I can't vouch for Jonz & LVR, but I was dog tired after the 2,400 mile drive. Morning seemed to find us all groggy, despite only having had a couple beers each. A/C running hard, Jonz pulled the shade somewhere along the line during the night, and the room was as dark and as cold as a crypt well after dawn. We slept until nearly 0800 local time!

A few cups of complimentary coffee and we were packed and ready for the road. That damned tire was beginning to be a PITA, and I was regretting not having replaced it before we left (and leaving yet another half used tire on the pile). But wait! LVR's new gloves were both lefts, and one of Jonz's sidestand bolts already made a grand exodus, so we wandered around Sandpoint scrounging some last minute items. Finally on the road at the crack of nine!

I'd exchanged a couple messages with dirtrider - he and his pal Doug are going to ride with us a couple or three days - and he's already up in Eureka waiting on us. I let him know we wouldn't be there for a while and he and Doug went on a loop while they waited for us to catch up.

About 40 miles north up 95, we stopped for breakfast, and a meal it was. And cheap too.

We turned east on 2 for a little bit, and then north up the Yaak River valley. Why take the main roads when we can take the back way? We quickly gained altitude, crossing a pass and headed down to Lake Koocanusa.

The first of many breathtaking views revealed itself to us. Somewhere down below was Rexford, and near that Eureka. And DR and Doug.

I'd never ridden in Montana, nor Idaho for that matter. Let's find DR and Doug! But where would we look?

Well, there was no doubt where they were. The bar. An LC4E and a '99 640 ADV were parked out front. In we went. DR & D were shooting some pool, and sipping a couple of cool ones. We shot the breeze for about 10 minutes, sipped a brew, and the group formed up. A quick run up to Roosville for a border shot, and the ride is officially in motion.

Unceremoniously, we were followed by a Trooper and then the Border Patrol. Apparently, we fit the profile of the potential saboteur. Maybe it was the cameras? Maybe LVR's turban? Jonz's repeated shouts of "Infidel!" Steve's scimitar? My box cutter? Who knows?

After DR and I had a brief interview with the BP's, who were pretty cool, we were AOK. It was then that we noticed that LVR's shock was so ruffled by this event that it disgorged it's innards right there in the gas station parking lot. Thanks Progressive!

After gassing up (Doug, Jonz, LVR and I each dreading that 45lbs of gas over the front axle) on our return through Eureka, we headed off into the mountains to get a peek at the border of the Glacier National Park.

We all roosted around and had fun while LVR relived his childhood dreams with a newfound pogo stick - not good. :cry His rear 606 was on the road only about half the time. What to do…. :scratch LVR has a plan. He always has a plan.

But for now, we will……… RrRRRRrride man, rrrrRRRRRrrrride!

Steve (dirtrider) and Doug know this trail perfectly. It's great to meet up with local talent and put faces to names, and especially to have such a great time. Five lucky dudes never had it so good.

Marbley [and dusty!!!] two-track was the bulk of what we did. Huckleberries were ripe, and we chowed on 'em before the bears could.

It was sad to see how badly the pine bark beetles had decimated the forest. With the environmentalists at war with the forest managers and timber cutters, the timber stood dry and waiting for the big burn. Sadly, this was a trend we observed along the whole ride. At least Glacier National Park awed us in the distance as we skirted the edges of it's boundaries.

Off to Red Meadow Lake!

I'd heard something about an avalanche here last winter, but I didn't put 2+2 together. When we got there, Steve told us of the disaster. At this same spot last January, a fellow and a young lady were killed by an avalanche right here.

Eerie. Steve said there were fish up in the trees from the displaced water of the lake, and ice blocks the size of cars pushed out into the forest.

The sun was getting low in the sky, and our bellies were rumbling. More importantly, I was thirsty, and it was my birthday. Mmm….beer. Let's light a fire under this ride and get somewhere.

But where? Ride on and we'll find out.

From Red Meadow Lake, we headed off in the general direction of Whitefish, spaced adequately to mitigate the incredible dust.

When we reach the range of the cellular phone, Doug called home and found out his wife and kids were away for the weekend. A decision was made to hole up there, in Big Fork, for the night. A diversion to a grocery store, about two blocks from the CD Trail, and the makings of a fine dinner were purchased and distributed among the five for carriage to Doug's.

We rode across the latticework of roads in the valley and reached Doug's fantastic home, but not before losing Steve as well as the Sun. Doug's has a huge shop full of cool stuff, so the bikes even went inside for the night.

Steve found his way a few minutes behind us, and Doug made a beer run. Pork chops, baked potatoes, bread, salad and cold beer! We watched 270HP extreme snowmobile videos and drifted off to sleep in various corners of the house.

Day 1 ended up being about 300 miles. Doug and Steve covered about the same mileage on their ride as we did riding to meet them.