The Stark Reality.......

At night on them banks I'd lie awake
And pull her close just to feel each breath she'd take
Now those memories come back to haunt me
They haunt me like a curse
Is a dream a lie if it don't come true
Or is it something worse.........

The River...Bruce Springsteen

Lisa & Scott

The Directions...

Greetings and Welcome to Up Before Dawn.

Here you will find, in a story format, our travels around the country by motorcycle. Most of the pictures have been taken by Lisa, at varying speeds, right from the back seat of the motorcycle!. So let's get on with it.

Please let the page load and go all the way to the bottom where the story begins. You can click on any picture for a larger view.

We have other trips documented and will add them as time permits.

Have a look down the right side of the webpage for some links of fun & interest.

Thanks for stopping by ...

Scott & Lisa

Next stop Alaska...

"You will surely meet some of us as you trudge the Road of Happy Destiny." page 164

The Route...Scottsdale to Spokane

For this trip we began in Scottsdale at Hacienda Harley Davidson. If your ever there stop in and say Hi to Bob Weddell, service manager. He's the salt of the earth. Okay open up your maps and let's go..

1. 87 North to Long Valley
2. 487 North to Flagstaff
3. 89 North to Jacob Lake
4. 67 South to the North Rim, Unless of course you get snowed out like we did on this trip.
5. 89 North through Kanab to Cirdeville
6. 62 East/North to 24 North Back to 89 North..A really nice road that you will have all to yourself.
7. 89 North to Chester
8. 117 to 132 to the Mt Nebo Scenic Loop and if the sign says road closed it probably means the road is closed.
9. 15 North to Provo
10. 189 North turns into 40 which turns into 80...A really amazing way to arrive in Salt Lake City
11. We picked up 15 north here and heading into Idaho, Blackfoot
12. 26 West to Craters of the Moon National Park
13. Continued on 26 West to 75 North...Don't Miss this.....Turns into 21 right into Boise
14. 55 North to 95 North to 13 North to...
15. 12 East...The Lewis and Clark trail, I wanted to turn right around and do it again. This road is awesome.
16. 90 West out of Missoula a short way to 93 North into Whitefish
17. After driving through Glacier we went around the east side on 49 South to east Glacier Park, picked up 2 and headed right back into Whitefish
18. 2 West out of Kalispell into Bonners Ferry
19. 95 South to Coeur D'Alene
20. 90 West to Spokane
21. 2419 miles

STOP!!!!!...

remember the directions?????

Every good route has a starting point and this right here is not it. This a story told in pictures and words so let the page fully load and go all the way to the bottom where it begins....

Do not start here. Start at the bottom. Trust me, it will make more sense.

God Bless America

sums up this leg of the trip pretty good..

heading home...

Yeah a million miles from nowhere
And that's a long long way from home
...............................Stevie Ray Vaughan

downtown Spokane, Washington...The Doubletree, ask for a corner room

Saddlebags can never hold everything you want, but they CAN hold everything you need.

The only good view of a thunderstorm is in your rearview mirror.

finally....a bear....

If you dont ride in the rain, you dont ride.

Scott..."Hey Lisa, does this rain suit make me look fat?"

Lisa...."Youuuuuuu Betcha"

looks like all the bases are covered in Whitefish...

Got a $5 head? Get a $5 helmet.

I knew we would see an Eagle....

priceless...

we were holding out for a bear...

what a view....and those snow covered mountains ain't bad either..

this one too...

oh my....enlarge this one...

If you want to get a job, you may have to compromise your principles, you may even have to shave....or not...maybe I just need to figure out how to get paid for this..

the glaciers are melting around every bend

if your quiet you can hear the water falling...

only a biker knows why a dog sticks his head out of a car window.

hold on this ride has just begun...

clearer then the water down where we live!...almost....

yeah....sure...

Highway to the Sun...completed in 1933
http://www.nps.gov/glac/

another night, another sunset...this one from the Pine lodge hotel in Whitefish
http://www.thepinelodge.com/

Who is this Bill guy and why does he have so many friends?

next stop Whitefish...Glacier National Park

this is what 4 hours in Missoula feels like

memo to self...look into these things.. they are popping up ALL over the place..

quick, turn around and grab that Idaho sign...

and only 6 1/2 hours since we left Scottsdale....

I am sure being kissed by butterflies is a good thing..

nap time...

need to cross?..these are every mile or so...

The entire road is at the river's edge...twisting and turning into Missoula, Montana

12 E...One of the most amazing roads I have ever ridden. Also known as The Lewis & Clark trail. This road should be added to the list of PCH, 89A and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

DOGS DRIVING THAT TRUCK

THERE ARE..........

river's cafe...the only place I know of where you can order "a plate of cakes and some weinees" and not get coffee thrown at you..keep your eye on that red truck...something fishy there..checkout the reverse lights..yikes...LISA MOVE...

wow...wow...wow...95 N into Grangeville

I feel small this morning....

The best alarm clock is sunshine on chrome.

view from the room..

Riggins, Idaho..9:30 PM...Lisa camping

I think I need more bran in my diet..

ahhhhh...best western....