The Bumblebee and the Vespa 2014

I think it's time for me to redefine what this new blog is about. In the past I've posted individual blogs for motorcycle/motor scooter rides to places like Alaska, Nova Scotia, Key West, Mexico, Canada, New York, etc. That's all well and good but it seems nowadays I'm dividing my rides into shorter ones comprised of two or more weeks each on different bikes. The total time and mileage is about the same, it's just split into multiple rides with a break somewhere in the middle.

The summer of 2014 serves as a good example of that wherein I rode south to Tombstone, AZ on my '92 BMW R100GS Bumblebee/Ural sidecar rig, (phew!) then returned home for a few days and set out again on my '07 Vespa 250ie motor scooter to visit Canada. That summer has gone and the seasons have changed as will the reports, some will be about shorter rides, some will be about maintenance, and maybe on occasion I'll post a photo or two just for interest. I may even introduce other bikes, a few of which are lurking under cover in the barn...

Navigating this blog is easy, just scroll down the list of posts by date to whatever interests you, click on it and you're in. Photos can be viewed in larger format by clicking on them.

Finally, if you'd care to post comments please do so, I'd love to hear from you. CLICK ON "NO COMMENTS" TO ENTER YOUR REMARKS. That seems really silly but that's how it works. The entry window is located at the bottom of each screen. Thanks for visiting, I hope you enjoy your stay.

LL

Monday, July 21, 2014

Jul 21 - Day 18 Vespa 250 - Bonner's Ferry, ID

Yesterday I noticed one of the links that secures the left hand pannier was hanging free having lost the nut that holds it to the bag. First thing this morning I had a go at fixing it which was when I discovered my repair kit with nuts, bolts, & washers was sans nuts.Perfect I thought so the MacGyver in me came to the rescue. Zip ties are right up there next to duct tape in my world and it seems to be holding so maybe it will last till I get home.
I can fix damn near anything with zip ties & super glue!
Once finished with the fixing part of the morning I loaded up and made ready to go. Outside it was evident everyone else had already hit the road.


Oh no we're the last to leave!

Bye bye Comfort Inn - nice digs

We paused for the obligatory road sign shot so we'll be able to recall where we went. Huh?

First detour was a stop at Lewiston Hill way above the city

Great views

Etc, etc.

More historic info to digest

Along about the time I finished taking my pics a herd of bikers showed up and asked if I'd take their picture. Naturally I did and also took one of the Vespa they could show the folks back home. Yup.

Moscow seems like a nice clean place to live. What do Moscovites do anyway? Something to do with vodka isn't it?  

Road work seems to be going on everywhere. What I want to know is who's paying for all of this? Me?

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I stopped for lunch at the city park in Worley. Yesterday I'd bought an extra Whopper just in case I became famished during the night but I didn't so it rode along with me in my man-bag, the one that hooks to the purse hook in the scooter's foot well. No people, I'm not afraid to eat a Whopper with mayo after it's cooked in the hot sun all day. After a week maybe I'd pass but one day? I think not. The park was doubly attractive as they have restrooms. They lost points as they were locked. Dumb asses.

What a find this was, right on the main highway and unguarded too!

I struggled to pass this bargain up.

And the interior, well maybe it needs a little TLC but the springs look solid

If this was mine I'd leave it pink, I think it really makes a statement.

Further north a few miles I came upon another Idaho used car lot. While I was there I decided it was time to shuck my fleece jacket liner - the heat was on again - and a couple of guys stopped to see if I needed help. I wonder if I squirm around too much when getting my gear on? 

This puppy I'd really like to have

I think I like the baby blue even more than the pink on the first find
I even like the upholstery a little better, it has more of a professional look 

I was at a stoplight in Newport and asked this guy which way Canada was. Of course I was in the wrong lane and he waved me over so I could make the turn. The whole time he was giving me detailed directions on where to turn after so many stoplights, blah blah. With my earplugs in and my attention focused on remaining upright I took a conveniently located pull-out to look at my map and set up the GPS. He followed me and gave me the entire set of instructions again but I was distracted with his bulldog and didn't pay much attention. All I needed was the name of the border crossing and I was good to go. 

His little bully is just a year old and cute as can be, snorting and wagging her non-existent tail. 

Is that a great grin or what?

Lake Pend Oreille at Sandpoint

Pretty lake, fuzzy photos continue to haunt me. Crap.

This is the view outside my room at the Kootenai River Inn Casino & Spa. There's a jillion people here, lots of bikers too. You may wonder what I'm doing camped in high-end digs like these and I'm perfectly fine with that, wonder all you want but I'm stayin' !
That'll do it for today, time for me to grab some dinner or at least a few snacks. For what this palace cost I'm thinking I may just stay in my room and soak up all the elegance it has to offer. Tomorrow I'll cross over the Canadian border at Porthill and then turn west on Highway 3 towards Vancouver. If the weather holds I'd like to tool around Vancouver Island, see how the bears are doing. Maybe they'll remember me.

So it's 200 and what, 25 miles today? I forgot to look and I'm not going to trudge out to the bike just to see. Let's leave it at a lazy 225 and call it good. Works for me. Happy trails.

LL



1 comment:

  1. It's so reassuring to know that there are people out and about who are so willing to take care of you! It must be due to the cuteness factor of the red scooter. Nice scenery shots!

    ReplyDelete

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