldn't have thought NJ and Idaho would have much in common.  Of course I've only been to Atlantic City, and flew in.  I'm going to have to check out the wilds of New Jersey someday.

[Stev-o]

Oh, you should have let me know I would have stopped by and invaded your space.  Or at least bought you a lunch.  Idaho was very pretty, reminded me of New Jersey (the western side of NJ)

I wouldn't have thought NJ and Idaho would have much in common. 

Was thinking the exact same thing.

[Mooshie]

Ha ha, no kidding.  I grew up in Western NJ and it has the same feel as Idaho did.  Lots of land and antique stores.  Atlantic City and Camden are what most people think of when they imagine NJ. It is actually a beautiful state (the further west you go that is).

[ofreen]

This road heads north out of Elko, Nevada past the Wildhorse Reservoir to the Idaho line, where it turns into Idaho 51.  The stretch from the reservoir past the dam, then following the Owyhee River through Mountain City is worth seeking out.  Long stretches of this route are pretty remote.

Wildhorse Reservoir -



Wildhorse Dam, built back in 1969 -





NV225 winds relentlessly along the Owyhee River north of the dam, excellent on a bike.  A lot of blind curves and animals, coupled with being a long way from help, makes a little prudence a good idea.  There is a great Forest Service primitive campground along the way.  I've camped there many times.  Good place to star gaze, as it is remote enough to be away from any haze.  The highway is a great jumping off place for some of the best dual purpose riding anywhere -



In Owyhee Canyon -





Mountain City is a cool old town that is struggling these days.  Some sources call it a ghost town, which seems a little uncharitable since people live there.  Many of the businesses have closed up in the last few years, though I see the steak house was up and running again when I was through there in September.  There was a nice supermarket, but it went belly up.  Mountain City, Nevada -





The Miner's Club in all its dilapidated glory -




Prime Mountain City real estate -






NV225 turns into ID51 at the Idaho line.  Once you get north of the Duck Valley reservation, you are in some of the remotest country in the lower 48.  A great place to get away from it all -

[Pecantree]

Great pictures Gregg!
Did some of these routes this summer. By car , but had the wife and grandkids .
It is incredible!

Do you have racks on your 750 for touring.
Looks like what I do with just a bunch of soft bags.
Curious about your thoughts.
Keep posting these.
Thanks.
Steve

[madmtnmotors]

I always enjoy your views of the scenery out there. Your neck of the woods is definitely on my bucket list! 

Are those "Trunks" that you are using as "Panniers"? I have a couple of those trunks and never thought of using them as side cases. Even the mounts for them would lend themselves well to vertical installation. Nice! And GOBS of space. I can fit two full face helmets in one of those trunks...

[ofreen]

Great pictures Gregg!
Did some of these routes this summer. By car , but had the wife and grandkids .
It is incredible!
Do you have racks on your 750 for touring.
Looks like what I do with just a bunch of soft bags.
Curious about your thoughts.
Keep posting these.
Thanks.
Steve

I always enjoy your views of the scenery out there. Your neck of the woods is definitely on my bucket list! 

Are those "Trunks" that you are using as "Panniers"? I have a couple of those trunks and never thought of using them as side cases. Even the mounts for them would lend themselves well to vertical installation. Nice! And GOBS of space. I can fit two full face helmets in one of those trunks...

Thanks, glad you guys like the photos.  The hard bags are GIVI E360s hanging on a GIVI Wingrack.  The E360s are designed as panniers, but can be used as a top trunk.  I also have an E460 top trunk that I use occasionally, mostly on the BMW GS when my wife goes with me.  The GIVI bags are excellent. They've never leaked a drop, and they've been through many an all-day frog strangler.  They are plenty roomy.  If I run out of room, I am taking too much stuff.  The only negative I'd mention is they are a little heavy compared to my BMW hard bags, but they are very stout.  I have an Ortlieb dry bag on top that holds my tent, Woods sleeping bag, Thermarest, and a few other odds and ends. 

I bought the basics from Happy Trails to build racks to hold the GIVIs on the 750 a while back, but haven't gotten around to fabbing them up yet.  I use the Ortlieb dry saddle bags with the dry bag on that and they work so well I just haven't been motivated to do it.  I may still do it because of the hard bags being a little more secure if I want to walk away from the bike.  I'll show them on the forum when I get around to building them for the 750.

These two products get my recommendation.  They seem a little pricey, but they are worth it.  They are very tough and no water ever gets in -

http://www.aerostich.com/bags/seat-bags-and-tail-bags/dry-bags/ortlieb-dry-bag-duffel-bags.html

http://www.aerostich.com/bags/seat-bags-and-tail-bags/saddlebags/ortlieb-dry-bag-saddlebags.html

[Schnell]

Greg, I had no idea that Idaho was so beautiful!

[ofreen]

Greg, I had no idea that Idaho was so beautiful!

All but the last photo in that set of pix was in Nevada, but Idaho is great.  Looks like you are planning to hit the northern half of Idaho on your tour.  Can't go wrong there.

[andy750]

Great photos as usual Greg and particularly enjoyed the Mountain City photos - interesting to see small towns that are either in decline or being revitalized. If there are people still living there I wonder what they do.

cheers
Andy