Precipitation ruled the morning again, but today it was the clear and wet variety, so one of those times when a light drizzle could be celebrated. I got wetter than expected on a quick pre-departure errand ride a couple miles the Post Office, where I dispatched my father-in-law's ratchet straps back to him -- done today partly to lighten my load, and partly because it only felt right to mail them from Montana. |
Today's route was US-12 West almost all day, opening with my second run of the legendary Lolo Pass, having ridden it on my KLR, also westbound, exactly four years ago less a day. Wet road surfaces moderated the sporting factor, but even on a slower wet day the Lolo scenery is still hazardously good. I kept westbound on 12, crossing the state line from Lewiston, Idaho into Clarkston, Washington, making respective stops for a picture of a good sign and a late lunch which I didn't realize I was hungry for. I continued west past Pomeroy, finally diverting off US-12 at Tucannon where it turned south and I elected to wander west via the 261 to Starbuck and the Lyons Ferry Bridge, then start tracking south. Lyons Ferry Road took me across the above-pictured prairie plateau filled with nothing but wheat fields and apple orchards, a majestic scene and a lucky find which supplied today's goosebumps.
I hooked into the 124 at Lamar, tracking west and south and eventually rejoining US-12 at the Tri-Cities, where my brother awaited after he spent the day gulping interstate.
Day total: 611 km, 7h30m Trip total: 2,641 km | Start: Missoula, MT. End: Richland, WA. Soundtrack: Sh-sh-sh-shuffle. |