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

Jul 7, 2005

5th July (2)

I came into a rather green valley called the Jordan Valley, where there’s a small town called Jordan Valley. It was being dug up, and I got held up for a rather long time as various vehicles, including more mobile home halves, were shuttled through the single lane of downtown. I got very hot and my bike got hotter still. In fact it got so hot that when I reached the gas station (Texaco) and filled up, it blew a fuse :: sigh ::

I let the lady, Sue, know that I’d be around a while and asked where I might find a mechanic. She recommended the guy up the road at the other gas station - and meanwhile called the local sherriff who was a biker and might be able to help! Jake the mechanic was at lunch, and when he came back he came right over. I helped him figure out how to remove the seat, and he did the rest.

While all this happened, three bikers showed up at the station where I’d broken down. Three lady bikers. Two of them very familiar. Akili and Lily of my home chapter were here, along with Jen from the L.A. Iron Angels.

What are the odds, eh?

They hung around with me while the Beastie got sorted out, and we chatted and exchanged notes. They invited me to ride along and I was delighted to have the opportunity. I was entirely gobsmacked by the serendipity and it was obvious to me that I had broken down so that these ladies could scoop me up and bring me “home” ;-). I told you I’d had wonderful adventures - it still makes me grin ear to ear!

We rode the rest of US-95 together, and it was wonderful. Just over the Idaho border we stopped at a scenic outlook which had a historical marker :: beam :: We took a lot of pictures. Akili is a professional photographer so she set up some cool portraits and group shots. I’m looking forward to seeing them.

The road ended abruptly and we took an Idaho route into Boise. It was rural, agricultural land, hot, and lots of tractors and traffic. We got a touch lost in Boise, but once we were headed in the right direction it was straightforward. I broke off because I saw my hotel and went in. We were late and didn’t get to register, but there was enough time to touch base and clean up before the opening ceremonies.

Once the festivities had begun, we were served ice cream - POTATO shaped ice cream! It took me until much later to realize why the potatoes (for the unknowing, Idaho is famous for its spuds!) These were chocolate ice creams made to look like spuds, complete with eyes - definitely an ice breaker. I met a few people but was rather weary.

I went to dinner with the three ladies I rode in with, and it was served by a young lady called Raven. ;-)

(I’m truly not making this stuff up!)

I went back afterwards, and while I was inspecting the historical marker directly outside my hotel, another lady came out and talked to me - Linda. And then we were joined by Brenda from Montana, and we stood and chatted for ages, and the magic of making new friends had begun.

Life is good.