As I mentioned in my "Wish me luck" post this was an overnighter to see if I could take the VFR on the Lolo Pass loop, about 600 miles. This trip was 460 miles over 2 days. 41.7 mpg ('Tis a thirsty little beastie even when I try and keep it out of the 6k-11k rpm range). Weather was perfect, low of 50 and high of 73, no critters tried to get me and I don't hurt anymore than after the first long ride of the season on the SWing. Loaded up and ready to go. I like to stop by these guys when I pass to ask for safe passage. There are a pair at each of the cardinal entries to the Blackfeet Nation. The front range from near Browning. I had planned on a picnic lunch in the Many Glaciers area of the park but between the 30+mph wind and clouds decided to go on further. Here's a couple of Many Glaciers. These 2 are taken from the same spot. I missed the turnoff for Waterton and ended up at the Piegan Port and on to Cardston AB but didn't mind as I missed all of the tourists and had beautiful views of Waterton approaching from the east. Lunch just outside Waterton Park, corned elk on savory rye with sweet onions and horseradish. Yummm. The little clump of trees gave me a bit of a windbreak. I got into Pincher Creek about 3:00, walked next door to the Walmart for a little ice cream and called it an early night. Fighting the wind took it out of me. I got out about 8:00 the next day on Hwy 3. This is coming into Coleman, and old coal mining town. The huge gash on the left is from a massive landslide that occurred in the early part of the last century, wiping out part of the town and killing a lot of people. Just west of Crowsnest Pass. Fernie BC is a ski town but fairly unpretentious away from the ski village. I often come up here for a quick getaway in the off season. Had a killer breakfast bagel at a hip coffee/bagel place. Here's a couple of pix from my sidewalk table. Home at 1:30, all in all a great little trip. The bike ran great and it amazes me what a difference 1" makes in the pegs and bars. By stopping every 50-60 miles even for 2-3 minutes I stayed comfortable. I'm ready for Lolo and its 99 miles of curves next month.
