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Just outside of Moab we spent two hours riding through Arches National Park, pretty amazing. For the rest of that day and the next we would not have a National Park or other specific site to view just the grand scenery of the Southwest as we traveled over straight stretches of desert and winding mountain passes staying one evening in Ely Nevada and ending in Reno for two nights. It was time to catch up on bike and personal maintenance. While in Reno we enjoyed dealer parties at both Reno and Carson City HD, attended the latest Posse Ride Rendezvous receiving a certificate for surviving the Loneliest Road and while Mike and Wanda took a ride around Lake Tahoe we did laundry and Barb treated her toes to a pedicure.
Wednesday the 11th we departed north for Klamath Falls Oregon. Traveling a little off the "official" posse ride route we stopped in Susanville for breakfast than continued on Hwy 36 to 89 and took a leisurely ride through Lassen Volcanic National Park. What a great place, there was even a bit of snow along the roadside towards the top. It was a little cool through the park, which we look back on longingly later that afternoon as we rode through Lava Beds National Monument. At the visitor's center we took a short walk and entered Mushpot Cave, a lava tube, where we learned about lava tube formation and enjoyed the 50-degree temperature. After a dealer party in Moore Park, the dealer coming all the way from Medford to throw the party, we spent a relaxing evening in the air-conditioned motel room. Thursday we were to travel to Kennewick and again we left the official route to take Mike and Wanda around Crater Lake National Park. Returning to Hwy 97 after viewing the lake it was a long, hot (104 degrees) ride to Shumate HD for the dealer party then across the street to my brothers for a few beers, dinner and conversation. Today Friday the 13th turned out to be good luck. Crossing eastern Washington to Lewiston in the morning found the temperature cool and very pleasant. After that it was over Lolo Pass, one of Barb and my favorite roads.
There has been a lot of riding and not much writing these past few days. Here it is Thursday, 19 August and we are sitting in the room of the Best Western, Kings Row, Fort Smith Arkansas. From Lolo Pass and Missoula we traveled hwy 200 and hwy 12 to Billings MT. The morning ride was very cold. We put on the electric gear but I thought it wouldn't be that bad so hook up my gloves. At a hundred miles when we stopped for breakfast my fingers were frozen stiff. The ride into Billings was uneventful though enjoyable. On the next leg of the journey we left at 5 AM, as we would be traveling on the interstate (90 & 94) for the first 138 miles. When we reached Miles City thinking we might be first there were two bikes in the restaurant parking lot. How could they have been that far in front of us that they would have finished eating and be preparing to leave? It turns out they had ridden to Miles City the night before. On the way to Rapid City we traveled into North Dakota, a small side trip to Wyoming, and a stop in Sturgis. Wow, what a difference one day can make. The rally is officially over on Saturday and Sunday when we arrived main street had cars on it, most venders were packed and gone and it appeared as though they were about to roll up the sidewalks. We did find a vender still operating an oil change station so had ours changed. On the way out of town we stopped by John Rindy's and I introduced Mike and Wanda. Rapid City was to be our home for two nights; an Econo Lodge with its own two-story water slide.
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