Found On LoLo Pass......

On our way home from Stugis, coming over Lolo pass,

we stopped for gas half way down the mountain.

One of our group members brought me over a cherry looking item,

and I about fell over!

It was the size, shape and color of a RAINER CHERRY!

Those are going for a good gold piece in the stores.

I can't even afford to buy them!

I was the only brave one, to taste it, and since I did not keel over in a poisoned 

fit of death, 

everyone else decided to try it too.

Everyone was guessing things from:

Cherres

to Apricots

to and Apricot Plum mix...

No one really knew WHAT they were.

Then I got to thinking, 

we still had a way to get home.

Maybe I should investigate this further.

I took one into the service station and asked the attendant what it was.

She laughs and says they are:

"WILD PLUMS!"

She said that people come along and pick them

and make jelly from the juices.

I know it would take a lot cause they ARE only the size of a cherry.

So out comes a walmart bag, and my daughter-in-law and I 

get all the ripe ones we could.

It was only this little bowl full.

Since they are wild.

There was all sizes of trees along this river bank.

That means they must be easy to grow.

Right?

Well I have saved all the seeds.

AND..

I am going to plant me some PLUM TREES! LOL

These things are so sweet and juicy and tasty and yummy!

There should be a caution tape affixed to them though:

"Eat very many, and you spend the day playing Queen of the throne!"

Trip Summary..............

This post is just for documentary purposes only. It might bore some of you, and again some might find it useful if ever you plan on a trip to Stugis.

We took I-90 all the way there.

Saturday, August 6th, 2011:  

Everyone met at the Crossroads.  Kick Stands up at 6:30 AM.

Ritzville, WA.  Gas up. Miles Traveled: 121

11:00 AM  Rest area just outside of Spokane WA.  Pick up last rider.  210 miles traveled.

12:40 PM  Rose Lake Resort.  Gas up.  236 miles traveled.

Forgot to write down time.  St. Regis, MT.  Break time and gas up.  309 miles traveled.

4:28 PM  Drummund, MT.  Gas up.  430 miles traveled

7 PM MT. Time: Arrive at KOA Camp ground.  508 miles traveled.

SUNDAY, August 7th, 2011

Gas up in Butte, MT.  Kick stands up at 8:30 AM after breakfast.

10:49 AM Arrive Livingston, MT.  Gass Up.  617 miles traveled.

11:49 AM Billings, MT. Gas up.  734 miles Traveled.

At 845 miles we enter Wyoming.

3:45 PM Buckhorn Grocery. Gas up. 856 miles traveled.

5:25 PM Gillette Wyoming. Gas up and break time.  973 miles traveled.

8 PM, Arrive in Sturgis. Set up camp. 1095 miles traveled.

We did make it there in two days of hard riding. It was very hard to follow the bikes in the car. We went thru 38 miles of single lane construction just after leaving St. Regis, Mt. If everyone in the pack stayed pretty well together then keeping cars getting between me and the bikes was pretty easy.  All the way there I kept thinking I should of had a sign in the window of my car: "Tail Gunner", but the boys thought "Sucking Hind Tit" was more appropriate!

MONDAY, AUGUST 8th, 2011

Spent the day in Sturgis and traveled to Deadwood.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 9th, 2011

Traveled to Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Got rained on pretty good.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10th, 2011

Everyone had the day to do what they wanted until 4:30 PM when we all then headed to Rapid City to meet up with the Freedom Cruisers Chapters.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11th, 2011

7:14 AM Got camp packed up and headed out. Went to Perkins in Spearfish for breakfast. Which by the way was absolutely delicious, and as busy as they were, they put a meal out in record time.

8:53 AM Left Perkins. 1124 miles traveled.

10:07 AM Moorehead Wy, after a detour to Devils Tower. Gassed up.  1215 Miles traveled.

1:45 PM Buffalo. Ate lunch at McDonalds.  1313 miles traveled.

5:12 PM Arrived Billings, MT., to spend the night at the KOA.  1481 miles traveled.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2011

7:45 AM Packed up camp and left Koa Campground. Fueled up before hitting the hwy.

10:15 AM Arrived in Livingston, MT. Fueled up. Tom arrived on FUMES! His 883 took 3 gallons of fuel. It is a 3.1 gallon gas tank.  1598 miles traveled.

1:17 PM Butte, MT. Fueled up.  Traveled 1707 miles

3:33 PM Clinton Mt.  1812 miles traveled.

4:15 PM Arrived at Lolo Pass Campground.  1839 miles traveled.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2011

7 AM Left camp and traveled down the mountain to Lochsa Resort for Breakfast.  1865 miles traveled.

1:00 Arrived Clarkston, WA. Ate lunch at Arby's.  2049 miles traveled.

3:18 PM Arrived Waitsburg, WA.  2126 miles traveled.

4 PM Arrived Phillip's house. Unloaded his things out of the car.  2182 miles travled.

4:30 PM Arrived HOME! YEAH!       2217 miles total travel!

Now the big question:

Did "I" have fun?

Ummmm....No!

It was very stressful for me.

When we got to the Idaho Border, helmets came off of three heads.

There was way to many people and bikes in Sturgis.

Of Course! It was Rally time!

Trying to keep everyone together was a chore.

Sleeping was fitful in Sturgis because the noise of bikes was non-stop,

and of course not sleeping in my own bed.

But I do have to admit though, our little tent and air mattress was pretty comfy.

When we stopped at Spearfish for Breakfast 

I picked up a lot of brochures that was by the front door.

I did not have time to read them till I got home.

I sure did miss ALOT of sight seeing!

If I ever get the chance to go back,

I would like to take TWO weeks

and go in September.

I hear it is gorgeous at that time of year.

Then I would like to take the time to go see these:

cause I am a kid at heart.

(You can click on any of the pictures to go to their website.)

 This looks like it would be a fun place to visit too.

I did take a picture of a dinosaur

but did not realize that it was a park 

you could go visit!

THEN:

There would be the "horsey" things to do

because since I went and did, "bikey" things,

I think it is only fair that hubby do some horsey things.

Right?

Yes, we missed alot going during the rally time of year.

But it was interesting.

Home FINALLY!

We woke up to 36 degree temps the next morning.

I remember waking (what little sleep I did get) in the middle of the night

and moving my head on the pillow, and it felt like it had icles on it.

Then there was time my forehead got so cold it felt like my brain was freezing

and I had to stick my head under the covers to get any relief!

We woke up and hit the road by 7:30 AM!

Since no one at the resort opens or stirs till 9 AM

We had to drive to the nearest place to get coffee!

And 10 miles down the road we found it!

HEAVEN!

We were greeted by this resident.

Inside was 

Warm.

Cheerful.

Inviting.

and best of all:

They had HOT COFFEE!

SUPER DUPER Good Breakfast!

With BLUEBERRY pancakes! YUM!

They EVEN have TRAIL RIDES~

Yep, I think I know where I am going to spend my next vacation!

Lochsa Lodge

Coming down off the mountain

It wasn't Memorial Day so not sure why all the flags.

Sure was striking though.

Some Iron Horses.

Beautiful Rose Garden

Harvesting Wheat.

By the time we got home the temperature was 92 degrees!

What a difference from morning till afternoon.

Oh, and the bets failed!
Both Daughter In Laws surprised everyone!
They RODE 2450 miles on the back of a bike!
Hi Five to them, and very proud!

It was good to get home.

We were all tired, and thankful for Sunday to rest up.

Stuck at Lolo

Do Environmental groups really know what they are talking about?

Just sayin'.....

I have linked to the article below

Missoula News

and in case it disappears I have copied and pasted it here:

Victory? Not so fast... 

by Alex Sakariassen

Opposition to Imperial Oil's heavy haul voiced a collective victory cry July 19. Missoula District Court Judge Ray Dayton issued a preliminary injunction that day against the Kearl Module Transportation Project. All Against the Haul's blog quickly lit up with a triumphant "WE WON!" The following morning, newspaper headlines in Montana and Idaho hailed it a "mega ruling" against the megaloads.
The injunction validated several allegations that heavy haul opponents have leveled against the Montana Department of Transportation and Exxon Mobil subsidiary Imperial Oil for nearly a year and a half. Dayton ruled that MDT had violated the Montana Environmental Policy Act by approving an inadequate environmental assessment of the project. One of the assessment's major shortcomings, Dayton said, was in not fully investigating alternate routes for the big rigs.
Yet the call for celebration comes with a number of caveats, not the least of which is the possibility of seeing the loads rerouted along Interstate 90. Even as news of Dayton's injunction spread last week, Imperial Oil's first reduced-size load completed its journey through Idaho and Montana to Alberta. A giant test module continues to sit next to Highway 12 at Lolo Hot Springs, its future uncertain as MDT and Imperial Oil seek to appeal Dayton's decision. And Imperial Oil spokesman Pius Rolheiser has stated repeatedly that the company hasn't given up on its original plan.
"It remains to be seen how large a nail this is in Exxon's coffin," says All Against the Haul coordinator Zack Porter. "We are celebrating last week's victory, and we want the enormous coalition of volunteers to be celebrating this with us, but we know this is potentially just a middle step."
In Idaho, courts have snatched victory from opposition forces time and again. Legal attempts to prevent the Idaho Transportation Department from green-lighting the megaloads hit a major snag this Monday when a judge denied a request to reconsider recommendations to approve the permits. Fighting Goliath co-founder Borg Hendrickson said heavy haul opponents were disappointed by the ruling, and intend to continue fighting in court.
Porter says the heavy haul opposition is unsure what its next move will be. MDT has not released a travel plan for loads along the interstate. But Dayton's injunction should hold back the megaloads at least until next summer, Porter says, making this "another several-billion-dollar delay for Exxon Mobil."
Last week's victory, it appears, was largely a win for morale. "David is slaying Goliath in the Northern Rockies," Porter says. "And the world is watching."

 It is stuck at Lolo Hot Springs resort!

SanFranZoulaians, 

I mean Missoula, Mt. residents and

environmentalist will not let it go through their town.

 This is a piece of equipment that cleans soil in Canada.

It is very large.

To get it there, HWY 12 was about the only route to go due to 

most roads have bridges on them.  

Those bridges do not have the clearance for these to fit under.

In order to make some of the corners on Hwy 12 they would have to 

increase the corners with concrete, widening the road.

Environmentalists say it would be harmful to the river that runs along side the road.

So they put a stop to it.

And here it has sat for the past three months.

The resort collects about $6,000.00 a month for this machine,

THAT COULD BE WORKING

in 

CANADA

IF it could get there.

 There are many more of these sitting at ports in the USA.

Pasco Washington has a few of them.

They come from China/Japan on barges.

 The guards office below is just a canopy of shade.

Someone has to stand guard 24/7 to make sure no one

jumps the fence, there has to be someone posted

at all times.

 These gentlemen had the day shift this day.

There are three shifts.

 They do not know how long this will go on.

 But If you want to know MORE INFORMATION

then feel free to call:

Imperial Oil Public Affairs

(403) 237-2710 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (403) 237-2710      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

 They would be most delightful in providing more information.

Some links for more information:

Letters to the editor.

Crossroads

Last night~~LOLO PASS

On the way home, we made a pit stop in Livingston Mt.

We drove through A LOT of road construction.

38 miles on this one stretch.

Then the infamous 883 needed gas, and we pulled over 

at this place.

Where they hold the TESTY FEST!

It just got over with.

MORE road construction!

Headed up the mountain to Lolo pass.

Did not see any moose though, even though there were a lot of signs for them.

After a very hot ride

everyone was glad to finally get a break.

We stayed at 

Lolo Hot Springs.

This is the bar and game area.

The resort was also hosting a dinner for the Hotshots

because prior to us arriving there was a fire on the mountain.

They had it out, but were just hanging around for any hot spots

to make sure they did not flair up.

Since the restaurant part was busy with hosting the hot shots,

we were told to order dinner in the bar.

No Problem.

The kids hung out and ate dinner in the bar, and had a few drinks.

By the time we got back to eat dinner,

the bar server came to take our drinks.

She never came back.

We were then told that we had to go to the resturant side to eat.

They do NOT serve dinners in the bar!

WHAT THE????

So over to the resturant side we go.

Then From across the resturant the waitress hollers at me to NOT SIT AT THAT TABLE!

They had half the place set up for the other half of the hot shots to eat dinner.

"YES Ma'am!"

By now, I am a bit pissed!

I look over the menu,

I order a dinner, and NO BAKED POTATO!

Now I am really pissed.

Food comes.

It is passable!

 I have just never heard of a place that had a bar and resturant together

NOT 

serve food in the bar!

We will not ever stay here again.

TRAIL RIDES! Yippeee!

Only on Saturdays and Sundays though!

Bummer.

We were there Friday night.

These rocks were right behind our camp area.

Of which we could not stake down our tents in this area.

This was due to water lines not being buried very deep.

It is a good thing we did not have any wind!

Will it fit????

He decided to blow up BOTH parts of the mattress...

Eventually he did have to deflate the bottom half.

Children showing the love!

The raccoon and the Mexican!

Phillip and Shanna

Everyone have a good time.

Next...."It's Stuck at Lolo!"