Up to Missoula/ The Bakery

Mike and I were on the road by 8:30, eager to get on with our adventure. It would have been easy to stay on in Ketchum but the open road beckoned. We left with hugs and kisses. It was a beautiful morning. we turned onto Rt 75 north, rolled through Ketchum and into the beautiful countryside north of town, climbing gradually through meadow and aspen grove. We climbed to Galena Summit, a mountain pass with nicely graded sweepers - just right to get us psyched for the road ahead. Apparently, Mike had shrugged off the mishap because he carved up Galena Summit like an Easter ham. He has certainly learned a few tricks since our Arizona ride last Fall. The north side of Galena Summit offers sweeping views of the Stanley Basin and the Sawtooth Range and I stop for a picture at an overlook where Stephie and I stopped on our drive to Berkeley a few years ago. It brings back many memories.

We cross the Salmon River, now only a little brook, but in the next 30 miles we will watch it grow into a mighty river before it heads west. Further on, we stop for a break behind an SUV. Suddenly two guys appear, one holding a pretty impressive salmon. Now we see where the river gets its name.

Our short term goal is to reach Stanley, ID, to have breakfast at the Bakery, a restaurant highly recommended by Jay. We enter Stanley and eventually find the Bakery, a small log structure with a large line extending out the door. The crowd looks like a giant Abercrombie and Fitch commercial - count me in!

After about thirty minutes in line, we get to order, find a table and await our food - which is worth the wait. We enjoy our meal and the scene and head north. From here we follow the Salmon River, and all its twists and turns - usually without guard rails, which makes for an exhilarating ride. the river is beautiful as is the surrounding countryside.

After many miles, we cross another exciting mountain pass, with well graded sweepers, bail out lanes etc. encouraging a more aggressive approach to riding and roll into Montana.

We modified the original trip plan to get my tire replaced in Missoula, which has a BMW dealer with the tire I need in stock. We found a B&B online and after a scouting trip to find the dealer, and a good dinner at the Montana Club, a regional dinner house chain recommended by our B&B host, we head north for a run to the Russian Olive B&B. Once we are off the interstate, I grow apprehensive about the decision, because highway 93 has major construction (the sign says for 20 miles, and the B&B is 16 miles up Rt 93. We press on...