Riding, Day 11
Day 11 August 8, 2008
By the looks of the parking lot and the bikes (with the exception of mine...it was covered this time!), it rained quite a bit overnight. The sky is grey, but the forecast isn't calling for any rain, which is a good thing because we've got some miles to do (420 to be exact) and some high mountain passes to climb. But, first things first, as they say – we need food.
With Vince still in full hibernation mode, I strike out with the lads to score some grub. Nothing fancy, just something to get us going until lunch. Last night’s fantastic Mexican food feast is still keeping any serious hunger pangs at bay, so we’re after just a snack. We stop by the Harley shop to score a cool "Jackson" T-shirt and while I’m being rung up by one of the lovely staffers (damn, should have my camera!), I see a fellow in the parking lot sporting a Motoboss one-piece rain suit. Motoboss being a Cycle Gear exclusive brand, and me being a VP with Cycle Gear, I’m curious to find out where this Cycle Gear customer resides and if he purchased his suit from a store or online.
I introduce myself and we strike up a friendly conversation. Here's my chance – I'm going to meet a customer from Edison, New Jersey or maybe Tampa, Florida. When I ask him where he lives, I’m not really ready for the response: "Brentwood, California" he says! We're practically neighbors...as a matter of fact his riding buddies all hail from around B-Wood, one from nearby Oakley. So much for meeting a customer from a far off corner of the Gear Universe...it’s a small world indeed. But it's all cool and we chat about our respective rides and routes. Handshakes, smiles and we're on our separate ways.
Doughnuts, that would be good...the lads stop at a Taco Bell (no breakfast burrito for me – not enough Zantac left) and I hit a gas station convenience store for some tasty powdered doughnut gems. Sweet – literally and figuratively. I also pick up a travel mug that Vince spied last night...he's been adding to his collection throughout the trip. Hey, everybody's got to collect something right?
Walking back to the hotel, looking at the surrounding mountains, clomping along the wooden sidewalks, catching the friendly waves of locals and tourists alike… I'm thinking, This is a place I have to get back to for a more lengthy "look-see". Jackson is an amazing place, maybe even a place where one could move...just maybe. Oh, and in case you are as confused as I was, "Jackson Hole" refers to the surrounding area, whereas "Jackson" just refers to the town itself. There, just thought you should know. Whatever the name, I'll be back, there's no doubt about that.
Returning to the hotel, I see that Vince and Mark are loading up their bikes. It's just about time to hit the road. The grey sky is giving way to more sun and the temperature is cool, promising to give us a good day. We'll be long gone by the time the predicted afternoon thunderstorms appear. Ready to go, Nate gives JP's bike a push and it fires right up. It seems that the new battery didn't fully cure the machine’s starting issues...something in the starter itself is hurting. But no worries – as long as Nate's legs hold out, we're all good.
We head west on Highway 22 and over Teton Pass (8,431 ft. summit). It's an amazing road with plenty of breathtaking vistas, sheer cliffs and forest...and some 10% grades! On both the east and west side of the lower portions of the pass are some of the most amazing homes I've ever seen...guess other folks have found out what a fantastic corner of the world this Jackson place is. Damn. We cruise along drinking in the scene as it unfolds from curve to curve.
Dropping into Idaho, the temperatures begin to rise, so off come the jackets and on go the vests, though some opt for just a T-shirt. Our luck with the weather gods continues! On the other hand, our luck with the mechanical gods is giving us just a bit of a test. On a gradual upgrade along Highway 30 just west of American Falls, JP's machine begins to lose power and bog. My Chatterbox squawks a warning from Vince and a quick glance in the rearview confirms it: headlights pulling off to the side of the road. Dammit!
Nate and I are stopped about a mile ahead of JP, Mark and Vince; with no way to turn around, we wait. I can hear Vince asking questions, trying to diagnose the issue with the nearly twenty-year-old machine. "It just started bogging out!" is JP's response.
There's not much we can do here, in the middle of nowhere. We need to get the thing moving and see if we can get it looked at in town...any town. Staying cool and calm, as an ex-cop should, Vince tells JP that we're gonna have to do the best we can and "ride around the problem" until (if?) we can get it repaired. Time to suck it up, kid. A quick push and the Lowrider fires up, we're back on the road...but nervous, because this is no place for a serious mechanical. JP rises to the occasion and keeps the bike moving. We’re heading west.
Next gas stop: Rupert, Idaho. Rupert has a special place in Cycle Gear lore, for it's the home of one Cal Rayborn II (yeah, the son of THAT Cal Rayborn). Cal raced for us years back, and gave us lots of wins and championships at Sears Point Raceway in the AFM Formula Pacific series. Too bad we won't have time to look him up – gotta figure out what's up with JP's machine. Pulling into a gas station, we all crowd in to assess the situation.
Taking a closer look, we find that the petcock appears to be cracked and is leaking a fair amount of fuel. This could be the problem...at least it's a problem we can deal with. A quick application of some Super Glue, fingers crossed (but not stuck together), and we’re thinking we may have saved the day. Time and miles will tell.
Heading west, we see what could be the first serious weather threat of the entire trip. Fairly active cells are developing with lots of lightning and precipitation. We might just have to break out the raingear after all. By the time we hit Twin Falls, it's looking really grim. We're on the edge of a thunderstorm and taking some hits, and hail hurts when you're wearing fingerless gloves! Off to the south, and not too far away, it's pouring waterfalls of rain. Same to the north, but the road directly ahead is eerily free of serious downpours...charmed we are. The other good news? JP's bike is keeping pace and running well; all hail Super Glue!
A few miles more and we turn south on 93 at Twin Falls, across the Snake River Gorge...wow, is that thing deep! Is that a golf course down there? And what's with the windsock on the bridge, I’m asking myself, just as I get smacked with a sucker punch of crosswind. I guess that's why it’s there...
The weather is clearing and we remain dry. JP's bike hasn't missed a beat. It's all good. Motoring south on 93, we cut a swath through the high desert of northern Nevada, with sagebrush, rock and sand for as far as the eye can see. It's desolate and beautiful, and with the exception of Jackpot, a border town just south of the Idaho state line, there's very little evidence of civilization. We "two-lane" it all the way to Wells, where we hook up with I-80 for the short hop to Elko. It's been a great day of riding: amazing scenery, some fun roads, and just a little drama. One more to go and we're home…
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