105th Roadside News: Day 2 - Spokane, WA to Missoula, Mt - August 20, 2008
Maverick and Radio - Aug 20, 2008

Harley-Davidson motorcycles are waterproof!

 

Rain clouds moved into Spokane in the early hours of Wednesday morning and drenched the Spokane to Missoula leg of the 105^th Ride Home most of the day. You can dampen bikers’ leathers, but not their spirits. 105^th Ride Home riders remained upbeat, enthusiastic, and ready to ride. Harley-Davidson Executives, led by J.T. Hasley, again set an impressive pace.

 

By and large, this leg of the ride was uneventful. Our new friend from England fell off the back of our group at one point and could no longer be seen in our rearview mirrors. However, after several anxious minutes, we learned he had simply forgotten to fill his motorcycle’s fuel tank before departure from Spokane which caused the unplanned stop.

 

 

There are safety concerns on a rainy day as visibility may be compromised and the roadway may be a bit slick. Contemporary tire tread designs and advanced rubber composites lend themselves to reassurance in the stability and grip of motorcycle tires as long as motorcycles are operated at reasonable speeds. 

 

There is also the inconvenience and nuisance of much larger vehicles spraying water, along with everything contained within it, onto your windshield, helmet visor, and/or goggles. This is the worst part of sustained riding in the rain. While doing so, your motorcycle becomes a magnet for any dirt that has collected on the roadway. A mixture of oil, tar, mud, and rubber combined with water comes now to be the primary visual feature of your motorcycle. 

 

Some will say a dirty motorcycle doesn’t perform as well as a clean and polished motorcycle. When you have no choice but to continue the journey, a Harley-Davidson will handle the inclement weather!

 

The downside of a full day of low clouds and rain is that you are unable to see the beautiful canyons and passes that North Eastern Washington, Northern Idaho, and Northwestern Montana have to offer. Oh well, a motorcycle trip to the area shall be planned for another day. 

 

Enough already! More rain. Give me a break. I hoped. I prayed. I believed I would wake up today and the sun would be shining. Unfortunately, I was wrong; more rain and 55 degrees. While this area needs the rain, couldn’t the rain have waited until we passed through the area? I guess this is why we invest in rain gear and heated clothing. We know there will be days like this, but we still enjoy riding.

 

I’m feeling pretty grungy today. This is the third day in these jeans. With a premium on clean clothes, due to our limited storage space on the bike, wearing my only other pair of jeans seemed a mistake. My jeans feel damp from the humidity, and after three days, I appear to be sitting even when I am standing.

 

We have gained additional riders to our group today. It is difficult to determine what our numbers are now; perhaps 30. There is still one core group of about 12 riders, but a couple subgroups exist interested in selecting their own route east. We all assembled at the hotel, admired each other’s rain gear and departed in good spirits despite the weather.   Our first stop was the new Lone Wolf Harley-Davidson dealership in Coeur D’Alene where the reception was amazing and the food delicious.

 

After filling our bellies with biscuits and gravy, fruit, donuts and rolls, and coffee, and visiting with staff, we were ready to resume our ride. Due to the rain, we decided it safer to stay on the interstate the 193 miles to Missoula. Low fog and rain made it difficult to see the beautiful Montana mountains and streams along the way. Most of us have ridden this area before and could recall the beauty of the area as we rode along in the rain.

 

Another party was waiting for us at the Montana Harley Davidson.  Line dancing, cupcake eating contests, and BBQ was enjoyed by all. The winner ate 23 cupcakes! Tomorrow we ride off again to Billings, and guess what the weatherman forecasts…rain. Looks like I may wear these jeans another day.

 

Click here to view Spokane to Missoula photos.

 

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