Four days on the Guzzi NW USA and BC

[alphabet man]

I thought I would share the ride I took the last 4 days, now don’t expect far away exotic places, unless you are not from North America,  don’t expect the literary skills of Orson or DD but I hope you enjoy it any way. I am often surprised  that a lot of people easily forget how great we have it when it comes to motorcycle roads in the  NW USA and BC. I can’t remember the last time I was so tired from turning, not tired of, but tired from.



It was time to take the LeMans out for a spin, for those that don’t know I recently purchased a 2003 Moto Guzzi Lemans Rosso Corsa. The Guzzi’s previous owner or owners had only run up a total of 2400 kilometres, not even broken in yet, the history of the bike is a bit of a mystery but it’s mine now, registered to me and ready to begin it’s new life as  a bike that will be used often. To follow a tradition of many years between a good friend and myself  we were to ride Lolo Pass as we have done to initiate every new bike we have purchased over the past years.

Day 1, 715 Kilometres Elkford British Columbia  to Lochsa Lodge Idaho, via West side of Kocanusa Lake, McKillop Creek road to Hwy 2 then Missoula and Lolo Pass

We met a friend on McKillop Creek road, she was a real cutie. Great road and new pavement to boot.
On the Kocanusa road we meet an Iron Butt enthusiast on an ST1100 with a license plate holder that read “ 11 days 11,000 miles”   amazing! The ST had 297000 miles on it, no major engine work, no picture though

[alphabet man]

Obligatory Lolo Pass sign picture




Home for the first night, comfortable, clean, quite and the best huckleberry pancakes anywhere
 After a couple Alaskan Amber Ales and the pork chop special I was out for the night, just enough sleep to work up an appetite for the huckleberry pancakes in the morning

Lochsa

[alphabet man]

Day 2 Lochsa to Colville Washington  570 Km, a short day for  me as I was heading west on Hwy 20 but buddy Ralph had to get back to Calgary that night, we went our separate ways in Sandpoint Idaho at 4:15 pm, the man is a rock I don’t think I could have made it.

 Day 1 was a bit dreary and overcast for the most part but we awoke to bright blue clear skies, after a hardy breakfast we headed west along hwy 12 until we came to a road heading north, this road was 50 miles of constant ups downs twist turns, just amazing, if I hadn’t been sworn to secrecy by the locals I would tell you where it was but (shrugs shoulders)  and this was after hwy 12. I was really starting to bond with the Rosso Corsa, the Ohlins are amazing, after riding the 990 with TKC 80s it was like the Guzzi was glued to the road. Keeping up nicely to the big FJR, I can’t understand how Ralph gets that monster through the corners so fast, though I often see sparks when following

Hwy 12





The secret road

[alphabet man]

Day 3  Hwy 20 to BC and Osoyos 919 km

 I took an early start to miss traffic,

Sherman Pass at 6:30 AM



Rainy pass I picked up a hitch hiker

[alphabet man]

Day 4 Osoyos back to Elkford 612 Kms
Amazing day, the roads were wet all the way home, huge black  thunder clouds every where, but oddly I dodged every bit of rain until about a kilometre from the house. Where I am now after 2800 km on the Guzzi and loving it even more. Well I hope you enjoy I wont post for  a week or so I am packing the KTM to head down to Mt. St Helens  with Lizzabet

Cheers

Another 6:00 AM shot leaving Osoyos, what a fun road





And no one should ever turn up breakfast at this place in Rock Creek, yum!

[Orson]

Molto bene  

Amazing day, the roads were wet all the way home, huge black  thunder clouds every where, but oddly I dodged every bit of rain until about a kilometre from the house. Where I am now after 2800 km on the Guzzi and loving it even more.

Glad yer enjoying the Goose  

maybe the most overlooked/underrated sport tourer of the past decade  

[Kneescrubber]

Nice report. I just love "secret roads".  

[Castaway]

Nice pics! I don't recall seeing that Tuono-esque graphic on the LeMans before ... stock?

[bubba zanetti]

Nice pics Dave !!  Sounds like a thorough shakedown of the Goose.

Hey you had no 10 on this trip to Lochsa and I had no 1 on mine which you and Ralph had last time.... I like that no 10 with the porch and all ... Fast becoming my favourite destination. Thanks for introducing me to Lolo/Lochsa Lodge    Good food and cheap accomodation. I think we should do more weekend rides down there as it is a great ride and I would like to explore more of the roads around Orofino for sure.
 

[alphabet man]

Nice pics Dave !!  Sounds like a thorough shakedown of the Goose.

Hey you had no 10 on this trip to Lochsa and I had no 1 on mine which you and Ralph had last time.... I like that no 10 with the porch and all ... Fast becoming my favourite destination. Thanks for introducing me to Lolo/Lochsa Lodge    Good food and cheap accomodation. I think we should do more weekend rides down there as it is a great ride and I would like to explore more of the roads around Orofino for sure.
 

 for sure, Ralph and I were also thinking the same thing, one of our favorite spots and with the new secret road it's pretty hard to beat  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Hey Dave! I'd love to tell you that it was a great report, but after I got through the first half dozen photos, I got too depressed and had to stop. I'm sure the rest of it was just as lovely  

[Rincewind]

Glad to see that Guzzi is getting some good and proper use.  It sure is purty.  

[alphabet man]

Hey Dave! I'd love to tell you that it was a great report, but after I got through the first half dozen photos, I got too depressed and had to stop. I'm sure the rest of it was just as lovely  

 Sorry to have upset you DD but if it's any consolation Liz and I are sitting in Port Angeles and our tummys hurt from too much seafood so our trip to Neah Bay  in the morning will be a late start    If it makes you feel better we won't post pictures  

 Alphabet Man and Lizzabet  

[Croak]

I think we should do more weekend rides down there as it is a great ride and I would like to explore more of the roads around Orofino for sure.
 

You know, not to be a buttinski ( ) but I could easily meet you gents down there early on a Friday evening, especially if I slabbed from near Spokane to Missoula on I90 there.  It's only about 1000km. 

While I hate going through Spokane, I actually find I90 between CDA and Missoula to be a half-entertaining high speed ride, as far as Interstates go that bit sucks less than most.  In any case small price to pay to spend the rest of the weekend playing in Idaho and being entertained by the antics of you clowns enlightened by the wisdom of you upstanding gentlemen.  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

 Sorry to have upset you DD but if it's any consolation Liz and I are sitting in Port Angeles and our tummys hurt from too much seafood so our trip to Neah Bay  in the morning will be a late start    If it makes you feel better we won't post pictures  

 Alphabet Man and Lizzabet  

The love is overflowing...  

[blackbuell]

What a gorgeous guzzi! Thanks for a fun report with good pics. So how come I never see other MG's on my trips? Maybe we'll see you on the road some day,

Jon

[nevinfs327]

Those bikes look amazing, and those roads even better.  Thanks for posting the pics and report.

[ChrisZRX]

This would make a great avatar.



Do you mind if I use it?

[alphabet man]

This would make a great avatar.



Do you mind if I use it?

 Be my guest, but it's much beter to take your own  

[ChrisZRX]

Yeah, yer right.