X-Sender: kegill@mail.halcyon.com Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 21:47:23 -0700 To: wetleather@micapeak.com From: "Kathy E. Gill" Subject: Day Eleven : Mountains! Curves! 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. Stop in Shoshoni for gas and water -- 86 miles in 64 minutes, with the speedo sitting on 90 on average. Maybe it's not so far off after all? Riverton is the next town - and it's surprisingly large. In fact, after the rural emptiness of Nevada and Nebraska and Utah -- I'm surprised at the volume of traffic. Too much for triple digits. I pass Bull Lake - and wonder anew at names. Bull Lake? What could this have meant? It's man-made, so a fairly recent phenomena. Heading into Dubois (200 miles, 3 hours) -- the terrain is changing - for the better! I stop in Dubois to call about tires, but first have a fountain shake at Dubois Drug Store. (boring vanilla) ;-) Joe (little wing) has told me about a guy in Pocotello - so I call him. He has a Dunlop 190/60 - my tires are 180/55. "It's a quarter inch wider than your tire and will go well with the front tire." Talk to Fred at Big Twin in Boise - he has a 180/55 Metzler - "sport touring" not quite as soft a compound as the Avons. I tell both of them that I'll make my decision after reaching Idaho Falls. Route 287 soon enters the Shoshone National Forest -- and I feel like I've come home. If I had any doubts about my affinity for trees and mountains, they've disappeared. What's that? An "s" curve? Do I remember *how*? I pass the sign for the continental divide - and think about turning around for a picture. If *I* were in charge there would be a photo op here. And a *warning* sign that the photo op is coming up. The grin factor is big here - in large part due to the landscape. The curves aren't particularly challenging - just nice. Suddenly, there are the Tetons - and no place to stop for pix or just to savor the view. Well, there is, but after you're down on the plain. Hard to think that this is the same Snake River that we visited just a few weeks back. Stop in Jackson. Find a 'local' cafe off main that serves breakfast 24 hours. Order eggs and country ham - and think about John when it's served. The ham is the size of a platter! Not southern country cured, but country ham, nonetheless. Ymmmmm. ;-) Wander the stores - find a great (red) vest with a horse print. Buy a JH long-sleeved t-shirt. Look at bikes and watch tourists. There is a HD dealer that also sells Triumphs in Jackson. I try calling them to check on a tire - three different sessions, a half-dozen times each session. Always busy. Oh Well. Head out about 5 pm. It's been a very relaxing day. I'm about to "go over a pass" (I think) so I put on warmer clothes (mistake). Traffic is somewhat heavy - and the pass seems a little anticlamatic. It's nice - just "short" and relatively tame. And it's hotter than it's been all day. Next time I'll run down 26 and take the Grand Canyon crossing. Blink and you're in Idaho. The roads are narrower - particularly after you turn onto SR31. However - NOW this feels like a pass! Twisty - tight turns. And the view - I find myself doing the "wow" thing very often. In fact, I stop 20 miles outside of Idaho Falls just to look at the water and mountains. Get into Idaho Falls and call the Motel West (at Jon's suggestion). Yes, they have a room (and pool/hot tub) - provide directions - it's on the way out 20/26 to Craters of the Moon. How convenient. ;-) The tire still has tread. Not a lot, but some. So I'm going to leave early (before it's hot) and run to Boise for the Metzler. Lube the chain - but can't tighten it. Cannot get the axle nut loose. :-/ Did I use gorilla hands on Sunday? Or has something conspired to tighten this? I'm using a 1/2" drive socket (12" rachet, I think) - lots of leverage. The chain's not terribly loose - and I'm sure Big Twin can break the nut free. But what if it were *really* in need of adjustment. How could I loosen it? A 400 mile day. It felt "light". Kathy on digest