Woke up on Salt Lake City..... that is where I peter'd out yesterday. If it wasn't for the traffic jam I would of went on...but nothing worse than being in a traffic jam on a bike. Hard on the clutch hand..... Another nice weather day... who hoooo...no where near 42.. now unfortunately I am resigned to the fact that I can only go north from here....the clock is ticking. So...where to go....

Hosed off......tacked me socks...they are getting quick....went for breaky and they had the waffle maker...awesome way to start the day....sad thing is I had to give a guy instructions on how to use it....seriously....I thought it was tard proof...apparently not....he did have a drawl....draw your own conclusions.

Whilst munching away I layed out the map.....crap not a lot of options...but a nice park road goes pretty much north......but goes off my map into Idaho....no biggy...I know they have roads..... So folded up me tattered map....be nice if the darn things wouldn't tear so much at hiway speeds.

i may have a GPS but you still need a map....the GPS is great I use it for my headset and phone (bluetooth) and the new helmet has it all integrated and wireless. Its a modular helmet....after this trip...I have no doubts I made the right choice (only took me 3 months to decide...dang that beemer helmet was nice...but 1000 bucks....ouch...Bring More With you...yup its a BMW. I went for a cheaper option (HJC IS-Max modular) with integrated intercom and still saved a ton. In 42 weather its nice to pop the top get some airflow.

So while riding I got tunes blaring.....once I know where I am going I just put it in the GPS and least I have a good idea when I'll get there...b****in betty tells me when I screw up on the nav department..... but I stop a lot to take pics and stuff...that looping back really confuses her... .so the time estimates are just a guess at best.

What I really use it for is to see the road directly ahead...with the forward view you can see whats after the turn right ahead also how tight the turn will be. I did not realize how much I relied on this till last year when I dropped the battery. I was a bit nervous in some of the twisty's. With it on.quick glance and look ahead....I can lean in on a corner knowing what I got to do soon as I'm out of it. Also helps for passing.... Don't leave home without it. Also....I can check for hotels...I kind of figure where I'll run out of steam....tap a few times...voila all the hotels in the area....with the phone numbers...one tap and I'm talking to the front desk at hiway speed....spoils you. Only catch is you need cell coverage for the call....there are a lot of holes in coverage with AT&T thats for sure.

So off I went up the I84 to get out of the city and turned off at the soonest (94) onto the road that lead through the Forest.....wow........I was into Idaho now....the roads here are so cool....I was following a river and up and down and round and round....was actually getting tired from the cornering....wearing my boots out way too fast.... I still don't know how the smoke from the boots gets into my helmet...... very strange.  

There is hardly anyone on the road..... seems I picked the roads less traveled for most of this trip so far. So I eventually found this really cool pass....had about half a dozen switchbacks....sweeeeeet..... near the end the view was amazing...so I set up to take some pics... set the timer climbed up this rock and hit the button...and ran down the rock....cept...in the process me legs got all confused and I did a face plant on the highway...still managed to get up swear very loudly.......ran to the bike and almost got a decent shot....farg.... ahh well I tried. I packed up the cameras and hit the road and I noticed I had a wobble in the front end....mid speed....took some corners seemed ok....pulled over...crapp... cupped me front tire...checked the pressure...was running only 2 bar. Big mistake....hi speed no prob mid..with hands off bars....wobble..... so figured I'd get some air into it to wear it back to normal if I can. That should fix it.

Off I went...crankin....bankin....crankin....bankin....passed though Sun Valley...nice town...very touristy but nice.   Still not sure where I'm going and now its getting to be a while on the bike...my arms are tired from the cranking...neck sore...hmmm need hotel....Stanley is the next town.....I check the GPS...crap they got 2 hotels.....well lets see. So I rolled into Stanley...what a small town...4 streets I'm sure...2 pubs gas station and 2 hotels. I pull into the hotel on the hiway and it looks pretty rustic. They got a room...and WIFI lol.....and a hot tub they say....coooolllll. I'm in. So I unpack....had to make a reservation for the hot tub....ya not kidding....very strange.  

Put me trunks on....scooted back .... and they proceeded to tell me to go out back about 300 yard down a dirt trail should find the hot tub...hmmmmmmm banjo's started to play in me head....sounded like the theme to Deliverance..... with a wee bit o caution off I went....got lost...went down wrong trail....went 4x4'n with me sandals on....saw a hut...down by the river....oh did I mention there is a river flowing through town...amazing view. So I hop in the shed....and there is a couple of families in there already...only room for one more...that be me I guess...no point in being shy so I cannonballed in ....nice way for an intro ...... KIDDDINNNGGGGG people...I have manners....I was tempted however. Turns out its a natural spring...tres cool errr hot lol. the kicker was there were barn doors at the end of the building wide open and they opened to a view of the mountains and river and sky and holy crap what a view........so got to know the folks in the tub...turns out the dads were big wigs for Fed Ex....wellllllll let the expletives fly..... I had fun with them.

They really didn't realize how painful it is to ship stuff....I did give them a positve .... DHL is worse LOL. They liked that. I found out there is a big ho-down in town tonight....big street dance. Might have to check it out.    Dingggg!! Time was up in the tub.the next reservations were showing up....was in over an hour...lil woozy....helped the neck. So trotted back to the room put some pants on...went searching for food...with a pub...member there are two pubs..... first one...no food second one is actually a pizza joint.....ergoooooo they got food. So I planted it. Ate...swilled local beer......and tottled back via a gas station to top up me front tire....stopped in the store....crap they got Meyers dark rum......

So back to the room....my bag made gurgling noises.....found ice....all was good in the universe..... ya no dancing for me tonight..... I crashed hard........

Awesome day of riding......trick is to stay off the interstates and head for National Forests.....