I STOPPED BY THE BEMMER SHOP IN MISSOULA, BIG SKY, FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND NEW REAR BRAKE PADS.

THEY WERE KIND ENOUGH TO LET ME DO THE WORK IN THE ALLEY. I MANAGED, IN 95 DEGREE HEAT TO GET THE JOB DONE AND BE ON MY WAY IN 2 HOURS OR SO. I GOT ABOUT 1 MILE AND ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE.

THE ENGINE WAS MISSING HORRIBLE THEN FINALLY QUIT. I HAD HER TOWED BACK TO THE SHOP, $ 40.

IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SIDE STAND SWITCH HAD FAILED. I KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND SHOULD HAVE BY-PASSED IT, BUT NO. THEY GOT ME BACK ON THE ROAD AND FOR ONLY $ 35. I WAS SURE CURSING BMW FOR A WHILE.

I STAYED IN MISSOULA 2 NIGHTS, THEN HIT THE ROAD THIS MORNING AT 730 AND RODE THE 400 MILES TO BURLEY. IT WAS JUST ABOUT PERFECT WEATHER AND TEMPERATURE, UNTIL I GOT CLOSE TO TWIN FALLS, THEN IT GOT A BIT WARM, BUT NOT HOT.

THE RIDE DOWN THROUGH THE BITTER-ROOT VALLEY WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NORTHERN IDAHO WAS ALSO VERY PRETTY,  IF THE ROADS HAD BEEN GRAVEL, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT I WAS IN PATAGONIA ARGENTINA. I FOLLOWED THE SALMON RIVER FOR ABOUT 150 MILES, HOWEVER THERE WAS A BIG FIRE, CAUSING LOTS OF SMOKE FOR 200 MILE OR SO. NOT A GOOD DAY FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

TOMORROW SOUTH.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID.