Day 3, Kamiah to East Glacier

Todays route...

The room at the Clearwater12 Motel in Kamiah included free breakfast which included sausage and scrambled eggs anong other things. I ate breakfast there and was on the road by 8:00. 

Todays ride began with the famous (among motorcycle enthusiasts) Lolo Pass. This road winds along several different rivers and eventially takes you over Lolo Pass and into Montana. It is well known as a scenic and curvy ride, although not in a technical twisty way...just miles and miles of sweapers. 

The thermometer on the bike read 43 degrees when I left Kamiah. It went up to about 50 for a while then went back down a bit going over the pass. I was prepared for a chilly ride and had all the right gear on. The only issue was a couple of my vent zippers broke on my jacket. Junk waterproof zippers....

This sign is about 50 miles in. That's when the curves got curvier! That's what I like to see. 

This sign talks about the fun times Lewis and Clark had getting over Lolo Pass. I think I probably enjoyed it a lot more. 

The ride was in fact very scenic and one to check off the bucket list. 

When I started the bike this morning it seemed a little sluggish when starting. It occurred to me that the battery is most likely the original battery...now 4+ years old. So after crossing Lolo Pass I call the nearest Autozone (in Missoula) to see if they had an AGM battery for my bike. They said they did and it was on my route so I stopped and bought one. Unfortunately the battery they had listed for my bike was almost 3/4" too wide to fit in the battery compartment. They listed another but not only would they have to order it but it was $266!! I said I'd pass and put my old one back in and take my chances starting the bike in colder East Glacier. Hope it starts in the morning! 

This is my old battery. May have to order one when I get home. 

Stopped for lunch in Seely Lake, MT at a place called Pops. 

I had the Montana Salad complete with chicken and bacon. Big sucker! Maybe ot will make up for all those potatoes I've been eating that I shouldn't have. Idaho used to be famous for potatoes!

After lunch I continued on North toward Kalispell and then East to East Glacier. 

I almost forgot. The typical highway speed (two lane) is 70 in Montana! Yeah! Makes getting someplace a whole lot easier. They actually have caution signs on the corners with speeds like 55, 60, and even 65 mph! Oregon and Washigton really need to get with the program!

About thirty miles out of East Glacier I crossed the continental divide at Marias Pass. The rest area there had a huge monolithic monument to Teddy Roosevelt...

I took two pics of it but the light was wrong. All these yuppy liberals could have learned a thing or two from him. There's enough nature out there for everyone to enjoy. 

This is another panorama shot of the mountains from the same rest stop. Pretty magnificent! Definitely big sky country. 

Staying at the Circle R Motel in E. Glacier tonight. Looks pretty decent so far. All the lodging is expensive here. This was one of the less expensive places at just under $100 per night. 

Unfortunately there is an Amtrak station right across the street....

This the case for all the local motels tho unless you want to spring for a room at one of the fancy lodges out of town.  The Circle R built a second insulated wall across from the original front wall of the motel to help insulate from the sound.  Been here while several trains have passed and barely noticed them. Good deal. 

Decided to work on my blog while waiting for a table at the Mexican place (Serano's) next door. It was packed so hopefully it's worth the wait. 

Turns out is was. Probably the best Mexican food I've ever had. I ordered Chile Puerto which was slow roasted pork in a spicy red chile saice. Everything was super fresh, no signs of microwave here. Just like homemade...if I was Mexican.  

I haven't figured out how to reorient pics using this app yet so pardon the out of phase pic. This is where I ate dinner....circa 1909. They believe it is one of the first buildings built in East Glacier and it is the only original building left standing. It has been added on to multiple times, but you eat dinner in the original log part. I didn't feel comfortable taking a pic of the inside because it's pretty small and the place was packed with people. Very cool tho. 

The waiter also gave me a hot tip for breakfast just down the street. Two Medicines Diner. It's open all year and that's where the locals go. 

Tomorrow I'm going to get on the road fairly early in hopes of beating most of the masses on the Road to the Sun. That'll be another bucket list road for sure. i promise to remember to stop a take a picture or two. If my bike battery holds out and my phone doesn't freeze. It'll be chilly in the morning. After that it's across the too of Montana and Idaho and then down through Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint and on to Coeur d'Alene to visit my Aunt Carol, Uncle Charlie and their four kids...and enough of their kids kids to start a new town. 

Off to bed soon. Oh wait, clocks say 8:39, but it's really 7:39 my time. TV, then off to bed. 

Tomorrow (Day Four) route. Long and short options...