TUESDAY NIGHT TOOK A QUICK 55 MILE RIDE AFTER WORKING ON THE CABIN ADDITION.
RODE OUT PADDY FLAT ROAD TO KENNALY CREEK CAMP GROUND. FUN RIDE. 640 IS ACTUALLY MORE FUN THAN THE 960 IN THE DIRT.
PADDY FLAT GUARD STATION
THURSDAY NIGHT AN AMPHIBIOUS PLANE LANDED AND TAXIED TO HOUSE ACROSS THE LAKE.
TRAIL BOSS – JOHN
RIDERS – BYRON
SATURDAY I GAVE BYRON A CALL TO SEE IF HE WANTED TO RIDE SUNDAY. IF HE HAD ALL DAY WE COULD DO THE LOOP THRU STANLEY. HE NEEDED TO BE BACK HOME BY 3PM SO WE OPTED TO RIDE INTO GRAHAM. IT WOULD BE A COUPLE HUNDRED MILE RIDE.
BARRY’S 1ST VISIT TO TRUDY’S. EVEN THOUGH BARRY WAS IN TOWN IDAHO CITY STILL DIDN’T HAVE CELL SERVICE.
SADDLE ON ARCHIE MOUNTAIN ABOUT HALF WAY INTO GRAHAM.
SAWTOOTHS IN THE BACKGROUND.
~5-7 MILES FROM HERE THE ROAD DROPS OFF THE RIDGE INTO THE NORTH FORK OF THE BOISE DRAINAGE WHERE GRAHAM IS LOCATED. THE FOREST SERVICE HAS A ROAD CLOSURE AT THIS POINT DUE TO A WASHOUT AT SILVER CREEK. YOU COULD SEE WHERE 4-WHEELERS WERE GOING AROUND THE BARRICADE. I WANTED TO GO DOWN TO AT LEAST THE WASHOUT. BYRON WANTED TO STAY ON TOP. I HEADED DOWN. AFTER GOING THRU A STEEPER ROCKY SECTION I DECIDED TO TURN AROUND AND HEAD BACK UP. RIGHT OFF THE BAT I GOT SOME WHEEL SPIN SO I SLIPPED THE CLUTCH. TRUE TO FORM YOU HAD TO GET THE 950 MOVING 10 MPH TO KEEP IT UPRIGHT. WITH 8-10 GALLONS OF GAS THE LOOSE ROCKY SECTIONS WERE TOO MUCH FOR ME & I HAD TO SLIP THE CLUTCH. SOON THE BIKE GOT HOT AND CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING WHEN IT WAS FULLY ENGAGED. I WOULD STOP LET THE BIKE COOL OFF & SEEMED TO HAVE CLUTCH PLATES AGAIN. I HAD TO DO THIS A COUPLE MORE TIMES.
AS I WAS RIDING THRU THE LAST SWITCHBACK JUST BELOW THE BARRICADE THE CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING AGAIN. BYRON RODE DOWN TO ME , THEN A 4-WHEELER CAME RIGHT BEHIND HIM. WE PULLED OUT BYRON'S TOW STRAP AND HAD THE ATV TOW ME UP THE LAST 100 YARDS.
AFTER A 10 MINUTE REST I GOT THE BIKE BACK INTO GEAR AND HEADED OFF. BYRON HUNG BACK TO FOLLOW ME OUT.
AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND COASTED A MILE OR TWO DOWN HILL. WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN THE OIL LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I CLIMBED UP THE RIDGE AND STOPPED ON THE DOWN HILL SIDE. CHECKED THE DIP STICK – NO OIL ? WAITED FOR BYRON TO SEE IF HE PACKED ANY OIL –NOPE. BIKE WAS STUCK IN 1ST GEAR NOW AND THE CLUTCH WASN’T WORKING EITHER. PRESSED ON AND FOUND A CAMPER WHO GAVE US A COUPLE QUARTS OF OIL. BIKE STILL STUCK IN 1ST & OIL LIGHT STILL ON.
HAD TO RIDE ALL THE WAY INTO IDAHO CITY IN 1ST GEAR ~40-45 MILES. AS WE RODE INTO TOWN THAT MORNING I SAW AUBREY’S TRUCK AT THE ROCK PILE. I PULLED IN AND HIS TRUCK WAS STILL THERE ! AUB WAS TRYING TO TAKE A NAP AS WE PULLED IN. AFTER TELLING AUB MY PREDICAMENT AND EVALUATING MY SITUATION WE DECIDE TO SLIP THE CHAIN OFF THE REAR SPROCKET AND LOAD THE BIKE INTO AUB’S TRUCK.
AUB GOT ME BACK HOME BY 4PM. GOT THE BOYS TO HELP UNLOAD AND PUSH THE BIKE UP TO THE SHOP.
NEXT SATURDAY I’LL PULL THE OIL FILTER OUT TO SEE IF IT IS CRUSHED ( WATER PUMP SHAFT LEAK), DRAIN THE GAS AND HAUL IT DOWN TO BOB’S TO SEE WHAT THE DAMAGE IS. I’LL BE RIDING THE 640 THE REST OF THE SEASON.
MORAL OF THE STORY HANGING OUT WITH A MARXIST NEVER HELPED ANYBODY. BARRY DID MY BIKE JUST LIKED HE DID THE ECONOMY.
LOOP ~115 MILES
Took the 950 out for a test run to see if it was still missing and backfiring. Also test out the new tires.
No missing or backfires. Not sure why – backfires/popping may have been from the air pump being hooked up. Missing may have been the bad fuel hose, maybe it was collapsed / kinked before it finally leaked.
I like the Hendenua Scouts. They stick like glue on pavement, OK on DG roads. Jury still out it I miss a front knobby for the dirt.
DENNIS INITIATED THIS YEARS RIDE WITH A POSTING ON RMD THAT HE HAD VACATION TIME SET UP FOR THE 1ST WEEK OF AUGUST. DAVID PULLED HIS TRAILER UP THURSDAY TO SECURE A DECENT CAMP SPOT. HE WAS ABLE TO PARK AT THE SAME SPOT AS LAST YEAR. SAID KELLY FLATS WAS PACKED WHEN HE PULLED IN.
SATURDAY 7/30
I DROVE UP SATURDAY AND PARKED AT MY SAME SPOT AS LAST YEAR, NOT THE BEST SHADE PUT WAS OK. MY RV BATTERIES SEEM TO BE GIVING UP THE GHOST, SO IT WAS NICE TO HAVE SUN ON THE SOLAR PANEL TO KEEP THEM TOPPED OFF.
AFTER DINNER WHEN I WENT TO WASH THE DISHES THE WATER PUMP STOPPED WORKING. I HAD A “SPARE” BUT IT WAS THE WRONG MODEL, THE CONNECTIONS WOULDN'T FIT WHAT WAS PLUMBED. AFTER A BIT A TINKERING I FIGURED OUT THE PRESSURE SWITCH ON THE PUMP WAS BAD AND I COULD JUMPER THE SWITCH AND THE PUMP WOULD RUN. SO I HAD RUNNING WATER, JUST HAD TO BE CO-ORDINATED WHEN TURNING THE PUMP & VALVE ON & OFF.
AFTER I SORTED THE WATER, OUT I DECIDED TO WALK DOWN TO THE PHONE TO CALL MARILYN. AS I HEADED OUT THE WIND PICKED UP WITH THUNDER & LIGHTNING. I ASSUMED IT WOULD BE A “MAGIC VALLEY” STORM – ALL WIND & A COUPLE OF DROPS OF WATER. DAKOTA WANTED TO STAY AT THE CAMPER.
THE PHONE WASN’T WORKING ,VERY LOW VOLUME. AS SOON AS I HUNG UP THE BOTTOM FELL OUT. I GOT SOAKED.
ON TOP OF THAT I HAD THE ROOF VENTS, WINDOWS AND SKYLIGHT OPEN. DAVID SHUT THE WINDOWS AND ROOF VENTS, BUT COULDN’T TELL THE SKYLIGHT WAS OPEN. MY BED GOT WET, SO I PULLED OFF THE SHEETS AND COVERS & HUNG THEM UP IN THE CAMPER. THEN SET THE TABLE UP TO SLEEP ON. DIDN’T SLEEP THAT WELL . I GOT UP AND THE MATTRESS HAD DRIED SO I MOVED BACK TO THE BUNK.
SUNDAY – 7/31
DENNIS FINALLY PULLED IN AROUND 4-5 AM SUNDAY MORNING.
SMOKEY DOME LOOP
LOOP ~62 MILES
RIDERS – MURRAY , KAT, DAVID , DENNIS , JOHN
MURRAY & KAT LEFT ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES BEFORE THE REST OF US.
AS I NEARED DEER PARK I THOUGHT IT WAS DENNIS ON MY TAIL , BUT IT WAS JOE WITT FROM SALT LAKE CITY.
DENNIS TALKING TO JOE WITT FROM SLAT LAKE CITY.
I WAS ABLE TO GET SIGNAL ON MY PHONE AT DEER PARK. CHECKED VOICE MAIL, GOT A TEXT AND CALLED HOME.
WE CAUGHT UP TO MURRAY AND KAT ON THE SOLDIER CREEK TRAIL.
SMOKEY DOME
LUNCH AT SADDLE
DENNIS MADE A FRIEND .
MONDAY 8/1
BIG PEAK EXPEDITION
BIG PEAK WAS THE OLD “IN & OUT” RIDE. BESIDES FROM MAKING FOR A LONG DAY WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT THE CREEK CROSSING AT THE BLUFF CREEK INTERSECTION WITH BIG SMOKEY.
LOOP – 61 MILES ( 6 MILES THAT FELT LIKE 15-20)
RIDERS – DAVID , DENNIS , JOHN
DAVID THOUGHT WE SHOULD PACK SOME GAS AS A PRECAUTION , SO I MOUNTED MY JACKET ON THE TRIPLE CLAMPS.
THERE WAS A 40% CHANCE OF RAIN FORECASTED FOR SUN VALLEY / HAILEY.
WE TOPPED OFF THE TANKS RIGHT BEFORE THE LICK CREEK TRAIL HEAD ( ~ 16 MILES).
VIEW FROM LICK CREEK.
SNOW DRIFT 1ST DAY OF AUGUST
DAVID SCOUTING FOR TRAIL. BOOTS FROM A LONG LOST SNOW BOARDER WHO MUST STILL BE UNDER THE DRIFT.
VIEW OF BIG PEAK
LUNCH AT SADDLE BELOW BIG PEAK. DAVID WAS ABLE TO GET SIGNAL ON HIS ATT SERVICE. I USED HIS PHONE TO CHECK IN WITH MARILYN.
JUST AS WE FINISHED LUNCH , THUNDER AND RAIN STARTED TO ROLL IN. DENNIS AND DAVID PUT ON THEIR JACKETS. I COULDN’T DECIDED AND LEFT IT OFF.
BIG PEAK FROM LICK CREEK TRAIL ON THE WAY BACK OUT
TUESDAY 8/2 – REST DAY
WEDNESDAY 8/3
HE-MAN WOMEN-HATERS RIDE /BEAVER CREEK
EARLY WEDNESDAY MORING I WOKE UP WHEN MY BLINDS RATTLED. I LOOKED OUT THE BUNK WINDOW AND SAW TRASH SCATTERED ON THE GROUND. I SCOUTED AROUND WITH THE FLASH LIGHT AND BROUGHT MY BACKPACK INSIDE. LATTER THAT MORNING I FOUND OUT THAT DENNIS HAD THE SAME VISITOR.
THE BEAR TORE UP THE SEAT ON HIS 250 . KNOCKED THE BIKE AND GAS CAN OVER.
IT CLIMBED UP ON HIS PROPANE TANKS AND PAWED AT FRONT OF HIS TRAILER.
LOOP – 28 MILES
RIDERS – MURRAY, DAVID, DENNIS, JOHN
DAVID SAID HE WANTED AN ADVENTURE RIDE : BEAVER CREEK – DEADWOOD CREEK – BOARDMAN PASS.
RIGHT OFF THE MARK WE HIT SWITCH BACKS & CREEK WE HAD TO WALK ACROSS. THE 1ST THOUGHT IS I HOPE WE ARE RIDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION !
WE MISSED THE TURN FOR DEADWOOD, WHICH WAS OK IN THE END.
THE ROUTE WE TOOK WAS GRADED AS “AA” BY BILL DART . I HAVE TO AGREE. RODE SOME NARROW ,STEEP, HIGH SIDE HILLS. UNFORTUNATELY MY HELMET CAM WASN’T STAYING FASTEN TO THE HELMET SO I MISSED SOME AWESOME YOUTUBE CLIPS.
RESTING ABOUT HALF WAY UP FROM BEAVER CREEK.
MURRAY REMARKED “ I WALKED MY BIKE DOWN THAT ROCK ( OFF CAMBER ON THE SIDE HILL ) YALL ROLLED OFF OF…”
SADDLE BELOW IRON MT. WE HAD ANOTHER DOUBLE BLACK DIAMOND CLIMB RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
WHILE WE WERE RIDING KAT WENT HIKING ON WILLOW CREEK. BY 6 PM SHE WASN’T BACK SO MURRAY GEARED UP AND RODE HIS BIKE DOWN TO WILL CREEK. BY 7:30 STILL NO WORD FROM MURRAY OR KAT. DAVID GEARED UP AND HEADED OUT TO LOOK. ~ 8PM DENNIS RODE UP TO DEER PARK TO CALL HIS WIFE.
KAT ROLLED IN ~ 8:50pm. DENNIS GOT BACK BY 9:30 PM.
THURSDAY 8/4
DAVID AND MURRAY PACKED UP CAMP THURSDAY MORNING. DENNIS AND I SETTLED FOR A QUICK EASY RIDE ON LIME CREEK : MIDDLE FORK / ROANHIDE. FUN RIDE , BUT AFTER BEAVER CREEK IT LEFT ME WANTING MORE.
LOOP ~ 36 MILES
ROANHIDE x BREMNIER
DENNIS PUT HIS JACKET ON SO I WOULDN’T GET RAINED ON 
