That was Idaho!

 I awoke this morning in a lovely Victorian Hotel, high ceilings, crystal chandelier, the quiet of town outside. I realized that I had entered Oregon on the Pacific coast at Brookings. Traveled the entire Oregon Coast to Astoria. Traversed three fourths of the north border and today would exit into Idaho almost halfway down the east side of the state. The Mothership has over three thousand miles on it since I left and rest stops involve watching the rear tire and hoping it will make it home. It is down to the wear bars. Yet I find myself dawdling, not wanting it to be over. Plus my path over the Continental Divide continues to have snow on it today. A no go snow with a motorcycle.
     I had a leisurely breakfast at the SunRiver Inn in Baker City and left with the outside temperatures in the high 60's and rode over the last hills of Oregon and into Idaho. I seemed to stop more often at rest stops but the landscape had become barren, grassy volcanic hills with farming around the Snake River. There are pretty areas and towns along the Snake but the scenery was dry buttes and long view of Mountains capped with snow from the recent storm.
The difference of the lushness of Multnomah Falls to the arid west, especially with two weeks along the Pacific Ocean is very striking. The fecund green, with flowers blooming on everything. Moss on trees and rocks, and water wherever you look. I am feeling positively shriveled tonight in Ogden Utah.
      Keeping the Mothership moving was easy today, the speed limit for Idaho was 80 MPH. I entered Idaho and lost an hour of time moving to Mountain Time. It was noon when I came into Idaho and a little after four when I left. Idaho was just there and gone. And riding into Utah there were some afternoon buildups and the temperature dropped into the high 50's. I started thinking about getting the cloths from the bottom of the bag that I had to wear to get out of  Colorado almost three weeks ago. Oh well, at least I found warm spring somewhere!
       I leave you with this picture of the Blue Mountains of Baker County Oregon. I have seen a lot of Oregon, I have enjoyed a lot of Oregon. I hope to come back to Oregon soon.

Will by the River.