Exploring the Idaho BDR
- danb
- Sep 19
- 3 min read
Having enjoyed our time in Panama City we boarded the plane for the 14 hour journey (including a 4 hour layover in Texas) back to Seattle.
The next day, Jeanne headed up to visit with her parents as I prepared to ride the 1,100 mile Backcountry Discovery Route (BDR, see www.ridebdr.com) down through Idaho with my friends Josh and Raf. This is a mostly off-road trip for dual-sport motorcycle riders. This year our plan was to ride from Sandpoint Idaho ending in Boise. From there we would rent a U-Haul and bring the bikes back home.
I spent the first 3 days getting our bikes ready for the trip. This includes a full service on the motorcycles, getting supplies and packing up our gear. We travel very light so weight of everything is at the forefront of our minds. The trip is remote on dirt trails and often 100+ miles between fuel stops.
We loaded up the bikes and our first stop was at Josh’s mom’s house just north of Spokane where we were treated with gracious hospitality and a great meal. The following morning, we left for Sandpoint to start the adventure.
The plan was to spend 6 or 7 days camping each night with a stay in a hotel on day 3 or 4 for laundry and a soft bed. We rode for about 8 hours a day covering 150 – 200 miles. If we were close to a town and the timing worked, we would go in for lunch. Otherwise, it was dehydrated meals.
I have not spent much time in Idaho and was taken away by its beauty. Most of the ride was about 6,000 feet of elevation with some sections above 8,000. Every vista and every peak only revealed the horizon of yet more mountain, rivers and lakes.
We passed through several towns only accessible by dirt road or trails with less than 50 inhabitants. I felt like I traveled back to the late 1800’s. As we rode through one of these towns, Yellow Pine, we stopped in for lunch. The pine building was well aged. Hand crafted, and no surface was level.
We received a very warm welcome, we were instructed to take a seat and we were then brought out 3 beef brisket sandwiches (probably the best I've ever had). We then saddled up and were on our way down the dirt road riding out of town.
On our last day, about 5 miles from the town of Lowman my bike started having issues, eventually failing. The good news was that to get to the town it was all downhill. With some pushing from Josh and Raf I was able to roll my motorcycle into town. More good news was that there was a fantastic resort, South Fork Lodge (https://www.southforklodgeidaho.com/) which happened to have a cabin available.
After a great lunch, Josh and Raf rode the last 75 highway miles in 102-degree heat to Boise, picked up a U-Haul and made the trip back to the South Fork Lodge. I waited and relaxed by the river in our comfortable cabin. Although I was the one that broke down, I definitely got the better end of this deal.
With the bikes loaded up in the full-size U-Haul (we had to get the big one because it is the only one with 3 seats) we made the trip back to Spokane and then on to Edmonds. It was a fantastic ride and we are already talking about the next one...
Back in Edmonds, after a couple of hours of tracing wires, I was able to find the loose ground connection that was the cause of my motorcycle failure. It is now back up and running and ready for the next adventure.
This weekend, we are finalizing our preparations to fly back to Panama and I am looking forward to get back to our boat.
It's great to see this version of the trek in Idaho, Dan. But even better was the time afterwards.
😀😊
Dan, a “Dream Deferred” no more! Check this off your list. —vanita