Ketchum Idaho to Shady Cove Oregon

View Larger Map

There were a few reasons I decided to make this trip to the Northwest and beyond at this time,the first being that i`ve always loved that part of the country and find myself a little starved for it`s towering and majestic mountains,forests as far as the eye can see,and some of the best motorcycling roads in the country.
There was also a BMW MOA rally on in July that I had an interest in going to,but the reason that tied all these together was that I had found a used Touratech 41 litre long distance gas tank(10.5gls vs.7.5 for the stock tank)  on the BMW forum,so I contacted the seller,and we decided that it would be better to install the tank at his place in Oregon rather than have it shipped down to Florida.As luck would have it,Jim(the seller)had spent a few years living and travelling in Ireland with his wife Verna on motorcycles,so we had no shortage of subjects to converse about.The Norsea Odyssey is an  interesting read of their expolits.There were a few other smaller inconsequential reasons as well,but they all served to help  in my decision in making this trip a no brainer.
So all of these reasons,coupled with the fact that summer in South Florida can best be described as f*cking miserable and sweaty at best,culminated in me loading up the bike and heading off to points North and West.
So with the back story out of the way,I headed out from Ketchum Idaho and made tracks for Jims place in Shady Cove Oregon.
Which brings me to "Murphs Travelogue Nugget #1.My fuel costs from Fort Lauderdale to Albuquerque were roughly $130.So every 2000 miloes is going to set me back the cost of about 20 packs of cigarettes(that is if I smoked,which I don`t because I quit,so there)
I`m putting a new "Murfs Travelogue Nuggetts" link on the blog,and as these bits of info or "Nuggets" come to me or maybe i`ll just see them on a piece of toast or pizza(if I ate pizza,which I don`t)i`ll jot them down and preserve them forever on Al Gores incredible invention that changed communication as we know it,The Interweb (it`s not just for porn anymore,who knew) !!.

Murph

Shady Cove,Oregon.

The bike at Jim Seaveys getting much needed electrical repairs and prepping it for the larger tank.

Trial fit.

Fits the way it should.

I went into Medford and got the graphics done for it.

While at the Seaveys Bob Fleischer showed up with another traveller Alan,who came from Belize for the BMW rally on his 1990 GS.

Alan has been on the road for about 10 months now.Orignally from South Africa,he made it to Belize before the bike needed open heart surgery,which necessitated him staying and working there for a few months.

I really enjoyed my stay there,getting everything done to the bike was a big help(thanks Jim)and being fed by Verna and Joan(thank you both)helped also.

Behind Jims place there were a few of these........awwwww,however,most people around here hate them because they ravage the plants.

A huge thank you to Jim and Verna,and Gene and Joan for their kindness and gracious hospitality.

Murph.

Grand Teton WY to Ketchum Idaho.

View Larger Map

It was nice sharing a campfire and food with Dwight.He`s a real easy going guy,a seasoned motorcycle traveller.He`s had the same cooking stove with him for 20 years now.
We packed up camp in the morning from Lizard Creek and decided to head up to Yellowstone where we would go our separate ways.If you log on here Dwight,I hope the rest of your journey goes well.

Leaving the Grand Teton.

We said our goodbyes and I headed up to see Old Faithfull.

When I was back in Jackson Hole,I bought a National Parks Pass,and I was glad I did.For $80,it`s a great deal if you are going to do 4 or more parks.

Of all the Parks in all the towns........

On the way to see Old Faithfull I stopped off and jumped into a phone booth and did a quick change into my "Tourista" outfit.When in Rome,right?.

Old Faithfull even has it`s own webcam.

And thar she blows shipmates.

I didn`t take too many pictures in Yellowstone because to be honest i wasn`t too impressed.Maybe I needed to spend more time there,or maybe I just took the wrong route,but I really preferred the Tetons better,plus Yellowstone is very very touristy(is that a word?),and at this time of the year it`s RV central,so I got on my trusty steed and headed west and south to Idaho Falls on the way to Ketchum.

But I got some nice pictures before I left.

This guy happened to cross my path.

As I took this picture the engine was running and I was ready to bolt at a moments notice.He looked a little hungry.

I stayed on 20 West through Idaho Falls and down to Arco and Carey.Going across Craters of The Moon National Monument was hot,very hot.

And long.

Here`s another picture which shows a completely different angle.

And one more for the road........(Doh!)

This will tell you how quiet and desolated this stretch of road is,it took about 10 minutes to set up this shot,and not a single car passed by.

The road to Sawtooth campground.

Room with a view.

Across the valley.

Oh,and I`ve also picked out a house in Ketchum for myself,here`s a picture of it.

Don`t worry,i`ll keep you all in the loop as to when the house warming festivities will be.

As has been the way on this trip so far,I left making plans back at home along with my watch,and things have really worked out wonderfully.

I`ve met some interesting and very helpfull people.Ketchum was no exception.The bike and it`s long distance look garners attention,and people just want to come over and talk about the bike and where I`m coming from.When they find out where  i`ve travelled from and am travelling to,it brings out the boy scout in them. Manys a simple "where are you coming from" conversation starter has ended up with me being the reciepient of their hospitality for the night.It`s kinda neat.In Ketchum,George Rizzo came over and started a conversation with me,which ended up with an invitation to join him on a fly fishing afternoon.I had to decline that day,but we`ll keep in touch and if I come through on the way back,i`ll be knee deep in the river trying to get some speckled Trout to play with me.

And along the way....

Murph.