Raven's Roads
Living an interesting life: the travels and musings
of motorcycling author Linda R. Moore

Jul 8, 2006

28th June - Phooey

Filed in Nevada 2006

In which things go wonky.

For no apparent reason, since it was just a few “blocks” down the road from the nerve-wracking ride down the dirt road, I stopped at this little idyllic rest area. Upriver several horses were having a nice early morning drink.

I’d decided to backtrack to Contact, to get the marker I missed. The delay above meant that I showed up just after two coyotes ran across the road. The first was just an impression of “animal” and “gold fur”. The second more or less ambled, and took a good look at me. Just over the crest of the hill was Contact. I guess I got Contacted by Spirit.

Btw, Contact is named for where two distinct forms of rock contact one another, but I’d have to read the sign again to fill in that wee detail. Ask, if interested.

Not long after I went into Idaho.

I even had fun with a historical marker or two.

But things started to go squiffy. At the gas station I realized my waist pack was ripping and I could lose my valuables. No replacements there, so I had to stuff things into already full saddlebags and pockets, forever forgetting which went where. There was no parking in the shade, either.

Later I came to this bridge over the Snake River, above a very deep gorge, in time to see a bunch of paragliders launch off it with whoops. My pictures were on the wrong setting–not the worst, but not as good as they might have been. Then my “travel bag” split and bits and bobs went pinging off all over the place.

I got into rural Idaho, after getting a bit lost in Twin Falls. I encountered no less than 4 farm vehicles blocking the whole road and going at 5 mph. I got sprayed by wayward farm irrigators. Threatening clouds gathered in the direction I was going. Eventually, a sign warned of forest fires on NV-225…and I couldn’t get through to the hotline for advice and conditions.

Over a sandwich in a locals’ cafe in Bruneau, I gave up gracefully and turned back…made it to Twin Falls. My cellphone randomly called a friend, creating a panic (she was rightfully worried). It was roasting. My laptop wouldn’t connect to the wireless.

All in all, it turned out to be a bit of a