Turd on the Run

[dbarkdoll_imp]

Fabulous adventure! There is a lot of not-to-be-missed riding in the region you'll be traveling. Hopefully CO 145 (Lizard Head Pass) will be reopened by the time you make it to SW Colorado. Right now it's closed due to a rather massive rock slide. If you find yourself nearing Denver, look me up. I've got a garage, a bed, and plenty of hospitality to share (though I'll be out of the country the last week of August).

Thank you very much for the offer LR, I will probably take you up on it if I get there before you're gone. I hope it works out, I am eager to put a name to the face!

Congratulations! Once the germ of this idea of yours took hold, you would regret not taking the chance at it. Sounds exciting, looking forward to following along, possibly our paths will cross when you get near northern CA.

Ben

Oh, it's taken hold all right! My biggest enemy is myself now. I won't back out though, all the best pleasures in life lie on the other side of fear. Or something like that...

I hope that they do cross paths, I would really like to see the redwoods while I'm all the way over there, might not ever be that far west again.

Daniel, I sincerely wish you well. The journey sounds to me less about the bike and the routes and really about you. I hope you find it.

Truly, Happy Trails!

You nailed it on the head GO. I hope that I do, too. Thank you

Quitting the job to go on a motorcycle ride? Sounds great! I did the same thing way back in 1987. Quit my job in June and figured I'd find something when I got around to coming home (which I did).

I also started in New Mexico and followed the Rockies all the way up to Banff/Jasper Nat'l Parks up in Canada. From there I headed west and followed the coast back down. Visited friends and family along the way and never regretted a minute of the trip. As I recall, it was about 5,500 miles over the course of six weeks.

Snow shouldn't be an issue in August (forest fires are the usual concern), but after the first or second week in Sept., all bets are off in the high country. Could be great biking weather, or it could be snowing.

One thing I'd encourage you not to miss is US Hwy 12 from Lolo, MT to Kooskia, ID. One of the finest motorcycle roads I've ever ridden.

From there you could head south through Hell's Canyon, past McCall and almost to Banks, then cut east on State routes 17 and 21 (also a great motorcycle route) to Stanley, which is at the north end of the Sawtooth Valley. That'll give you a good taste of some of Idaho's best roads.

Keep us posted on your plans. I'm sure a lot of other western forum members will be able to feed you some gems.

I usually ride my CB11 back from Idaho to Phoenix sometime in Sept. Maybe our paths will coincide at some point.

Great minds think alike! Sounds like we had the same idea, only about 32 years apart (I will turn 30 in July, I feel like it's now or never)

5,500 miles, six weeks.....I would be A-okay with those numbers on my trip. I should be knocking the high passes out all in early August, I don't think I'd be going back over them on my return route.

I'll take all the recommendations you got for Idaho. I visited Stanley and did some hiking around the Sawtooths with family 4-5 years back, can't wait to ride through that incredible area.

If our paths cross that'd be icing on the cake!