As the winter comes closer and I have at least the idea to travel through parts of Middle-America during wintertime, as this is far more convenient than during summertime, I have to be more south than I’m right now. Otherwise there’s the risk that I’m caught in snow and I lose up to one year. A small glimpse to the weather-forecast shows me that the upcoming weekend might be ok to travel over the mountains. And what waits for me in the mountains? Correct: The snow…
This stage is very spontaneously decided and so I don’t have too much time to prepare. My new camping gear will be stored mostly in the panniers or at least far more secured than before. At least this lesson I’ve learned and I don’t hurry on securing this. Very early after work on Friday afternoon I hit the road through the dense Seattle rain, which started just a few days ago. As soon as I cross the Northern Cascades, the weather switches immediately and a blue sky smiles to me. It’s a perfect Indian Summer day on this side of the mountains. Just as I hoped.
Unfortunately as the days become shorter and shorter I cannot enjoy too long the warm sun. So sad that it disappears so soon but how it does, is just amazing. Yeah, I miss the sun…not only because of the heat but also because of the light as my head-light just broke. The next miles I literally have to travel through the dark…well, that sounds more dramatic as it was… when there were no oncoming cars I turn on the full beam and I arrived safely in Lewiston, ID. The next morning I get a spare-bulb, repair the light and prepare myself for the upcoming cold front which I tried to ignore as long as possible. But as soon as the first snow landed on my visor, I realized that I have to replan my route. All mountain passes are marked to travel only by chain when covered by snow but I really don’t have chains for my motorcycle (although available for those who really want to do that kind of adventure). Slippery roads is one piece but additional to that the temperature fell pretty much that it started to become quite uncomfortable even after I put all my clothes on. Either I stop, wait until it’s over and hope that the snow disappears with the risk that even more arrives and I get stuck or just go. I decided the last. As soon as I approached Boise, ID, the temperatures raised enough that the snow was over. A strong wind pushed me faster than I wanted.
Still it was cold and I jumped immediately under the hot shower as soon as I reached my accommodation for that night. My only fear was for the next morning that the cold front moved further than announced and I wake up in a white covered scenery. Lucky me this didn’t happen at. But the complete opposite. A blue sky with warm sun waited the next morning and I turned courageous immediately, planning my way to Salt Lake City through the mountains.
The small lonely windy roads were all mine. I enjoyed them so much that I even forgot the cold day before. It feels like heaven on earth…only some cows on the street remind me that this is still earth and I drive more cautious.
If I only had some more time, I would take some more detours to Salt Lake City but I have to find a good spot for my Beast to get covered for the next time. SLC doesn’t seem to be a dangerous city but still I don’t want to leave my motorcycle on the streets of a city I don’t know at all. First stop is the airport as this is the hub from which I leave and come back again. For sure there’s a parking but the prices are ridiculous and I look further. It didn’t take too long and I find a storage unit close by in which I can park my Beast for a bargain. Before I store my bike in there I try to get a nice view into one of the canyons close by but the employee of the storage unit tells me the wrong name of the State Park and I end up at a romantic creek but not at the Canyon. No worries. A last time for this weekend up in the mountains to gather a nice view before the sun sets and I raise.
As this is my first visit of SLC I drive to the Temple Square but find myself a bit lost in there. All nice, all clean, all good but not my taste. Others seemed to be amazed by that. I’m happy for them but I leave very soon after I arrived.
I head to the storage to leave my Beast for the very first time. This time it won’t be for a long time plus I’m sure that this is a safe place. Not sure how this will be for the upcoming stages. Not every time I’ll probably find a locked unit but before I start to twist my mind, I remind myself that in the past I always was surprised how easy difficult issues could be solved. With this thought I close the second stage which was probably the shortest but still memorable and not boring at all.
While the Beast sleeps, I take my night-flight out of SLC with the hope that when I come back no snow will wait for me again.
good night, beastie, and sleep well – soon you will be on the road to adventure again, when your master says the magic words..