Brother Ride 2009

Our unwelcome lakeside guests mentioned a big storm that was to come through in the night. We were kind of excited about the idea and prepared to weather some rain.

We had a good bit of wind and a smattering of rain but nothing impressive. Dawn brought foggy but otherwise dry conditions. As we packed camp, the clouds descended and mist swirled around the surface of the water.

Before leaving to wherever we happened to land next, we asked Casey for a family photo (sorry you couldn’t be here Jeremy).

Mist became rain as we rejoined the road. I flipped on the heated grips, glad for shelter behind the big GS front end. The others needed breaks to warm their hands but I was too busy enjoying the scenery to feel much sympathy.

We decided our first destination should be Avery, Idaho, for gas, supplies and the developing need for a hot drink. We were happy to find a friendly local place with a hot fireplace and fresh coffee.

I enjoy the simplicity of these small town establishments. You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit.

I am not sure Wayne wanted his picture taken.

After filling up on coffee, eggs, bacon, hash browns and french toast, we were super-charged, ready to roll. Well, most of us. Casey decided to part ways. He made it out of Lost Lake without further falls but didn’t find rain encouraging. He would head home on the highway. Bye Casey.

The three of us drove a hundred yards to the little Avery store. Inside, amyloid plaques, or something, kept us from remembering why we wanted to go there so we picked out some snacks and called it good.

My brothers had a good laugh as we prepared to ride again when they noticed the large Moto Fizz^¹ rain cover hanging off my right front blinker, melted to the header pipe. I rode that way from the restaurant, my bike so fat I couldn’t tell something the size of a throw rug was hanging off the front.

1. StockStad, Bob, “Pack it in the Fizz”: aerostich.com/…/Moto_Fizz

With full stomachs, clearing skies and a hole in my rain cover, we decided to head for Roundtop Lookout. Any lookout should be cool.

The ride into Avery along Fishhook Creek was one of the most beautiful I’ve seen (if not distracted by freezing fingers), flanked by mossy cliffs and crystal waters that burble across sharp rocks and gray logs, carving alcoves into the cliff at points.

The road up to Roundtop hasn’t been used lately. The first mile is dense with sharp water bars. After tiring of repeated speed-up/slow-down, I decide to catch air instead — just how I remember it on the small bikes. But I wasn’t brave enough to hop a small tree.

We took turns hacking through this little tree that lay across the trail to Roundtop Lookout.

The map didn’t mention the lookout is torn down. Oh well, it was a fun ride up. We followed some other trails to avoid backtracking but only found dead ends. Rain had turned to blue skies and we had ample daylight so extra time getting back to the road was no problem.

We decided we’d spend the night at last year’s favorite spot, Crater Peak. On the way, we diverted a little to see what the map labeled a “ranger station.” We found a hut with a fireplace, some wood and a cot. That’s about it. A great bit of shelter in the cold or rain but nothing to keep us there. Onward.