I seem to have fallen way behind with keeping up my blog - so here is a little trip that we took down to Oregon this past summer....
As a kid my first memories of Idaho were from the window of a camper truck as my mother, little brother and I drove to and from Oregon to visit relatives that I didn't know and have seen little of since. Whether it was the intense storm or the narrow canyon roads that left an impression I have been enamored with the place ever since - as you can tell from all the times that I have hit it in this blog. This time Jen and I wanted to pass through Idaho on the way to Snake River Canyon in Oregon and possibly catch Oregon`s Dooley Mountain Hwy - motorcycling Nirvana in my opinion. It would all depend on the cooperation of the new Sergent seat on the Ducati. I keep my fingers crossed that we have finally fixed this bike for the better....
Jen and the Duck take a rest following a particularly twisty stretch along the east side of the lake
There seems to be no bad angles to get pictures on this corner 
We take the usual route down to Sandpoint from Calgary and get drenched for our troubles. I'm looking forward to getting some decent pics from this trip so we take the time to wash the bikes before heading off to the pub. As it turns out it was all for naught as early the next day we were back in to it. For that reason this blog entry will feature bikes on tour in their natural environment - in the rain....
This time we decide to take the scenic route along the east side of Lake Coeur D'Alene for something a little different. I hadn't done this one for quite a few years and it is really worth the extra time that it takes you.
From the east side of Lake Coeur D'Alene we stop for a look across the lake
The familiar Idaho feeling comes back as we ride away from the edge of the lake - perhaps due to the fact that I have spent days intentionally getting lost down here over the years, or due to my quest to find
`that`road that I experienced as a kid long ago. One thing is certain however, if you find yourself down this way make sure that you fill up with gas when the opportunity presents itself. Once we found our way past the end of the lake, gas was hard to come by. As luck would have it both the Duck and Viffer can really stretch a tank of fuel and we finally found a dumpy little place with one pump before things got ugly.
The view from behind the dirty windshield of an old Viffer south of Lake Coeur D'Alene...
We set up for the evening in Enterprise Oregon - a nice town on the edge of riding paradise. We end up staying at a newer place on the top of the hill on the edge of town, and opt for an early start the next morning. Because the VFR is sporting the TBR can I decide to do the on-line warm up; starting the bike in gear and idling away from the hotel as to not wake everyone in the place. After idling down the hill to the local gas station we are surprised to find the local towny "Enterprise Police" following us in to the gas station with his lights on. After taking off our helmets and asking each other if "this" was for us, we were asked if "we had any idea of how fast we were going?". "About 15" I respond - partially surprised and completely pissed that this opportunistic A-hole had decided to work over the only two tourists in town for doing nothing worse than passing through. We were easily cruising at about 1/2 the limit when he supposedly "clocked us", but this is where it got interesting - the lady working the gas station had seen us ride up and stepped out to stare down our new friend. I'm not exactly sure what kind of history was there but he decided to pack up his tent and move on. She later explained that this guy was a constant problem with his exploitation of the few tourists that do come through. In the end it was a nice town with a slight problem. There are many other times on this trip when I would easily deserved the ticket, but there are other towns to spend our money. Let's hope they get it sorted out.....
Coming out of Enterprise you climb high above the town on Hwy#82 This road is a serpentine of glass smooth pavement with tight switchbacks that make you want to go back for another pass - great fun!
Once you climb out of the valley the road opens up for a run across the prairie. It was at this point during my first time through here that I had to stop and check the map. It looks like we should be following a canyon but we are just dumped out on the prairie. As it turns out it is just a relatively short blast through grain country before you get back in to the good stuff.
The clouds made for some interesting scenery during our run on the flat land....
And finally we arrive - the Snake River Canyon:
Deeper than the Grand Canyon - Jen looks over the Snake River Canyon from the look-out point.
The road to and from the lookout is fun in itself.
How can you not have fun on a road like this???
It's when we are stopped at the lookout that I come to grips with the fact that while we are going to be within 80 miles of the Dooley Mountain Hwy it just wasn't going to happen on this trip. The new seat on the 696 is a massive improvement, but it still is a stretch to consider it a decent touring mount. Jen is willing, but taking on the extra mileage will turn a great trip in to an endurance run and suck all of the fun right out of it. For now we will cut across the canyon to the east and head in to Idaho...
Even when things straighten out down here it still makes for great motorcycle roads
It was difficult to stop on the side of the road anywhere on this trip where there wasn't a great photo - op...
What's another blog tour entry without the required picture of an old barn at the side of the road. This one looked interesting in the late afternoon sun...
As have most days on this trip, our day begins with rain as we cut along the Salmon River through Idaho as we begin our return home. I finally realize at this point that I have found the river that I had traveled along as a kid riding with my mother in a truck camper through a crazy storm. This was the road that had cemented my memories of what Idaho was like, and I have spent many years thinking that I was close, but never exactly where I started this infatuation all of those years ago. As the rain lifts, there are slight patches of fog on the hills, combined with the morning sun that give this place a magical feel. We keep our speeds moderate and are now on our destination home. Although this road feels like it shouldn't end it eventually will, and we will return to roads that are well covered in this blog already. But for now it rolls on beneath the VFR on what I suspect is our last big tour together (the Honda and I), and it doesn't get any better than this.
Steam rises from along the river following a rain on the Salmon River...
Cheers,
High_Side
May your monsoon continue! 
