Farewell to the tried and true …. pt 3

Turning North onto Rd 563 starts by quickly passing through a thick sweeping corridor of trees before opening up for a spirited run to the Landmark/Stanley Rd. You need to keep on your toes as the line of sight through this section is obscured to any oncoming traffic. 563 is typically in good condition other than the typical Summer dust.

The 579 Landmark/Stanley Rd is a fast dirt freeway that runs East/West spanning Hwy 21 to just north of Deadwood Reservoir. From there the road veers north passing by the old Deadwood City Mine and eventually over 6800′ Deadwood Summit.

Cresting Deadwood Summit the road will finally deliver you into Landmark, consisting of not much more than an air strip and USFS work station. The IBDR will continue north along Johnson Creek into Yellow Pine, but for this unsavory bunch we will head west past Warm Lake and into Cascade.

However, what is a trip without a little drama. Stopping at the pass this side of Warm Lake we discover that John E has graciously picked up a construction screw in the 690. Luckily between the three of us we had all of the required implements to make speedy work of changing his tube. In these situations this is where I do prefer a tubeless system as we would have been on our way in a fraction of the time by using a plug. but today tubes ruled the day and we prevailed.

Once over the pass the road starts to wind it’s way down into Warm Lake. With the day running long we speed past with Cascade in our sights some 26 miles further down the road. Fuel and snacks will greet us before we start our final run home south down Hwy 55 back into Boise.

Today was a fitting send off to the DRZ. After 13 trouble free years of ownership it’s hard to let her go, but sticking with the mantra of always wanting to see whats around the next corner our adventures will continue on the new 1090. Farewell trusty DRZ …

-Pre-flight, Prior trip over Elk Summit

For more info on the luggage I use visit www.obradvgear.com

Farewell to the tried and true …. pt 2

After the acquisition of the new 1090 I felt it was due to get the DRZ out for one final ride before sending off to a fresh new owner …. and timing would have it that an email was received from John E and his might 690 putting together a loop also with Mike S on his 500.

A meet up time was decided for us to connect on the east side of Boise for a run up Hwy 21, along the Ponderosa Scenic Byway through the historic Idaho city to Lowman.

Hwy 21 runs North East out of Boise following the Moores Creek drainage, over Moores Summit, and Beaver Summit before dropping into Lowman. This particular stretch rates high in my book due to the “high curve count” per mile. Super fun and rated a G2 and G3 on the Butler Motorcycle Map.

A twisty two lane path of pavement wraps around the geographic curves of the Boise Mountains and in some sections through the impact of the 2016 Pioneer Fire. The Pioneer Fire today still resides under speculation of arm chair criticism that early decisions allowing the fire to burn as being beneficial to the landscape until it ultimately burned out of control and over 200,000 acres. Still scenic non the less.

Cresting Beaver Creek Summit we then drop into Lowman. Out of Lowman we follow Bear Valley Road (582) north over Clear Creek Summit. This section being part of the IBDR. We will follow the IBDR to Landmark where we will peel off and head into Cascade Idaho for fuel.

Bear Valley Road is well maintained with a semi loose gravel surface. The road flows nicely along Clear Creek before veering off and climbing over Clear Creek Summit. Once dropping into Bear Valley the views open up with the road now skirting along the meadows edge. We only pass through the first portion of the meadow before we turn off and head north on 563 towards the Landmark/Stanley Rd and ultimately Warm Lake and Cascade.

-Prior 2014 trip into Bear Valley

Left onto 563, and to be continued ….