First off, I will point out that there is a difference between Elk River (where I went on May 24th) and Elk City. (There were some questions.)
This ride was originally scheduled for Saturday 6/21, but the weather wasn't cooperating, so we were going to go on Friday ahead of the storm. However, Brad had an appointment that could be moved. And it ended up that the winds of change blew the storm in fast enough to make Friday not so great either, but not fast enough to clear up Saturday. So, in the end, we rescheduled to today, Monday, 6/23/2025.
After I got the bike ready to go, I got my morning to do list done. It was still a little before 9:00, so I sat on my front porch while I waited.
Doug was the first to arrive, and he and I chatted until Brad showed up. We then all chatted while Brad ate his breakfast that he picked up on his way.
Being that we were now all ready, it was decided that I would lead until the other side of Winchester. We mounted up and headed on our way.
We first dropped down 6th street to Tammany Creed Road, which we followed until it turned into Webb road and on out the south east until US95.
We were a little worried when we got to where 14th street and Tammany Creek join, because it looked like there was some fairly recent new oil layer on the road. Luckily, it wasn't as new as it looked and we didn't run into any fresh chip seal that sometimes goes along with it.
Somewhere along this stretch, I realized that I forgot to take a picture at the house, so when I pulled off onto the Old Winchester Grade, I pulled over and got a quick snapshot before continuing on our way.
Brad had never been up the old Winchester Grade, at least not that he could remember. It was a bit rough in places, having frost and/or tree root heaves, sunken sections and pot holes. Dispite all that, I enjoyed pushing through the corners as it winded up and around the contour of the landscape.
As we pulled into Winchester, my GPS told me to take one direction, but as I did, I thought... This can't be right, so I pulled over to double check the route. Lucky for me I did, because somewhere along the way, one of those bumps had knocked loose the back hook on the cargo net that was holding my gas can, which in turn had fallen off the rack and was hanging by the neck. It was just low enough to drag the bottom corner of the can along the road.
As Brad pulled up he quickly pointed this out, so I climbed off and there it was with two little streams of gas coming out where the road had shaved down the corners edge. I quickly took off my gas cap and was able to salvage what I believe to be most of it, topping off my tank.
Now that the crisis was overted, I doubled check which road we wanted leaving Winchester and we were off again.
Once we reached the US95 again, Brad took over the lead. Taking us a short ways and then turning off onto highway 62, through Craigmont and on into Nezperce. Just south of town, we pulled off into the cemetery. Doug said, "I'm all for taking a rest stop, but I don't want to 'rest' here." I may not have quoted him exactly, but his delivery was on point, and we all chuckled.
We stoped here so Brad could visit his great great grandparents. (I think that is the right number of greats, but I could be wrong.)
As we were getting ready to leave, I saw this headstone and had to check it out.
Now, we followed Brad on 162 and old highway 7 down into Grangeville.
We decided that it would be best to stop and fill up here before our trek into the wilderness. We went in search of the Primeland fuel station, because we knew it would have ethanol free fuel. We finally had to stop at one of the buildings and Brad asked for directions. We weren't too far off, we just needed to go another block east. Doug couldn't get his pump to take his card, so once I was done topping off mine, I handed him the hose to fill his.
Before we headed on our way, we made one more stop at "Tacketts Saw Service", to visit Brad's Elks friend Dave, but he wasn't there. However, while there, we learned that Mt Idaho Road was closed for construction, so we were going to have to go the long way round.
We made our way out on highway 13 until the highway 14 junction, where we made a sharp turn back onto that road. We followed this along the river and stopped for just a second at the bottom side of the construction where Brad said that it would have been 10 miles instead of the 18 that we took. And from the looks of the map, it would have been a fun ride, not to say that 13 didn't have it's charm.
We continued on into Elk City, only fearing once or twice that the dark cloud above us might let loose, but it never did.
We pulled into town and stopped at the convenience store to ask for lunch location recommendations.
The lady mentioned a couple different places, but did say she liked Larry's, so it was decided that is where we would go.
Doug headed over ahead of us.
Brad wanted to buy some "anti-freeze" and I was rearranging a few things on the bike.
Eventually we all made it over to, officially known as the Elkhorn Saloon.
We each order a burger and enjoyed visiting while we ate.
Doug took the lead as we left, heading back the way we came. Doug had to break for a goose and her goslings that decided to cross in front of him. (might have been on the way into Golden)
Doug pulled over where highway 13 and 14 come together. We took a short break to stretch our legs a little. Due to the construction detour, I got the feeling that there was a bit more traffic than normal at this intersection. There was almost an accident when an extra long pickup had to make a three point turn to make the sharp corner and another car came in too close and got in the way.
I took over the lead into Kooskia where we pulled over at a gas station, but it didn't have ethanol free, so Brad took us into Kamiah to find a place that did. (The first place we stopped didn't, but the second did.)
I took the lead again, riding into Orofino, where we took Riverside Ave (Old Highway 7).
Once we got out of town and the road turned windy, it got down right fun, pushing through the corners.
I got stuck behind a couple cars, so I pulled over to let Brad and Doug catch up and get some distance between the cars and I. Unfortunatly, the boys weren't that far behind, but it did give me a few more fun corners before we caught up to them again.
One car turned off and we continued to follow the other. He did try to be polite and let me pass, but by this time, we were past most of the fun corners and I was using him as a pace car. That said, he eventually pulled off, letting us pass.
We made our way through Southwick and dropped down into the back side of Kendrick. I stopped here to see if Brad was going to head up through Deary. We chatted for a couple minutes before we went our separate ways.
I arrived home at 18:08 with a total of 314.9 miles. All in all, it was a very enjoyable ride.
I got a text from Brad saying he got home at about 18:30 with 358 miles.
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