DAY 7: Idaho Falls, ID to Cody, WY

After virtually a short nap tossing and turning, maybe sleeping in a field isn't as appealing as it sounds. Or maybe waking up just before the sun and packed, coffeed up, and ready to roll at dawn makes it worth it? Absolutely. Today was the day to conquer Yosemite. Lets roll!

 I checked the weather and the current temp was a choppy 42. Now, if its cold and your on a bike, always subtract at least 20 degrees, that's how it feels. So if it feels 22 degrees, your butt isn't the only thing to go numb. You get the picture...

 Followed the Snake River one last time. Probably the prettiest river I've seen on my ride so far.

 Bringing boots on a cross country trip you'd think would be essential. But I'm not essential, I'm Dallas; re-heating your feet with your exhaust is way more of a better story. Once my freezing stumps felt like functioning limbs of my body again, it was time to make my way into the Grand Tetons! Yeaaahhhh Boiiiiiiii!!!!!

 Once up the pass, I took some fun curves and coasted downhill for a couple miles, Eventually ending at the foot of some majestic mountains known as the Tetons.

 What could possibly compliment a picture of your bike posing in front of Jackson Lake? The chunky German man on his bagger bumping Rammstein, who stopped and glared at a group of RV's and exclaimed "DAMN TOURISTS!" Wolfgang, you're welcome in my country anytime. Took a gas stop and it was time for Yellowstone. I wish I had had more time to do the whole loop, but the little park in the middle of cattle country to us Californians turned out to be very large indeed. I entered through the south and shot out the east. 80 miles at 30 MPH.

 It was hard to listen to people comment on Mother Nature and Old Faithful without containing a barrage of "that's what she said's." But I did meet a farmer named Dave from Missouri who described it as "gnarly" with a country accent. I wish him saying that was my new ringtone.

 A slow hot ride through the park made me sweat pretty good, reminding me that this is day 4 without a shower? The grease dripping off my hair furthered this hypothesis. Lake Yellowstone, here I come. And no, asking a tourist for this picture wasn't awkward at all.

 Thermal hot spots really are hot. I couldn't even hold my hand over the steam.

 HEY BOO BOO! Saw a crowd of people stopped, so being the nosey dude I am, I stopped and managed to get a shot of this frolicking Grizzly.

 If I ever explore Yellowstone again, it's going to take 2 days. There is so much crammed in such a large area, and to sample it all properly would take 2 slow and steady days. Coming out of Yellowstone gave me a ride through some steep and stylish cliffs and concluded with some more pretty sights. Western Wyoming, you got a piece of my heart.

 The long day of riding and sight seeing had drained me, and it was time to throw down on some quality grub. Once in Cody, it was time. Yes, tonight was the night to celebrate with 2 for 5 Beef 'n Cheddars! Little did I know I had to earn my meal. Got off the bike, kickstand down, kickstand flop forward and bounce off front fender. Well butter my buns and call me for breakfast, I recon that ain't supposed to do that. A quick google of "Harley" brought up a store a mile away. SCORE! On the way there, 2 blocks from the Arbys, was a black and orange "Cycle Repair" sign with a guy walking out to his car. That was probably about the sloppiest, most illegal U-turn I've ever done. Barely caught the guy leaving for the night! He said I was lucky, because he had gotten his key stuck in the door for 10 minutes. I felt lucky too when he had the locking tab and bolt that I needed too. Mack the mechanic pulled them off a customers bike and charged me for new ones and placed an order. Afterwards, I told him my story, we had a beer, talked story over a foosball table in his garage until late, and he let me crash on a thick mat on his lawn for some much needed rest. Good people and great rides kick ass. Check out Cody Custom Cycles when you get a chance, awesome people and awesome bikes for sale on the floor!

DAY 6: Boise, ID to Idaho Falls, ID

Really awesome how Greg hooked it up with a couch last night! Never ever in LA do you meet people that are that trusting of other people. Another testimony to how motorcycles unite people in the scene. I left before Greg and his roommates were up, but not without sending out a big thanks text.  Sucked down a Mickey D's breakfast and coffee, followed up with adding oil and a gas fill and then I was on the highway. Did I mention that this is day 6 of not shaving?

 

 Most of the ride was flat farmland, but you could always see mountains in the back drop. Those mountains and a higher concentration of motorcycles heading to Sturgis made the boring stretches easier on the eyes to ride.

 After not much more than 200 miles today, I was beat. My bodies adjusting to all this heavy riding well, but today I wasn't about to put in any more. I stopped at a Starbucks in Idaho Falls to do some blogging, but not before I went to the Harley a block around dealership to look around and recirculate blood and air to my hind quarters and chat it up with some locals. NOT! Couldn't hardly get more than a one word reply out of a sales rep. Maybe he thought it was my fault he was balding and couldn't soak his beard properly in Just for Men? Sorry buddy, I didn't give you that mean tribal tat either. Scoped a couple bikes then rode back to the Buck, but not before my raccoon tail caught a kids eye. Faith in humanity restored.

Some coffee on a gifted gift card and a couple hours of blogging later and I was ready to explore this town, but not before I eavesdropped on a couples laptop next to me also on Blogger. Say whaaaaa?? REI clothing led me to assume they were also on the road like I was, and I was right. Check their blog! There going to Alaska and down the Pacific Coast! http://inajeepdownbytheriver.blogspot.com/ 

Haven't met anyone yet I could stay with, and it was almost dark, so I began asking and driving around to different areas to see what I could do. KOA is out of the question. Paying for sleep defies every teenage angsty punk rock moral I have, so mind you I'm looking for every empty field out of sight I can. Doing this for a while wore me out, so I decided a trip to the book store would clear my mind. That didn't happen because I met CJ and friends in the parking lot sitting off their tailgate. Funniest group of dudes! Reminded me of my friends back home. They were all super welcoming of my city boy ass rolling up and chatting away. CJ was pretty chatty too though so it all worked out! After some stories of rifles smacking heads after jumping a truck in the air and nearly falling out but being saved by your belt buckle, they asked if I wanted to tag along to a hotel to see what was going on at the bar. Not drinking and free to get in made it a cheap preferred activity!



Main St. was small and serene at midnight. The only sounds you could hear were the street lights buzzing and obnoxious drunk Harley enthusiasts talking about what color of LED lighting they have on their Billet wheeled bagger. Split ways with my new friends, and it was time to catch some sleep. Where?  

 

In a field by the highway, of course! Cuddled my engine to keep me warm, and I dosed off the best a man could after a long day.

DAY 5: Portland, OR to Boise, ID

Another alarm at 530 got me out of Portland before the sun burnt the fog away. Re-packed the bag and practiced my bungee cord skills attaching it and the skateboard to the sissy bar. Proper bungee cording is an are to be mastered if you're living life from the saddle. Out of Portland within 15 minutes and backtracked the Oregon Trail along the Columbia River. Beautiful scenery! The brisk temps and fluffy fog made me throw on my thick long gloves.

 Almost as soon as the fog cleared, so did the pines. The open land was warm, but with it brought heavy gusts that would blow me across the lane. I could barely hold a straight line let alone take pics, so be grateful! Pulled into Pendleton for a fuel stop. Rodeos and sweet flannels are alright in my book, but the quick heavy rain wasn't. On my way a 30 minute delay.

 The ride from Pendleton to Baker City was rainy, windy, and the road gave me lots of twists and curves. Imagine the log ride from Disneyland, only from hell and way more fun! Once in Baker City, it began to pour pretty hard. No prob! Except it was hailing too.

 

 After a quick nap next to my bike and a few conversations with curious tourists, the hail stopped. Time to mob to Boise! Once I crossed the state line, huge dusty gusts swept over me numerous times over a course of 20 miles. We're not in Redondo anymore, Dallas. Upon entering Boise, the shirtless and helmetless dude on his Goldwing going the opposite way down the interstate reminded me: NO HELMET NEEDED! Stopped and unstrapped the lid to tote around town. The heat quickly made me realize ice cream sounded like a good idea. While sitting there lapping away like a dog eating peanut butter, a sparkle caught my eye caddy corner from my location. Bikes! And a Bar! Being as I still didn't know where I was going to camp, I figured someone could give me a heads up.

 That's when I met Greg and friends. The wind started kicking up again, so we moved inside so we could hold an uninterrupted conversation. I introduced myself and tried to keep up with their witty comments, but the 400 mile day had me a bit weary. I told them my predicament once inside, and they gawked at me like I was nuts for wanting to camp in these winds. A tight budget is more important that a hotel room I explained. Greg immediately came forward and offered his couch, after knowing me for all of 15 minutes! Either this guy was a genuinely nice dude like stories us Los Angeles natives can only dream of, or I was going to wake up chained to a basement wall with a innocence-eating gerbil making its way up my large intestine, what us Angeleans usually believe will happen. But after chatting and getting to know Greg, it was apparent that there wasn't a bad hair in this guys body. After numerous thank you's from my part, he replied simply, "You're on a f***ing Harley! It's the lifestyle, brother!," followed with a big bro hug. I got settled at his place about a mile away and decided to ride downtown before dark.

Downtown was small compared to back home, but nightlife packed a hard punch! There wasn't anywhere in the two blocks of clubs and pubs that you couldn't hear GOOD music playing, or anywhere that you couldn't turn and not see people smiling and dancing to the music. An hour of walking and listen to some sweet jams and chatting up some Boise State babes led me to a conversation with Brett who pulled up as I was about to leave in his flat blacked trimmed down Goldwing. What do ya know, he was born in Torrance! A few motorcycle stories went back and forth and he explained why he hasn't wanted to ever move back to the South Bay in a pretty persuasive way. We parted ways, but not before he gave me a card to his bands page. Check 'em out! www.growlerhowler.com. Rode helmetless back to Gregs, ate some donated sausage pizza, and knocked out hard! I'm going to miss this place.

 



 

DAY 4: PORTLAND EXPLORING!!!!!

Had some good brews and even better story swapping time with my buddy Nick last night at a local joint, then I crashed hard! Rest was much needed; 600 miles on a large shaking metal contraption can take it out of you. Bright and early, it was time to explore!

 

Zorra the cat wanted to make sure I didn't oversleep by biting and clawing the soft tender skin of my armpit regions. Every time I sat down, she would rub up on me affectionately and make R2-D2 sounds. Besides the wake up claw, coolest cat ever.

First stop was Burnside! The world famous shred spot located under the east side of the Burnside was built by local skaters way back in the early 90's and is even featured in a Tony Hawk game. Remember the big eye bowl? Did a couple little runs but I didn't stay too long. The glaring locals for sure were not digging me snapping pics and skating. Instead of painting the park red with the blood of skater douches, I decide a donut would be more delicious and less criminal.

 

 

 

 

Yes, it is a BACON MAPLE BAR! 

The USS Oregon memorial was right next to the river and provided a neat piece of history in such a modern, progressive, hipster infested environment.



 Spent the rest of the day chattin' it up and taking super sick artsy pics with Nick. Always good to talk life and it's values over a cold beer and pizza under a cool cloudy evening sky. Apologies went to the pizza cashier for whom may have had to suffer from some of my tipsy pick up lines, and bed time it was.

"You can do whatever you want in Portland, and Portland just deals with it." -Nick Esther