So most of my photos were much better done by Nick, but here's a few:
A tale of three bandits... leaving Spokane
Obligatory pun-laden image just for Stormi
Here are some of us getting ready to roll early on Saturday in Lewiston. That's Chantal on the left making the rest of us look like grungy roadkill. Mike (MobileMike) and Matt (Bobcat) *never* stop picking on each other.
and for good reason... One of these things is *not* like the others! And do you notice that glow around Matt's head? We're still not sure what that is, but it's damned annoying.
Sweet sweet shade. That's Ron (Cargo7) on the left. He didn't believe in B4's until he actually saw one. I think he's still skeptical...
This is the last we saw of Ron. Hopefully he made it home. Or at least got started again so he wasn't stuck up there in that blast furnace. Ron figured he had to go back at the halfway point up Lolo to avoid an 8-10 hour grind home on his last day.
The dip in the creek was awesome, and really helped make that next 5 minutes of riding a little more tolerable. Did we mention the heat yet? Stupid hot.
Matt continues to make incredible fashion statements.
D'oh! busted!
The legendary sign is missing at the bottom of the run. This one is about a mile below the summit, so after cooling down and watering ourselves a little at the summit, we ran back down for the obligatory shot. It was a strictly enforced 1 minute stop with no gear removal allowed. Must keep moving! Why does everyone seem to be shooting their cameras in random directions?
We ate dinner at the steak house, as Nick mentioned. Paul (pmackie) suggests that it will be 20-30 miles to get around Missoula and up onto MT-93 headed northwest. Then it will be a simple matter of finding a hotel. That took 85 miles straight into the sun. Still stupidly hot. The valley was beautiful, the road was not, being mostly straight and high speed on a long slow climb.
The hotel in Plains, MT was actually kind of nice. After a few beers and a/c enhanced sleep, Paul Mackie is looking pretty chipper.
I never actually got a good shot of Paul W. (Red01). I was all lined up for a perfect shot with a foot on the bike. He turned just as I was clicking the shutter. Go figure.
Two shots of us all suiting up after breakfast Sunday morning, still in Plains, MT. We got smart and actually had breakfast today *before* riding for three hours. Mike tried and failed to eat the most ridiculously huge pancake I've ever seen. Nick and I swapped bikes for the 25 miles into Thompson Falls. The power was fun to play with, but I missed the flickability, the beautiful exhaust note, and the SCREAMING WIND of the ol' naked B4.
Finally, here's Nick and Chantal suiting up to head home after our swim. Note the stylin' bandanas... Muffy, my wife, thinks that if Nick is dressed as Fred, why isn't Chantal dressed as Daphne, where's Velma and "how the hell did I end up married to Shaggy!?"
There it is. I don't think I've sweat so much in my entire life. I've also never known the sweat to be so utterly useless as a means to cool off. But despite that, it was a great trip. Thanks to all!
