Picto Diary - 20 July 2020 - Hollyhocks Adelaide, ID

Above: Lewis And Clark. On the Missouri River. 1804. (20 July 2020).

Escaping the Insanity Tour
Out and about on the Duc.

Of just ridden segment of 118 miles, from Missoula, MT to Salmon, ID, US 93, the final half (60 miles), from 10 miles before Lost Trail Pass to Salmon is a superior ride. The switchbacks, up, and down the pass are all 20 mph posted curves on perfectly engineered highway. Lewis and Clark, who came this way in 1805, coming from the opposite direction (south) should have been so lucky as to have a highway like this.

Idaho population: 1.7 million. Traffic deaths 2018: 213. Coronavirus deaths: 120.

Go to the woods to lose sight and memory of the crimes of your contemporaries." Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Above: Borah Peak. Chilly, Idaho. 20 July 2020.

Escape from Insanity Tour.
Out and about on the Duc.

Borah Peak. Highest mountain in Idaho: 12.6 thousand feet. Image from US 93 on second segment of today's ride. 151 miles from Salmon, ID to Arco, ID.

First sub segment, about 60 miles, from Salmon to Challis, the Duc serpentines with the left bank of the Salmon River. Not much traffic...maybe three overtakes. Smooth 60 mph to 70 mph curves, back and forth, wearing out the outside, both sides, of the Duc's Pirelli Scorpion trail tires. So smooth... accelerating through each curve...legal drug.

Next ninety mile segment, long and straight, in Idaho's high desert outback, following the spectacularly stark Lost River range to the east (left) where Mt. Borah (image) is located. Set cruise at 75 (limit 65) other wise 95 mph creeps up too easily.

Beyond the Lost Trail Range, 25 miles before reaching Arco, are Zemmatic pivot watered alfalfa fields either side of the road.

A ride like this is also a time for reflection. What kind of trailer or device to bring the Duc along with the Sprinter? Activism to thwart American decline or fealty to the have fun QTL god: "quality time left?" Finish now or postpone again the publication of Dad's memoirs. Build on top speaker momentum for LSDM? Ramp up on geezerhood in blaze of glory with new fully outfitted F350, new Duc, and a 2021 trip to Gujarat...as opposed to preparing for the worst and setting aside for progeny.

"Go to the woods to lose sight and memory of the crimes of your contemporaries." Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Above: Craters of the Moon National Monument. Lost Trail, Idaho. 20 July 2020

Escape from the Insanity Tour
Out and about on the Duc

Final (third) segment, of 394 total miles, starting in Missoula, is Arco, ID to Burley, ID 125 miles.

20 miles out from Arco is Craters of the Moon National Monument. 15 thousand year old extinct volcanoes with surrounding lava fields giving an unworldly (moon?) look to the landscape.

My head spins once again as I contemplate geologic time. Fifteen thousand years ago sounds like a long time ago, but it doesn't even begin to qualify as a geologic time segment.

I've really enjoyed my visits over the last three years to the fossil beds near Kemmerer, WY, (50 million year old fish and reptile fossils), and John Day, OR, (20 to.60 million year old mammal fossils). 15 thousand years is statistically insignificant relative to those numbers, and, 50 million years is statistically insignificant relative to the 4.6 billion year old age of the earth. That some humans believe that mankind can interrupt whatever trajectory earth is on boggles my mind.

At Shoshone, US 93 heads due south 20 miles to join I-84. Then, it is about a forty mile shot eastbound to Burley, my appointed stop for the night. But, there is a shortcut to Burley. Take, from Shoshone, EB ID SR 24, which parallels I-84 to the north. After about 25 miles take county road North 600 West, 20 miles south, through Snake River watered farmland, to Burley. ID SR 24 was emm tee! 80 mph seemed a very appropriate speed. Duc twin drone. Drug. High.

Growing up in Provo, UT in the '50's, our family doctor was John Bowen, who grew up in Burley. John and wife, Dorothy Bowen were close friends of my Mom and Dad. John, a devout Mormon, cursed a lot, and was loved for his quirkiness in that regard. He was an excellent GP. Dorothy was a self confident, smart, quick witted Mormon Mom, always with a twinkle in her eye. The Bowen's raised a family of five (?) kids, all of whom went on to live fruitful and contributing lives. Bowens. Models of the best of American culture. I see families like this today, but, today's cultural erosion makes it more difficult to emulate the Bowens.

"Go to the woods to lose sight and memory of the crimes of your contemporaries." Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Above: Sprinters. Craters of the Moon National Monument. Lost River, ID. 20 July 2020.

Escaping the Insanity Tour
Out and about on the Duc

This pull out was empty when I first drove in. See the Duc at left?

Then, among others, two Sprinter Class B RVs drove up. One, grey, is at right. The other, is nose visible, behind the white RV center image.

I talked to both Sprinter owners. Both were 35 to 40 something couples. One couple had an only child, girl, 14, along. Both couples were from California.

Naturally, both couples loved their Sprinters. Talking to the Sprinter owners at this pull out ramped up my enthusiasm for the upcoming Sprinter experience.

"Go to the woods to lose sight and memory of the crimes of your contemporaries." Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Above: Hollyhocks. Adelaide, ID. 20 July 2020.

Escape from the Insanity Tour
Out and about on the Duc.

Near end of third riding segment, Arco to Burley.

Farm Country.

Hollyhocks on North 600 West. My favorite summer flower. Best stand I've seen!

"Go to the woods to lose sight and memory of the crimes of your contemporaries." Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Addendum:

What a crazy adventure! Thanks for sharing.

Ralph Waldo Emerson,
Park City, UT