2010 Hells Canyon/Wallowa Valley Gathering

[Ladybug0048]

Our last night in camp many of us were woken by heavy rain, loud claps of thunder and bright flashes of lightening. In the morning a few were treated to indoor pools in their tents. Yep, things got a bit wet during the night.

When I got up it wasn’t raining and most of us thought we had a reprieve from the rain while we tear down our camps and pack our bike. We were so wrong! The rain started coming down hard again. Some people finally got tired of waiting it out and packed up in the rain, I thought by this point those clouds would be empty. Others waited a little longer and were rewarded with a break but the rain started again and they rode out in the rain.

With the need to pack up all the stuff I had sent down with PNWbuttercup it took me a little longer than most to get packed. With Buttercup’s truck loaded she was able to head out. Rainbow007 was waiting to ride back with me so she was in camp a little longer than everyone else and the good news is we got a break from the rain and we were able to take down our camps and ride out dry. Thanks Mortimersickle and StormyMax for taking that wet stuff back to the wetside where it belongs.

The party is over and it’s time for Rainbow and I to head north. Check out all that blue sky.


We rode Rattlesnake Grade.


Even though there were clouds in the sky the roads were dry.


Someone reminded me that morning about rockslide danger because of the hard rains. I’m sorry I don’t remember who it was but who ever you were thank you! I was being extra careful looking for rocks on the road. There were a couple places just around corners where we did find some big rocks on the rode and were able to miss them. Some times basic common sense reminders like that can make a difference so we are watching for those hazards rather than blindly shooting those corners assuming the road will be all clear on the other side.

All in all the ride was good.


Boggan’s Oasis Café sure was busy when we passed it. I was a little cold so wasn’t disappointed not to stop for my traditional ice cream when I’m here.


As we rounded each corner we wondered if we were going smack dab into a heavy rainstorm. We could see them all around us but we only hit about 5 minutes of rain all the way home. We headed up the north side of Rattlesnake with clouds over us but not getting rained on.


Then on to Lewiston.


In Lewiston we fueled our bikes, had lunch at Rusty’s then said our good byes. Rainbow would cut off on Hwy 95 to head for Post Falls, ID as I continued on Hwy 195 into Spokane, WA.

It was a great time and I enjoyed making a few more new friends.

[PNW Buttercup]

I'm surprised you guys didn't catch me in my ponderous four wheeled F250 on the grade...??? we kinda left about the same time....

oh that's right... I did 80 in the straight stretches....

I will have to ride the SnattleRake Grade next year looks like fun!!!

[fxstbiluigi]

F-250 fords will go that fast?

[PNW Buttercup]

mine does....

[MortimerSickle]

Originally Posted by Ladybug0048[SIZE=3

]Thanks Mortimersickle and StormyMax for taking that wet stuff back to the wetside where it belongs. [/SIZE]

Actually, try as we might, we didn't.

We held on as well as we could, but by the time Radioman and I reached La Grande, we found your gravitational pull to be too great, and it slipped from our grasp.

To ride home in the dry was nice, but we have been cursed with some kind of hot yellow blob in the sky ever since.

[hondadude]

Looks like a great time was had by all. I've been trough around six pages of ride reports maybe I missed it, so I have to ask did Lady bug bring the apple wine to share around the fire or did she get thirsty n drink it all before? If you did share how was it?

[smilin jack]

Originally Posted by Ladybug0048

[SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=silver][FONT=Verdana]Someone reminded me that morning about rock slide danger because of the hard rains. I’m sorry I don’t remember who it was but who ever you were thank you!

You're welcome Ladybug. I did see lots of gravel washed onto the roads on my way back to Albany/Lebanon via hwy 244, 126, 20 etc.

The deer were out in force, eating the nice green stuff on the road shoulders. I didn't want to copy "Deer Slayer". The DR probably would have broken... KLR's are much tougher, they say. This seems to have proven the theory.

Had a nice ride today in the local hills. Rode USFS 15 from hwy 126 over to hwy 20 and had a good time. Cooled down in the McKenzie River for a brief moment... it was icy cold.
Dave

[PNW Buttercup]

Originally Posted by hondadude

Looks like a great time was had by all. I've been trough around six pages of ride reports maybe I missed it, so I have to ask did Lady bug bring the apple wine to share around the fire or did she get thirsty n drink it all before? If you did share how was it?

I Did NOT see any apple wine... so, I believe you have your answer....


LB?

[walla walla Bob]

Originally Posted by Ladybug0048

Brian, WallaWallaBob, and Fatherof4 (not in this pic) did a little tech seminar for PNWButtercup.


WallaWallaBob created a nifty sidestand “crutch” out of a crutch. Again, another missed photo op. Bob if you have a picture of it could you post it up. It was such a good idea and I like the way it works.

Ok Lady bug here is my handy little emergency jack.

It's made from the adjustable part of an aluminum crutch. I just drilled out the rivets from the crutch and left it full length. I installed a hook on the top end. In the stored postion it's 15 inches long and at full length it's 23 inches. but I don't think I would try and use it that long. I left the rubber tip on to help keep it from sinking into the ground.

The easiest way to install it for the back tire is to stand on the side stand side of the bike. Pull the bike towards you onto the side stand and lean over the bike and place the hook under or some place around the front foot peg area. For the front tire I stand on the opposite side and just lift up on my engine guard. I place it in a hole on the front of my skid plate.

You will have to find the sweet spot on the bike for the jack. But it will be close to the spots I have mentioned.

It's a very inexpensive jack to make. And it beats looking for a rock or stick the right size. Plus if you don't want to build it. You can buy one already made on line. But building it yourself is more fun.

[MortimerSickle]

Originally Posted by walla walla Bob

Ok Lady bug here is my handy little emergency jack.

That looks like something that could be used to help keep your bike from tipping over when riding on the ferry, too.

[Ladybug0048]

Originally Posted by hondadude

Looks like a great time was had by all. I've been trough around six pages of ride reports maybe I missed it, so I have to ask did Lady bug bring the apple wine to share around the fire or did she get thirsty n drink it all before? If you did share how was it?

Ah, well, ah,,, ya see, the apple wine didn't make it to Hells Canyon. By the time I was packed I ran out of room. It's still safely here waiting to be sampled. Dang, it's going to take me as long to try it as it took for you to figure out a way to get it to me. Triple T is in a couple weeks and I'm taking it there to share.

Originally Posted by smilin jack

You're welcome Ladybug.
Had a nice ride today in the local hills. Rode

Originally Posted by walla walla Bob

Ok Lady bug here is my handy little emergency jack.

It's made from the adjustable part of an aluminum crutch. I just drilled out the rivets from the crutch and left it full length. I installed a hook on the top end. In the stored postion it's 15 inches long and at full length it's 23 inches. but I don't think I would try and use it that long. I left the rubber tip on to help keep it from sinking into the ground.

The easiest way to install it for the back tire is to stand on the side stand side of the bike. Pull the bike towards you onto the side stand and lean over the bike and place the hook under or some place around the front foot peg area. For the front tire I stand on the opposite side and just lift up on my engine guard. I place it in a hole on the front of my skid plate.

You will have to find the sweet spot on the bike for the jack. But it will be close to the spots I have mentioned.

It's a very inexpensive jack to make. And it beats looking for a rock or stick the right size. Plus if you don't want to build it. You can buy a one already made on line. But building it yourself is more fun.

Thanks for posting this. My guess is there are a few people that will make use of this info. I have a set of crutches in my basement that I hope to never use again maybe I should put them to good use. Using the jack would sure make lubing the chain easier.

[smilin jack]

Got the new front and rear brake pads from Happy Trails today and had them on in a few minutes. Only required a 5mm Allen wrench and a flat bladed screwdriver. The center stand helped too.

All that up and down at Hells Canyon helped wear out the old ones (19200 miles). The tires also took a beating, but will last another month or two and get new ones for the winter rains.

Dave

[fxstbiluigi]

Originally Posted by PNW Buttercup

mine does....

BUT It was pointed down hill right?

[PNW Buttercup]

Originally Posted by road ranger

BUT It was pointed down hill right?

no, pay attention Lou it was on the straight stretches... with a big black cloud of smoke behind it... (not really, my diesel is not that bad)... that only happens when I put my foot through the floorboard....

[fatherof4]

Does anyone have GPS routes or tracks in .gdb format that you would suggest for a ride from Asotin to Joseph. My brothers and I are headed that way in a couple weeks and are looking for possible routes or side trips.

We do not have a gps but have map source and western us 24k topo's.