Eastbound – Day 3

November 12, 2013
Missoula, MT 132,547.3 (318.5 miles)

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-v15Ju63Ve_c/UoMdarDTgsI/AAAAAAAAC6c/uUau9rYapkY/s144-c-o/1112130854.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundAndDownDay3#5945628277129577154″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”1112130854.jpg” ]After Dinner with David G and his family (I had more Thai food!) we hit the hay early as we needed an early start in the AM in order to make it over Lolo Pass in Idaho before nightfall. I was either tired or comfortable, but I slept straight through the night which is unusual. Morning began at 7am and I made breakfast for Lexie and then said our good byes with David and his daughter and then we were off. I was going to eat breakfast on the road to save time.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4lqml3e2-A4/UoMcGXkIJOI/AAAAAAAAC4U/nSSZBadRgNc/s144-c-o/1112130906a.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundAndDownDay3#5945626828789523682″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”1112130906a.jpg” pe2_img_align=”right” ] I picked up my breakfast, we jumped back on US 12 Eastbound under partly sunny skies. About 30 minutes out we passed a horse farm in Waitsburg, WA when I thought to myself…NO, that could not be. Was it Lexie? So I pulled over and turned around. Well look at that, it sure was…Izzy that is. Izzy the Camel. Now I did not know Izzy before this, but I know about Izzy now. Izzy is use to visitors and he is very friendly. As soon as we pulled up to the gate he came right over to us. I didn’t know it at the time, but Izzy does not spit so we could have gotten closer. Izzy has a Facebook Page and a Web Site so click on the links and give Izzy some love.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4QR_EDECKbg/UoMbpHV0GRI/AAAAAAAAC3k/96zjhhRIR2A/s144-c-o/1112131040b.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundAndDownDay3#5945626326218316050″ caption=”up on the high desert.Lexie too is up…balancing on her seat!” type=”image” alt=”1112131040b.jpg” ]Back on the road we continued traveling across the high desert past patchwork farm fields on what is truly a spectacular road across the USA and lent itself to a number of photo ops. In fact, this is known as the Lewis and Clark Trail. Before long we rolled into Dayton and it was as cute of a town as I was told it would be. We continued on and soon we were following the Wawawai River on our left that would eventually turn into Snake River. I am sure everyone is familiar with Snake River Canyon. At least I was as a young impressionable boy watching Evil Knievel jump it. Only I was disappointed as he was not jumping it, but rather being shot across in a rocket. Click to See and now here I was crossing the same river. Well i guess, I didn’t cross it on a motorcycle either, but at least I got across it 😀

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WK6iVcdox0s/UoLn2fHfHcI/AAAAAAAAC2k/Rl9KJv5em58/s144-c-o/1112131145a.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundAndDownDay3#5945569381334326722″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”1112131145a.jpg” pe2_img_align=”right” ]A few minutes later and we were in Idaho. For those keeping track, that is State #3 on my last 9 States. Once completed, I will have been to all 50 and will have ridden and driven to 48 of them. All but 9 on the motorcycle. So here we are in Idaho. I have two connections to Idaho. The first was from when I got involved in the search for Donald Masters. A man I never met, but who touched my life from his roadside grave. Most of the people I met during that search, I am still good friends with today, including his Brother in Law David G who’s home I had just camped at. The second connection is that months after that search, i ended up buying a motorcycle from a gentlemen in Boise Idaho. I was going to fly out and ride it back, but winter had hit so I had it shipped back to NY. Now here I am driving a bus back that I just bought and winter is hitting again. When we were back in Lewiston, ID

I began to have an issue with the idling of Sandy. She has always idled high or low, but she’d idle. Now she was dying at idle and not easily restarting. While we were at highway speed, she had no issues. :/

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/–XDqzAxf4g0/UoLm-7Vl3HI/AAAAAAAAC1U/4mJEso-eu-Q/s144-c-o/1112131610.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundAndDownDay3#5945568426837007474″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”1112131610.jpg” ]Climbing up the mountain to Lolo Pass is very gradual. In fact, its so gradual, I was able to keep Sandy in 4th gear the entire way. We usually climb most mountain passes in 3rd. We stopped at Lochsa Lodge for gas. Now Lochsa Lodge states its in Lolo Montana, but on the map they are clearly in Idaho. I’m not sure what is what, but the Welcome to Montana was up the road a bit from the lodge. Either way, we refuled and headed to the pass. When crossing the Cascades, we hit 4061 feet and it was deep snow covered and snowing when we came through. Here we were crossing Lolo Pass at 5193 feet and there was very little snow and it was sunny, but we also ended up losing an hour as we crossed into Mountain Time. The sun also set rather quickly once it got behind the 5000 foot mountain.

Up ahead we arrived at Lolo Hot Springs. We had passed two other Hot Springs earlier, but I wanted to be in camp before dark as the Big Game out here are everywhere and make night driving very dangerous. I was less than impressed with Lolo Hot Springs though and the entire parking lot and camp site was mud. I’d expect this from a State or National Park campsite, but not an RV Park. On top of that, there was not one other RV there. I asked the gentlemen about wifi and he said they have it, but it will probably be too week of a signal for me to get at the site. I’m not quite sure what the point is then, but I said I’ll take a look at the site anyway. As we pulled up to the site, which was all mud, Sandy died. :/ OK Sandy, let’s go. I turned her over, but nothing. She refused to restart! 30 minutes later I’m still troubleshooting her and decided to feed Lexie and let Sandy calm down. As I fed Lexie, this place was just deserted. I was thinking, I don;t want to be stuck up here. There is no wifi and no cell signal. I’m going to need both to troubleshoot Sandy. After walking Lexie I tried Sandy again and she started for me. We hit the road and beat it out of town. Missoula MT next stop. Literally, there was no way I was going to stop with Sandy acting up now. About 30 minutes later we pulled into the KOA here in Missoula, MT. Tomorrow I’ll run some tests on Sandy, but if I can’t find anything, we’ll be headed to a fellow Bus friend’s house in Anaconda, MT and work on her there.

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