2021 Solo Motorcycle Ride

Journal after riding on day one, Sept 6, 2021. Ellensburg, WA to Sandpoint, ID

When I ride I think. I spend time thinking about my life and all that is in it.

I think about the reality that I get to do so much in my life that I only dreamed of doing in times past. I remember, years ago, in my late 20’s, sitting on a porch and being angry. I would sit and watch the morning traffic go by and put down everyone passing by and starting their day. All the while I had nothing to go to. I had no job, no future, nothing really to get up for each day. I think about how grateful I am for all I have in my life.

I think about my friend Ryan who is literally clinging to life. At this point we are all praying, hoping, and sending positive energy to him and his family for healing. I have known Ryan for a lot of years and he is a a good friend. We both ride and I always love riding with him. This year Ryan got his own beautiful new bike and I long to ride with him again.

My thoughts move to the scenery I get to see through the many landscapes I pass. Miles and miles of wheat fields with houses and farms dotting the areas I pass. I see the hills with green trees and areas where you know a waterway is lying below. I love rolling through small towns along the way to see the history in the buildings both still occupied and long left alone. I stop in these towns to sit on a curb for a while.

I enjoy the music playing while I ride that gives me reason to escape into the words that give me great memories from the past and really, also can cause me to reflect on sadness and anger at times. Songs start that give me hope for the future and give me reason to pull on the throttle and enjoy the raw power just waiting to be used.

Today my destination is Missoula via Kalispell. There is near perfect weather forecasted for today’s journey and I am going to stroll along the highways, literally, living a dream come true.

Journal after riding on day two, Sept 7, 2021. Sandpoint ID, to Hamilton, MT.

Yesterday was a full day of riding. This happens. Very few stops are made. Stops made are only used to fuel the bike and myself. A break on the side of the road to take in some scenery, stretch, and relieve myself. Back on Ruby and headed down the road.

My son gave me the news early that my friend Ryan had passed. It was with that news that the decision to just ride was made. You can call it god or the universe, or whatever suits you, but, another vehicle road in that safe spot behind me for a long stretch while I rolled down the highway at a clip that Ryan and I used to love doing when we would ride. I didn’t know the person in the vehicle but am guessing they know the unspoken rule of adopting a bike on the highway. This was all for Ryan. Tears have been shed yesterday and this morning. I grieve for Luke and Rebekah.

Thoughts took me to thinking about how amazing the views were along Hwy 93 from Kalispell to Missoula. Riding along Flathead Lake with the Rockies throwing themselves out to be noticed on the east side of the lake. The sun was out, temps were in the low 80’s and the view was amazing. I took a pit stop at Polson to take in the view before jumping back on and continuing south.

Due to the recent sudden loss of my brother-in-law Jon and now with the sudden loss of Ryan it gave me time to think about life itself. I am 54 and while I hope for a long life, well, we are not guaranteed tomorrow let alone today really. Right now in this moment is all any of us really have. I thought a lot about what I want for others to remember me by if I suddenly leave this earth. If I were to be gone in an instant my hope is my family and friends would carry on and remember me as a good person who cared and loved them all.

Ruby broke 10,000 miles yesterday. It’s been 10,000 miles of pure joy. Being on a bike that I worked hard to get, and now, get to enjoy, well, it’s pretty awesome. I say it a lot, but, it’s just the thing for me, I ride because of a man who took a vested interest in me at a young age. Jonny Revell also died way to early. When he died in 1980 he was 44 years old. He was ripped from my life when I was 12. My life took a significant turn when that happened. It changed me and my life trajectory in many ways. Jonny was a good man and I ride because of him and his impact on me. That very first ride in Arizona when I was 8 or 9…..it’s why I ride.

I think a lot, maybe to much, about all the ills in our world. Political craziness, societal problems that seem to have no solution, and each giving us some other new unknown. Being 54 I have seen a few things along the way with society. I know I don’t have all the answers that’s for sure. What I do know, is if I do my part to be a good human in the world, that may influence others to do the same. If I continue to do my work in the community I live in to make it a better place for all to live, that may influence others to do the same. If I were some great philosopher, which I am not because I cuss way to much, I would give that as the message throughout. Do good in the community you live in so it might influence others to do the same.

Today my ride will take me south to Twin Falls, ID. I will be on the amazing US 93 that strolls due south the whole way. As is always the case I think “maybe I will change my route, maybe I will head home, maybe this or that”. I don’t judge myself for any of this and just head out with a possible destination in mind.

Twin Falls has the historical site of one of Evil Knievel’s attempted jumps over the mile wide canyon above the Snake River. Ruby says “don’t even think about it dad”. Don’t worry Ruby, my back couldn’t handle a jump like that anyway.

Journal after riding on day three, Sept 8, 2021. Hamilton, MT to Twin Falls, ID

Yesterday’s ride was good one. Started out in Hamilton, MT with a temp of 54 and ended the day in Twin Falls, ID with a temp of 95. Total of 330 miles all in all. I must say Ruby is an amazing machine.

The ride from Hamilton, MT to Salmon, ID was gorgeous. I did spend that part of the ride paying close attention to the road ahead for any morning wildlife. I wanted to get to Salmon early so I could visit with my friend Don. We met up and spent a couple hours catching up on life and it turned out to be a good time for us to see each other. I have always missed Don since he moved from the burg.

From there I climbed about 5,000 feet of elevation on the way to Arco, Idaho. This was another time period of riding where the views were absolutely amazing, but, this time enjoying the road with all of its twists and turns. I would have the thoughts come and go wondering what I would do if Ruby gave out on me in this area. You have these kind of thoughts when riding….at least I do. I always calculate how long I might have to walk or consider the amount of traffic and how long it might be before I got a ride if something were to happen. Ruby said nonsense to all of that and we rode on through.

Once over the hill and closer to Twin Falls I got to enjoy (haha, not really) riding through about a five mile stretch of road that had just been ground down, graveled, and waiting for fresh blacktop. Not fun, I took my time and, made it back onto paved road. I stopped in Arco and took a little break after that stretch.

You might notice today’s writing doesn’t share a lot of my thoughts during yesterday’s ride. Honestly, there was certainly some thinking, but it was the kind of riding where you are more paying attention to the road itself.

The latter part of the day was hot! Once I came onto the other side of the hill from Salmon the the temp had already started climbing into the 80’s. I was watching my gauge that shows the weather and the temps just kept climbing. Just when I thought it peaked it would jump again. 90, to 92 for a little bit, than to 93, than to 95. Hot! I just kept rolling along and looked forward to getting into Twin Falls.

I arrived and decided to go to an off the wall motel and it was good one. Nice staff, nice room and they had an amazing hot tub! I went and ate a place called Idaho Joe’s that was just down the street and that was also a great choice. I got T-shirts to remember them by.

Today my destination is Pendleton, Oregon. Today I am traveling primarily via the interstate. Higher speeds and longer stretches of road. And, my love of truck stops gets satisfied.

Happy Wednesday to all!

Journal after riding on day four, Sept 9, 2021. Twin Falls, ID to Ellensburg, WA

Yesterdays riding that included just over 500 miles, the trip home, and my thoughts on it all.

Yesterday I set our from Twin Falls early. I wanted to go check out Evil Knievel's spot he was going to attempt to jump over the Snake River canyon and then hit the road before it started to warm up. Forecast was for it to be another hot day. Get while the gettin' is good was in my head. Yesterday's route was all on the interstate and it tends to be warmer on those roads.

First, seeing where Evil Knievel was going to attempt to jump, and, knowing all the jumps he made in his time.....wow. Also, since death seems to be around a lot lately in my world, knowing his son recently died attempting his own jump, practicing to break some kind of record, well, that was sad to think about. My thought did almost immediately go to thinking he died doing what he and his dad loved doing. Daredevils all the way to the end. The sun was just rising when I was at the jump site on the Snake River and it was gorgeous. Thus, I jumped on Ruby and hit the road.

I set out on I-84 setting my first stop to be not to far away in Jerome, ID. Wanted to just get a few miles in to start the day. Riding the interstate that early was actually really nice. First thing is the speed...the speed limit is 80 through that stretch. I pulled on the throttle and locked in right at 80. Ruby seemed to like being able to ramp it up a notch. We stopped in Jerome at a truck stop for some morning coffee. I have always had a love of truck stops. I was a long haul trucker for short period out of the military and found my love for all things related to trucking.

My next destination was Nampa, ID just the other side of Boise. Traffic was pretty light and people around me were being good. I didn't have any instances of wanting to throat punch anyone. Of course, I also believe it is a two way street. I try to not be that biker, giving all bikers a bad name. I just cruised along doing my thing.

My thoughts in the morning were really pretty neutral; just cruising along. I did see a text come through on my screen that gave me a smile. Anthony started 5th grade yesterday. For him a new school, and, now living full time in Ellensburg with his Dad. While all of it is good changes, he did tell his Dad he was nervous. I thought about how proud I am of Anthony for his resilience in his life. I thought of how proud I am of Tyler for how amazing a Dad he is to Anthony. As I was cruising along on my dream motorcycle, literally, in many ways living my dream life, I thought of how proud I am of my own trajectory in life.

I stopped to refuel Ruby and myself just outside of Nampa. The temp was rising and I could see it being another warm day of riding. I decided was going to just keep rolling and see how I felt once I arrived in La Grande, OR. If was wanting to stop and stay I would; if not, I would keep rolling to Pendleton from there. Traffic was light at the time, Ruby was feeling good, and La Grande would be at about 250 miles riding for the day. That would be my check point.

I arrived in La Grande, rolled through the town, stopped to refuel and rest and decided I would keep on riding. It was really at that point that I decided I was going to sleep in my own bed. It would make for a long day of riding, but, I always say.....it's always nice to go, and, it's always nice to go home. That was my plan from than on.

By the time I hit Pendleton the temp had jumped quite a bit. It went from holding steady at 84 to going up into the 90's. I really think Ruby runs best at the higher temps. She just purrs right along like its nothing. Me, well, I do ok when it's that hot.

I stopped to eat some lunch at a gas station in Pendleton and cool off before continuing down the road. Certainly there was part of me that didn't look forward to riding in 97 degree heat, but, there was also the part of me that knew I would be home in my own bed at the end. I rode on with that in my mind. I crossed over the Columbia and back into Washington in the early afternoon hours. By this point I had been riding straight through with only the half hour or so break in Pendleton. It was game on for home now. I was rolling straight through. I stopped for another refuel and cool off in Prosser for about fifteen minutes. From there is was just over an hour before I was going to be home.

I jumped on 82 and made the journey back to the 'burg. My love, who is all to frequently very good at predicting her mans behavior said it herself....."you won't be gone five days". She was right, I was back at the end of four. I sent a text in our group chat that has Katrina, Tyler, and Chania in it and let them know I was almost home.

In those four days I logged 1458 miles on an amazing machine. I went over 10,000 miles on Ruby while on the trip and this bike has proven itself road worthy for sure. I was able to see great views along the way, visited with a great friend I hadn't seen way to many years, had some great talks with strangers I met along the way, and enjoyed some time with just me. I find when I do these rides that there are kind people everywhere I go. Whether it is someone admiring my bike and we strike up a conversation about riding, or, it is a clerk at gas station that gives a smile and hello, people are good. I believe that in my core.....we have great people everywhere. It's part of what I love about traveling....getting to meet people from all walks of life.

This years journey is in the bag that totaled 1458 miles of seat time and now I am excited to get back to the life I get to lead while home. When I ride I don't feel like I am having to necessarily escape from anything at home. I love my home life and I always love coming home. I live a fortunate life in so many ways...so many.

Love you all!