Red Wine wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:


Since I took an average of 100 photos each day, I might be able to write a pictorial journal of the travel across the country.  Might serve as a guide for others interested in escaping the crowded east coast.  Might be good for newcomers to the country as well )

Montana, well, my spouse lived in that state for a few years once.  The mid and northern states were part of our original road map, just for that reason.  Of course, weather  realities and logistics changed that plan pretty quickly.  I want to see Montana in a warmer month, now.

Stopping to look at vistas?  Well, that was part of the "problem" during our trip too.  I probably extended each daily drive by 1 hour just because I had to stop so often to  look.  Something would catch my eye, and most times it would be visible for a very long time.  That would have me searching for a safe place to stop our little caravan several times every day....

Thanks for the best wishes.  It has been real fun to share this trip with SuzukiSavage.

I guess that in a day or so, I'll have to let this thread sort of fade into cyber space, but it's been great.

Now, I gotta figure out what went wrong with my logo  

Savage_Greg wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:


Hi Greg,
I was in Montana in 1994, in late winter and spring, from March to June, visiting a friend of mine and working as a logger for him in order to "compensate" accomodation, food, fuel (that was a BIG bill!!!) etc.
It was the greatest vacations I have ever had...
I'm sure you will enjoy the PNW and Libby, MT is no too far away, you can take I-84 along the Columbia River to Hermiston, then head N on 182 for short and on Route 395 NE to I-90 onto Spokane, WA. Then head N on route 2 to Sandpoint, Idaho, and then onto route 295 to Booner Fy, where you'll hit route 2 again. go SE, ride past Troy and a few miles ahead you'll find Libby.
The map I'm lloking at is not very accurate, so you might make changes to the route, but the trip looks like a 7 to 10 day riding journey, round trip.  8)  Great vacation plan!!
Man, I got enthusiastic again!!!!
Ride Safe,
RW

Hi "Y'all"...it was funny but someone at a bank today told Julie, "I love the way you talk".  

Anyway, the Savages are in a temporary storage unit and safe.  Not without some incidental damage too.  I was surprised to find that the constant movement of the bike cover on my bike actually rubbed a good portion of my special pin striping off the front fender.  Kind of like a polishing compound taking that paint off the stock paint...Oh well,  I'll have to fix it.  I know the paint was good quality and well done, but I guess that enough rubbing can do that.

I was also surprised at the amount of dirt under the covers.  They are a mess.  We got a real good clean-up coming soon.

Also, there are some real die hard riders here in Portland.  The winters are pretty windy and the weather is cold and humid (you can feel it).  At about 30 degrees with a good steady wind, you see guys riding all over the place.  I saw a guy on a Savage today, too, on our way to the grocery store.  As he passed me, I had rolled down my window to listen....he has a stock muffler and his drive belt is too tight and squeaking loudly....I wanted to meet him but couldn't.  Oh well there will be another time  

Another interesting thing....as I walked the dog yesterday morning.  In all our rushing around on Sunday, I hadn't noticed Mt St. Helens to the north....and it's not like anyone ever told me to look that way.  But there in the red morning sunrise, I saw the volcano that has always been just "a photo" to me.  Wow.  And what I also saw was some steam venting off....in my excitement I had to go back to my room for my camera.  This is what I saw, and shot through the chain link fence around the motel.

darn, I'm gonna like it here....

Hi Greg,
you said you would have to let this thread fade into cyberspace??? forget it for a while, it will take about a week or so for us to get all the comments and questions out and get used to the idea you are in Portland,   with all the nice things to do and visit over there.  8) Furthermore, your writing is so fun, I just keep reading, and adding comments  
Keep us posted, will ya?

Ride Safe, (soon I hope)

RW

Red_Wine wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:


To get my "stuff" together and go for a ride will be nice.  Of course, I'll have to find the box that contains my helmet and riding gear.

Yep....gotta go meet the trucking company soon, and start working to unload that thing.  That'll be an all day job.  Oh yeah, gotta pay them too  

Well, gotta go walk the dog.  Did I mention that he puked in the car yesterday?  That sorta casued a chain reaction with Julie too.  Never a dull moment.

More later....

Savage_Greg wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:


WOW!!! 3000+ miles of freeway driving through mountain passes, snow-capped hills, frozen roads, wetlands, and he gets sick in town!!!!
Man, your dog is having a harder time getting used to Portland than you and Jullie  
Ride Safe.
RW (getting dizzy, too... but with some liquid stuff, though)

Savage_Greg wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:

Greg, I'm just impressed at all of the energy you have shown in all this endeavors    8) half of what you have gone through would put me to sleep for a week!!!
I hope you get your new home soon and plant a tree in spring, so you can call it home
As usual, just keep us posted, will ya?

Ride Safe

RW

Savage_Greg wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:



greg, glad you like the nw  it's a neverending circle to get things done.

now the drivers, my experience has shown that every locale has their own set of bad habits.

here in moses lake  it's
a. running yellow lights
b. failure to yeild to the right in residential sections
and the worst of all
c.  waiting untill the last possible moment to signal a right hand turn into a parking lot or driveway.

after you get to know the "rules" it's easier.  
now the I 5 through downtown portland can get pretty ugly.