dcarver
Well-known member
[SIZE=12pt]After completing the unofficial ss1k, (UOSS1K) [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=24258&st=0&gopid=284602entry284602[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] the next day dawned bright and shiny and I went out to explore the town where I had crashed 27 years to the day before. But it wasn't the same. The small town, with only one 2 lane hiway called Main Street with a several 'hunting cabins', a Mom n' Pop burger stand, a John Deere dealer and gas station was now a town of 40,000 with a four lane providing ingress and egress. [/SIZE]
Holiday Inn Express, Burger King, and strip malls littered the small town memory and befuddled me. Was I really in the correct town? Had I actually crashed elsewhere and only remember the larger town, Walla Walla as being the location of disaster?
[SIZE=12pt]No, it WAS Walla Walla where I crashed, but in 27 years the small town had lost its identity and grown without forethought or planning, resulting in yet another Los Angeles looking suburb. Not that there's anything wrong that, but since my area is struggling with same issues I vowed to become more active in local politics and keep our small town heritage, culture, look and feel. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Fortunately, there are lots of acres in Walla Walla, and after leaving the town center soon I was in fields of Grain? Barley? Wheat? ****, I'm not a farmer, but this was outstanding farmland. The hills are very steep, Walla Walla farmers are known as being the crazies who farm on steep hillsides, using farming techniques developed by generations of farmers using specialized equipment.[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=12pt]Washington state is very motorcycle friendly, this is the third sign I saw in less than 50 miles warning bikers to be careful. Given the recent LA detective who died while riding, and the idiots who just kept coming, it makes wonderful sense to live in a place like Walla Walla.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Endicott caught my attention. A very small town, yet bigger than my home town, it just seemed friendly, healthy, and looked like a nice place to live.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Nice roads too.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Finally, I arrive at my destination in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Who da hoe? IDA Hoe, where my very good friends Alan and Theresa put me up for two nights, explained how they were able to convert high dollar CA property for reasonably valued property and basically showed me the light that anything is possible. Ya'll don't know A&T, but they are truly the original McGyvers and can fix anything and ride a GoldWing on dirt roads even KLR650's dare to tread. Thanks again Alan and Theresa![/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]For California folk, it's hard to realize that not every state is as regulated as we are. For example, in Idaho, if you want a CCW permit, you simply go to the local Sheriff office, fill out a form, and in less than a week you're good to go. Also, motorcyclists are not required to wear helmets. This guy refused to let me pass politely, so in the words of ToeCutter, 'Loud Pipes Get Passed' and RUDELY at that! [/SIZE]
Holiday Inn Express, Burger King, and strip malls littered the small town memory and befuddled me. Was I really in the correct town? Had I actually crashed elsewhere and only remember the larger town, Walla Walla as being the location of disaster?
[SIZE=12pt]No, it WAS Walla Walla where I crashed, but in 27 years the small town had lost its identity and grown without forethought or planning, resulting in yet another Los Angeles looking suburb. Not that there's anything wrong that, but since my area is struggling with same issues I vowed to become more active in local politics and keep our small town heritage, culture, look and feel. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Fortunately, there are lots of acres in Walla Walla, and after leaving the town center soon I was in fields of Grain? Barley? Wheat? ****, I'm not a farmer, but this was outstanding farmland. The hills are very steep, Walla Walla farmers are known as being the crazies who farm on steep hillsides, using farming techniques developed by generations of farmers using specialized equipment.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]
[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]Washington state is very motorcycle friendly, this is the third sign I saw in less than 50 miles warning bikers to be careful. Given the recent LA detective who died while riding, and the idiots who just kept coming, it makes wonderful sense to live in a place like Walla Walla.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Endicott caught my attention. A very small town, yet bigger than my home town, it just seemed friendly, healthy, and looked like a nice place to live.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Nice roads too.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Finally, I arrive at my destination in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Who da hoe? IDA Hoe, where my very good friends Alan and Theresa put me up for two nights, explained how they were able to convert high dollar CA property for reasonably valued property and basically showed me the light that anything is possible. Ya'll don't know A&T, but they are truly the original McGyvers and can fix anything and ride a GoldWing on dirt roads even KLR650's dare to tread. Thanks again Alan and Theresa![/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]For California folk, it's hard to realize that not every state is as regulated as we are. For example, in Idaho, if you want a CCW permit, you simply go to the local Sheriff office, fill out a form, and in less than a week you're good to go. Also, motorcyclists are not required to wear helmets. This guy refused to let me pass politely, so in the words of ToeCutter, 'Loud Pipes Get Passed' and RUDELY at that! [/SIZE]
