theadventuresoftyrah

[theadventuresoftyrah]

Yesterday was our last day on the bikes. We started our day in Sandpoint, ID. We jumped on highway 95 South, crossed Lake Pend Orielle which is always an amazing sight. The lake is beautiful with lots of islands. This was the 2nd time I have seen this lake and I always enjoy it.

As we made our way south we enjoyed the farmlands full of wheat and canola. The wheat was was still green and growing and the canola was beginning to bloom a cheerful yellow color. This part of Idaho is a part of the Palouse, the largest wheat growing area in the United States. We were making good time so we stopped for lunch at a cute diner in Moscow.

After lunch we continued south into Lewiston and Hells Canyon Harley Davidson. As we dropped into Lewiston the temps went from a nice 84 degrees to 98 degrees. The heat wave is real!! While at the dealership we also got to see Alan again and we chatted for about an hour which was fantastic.

We left the dealership and continued south to our end point for the day and for our time on our bikes. Luckily our elevation increased so the temps dropped back down into the low 80's and was way more comfortable to ride in. We arrived in Grangeville at 430 pm and got checked into our hotel. Once checked in the boys went and grabbed the trucks and trailers so we got the bikes loaded for the trip home.

Once bikes were loaded it was time to order dinner and hit the sack for an early start towards home tomorrow.

[theadventuresoftyrah]

Yesterday was our last day on the bikes. We started our day in Sandpoint, ID. We jumped on highway 95 South, crossed Lake Pend Orielle which is always an amazing sight. The lake is beautiful with lots of islands. This was the 2nd time I have seen this lake and I always enjoy it.

As we made our way south we enjoyed the farmlands full of wheat and canola. The wheat was was still green and growing and the canola was beginning to bloom a cheerful yellow color. This part of Idaho is a part of the Palouse, the largest wheat growing area in the United States. We were making good time so we stopped for lunch at a cute diner in Moscow.

After lunch we continued south into Lewiston and Hells Canyon Harley Davidson. As we dropped into Lewiston the temps went from a nice 84 degrees to 98 degrees. The heat wave is real!! While at the dealership we also got to see Alan again and we chatted for about an hour which was fantastic.

We left the dealership and continued south to our end point for the day and for our time on our bikes. Luckily our elevation increased so the temps dropped back down into the low 80's and was way more comfortable to ride in. We arrived in Grangeville at 430 pm and got checked into our hotel. Once checked in the boys went and grabbed the trucks and trailers so we got the bikes loaded for the trip home.

Once bikes were loaded it was time to order dinner and hit the sack for an early start towards home tomorrow.

[theadventuresoftyrah]

Todays adventure started with schlepping our gear to the bottom of 2 sets of stairs and a big ass hill. Thank goodness for Jim and Devin who did the heavy lifting. I say its because they love us, but they probably didn't want to listen to us whine either. LOL. Once that was done, we got the gear loaded and off to Kelowna HD we go as they open at 830 am.

Once there I head to the parts department to look for that plastic piece that goes on the top of your tour pack that helps latch the lid. It seems after 5 years of use, the lip that keeps if locked in place has worn down and my tour pack will no longer stay closed. Bad news, they didn't have it. Good news...we carry paracord and cargo nets in our bikes. Now for gas and on our way.

 • We took Highway 33 South out of Kelowna and the temp was a nice 76 degrees. This highway was fantastic woth nice pavement and miles of sweeping curves to have fun on. the speed limit was 90 kpm but we were easily doing 110. After about an hour we pulled into a nice rest area to stretch and enjoy the shade. While there a father daughter combo rode in on their bikes. We had a great convo with them. They were visiting Canada from Switzerland. Riding the Alps is their normal so the long flat roads in parts of Camada were a little birning for them.

Not long after we left the rest stop, we crossed the border back into the US north or Curlew, WA. By this time it was a hot 93 degrees. Hottest temps of our trip so far. We wound our way south on 2 lane roads and along the Kettle River. The water looked so good, we stopped and put our feet in for a little bit. After a gas fill up, we followed the mighty Columbia River 40 miles south before turning east to our final destination for the night near Sandpoint, ID.

See as I am posting this the day after, our day today will be short as it is the last day on the bikes.

[theadventuresoftyrah]

Todays adventure actually started last night. See, we didnt have reservations for Glacier National Park for today so we played the "next day reservations lottery". It felt like we were on Ticketmaster trying to buy Taylor Swift Era's tour tickets. But...we won. Because of this, we did not have to get up at the ass crack of dawn to get in before 6 am as we had originally planned.

Thank God we didnt. Our KSU today was 7 am. As we got on the MT-35 to go towards Kalispell we had fog. Then it cleared up and was sunny. Then the fog was back. Then sun, then fog. FINALLY it stayed sunny.

We entered Glacier National Park at the west enterance around 8 am. We made sure to go to the Apgar visitors center where I got my National Park Passport stamped. YAY!!! From there we headed east along the Going-to-the-Sun-Road. The road starts by winding through the forest with glimpses of Lake McDonald. The water on Lake McDonald was so smooth this morning it was like glass reflecting the nearby mountains. As we left the forest we found ourselves riding along the lake where we stopped at the Lake McDonald Lodge for breakfast. After breakfast we wandered down to the lake to take in the view and it was amazing.

Now that we were fed, we made our way up to Logan Pass. The road was busy so the going was slow, but slow was needed for this most amazing drive. I cant even count the number of waterfalls and multi-tiered falls we saw today, it was just astounding. As you climb higher in elevation the road steadily gets wetter. And we were riding on the cliff side. Thank goodness they believe in some tyoe of guard rail or short wall in most spots. In fact in one of those spots Jim saw a beaver just chillin' on the wall.

Logan Pass parking lot was BUSY!!! Thankfully they have motorcycle parking at the end of every row. Super handy. We got our pics taken for our MT coin for the 50 Rides 1 Nation from HOG National, saw a Hoary Marmot in the trees and snow, and took a quick wander through the visitors center. Good thing since the wind was blowing anow off the peaks and it was landing on us as rain. As we left Logan pass we headed down towards St. Mary's lake which was a fantastic color blue.

You would think that leaving a National Park as jaw dropping as Glacier would be the end of todays adventure, but you would be wrong. After getting gas in St. Mary it seems that I didn't lock my tour pack and my wallet went flying out. Luckily Jim saw it happen and we were able to retrieve everything. And by "we" I mean Jim and Devin. They were todays lifesavers. But that's not all folks!!!

Crossing the border into Canada was quick and painless. We were making our. way towards Calgary when the storm clouds started moving in on us from the west. We could see sun so we just went for it. We got wet, but more painfully we got hail. Thankfully it only last for about a minute but that shit HURT. Finally, we made it to our B&B for the night where we were able to have dinner delivered and just relax.

Tomorrow is going to be another adventure as we make our way to Banff National Park and the Jasper Ice fields.

#glaciernationalpark #adventure #motorcycles #harleydavidson

[theadventuresoftyrah]

Today started easier than the last 2 days since our KSU was 8 am. It was nice to be able to sleep in a little bit. We slowly packed the bikes and ate breakfast, then Tammy and Alan arrived - YAY!!!! A little gas and we are off on our adventure for the day.

The day started out at a nice cool 63 degrees as we left Grangeville on ID 13 and wound our way east through farm land that then turned to windy mountain roads that were lushly green and meandered along with the nearby creeks until we came upon the bigger Soith Fork of the Clear water River. As we followed this river we made our way through quaint little towns and more winding hillsides.

ID 13 connects with US Highway 12 and the South Fork we were following flows into the Middle Fork of the Clearwater River near Kooskia, ID. We made turn to go east towards Lolo Pass at a comfortable 67 degrees. You can smell the river and the pine along this road. You make a turn in the road and the river beside you just opens up and all you can say is "Wow!" Then you make another turn and there is 3 deer just chilaxing in the river like they hang out there everyday and a bit further down is a man enjoying some early morning fly fishing.

We finally had to say good bye ro our time with Tammy and Alan as they had ro turn back home and we continued onto Lolo Pass at a cool 58 degrees at the visitors center. A bathroom break, 50 Rides 1 Nation photos taken, coffee/hot chocolate stop and one VERY curious "prairie dog" and we continued our way east into Missoula, MT and the Harley Dealer...that was closed. But, we ate some lunch and got our July HD riding challenge check in while there.

After luch we headed north again to make our way to our accomodations for the night in Bigfork, MT. We had been watching the sky all day but we finally ran into rain headed north. The nic ething was is that it was a spring rain so no drastic rain gear measures needed. We came over a hitt into the Poulson, MT area and all you can see before you is the massive Flathead Lake. This is the largest lake west of the Mississippi at almost 40 miles long and 20 feet across.

We made our way up the east side of the lake after a grocery and gas stop. The road that takes you north winds you through pines and along the lakes edge. Once at Bigfork we make a tun into a cute neighborhood and wound our way down 1 lane streets that were Thankfully paved to our cute airbnb that overlooked the lake for the night.

[theadventuresoftyrah]

We started our morning early again, but not as early as yesterday. We are alao spending over half of our drive time today on the interstate. It does have its purposes but its also super boring.

We made our dirst pit stop of the day in Snowville, UT. Jim and I have a history with this speck on the map. 23 years ago when moving from Seattle to TN we pulled into this tiny town at nearly midnight and found a motel with a flickering vacancy sign. It was as run down as you can imagine. Apparently that hotel is still in business but from the looks of it, its worse than 20 years ago.

As we crossed into Idaho we endured through sections of boring and beautifully green thanks to full rivers and lots of farmland. We also encountered interstates that have had mich better maintenance than I-15 did in Utah.

We were finally able to get off the interstate on the outskirts of Boise as we made our way to ID 55, a beautifully scenic road that take you North through McCall, ID. But, fate had other plana for us. About 10 miles north of Horseshoe Bend, ID we encountered a broken down converted school bus that was causing a 5 min slow down. The rest of the route looked clear on the GPS. About 5 miles later we were stopped and forced to make a U-turn. Well shit, now what? No cell service so relaying on basic google maps. Decided on a route plan and fingers are crossed the road is paved.

Success!! The road was paved and in good condition. Easily saved us over an hour and we finally made it over to US-95 to go north. We followed several rivers along the way including the fantastically scenic Salmon River. The road and the river to9k us between beautiful green mountains/hills that just kept on going. At one point, you cross a bridge, and the river, and gain back an hour as you are now in the Pacific Time Zone.

Our final assent north is on the White Bird Grade. This is a long 7 or 8 mile climb that takes you up several thousand feet. If you can, take a look over the edge and see the rolling green valley below you, along with the community of White Bird. When you get to the to0 9f the grade you burst out onto the Camas Prairie. The sun was starting to get low by this point and the colors were fantastic.

Tomorrow we move drom trucks to bikes and begin to make our way east. What will the road bring you ask? Adventure. Always an adventure.

[theadventuresoftyrah]

Today the sun broke early over the city of Phoenix as we made the start of our journey north by jumping on I-17 to meet with friends who were coming along for the adventure. It can be hard to get going when you open that garage door at 430 am to load the last few things in the truck and its 90 degrees already, or still, whatever. It was just hot already.

Climbing the twisty path of I-17 just north of ) Phoenix is where you know if your truck and trailer will make the trip or not. Its not a long climb, but its a steep one which is emphasized as the motors rpm's increase just to try to maintain your spoed as you climb. As we got to the top of the canyon and leveled out on the high desert, the sun hits you right in the face and blinds you for a minute. Quick adjustments of visors and sunglasses required. As we make our way North the next two days the sound of rkps's as we keep climbing will be a constant background noise to rhe radio.

As you get into Flagstaff you make your way off the interstate and onto US Highway 89 which wil take us most of the way to our endpoint today of Ogden City, UT, but first you have to cross the desert. I always say that the Navajo Nation has 2 looks. The first look is absolutely beautiful with amazing scenery and beautiful red rock. The second look is the one where it appears an atomic bomb has gone off. Well on US-89, you get the atomic bomb look. Nothing but white rock and dirt. That is until your about 20 miles south of Page and you come upon the Vermillion Cliffs and the Colorado River Valley. You can see where the Colorado River has scraped and clawed its way through the ground over millions of years with colorful red and white cliffs as its backdrop.

As you make your way past the Cliffs, you climb your way through the rock to continue North onto Page and into Utah. Once past Kanab, the road takes you along the path of multiple rivers...with water in them! I know its normal for rivers to have water in them but in AZ they usually don't because its all below sirface unless it has recently rained. Anyway, the rivers make everything green and pretty as we made our way along miles of farmland mixed in with desert scrub. Sometimes the river names also allow you to make sexual innuendo jokes for 15 minutes with your car mate, in this case, my husband.

We ended our day back on the interstate to get to our hotel for the night for some rest and relaxation before we hit the interstate tomorrow and head into Idaho.

#roadtrip #utah #arizona #friends

[theadventuresoftyrah]

Today the sun broke early over the city of Phoenix as we made the start of our journey north by jumping on I-17 to meet with friends who were coming along for the adventure. It can be hard to get going when you open that garage door at 430 am to load the last few things in the truck and its 90 degrees already, or still, whatever. It was just hot already.

Climbing the twisty path of I-17 just north of ) Phoenix is where you know if your truck and trailer will make the trip or not. Its not a long climb, but its a steep one which is emphasized as the motors rpm's increase just to try to maintain your spoed as you climb. As we got to the top of the canyon and leveled out on the high desert, the sun hits you right in the face and blinds you for a minute. Quick adjustments of visors and sunglasses required. As we make our way North the next two days the sound of rkps's as we keep climbing will be a constant background noise to rhe radio.

As you get into Flagstaff you make your way off the interstate and onto US Highway 89 which wil take us most of the way to our endpoint today of Ogden City, UT, but first you have to cross the desert. I always say that the Navajo Nation has 2 looks. The first look is absolutely beautiful with amazing scenery and beautiful red rock. The second look is the one where it appears an atomic bomb has gone off. Well on US-89, you get the atomic bomb look. Nothing but white rock and dirt. That is until your about 20 miles south of Page and you come upon the Vermillion Cliffs and the Colorado River Valley. You can see where the Colorado River has scraped and clawed its way through the ground over millions of years with colorful red and white cliffs as its backdrop.

As you make your way past the Cliffs, you climb your way through the rock to continue North onto Page and into Utah. Once past Kanab, the road takes you along the path of multiple rivers...with water in them! I know its normal for rivers to have water in them but in AZ they usually don't because its all below sirface unless it has recently rained. Anyway, the rivers make everything green and pretty as we made our way along miles of farmland mixed in with desert scrub. Sometimes the river names also allow you to make sexual innuendo jokes for 15 minutes with your car mate, in this case, my husband.

We ended our day back on the interstate to get to our hotel for the night for some rest and relaxation before we hit the interstate tomorrow and head into Idaho.

#roadtrip #utah #arizona #friends

[theadventuresoftyrah]

This angle gives the Historic Copper Queen Hotel a new feel. She looks pretty good for being over 100 years old. #historic #bisbeearizona #hauntedhotel #playingtourist (at Copper Queen Hotel) https://www.instagram.com/p/CktzWgPvr4c/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theadventuresoftyrah]

Smell. It's one of the 5 sense that we all use on a daily basis, but there's just something about that sense when you are on a bike. Everything you smell while on the road is unfiltered and you can't get that same experience in a car. Yesterday the dh and I went to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Talk about AMAZING!

On the way there we rode through the desert and the smells of the desert dust. As we made our way up in elevation and the dust gave way to mountains and pine the smells began to change, bit it wasn't until we were headed south on AZ highway 67 and hit the pines and meadows at 8000 ft that the smell of pine and clean air began to overtake the senses and install a sense of peace that is difficult for me to experience in other ways.

As we left the the Grand Canyon and moved into the desert again, the smell of rain from the monsoon storms closing in took over all other scents of the desert. For me, rain has always had it's own smell and that smell changes based on topography. It has a more airy smell in the desert and a more earthy and crisp smell in the mountains. Either way I love it!

My favorite time in desert is after it rains. The scrub brush looks greener and the Creasote bush is in full odor. Many don't like the smell of the Creasote bush, but I love it right after it rains when it is in full "smell." If you get a chance to smell one, do, but don't get too close.

Take the time to enjoy the smells around you, both the pleasant and the not so pleasant as they all have a story and a purpose.

[theadventuresoftyrah]

So 3 weeks ago I got fired from I job I had been at for 13 years. I was good at wheat I did and more importantly, I loved what I did. Now I find myself in this limbo of do I stay in the same industry or do I change my whole world. I sure you all can relate! I love to read books, ride my Harley and I love to take photographs. Unfortunately my brain is to logical to be creative in any other way. In the most perfect world I would be able to make the most amazing living while travelling on my Harley and taking photos. I just wish it were practical, you know!!! That being said, while I I interview for some pretty amazing jobs, decided to also start some writing while I take pictures and ride my motorcycle. This is the first.

I am currently the Director of the Phoenix Harley Owners Group (HOG) Chapter 93. This is a motorcycle riding group. I am also a Road Captain in this group so I help plan rides for the group. I also plan rides for myself. Since I am out riding to some pretty amazing places, I thought I would tell you all about them. However, today I am on a ride with my husband to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. We left Heber, AZ, a small town in the White Tank mountains around 930 yesterday morning and arrived in Page, AZ, the small town near Lake Powell in Northern, AZ on the UT border, around 430 yesterday afternoon. Our route from Heber to Page Kent we spent 99% of our day on the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Nation is MASSIVE! It takes up all of the NE corner of AZ. It's a very interesting place as you get some really great roads and some really shitty roads. You also get some really incredible scenery and some really shitty scenery. I always say, the scenery along the US 160 on the Navajo Nation is partly amazing and partly looks like an atomic bomb went off there. The people you come across when you stop are sooo friendly and helpful. Yesterday on our journey we got some new roads for my husband and I on the Navajo Nation and because AZ has had a true Monsoon season it was all green and just beautiful. You had this great prairie that looked over the Painted Desert with these massive stone pillars that rise up out of the ground from nowhere that made me want to stop (unfortunately there was no where to stop) and truly take in the magnificent views. As we continued on our way we rode into the Hopi Reservation which is surrounded by the Navajo Nation. We didn't stop in the Hopi Reservation, but as I rode through there I noticed 2 things that really stood out to me. 1. Outhouses, 2. No electrical lines. Now I know that there are also parts of the Navajo Nation that also don't have electricity and outhouses, but for some reason it hit me harder when seeing it on the Hopi Reservation. I think it's because this part of the Hopi Reservation just seemed so inhospitable, yet people have been making their homes there since the Federal Government fucked over the Natives as that country developed and because of this, a portion of them don't have the basics items of electricity and a bathroom in their home that we all take for granted every day. I am sure some who read this, if any will say, but they can move and find a better place, but historically speaking, many natives don't leave the reservations that they grew up on, at least from all of the reading I have done. Anyway, I didn't mean to make this a diatribe, it was just something that really stood out to me

We finally made it to Page and checked into our hotel room. The view from the hotel pool is amazing and I can't wait to see the sun rise on the red rock over looking the Glen Canyon Dam of Lake Powell. Pictures of that tomorrow. Later today we travel to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, which my husband calls a big hole in the ground. While it may be that, I am willing to bet the views will be amazing.

Heres to another great day of riding my Harley with my knees in the breeze and the wind in my face. Stay tuned as you never know where I will be going as I have more adventures in my calendar.