No Thru Traffic

The ghost of the Red Pearl lives on

We got a much earlier start today on our way back south to Lewiston and US 12. Yes, we had to backtrack – chalk one up to poor map planning. Once we got back onto US 12 though the road snaked through a valley and hugged a river as we retraced the tracks of Lewis and Clark on our way to Lolo, Montana.

Along US 12 towards Kooskia, ID

The journey went pretty quick and we whizzed by people, barely hearing their snickerings about Red vs. Blue. We were unfazed as the vision of the best motorcycle road ever was just beyond the horizon. At our quick lunch at a local diner in Kooskia, ID we surprised the entire town with showing them their first vegeterian. Ryan feasted on a bun with veggies in it.

And then, we were there at last…

US 12 to Lolo, MT

It wasn’t long after this picture was taken though that we found ourselves at the first of many frustrating construction zones. They littered the first 30 miles of the road and clogged everything up so bad that we were having a hard time coping with the 100+ degree heat. Although for us, salvation was found in the tubes from our CamelBaks, the bikes had no such savior. If mine had a gauge it probably would have barked at me too, but it was Ryan’s bike that gave out first:

Lolo's best dressed victim

We had to stop and cool ourselves and our bikes down and did so while swimming in the incredibly refreshing river right next to the road. We gave the construction workers a sight they will never forget…

After we got through the construction we had the whole road to ourselves in all its brilliant windy and impeccable brilliance. It lived up to it’s hype, but I think the road we took into Lewiston was way sweeter and more desolate.

Entering Montana

We forgot we had to change our clocks going into Montana, so now we are up late with lots of light.

Eating healthy tonight was a main goal, so we stopped at the only gas station between Lolo and our awesome campground to stock up. A meal for champions:

mmmm... Mac and Cheese

And that brings us to our gem of a campground that we found through the otherwise unnecessary AAA books that we brought: Square Dance Center and Campground. This place is incredible! Not only is it really nice, with old and tall trees and a virtually secluded campsite, but we are surrounded by friendly old people who are here to dance. Every night the place hosts square dancing, line dancing, and all other sorts of dancing. Maybe we danced, maybe we loved. Some things will remain a mystery…

Our picturesque campsite

Tomorrow we head to Glacier National Park in northern Montana. We will be staying two nights and hopefully avoiding the thunderstorms…