Rick Long's Stories
March 21, 2005
12/24/04 What I Did On My Summer Vacation
By Rick Long
On first day of school in the fall, back before the track system was developed, each student would be given a
chance to stand before the class and tell a story about something that happened on their summer vacation.
Looking back on this activity, it might have been a way to kill time for the teacher not quite prepared for the
start of regular lessons. At its best, it was a way for classmates to catch up on what their friends had done over
the summer. At its worst, it could be a chance for embarrassment if your family didn’t put much effort into
vacations.
My family was one of those. The best I could hope for was a long weekend off the farm away from tractor
driving, helping the crop duster pilot, or pulling weeds, all of which made up the majority of my summer days.
My grandmother was usually my rescuer, as she liked to plan at least one cultural trip to Little Rock each
summer so that I would not grow up without a touch of class. During these trips you might find me sitting front
row at the ballet, staying in one of the larger hotels, and riding elevators that had a real, live operator.
These were the days when the downtown streets were safe to walk. I can remember being allowed to go to the
local bookstore by myself where I would spend hours picking out the latest Power Boys mystery novel or an
Ironman comic.
Too bad I’m not still in school because this year I would have quite a tale to tell. This year I took my first
long motorcycle trip. Theresa (my wife of 11 years) and I decided to attend the BMW Motorcycle Owners of
America (BMW MOA) rally, held this past summer in Spokane, Washington. She had just purchased a new â
€™03 R1200CLC in sky blue. She had her Autocom bike-to-bike communication system up and running and
was ready for the road. I had been restoring my ’85 K100 but decided a slightly used ’95 R1100GS
would do nicely for the trip. Both bikes, and both drivers, were ready to spend some time in the wind.
Travel stories told in chronological order can get a bit tedious. Day one, day two, day whew. Instead, I’ll
relate some stunning moments that stand out in my mind and we’ll let it go at that.
The Best Decision
Freeway driving feels safe to me. The road is wide, the way is well traveled, and the kind of services travelers
require are readily available. That wasn’t what we wanted for this trip. We decided to leave the freeway
just north of Las Vegas, Nevada, and take state roads all the way to Missoula, Montana. What a difference this
made.
The Best Sky
The vast desert sky of Nevada gives ample warning when rain is approaching. Dark, ominous clouds make for
dramatic sunsets. We follow the recommended safety tip of getting off the road for the first 30 minutes of a rain
so the oils and other substances that collect on asphalt can wash away while you don the rain gear. We were on
the road eight days and afternoon rains came on six of them.
The Best Breakfast
Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. Every good motorcycle ride should start with a good breakfast. Your
body needs good fuel just like the engine does. I like to start with a tank filled with premium.
The best breakfast of the trip was just eight miles north of Alamo, Nevada. The desk clerk at the motel had
advised us that we could find a good breakfast at the nearby Shell station. With a bit of puzzlement, I followed
her directions and found that the gas station had a convenience store that included a grill and three folding tables
with chairs. Two grandmothers were operating the grill and people were lined up to order breakfast. I dare say
no better omelets or home fries are available anywhere and everyone there knew it.
The Best Sign
Such places as the restaurant just described are the repository of local knowledge and notices. One such notice
hung on the wall from the Nevada Department of Game and Fish licensing. They wanted hunters and fishermen
to be advised that there was a new agreement concerning the sharing of contact information between their
department and the Department of Child Support Services. The notice was giving fair warning that if you
purchase a hunting or fishing license in the state of Nevada, you should be on the lookout if you are in arrears
on your child support payments.
The Best Hotel Room
The BMW MOA has a discount deal with Super 8 so we tried to frequent their establishments when possible.
We pulled in late to the one in Twin Falls, Idaho, and I asked the clerk if he had any rooms left. “Only one.
The Jacuzzi room and it’s $90.00.�
I said, “Start the paperwork. She won’t say no after two 400+mile days on motorcycles.� As I
starting filling out the little card, another clerk came along and said that #232, a less expensive room, was also
available. I didn’t budge. This was no time to be cheap. The Jacuzzi sounded nice.
Just at that moment, a young couple came through the door. They were dirty, tired, and generally bedraggled
looking. Their muffler had fallen off the car just outside of Salt Lake City and they had worked all day trying to
get down the road. Been there, done that. They needed the cheaper room as badly as we needed the Jacuzzi.
The Most Beautiful State
We didn’t know Idaho was beautiful. We took the road through Golena Pass, an 8,700 ft. mountain pass
with a stunningly beautiful view of the valley below. We stopped for an hour at the summit’s rest area and
made pictures of each other riding around the corner and of the scenery.
The rest of the day was spent following the winding road along the Salmon River. No guard rails here. Better
just be careful because if you don’t make the curve, you and the bike are going for a swim!
The Most Welcomed Site
The best thing to do on a long motorcycle trip is get up early, hit the road for a 100 miles or so, stop for
breakfast, make a few hundred miles more before lunch, grind out more miles in the afternoon, and stop for the
day around 4:30 pm with a good dinner. Get to bed early and do it all over again tomorrow. We were on
vacation. That never happened.
We were lucky to get on the road by 10:00 am each day. This put us driving past dark to make our mileage
goals. Not a good idea. We were coming into Montana at 8:00 pm, dusk was upon us, rain was falling, deer
were grazing off the roadside to the left of us, and lighting was striking the ground to the right. As we came by a
dead Elk, hit only moments before by a passing vehicle, I called over the radio to Theresa, “We’ve got
to stop at the next town no matter what it is.� We had hoped to make Missoula that night but that goal was
still 70 miles away.
The tiny lights of Darby, Montana, and the sign for the Wilderness Motel were welcomed sights. As we pulled
in, so did two other Beemer riders coming from the north. They came right over to us as we were dismounting
and asked if we were stopping for the night. We said that we were and they remarked, “Good, ‘cause the
road turns to gravel a mile north of here.� If we needed affirmation that it was time to stop, we had it.
The lady running the desk of this motel with 12 rooms, 50 RV spots, and four mobile homes, asked about the
yellow ribbon pin that I wear on my ride jacket. I told her that it was for my nephew, Joshua, now in the Army
and stationed in Korea just eight miles from the DMZ. She said that her husband was in Baghdad that night and
that her and their four boys were running the motel the family had purchased just before her husband got called
up. I gladly paid my room fee for the night knowing it was going to help a family deeply impacted by war. I pray
they don’t have to make the ultimate sacrifice.
The Best Rally (for BMW riders)
Spokane was great. It was nice to attend a rally that was all about BMW. We met people from around the U.
S. and Canada. We bought Alaskan sheepskin seat covers from a vendor who lives in Alaska and looked as if
she skinned the sheep herself. She gave us a card with her business address and an invitation to camp behind
the store anytime we were in the area.
The fairgrounds where the rally was held also had an A&W Root Beer stand and we drank our share of that
fine beverage. Other kinds of beer were available for those that prefer a different jolt. The closing ceremonies
included Indian dancers, horseback riders, and motorcycle giveaways. A good time was had by all.
The Worst Decision
We headed for home after receiving advice from a well-intentioned rider that the freeway had recently been
oiled and should be avoided. We addressed the problem by traveling a 100 mile detour, most of which was
covered in fresh oil!
The Biggest Surprise
We were shocked the first time we bought gas in Oregon. An attendant came running up to us to let us know
that we could not pump our own gas due to a strict state law. Actually, as a motorcyclist, you can fill your own
tank but the attendant must run the pump and hand you the nozzle.
When asked why this law was enacted, the only answer ever given was, “We don’t care why. It creates
jobs!� We later found out that a few horrendous fires some years back led to this government mandated
safety effort.
The Best Overnight Stay
If you are ever along the I-5 in northern California, maybe burning off some Oregon gas or headed up to enjoy
full service stations, stop at Yreka for the night. The Super 8 is just across the street from Casa Ramos, a
spacious Mexican restaurant with excellent food. This stop gets my vote for the best dinner of the trip and the
most peaceful night's sleep.
The Best Place to Call Home
After eight days on the road, we found ourselves in southern California on the 210 East, four lanes wide, dead
stopped, wondering, “Why do we live here?� As we approach our mountain home, we are reminded
exactly why.
We saw many beautiful sites on our journey, but none any better than California State Highway 38 just north of
Yucaipa, heading toward Big Bear. Maybe it’s time to bloom where we are planted for a while. That will
do, at least until next year's BMW MOA national rally in Lima, Ohio. Now where did I put that map?
By Rick Long
On first day of school in the fall, back before the track system was developed, each student would be given a
chance to stand before the class and tell a story about something that happened on their summer vacation.
Looking back on this activity, it might have been a way to kill time for the teacher not quite prepared for the
start of regular lessons. At its best, it was a way for classmates to catch up on what their friends had done over
the summer. At its worst, it could be a chance for embarrassment if your family didn’t put much effort into
vacations.
My family was one of those. The best I could hope for was a long weekend off the farm away from tractor
driving, helping the crop duster pilot, or pulling weeds, all of which made up the majority of my summer days.
My grandmother was usually my rescuer, as she liked to plan at least one cultural trip to Little Rock each
summer so that I would not grow up without a touch of class. During these trips you might find me sitting front
row at the ballet, staying in one of the larger hotels, and riding elevators that had a real, live operator.
These were the days when the downtown streets were safe to walk. I can remember being allowed to go to the
local bookstore by myself where I would spend hours picking out the latest Power Boys mystery novel or an
Ironman comic.
Too bad I’m not still in school because this year I would have quite a tale to tell. This year I took my first
long motorcycle trip. Theresa (my wife of 11 years) and I decided to attend the BMW Motorcycle Owners of
America (BMW MOA) rally, held this past summer in Spokane, Washington. She had just purchased a new â
€™03 R1200CLC in sky blue. She had her Autocom bike-to-bike communication system up and running and
was ready for the road. I had been restoring my ’85 K100 but decided a slightly used ’95 R1100GS
would do nicely for the trip. Both bikes, and both drivers, were ready to spend some time in the wind.
Travel stories told in chronological order can get a bit tedious. Day one, day two, day whew. Instead, I’ll
relate some stunning moments that stand out in my mind and we’ll let it go at that.
The Best Decision
Freeway driving feels safe to me. The road is wide, the way is well traveled, and the kind of services travelers
require are readily available. That wasn’t what we wanted for this trip. We decided to leave the freeway
just north of Las Vegas, Nevada, and take state roads all the way to Missoula, Montana. What a difference this
made.
The Best Sky
The vast desert sky of Nevada gives ample warning when rain is approaching. Dark, ominous clouds make for
dramatic sunsets. We follow the recommended safety tip of getting off the road for the first 30 minutes of a rain
so the oils and other substances that collect on asphalt can wash away while you don the rain gear. We were on
the road eight days and afternoon rains came on six of them.
The Best Breakfast
Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. Every good motorcycle ride should start with a good breakfast. Your
body needs good fuel just like the engine does. I like to start with a tank filled with premium.
The best breakfast of the trip was just eight miles north of Alamo, Nevada. The desk clerk at the motel had
advised us that we could find a good breakfast at the nearby Shell station. With a bit of puzzlement, I followed
her directions and found that the gas station had a convenience store that included a grill and three folding tables
with chairs. Two grandmothers were operating the grill and people were lined up to order breakfast. I dare say
no better omelets or home fries are available anywhere and everyone there knew it.
The Best Sign
Such places as the restaurant just described are the repository of local knowledge and notices. One such notice
hung on the wall from the Nevada Department of Game and Fish licensing. They wanted hunters and fishermen
to be advised that there was a new agreement concerning the sharing of contact information between their
department and the Department of Child Support Services. The notice was giving fair warning that if you
purchase a hunting or fishing license in the state of Nevada, you should be on the lookout if you are in arrears
on your child support payments.
The Best Hotel Room
The BMW MOA has a discount deal with Super 8 so we tried to frequent their establishments when possible.
We pulled in late to the one in Twin Falls, Idaho, and I asked the clerk if he had any rooms left. “Only one.
The Jacuzzi room and it’s $90.00.�
I said, “Start the paperwork. She won’t say no after two 400+mile days on motorcycles.� As I
starting filling out the little card, another clerk came along and said that #232, a less expensive room, was also
available. I didn’t budge. This was no time to be cheap. The Jacuzzi sounded nice.
Just at that moment, a young couple came through the door. They were dirty, tired, and generally bedraggled
looking. Their muffler had fallen off the car just outside of Salt Lake City and they had worked all day trying to
get down the road. Been there, done that. They needed the cheaper room as badly as we needed the Jacuzzi.
The Most Beautiful State
We didn’t know Idaho was beautiful. We took the road through Golena Pass, an 8,700 ft. mountain pass
with a stunningly beautiful view of the valley below. We stopped for an hour at the summit’s rest area and
made pictures of each other riding around the corner and of the scenery.
The rest of the day was spent following the winding road along the Salmon River. No guard rails here. Better
just be careful because if you don’t make the curve, you and the bike are going for a swim!
The Most Welcomed Site
The best thing to do on a long motorcycle trip is get up early, hit the road for a 100 miles or so, stop for
breakfast, make a few hundred miles more before lunch, grind out more miles in the afternoon, and stop for the
day around 4:30 pm with a good dinner. Get to bed early and do it all over again tomorrow. We were on
vacation. That never happened.
We were lucky to get on the road by 10:00 am each day. This put us driving past dark to make our mileage
goals. Not a good idea. We were coming into Montana at 8:00 pm, dusk was upon us, rain was falling, deer
were grazing off the roadside to the left of us, and lighting was striking the ground to the right. As we came by a
dead Elk, hit only moments before by a passing vehicle, I called over the radio to Theresa, “We’ve got
to stop at the next town no matter what it is.� We had hoped to make Missoula that night but that goal was
still 70 miles away.
The tiny lights of Darby, Montana, and the sign for the Wilderness Motel were welcomed sights. As we pulled
in, so did two other Beemer riders coming from the north. They came right over to us as we were dismounting
and asked if we were stopping for the night. We said that we were and they remarked, “Good, ‘cause the
road turns to gravel a mile north of here.� If we needed affirmation that it was time to stop, we had it.
The lady running the desk of this motel with 12 rooms, 50 RV spots, and four mobile homes, asked about the
yellow ribbon pin that I wear on my ride jacket. I told her that it was for my nephew, Joshua, now in the Army
and stationed in Korea just eight miles from the DMZ. She said that her husband was in Baghdad that night and
that her and their four boys were running the motel the family had purchased just before her husband got called
up. I gladly paid my room fee for the night knowing it was going to help a family deeply impacted by war. I pray
they don’t have to make the ultimate sacrifice.
The Best Rally (for BMW riders)
Spokane was great. It was nice to attend a rally that was all about BMW. We met people from around the U.
S. and Canada. We bought Alaskan sheepskin seat covers from a vendor who lives in Alaska and looked as if
she skinned the sheep herself. She gave us a card with her business address and an invitation to camp behind
the store anytime we were in the area.
The fairgrounds where the rally was held also had an A&W Root Beer stand and we drank our share of that
fine beverage. Other kinds of beer were available for those that prefer a different jolt. The closing ceremonies
included Indian dancers, horseback riders, and motorcycle giveaways. A good time was had by all.
The Worst Decision
We headed for home after receiving advice from a well-intentioned rider that the freeway had recently been
oiled and should be avoided. We addressed the problem by traveling a 100 mile detour, most of which was
covered in fresh oil!
The Biggest Surprise
We were shocked the first time we bought gas in Oregon. An attendant came running up to us to let us know
that we could not pump our own gas due to a strict state law. Actually, as a motorcyclist, you can fill your own
tank but the attendant must run the pump and hand you the nozzle.
When asked why this law was enacted, the only answer ever given was, “We don’t care why. It creates
jobs!� We later found out that a few horrendous fires some years back led to this government mandated
safety effort.
The Best Overnight Stay
If you are ever along the I-5 in northern California, maybe burning off some Oregon gas or headed up to enjoy
full service stations, stop at Yreka for the night. The Super 8 is just across the street from Casa Ramos, a
spacious Mexican restaurant with excellent food. This stop gets my vote for the best dinner of the trip and the
most peaceful night's sleep.
The Best Place to Call Home
After eight days on the road, we found ourselves in southern California on the 210 East, four lanes wide, dead
stopped, wondering, “Why do we live here?� As we approach our mountain home, we are reminded
exactly why.
We saw many beautiful sites on our journey, but none any better than California State Highway 38 just north of
Yucaipa, heading toward Big Bear. Maybe it’s time to bloom where we are planted for a while. That will
do, at least until next year's BMW MOA national rally in Lima, Ohio. Now where did I put that map?
