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Highway
93 2024
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Day 13 June 29 |
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| Thanks to the kind folks at the local Subway last night, breakfast is easy - a minute or so in the microwave and it's good to go. | ||||||
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| Today if all goes as planned I will finish up Highway 93 all the way to the US-Canadian border. So I get BlueBelle packed up and ready to get out of here. | ||||||
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| Downtown Salmon is deserted so I slip away quietly. | ||||||
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| I do stop to admire the lovely statue on the way out. It sits right on the banks of the Salmon River that flows through the town. | ||||||
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| Just out of town across the river, Highway 93 takes a hard right on its way north. | ||||||
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| The sun's not quite over the mountains yet but it sure makes for some nice, cool riding. For that I am thankful after the heat of the last few days. | ||||||
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| For a while Highway 93 follows the twists and the turns of the North Fork of the Salmon River. | ||||||
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| The it climbs back up into the mountains of the Bitterroot Range and ... | ||||||
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| into the state of Montana. | ||||||
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| It's a lovely run as I make my way toward the Canadian border ... | ||||||
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| with some nice sweepers thrown in. | ||||||
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| Highway 93 pass through little towns like Darby and ... | ||||||
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| Lolo - which happens to be at the eastern end of one of my all time favorite motorcycle roads - Highway 12. | ||||||
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| I catch a glimpse of another snow tipped mountain off in the distance. | ||||||
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| Then I pass by beautiful Flathead Lake that stretches for 30 miles and is about 16 miles at its widest point. | ||||||
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| It is a natural lake but there was a dam built in 1930 which significantly raised the water level. It is also one of the cleanest lakes in the populated world given its size and type. | ||||||
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| Me and BlueBelle take a break in Kalispell before I finish up the remaining 70 miles or so of Highway 93. | ||||||
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| From there is pretty much a straight shot up to the border and as far as I will be going on Highway 93. | ||||||
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| Sadly there are no highway signs to mark the end of the line for US portion. It continues to run up into Canada to Golden and TC1 for about 200 miles where it joins Highway 95. I have no desire to do a border crossing today so I make a U-turn and head back toward Great Falls, Montana my destination for the evening. | ||||||
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So I get to traverse it in the opposite direction and as a riding friend of mine says - "A road in the opposite direction is a different road." |
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| Once I get south of Whitefish I leave Highway 93 behind for ... | ||||||
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| Highway 2 which will take to me Highway 89 and Great Falls. | ||||||
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| It's certainly a busy road but at least it is really scenic. | ||||||
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| There are some incredible views along the way and then ... | ||||||
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| I come to Highway 89 which has long stretches like those I experienced in Arizona and Nevada. | ||||||
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| But at least the surroundings are green and not dry and brown. | ||||||
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| And there are many places where I can see that farming is a major part of local industry. | ||||||
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| I finally arrive at my motel in Great Falls. I find that it is a little bit different that what I am used to. It is right downtown in the heart of the city ... | ||||||
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| and the parking is in an underground garage. Being familiar with what can go on in the downtowns of many cities of any size makes me a little concerned for the safety of BlueBelle. But I park her far enough from the entrance that it would be a long walk from the entrance to get to her. | ||||||
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| Usually most motels have a laundry of sorts as part of their facilities but I have struck out repeatedly on this trip. This motel does and it happens to be on the same floor and right down the hall from my room so I tend to that much needed business. I always carry some laundry detergent with me so I just have to procure the proper change from the front desk. | ||||||
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While I'm getting change I ask the lady - "Anywhere in reasonable walking distance a feller might get a bite of supper?" She directs me down the street for a couple of blocks to a local diner. |
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| It's pretty good and I get some roughage ... | ||||||
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| and a smothered roast beef sandwich and mashed taters with lots of axle grease to smooth its entry. | ||||||
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| I would lick the plate that would probably be frowned on by polite people present. So I work it over pretty good as I can with my fork and spoon. | ||||||
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| I waddle back towards my room and collect my wash that has been going since I left for supper. Tomorrow is Sunday and I plan on attending a local church, hoping that I will find someone at home at this one. It does not take me long to find the place of rest to which I faithfully attend. | ||||||
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