Bigfork, Mt to Lethbridge, Canada

Sue exiting tunnel into construction work

Is it January or August?  We woke up to a very damp, cold morning (it rained while we sleeping) but we were hopeful that we would ride out of it.  Our trustee steeds have performed flawlessly but our gear is another story.  A stop at the hardware store had what we needed, shoe goo and black super tape did the trick to keep Sue's boots from leaking  The highlight of our short riding day was Glacier NP, which is celebrating there centennial year.  Maggy was our tour guide and stopped at every visitor center, gift shop and spectacular overlook along the 50 mile  "Going-to-the-Sun-Rd".  But we also endured 5 miles of hugging the cliffs, single lane, greasy, snotty, wet, muddy roads under repair. The bikes are absolutely filthy,when we got to the hotel a man asked us if we just came from Alaska.

Exceptional natural beauty is preserved in Glacier NP and rivals the grandeur of Yosemite.  As we rode along the "Going-to-the-Sun-Rd" we enjoyed the aqua marine lakes, weeping rocks, snow cap mountain range, glaciers, and waterfalls.  Logan's pass is the highest vista along the "Going-to-the-Sun-Rd", which has a visitor center & gift shop without any electricity.  The weather was so intense the clouds were skimming down the side of the mountain and the winds were blowing snow onto our motorcycles.

After leaving Glacier NP we then proceeded to the Canadian border.  At the border crossing we each showed our passports,were separately quizzed about why we were entering Canada and then allowed to continue on. At the end of our riding day our distance was 49 k along beautiful farmlands, the road was very straight (a little sleepy) but well maintained heading toward Lethbridge.

Twin Falls to Bigfork, Mt

riding through the Bitteroot Mts

We woke up to blazing sun and 54degrees, warmth! But we were once again geared up for rain and then alittle hail thrown in, with full electrics all day.  Of course DeeDee again led the briskest leg of the day.  We rode on US93N from Idaho to Montana through beautiful Idaho farm lands, craters of the moon NP and between the Beaver Head Mt and the Bitterroot Mts and chased the salmon river most of the day.  It was breathtaking even through the rain & hail. It contined to be cold, cold, cold.  Out of Missoula we rode 83N following the Swan River all the way to Bigfork.  We finished the day off with Pizza!!! 

Rocklin -Twin Falls, ID

For the first day we were duly initiated with lots of rain, cold weather (34 degrees) and at times treacherous but we motorrad girls rose to the task and arrived in Sparks safely at the Black Bear diner and treated ourselves to a well earned hardy breakfast. After breakfast Dee Dee & Red lead the briskest pace in pouring rain. Three motorrad girls arrived at Winnemucca gas station on fumes.  Maggy led the third leg as the weather eased up continuing the brisk pace, keeping us on schedule. As the clouds broke up we witness the beautiful site as the clouds trailed across the desert. We enjoyed a tasty lunch in Elko.  Hi Ho Silver led the last leg to Twins Falls.  We are happy to report that the motorrad girls arrived safely and the motorcycles performed up to their challenge.

Red & Dee Dee Get To Go Again! Yippee

I'm really excited about this 3 Flags, running it in reverse will be a lot easier on the nerves come 4am Friday morning. I think the Canadian Border will be a lot less congested. This is the 4th Three Flags for me but the first time with my great riding buddies Maggy & Linda. Sue and I have done it all the other times. We've all logged a lot of miles together so the logistics of rooming together, riding, eating etc. have long been in sync. So now we just RIDE and RIDE and RIDE....Maybe I'll add to this later, but here it is 10pm the night before we ride 541 miles I think I better finish packing. See ya!

Sue and Hiosilver

This will be my fourth 3Flags Classic the last one I completed was in 2004.  The ones I have completed in the past all started at one of the Mexican border towns.  This year it starts in Regina Canada and that is one of the reasons I entered. The other reason is getting to ride with my three good riding friends. Even though we are not following the 3Flags route 100%  we are still logging as many miles with very little freeways. We four girls have logged many miles on our Beemer’s and everyone is looking forward to this adventure.  Of course it's Saturday night at 9 and I'm still loading the bike which is how a long trip always goes for me.  After that first day and all the gear settles along with my nerves.  We have planned a little mini-vacation on our days to Regina.  We will be seeing the sights of Glacier NP riding on the Going to the Sun hwy, a first for most of us.  I better get to packing ;-).

Linda

Thank you Maggy for setting up the blog! The SCMA 3 Flags run is a well known motorcycle run allowing only 200 people to sign up. We hear there will be 300 people doing the ride, but only 200 get the tee-shirt! This well be the longest motorcycle trip I've made, 14 days and it will have the most miles. I'm almost packed, bike had its service and now I'm trying to figure out if I forgot anything.
I'm so excited to get started on this adventure. The four of us have ridden a couple of other long distance rides together, and by together I mean sharing one motel room at night too! We manage to stay our of each other's way and get along famously. Plus we have similar riding styles so we can make lots of miles in a day. We'll just have to remember no dawdling and talking to nice people at the gas station! Lol, that would be me.
Hope we get some good pictures to show you and don't let all the air out of our tires, that would be me Too! Don't worry that only happen once...and now I have my air pump and wired gage on the bike. Thanks to my friend for doing that choir for my birthday.

Maggy & RGirl

Finally the BIG vacation is here!!  This is my first 3flags event and I'm excited about the challenges ahead.  We've been planning our strategy for 8 months, now we'll put it into action. The packing should be easier since for 5 days all we'll do is ride, gas up, ride, grab something to eat, ride, & sleep.  The roads to and from the event we'll ride the scenic routes, but once the tour starts it's full throttle days.  But the best  part of this trip is sharing the adventure with 3 great women.

What's with this weather!?#?!

Yippee-ki-yay!