Grizzman

When: Saturday, August 25

Where: Meet behind the Maverick on McMillan and Locust Grove in Meridian (Large empty parking lot). Will be leaving at 8:30 AM sharp. I'll be in the parking lot around 8:15

Route: McMillan, Linder, Floating Feather, Hwy 16, Old Freeze Out Rd down into Emmett (first good curves) , Hwy 52 to Payette, 95 to Cambridge, 71 to Oxbow Reservoir, NF 454 (Devil's Tail ) to Hell's Cyn Dam and then reverse.

I usually stop in Cambridge for fuel on the way down to Hell's Cyn and then again on the way out. I'm not a knee dragger but I like the curves at reasonable speeds. Will be riding a blue FZ1. I know, very late notice for this long a ride.

lil_schmitty

Today is Friday, August 24 .... is the ride today or tomorrow August 25th?

Grizzman

Date corrected, thanks for the heads up!

Vegasrider

Any intrest extending the ride to Joseph and Enterprise?

theduckllr

You may want to consider looping the Rattlesnake Grade while you are there!

ConradM

How long of a ride would this be?

Vegasrider

Where is that? I just did mapquest going up 95 though Wieser, Cambridge and crossing over into Oregon at Oxbow Damn. Then taking some forest road up to Joseph, looks like it's paved. That's 209 miles.

I would definately like to go down to Wallowa Lake once I get to Joseph. Not sure if would stay or head back to Boise. It would either be a long one day ride or I can break it into two days coming back on Sunday.

Bluesrider1

Just did this ride to Joseph and back last week for the Bronze Bike Rally.
Road was in great shape to the Forest Service Road turnoff.
Gas prices in Cambridge were pretty dang high.
Forest service road to Joseph is epic for scenery, but makes ID 21 look like a new stretch of freeway, potholes scattered thoughout, but none that I saw (and rode through) were deep enough to be rim benders, just ride aware of the roads limitations.
Don't miss the Hell's Canyon Overlook.
Ride from Joseph to Imnaha and back is not to be missed, it's a canyon ride on smooth pavement.
Bambi and buddies were plentiful on the road, along with a few cows and the "obstacles" they leave behind.

Like I said, after the first 100 miles (to Cambridge) the ride is epic and not to be missed if y'all have the chance to go!

Vegasrider

Thank you for the update. I have hooked up my GPS and looks like I'm ready to roll out tommorow morning. I'm also debating whether I want to head up to Lewiston once I get to Enterprise.

Grizzman

Thanks for all the suggestions and interest but the route I posted is all I have time for tomorrow. That'll be cool if anyone wants to split off after we leave Hell's Cyn Dam or any other time, but I'm sticking to the posted route.

One more thing, we're going to do a sit down feed stop somewhere along the line, not sure just where or at what point but I hate riding hungry. Probably in Cambridge but maybe Payette or Weiser on the way back, we'll see.

Off topic a bit but have to throw some props out to the Oasis cafe in Juntura Oregon. Stopped there last week on our ride and they treated us right! Lot's of good food, service was awesome and the prices were reasonable.

Vegasrider

That's cool, not knowing whether it's going to be a 400-500 mile ride or an 800 two day ride, I'm just going to wing it and head out on my own. I'll be able to and most importantly, make better time.

theduckllr

I would ride to Joseph Or, stay at Trouthaven http://www.trouthavencabins.com/

Wake up, go eat at any of the excellent diners in Joseph. Head north to Enterprise, then head north on Hwy 3 (WA HWY 129 to Lewiston. (96 Very nice miles, including the Rattlesnake Grade), then hit 95 South to Grangeville then Boise.

If you are feeling REALLLLY froggy, take NF-17 out of Grangeville to Hwy 14, then ride it all the way to Elk City. Be prepared for HWY 14 to be the best road you will ever ride in all of Idaho. Period.

Makes for a bit of a long ride, but it is SO worth it. I did it on my BMW Rally, and it was EPIC.

Attached Images

rIDE.jpg (66.3 KB, 19 views)

Bluesrider1

This is another epic ride, also a nice diversion is, after Elk City and back, turn north through Harpster, Stites, Kooskia, to Kamiah and the Clearwater River, then choose between (right turn) up over Lolo pass, or (left turn) downstream to Lewiston.

Oh......the choices!!

p.s. also out there somewhere between Lewiston and Grangeville is a road called Winchester Grade, which is another fun diversion.

Grizzman

Left at 0830 sharp as planned, thanks to Dave (FJR1300) and Ken (Cool 96 Seca 600) for coming out.

Two fuel stops and and lunch in Cambridge, 320 miles and 8.5 hrs. The Devil's Tail did not disappoint, highly recommend this ride. Basically, once you leave Cambridge it's pure heaven all the way to Hell's Cyn Visitor's Center and back. It was a great day until we got back to all the fire smoke. Thankfully, there was none on the ride.

Vegasrider

Well I just got back after 640 miles. I don't know why I keep punishing myself. I left 0730 sharp with no breakfast.

Slabbed it down 84 to 95N to Cambridge. Went to Hells Canyon Damn and on the way back down, I think I saw you guys around the midpoint up to the damn.

Rode to Joseph where I had lunch, then went down to the Wallowa State Park. Then I headed to Enterprise and went north on Oregon 3/Wash 129 towards Lewiston. All I can say about the road, Epic! I took plenty of photo's I will post up a trip report.

Got into Lewiston around 5 pm, but plenty of sunshine left so I headed down 95 back towards Boise. Went through the town of McCall for the first time, very nice. I will have to return, at least to eat, looked like a lot of great restaraunts. Even though I was starving, I kept riding since I wanted to get back by 10. Tons of bugs along the Salmon and Payette River, yuck!

ConradM

Wild man.

Tilos

A great ride for sure, I enjoyed every bit, well except the Oregon part,
Thanks for posting the ride, you never know who will show up without responding.
Good people, good roads, it doesn't get better than that.

Vegasrider:

I try not to ride at night, as my bikes are bug magnets too, I've ranged about as far as I can in day light and now need to think about 2 day rides to get to more "good stuff".
I've had rides that turned into a death march, started by someone saying, I feel good, lets just ride home, yup he faded 1st...not fun.
Tilos

theduckllr

I warned you that was a great ride! Too bad I was busy then. I'm always up for another Joseph Loop.

Grizzman

I didn't realize how easy it was to post pictures on BRN at the time of this ride. Other forums I've been on have a lot more steps and not worth the trouble.

Attached Images

	DSCN3429.jpg (97.2 KB, 15 views)
	DSCN3432.jpg (97.3 KB, 15 views)
	DSCN3433.jpg (98.2 KB, 14 views)
	DSCN3443.jpg (97.5 KB, 14 views)

CRAZYACE595

Nice pics man, I love that ride

tc305

shhhhhhhhhhhhhh come on guys everybody knows theres only one ride around here. the lowman loop. lets try to keep the rest of this to ourselves please.

CRAZYACE595

My bad. I think it was another ride that was awesome. Over towards Idaho City or something

tc305

righttttttttttttttttttttttttttt