The 23d Annual Spud Run to Boise, Idaho is but a few months away, and this unofficial West Coast Conference gathering of geezers has been a staple in hundreds of our lives for decades. Always held on the days immediately preceding Memorial Day, we usually spend one and a half days getting to Boise, have a two night stay there and then head home. This year, I would like to change things up a bit.
It’s time to revisit the more scenic and 125 mile longer route through Lake View, Oregon, last ventured on our May 2010 run. This year I am going to head to Boise one day earlier, thereby allowing three more-relaxing days at our host hotel and additional time to ride the numerous beautiful mountain backroads of the region. Many of the attendees from Washington and Canada do likewise. If you care to join me, here’s my itinerary and lodging information:
Wednesday, May 20, 2015 depart from the Chevron Station/Starbucks Coffee, 4490 Central Way, Fairfield 94534 @ 0800, take I-80, I-505 and I-5 149 miles to the M & M Ranchouse, 645 Antelope Bl., Red Bluff 96080 for lunch and gas next door. After lunch, it’s back onto I-5 and then Ca.299 E 108 miles to the Shell station, 43202 Hwy 299 E, Fall River Mills 96028. We’ll continue east on 299 to US 395 N and 124 miles later we’ll be at the Best Western Skyline Motor Lodge, 414 N. G Street, Lakeview, Oregon, 97630. 541 947 2194. Government and Blue Knights rates are $108.00 dbl. queen or $99.00 single king. I caution you about this hotel: They have 38 very nice rooms and are always booked months in advance. Don’t procrastinate!
Thursday, May 21, 2015 depart 0800 on US-395 N 138 miles to Chevron gas, 617 N. Hwy 20, Hines, Or. 97738. The Apple Peddler Restaurant is directly across the street. After breakfast it’s US-20 E 136 miles to I-84 E and two miles later, Shell gas, 330 E. Idaho Ave., Ontario, Oregon 97914. Back onto I-84 E and then a merge to I-184 will finish this last 50 mile sprint to our host hotel: The Riverside Hotel, 2900 Chinden Blvd., Garden City, Idaho 83714. 208 343 1871. The Blue Knights rates are $80.00 double queen, ? for a king. I have requested my room reservations for the nights of May 21, 22 & 23 be ground floor adjacent to the pool and outdoor bar area where so many of us congregate. Go figure! And, BTW, in addition to the hotel’s very good restaurant, Joe’s Crab shack is less than a 100 yard river-walk away.
Now, here’s something for you to chew on, Bunky. Although very rare, the US-395 route through Lakeview has seen end-of-May storms coming out of Alaska dump 3-4 inches of snow on the roadway. I don’t carry chains on my Beemer. Therefore, two (2) days out, I will run AccuWeather and if a storm is imminent, notify you of a change in plans. That change entails you call the Best Western in Lakeview, Or. and cancel your reservations. Cancellations can be made up to 1600 hrs. on the scheduled day of arrival. Then, and only then will we take the standard route of I-80 E (still from Fairfield) to US-95 in Winnemucca, Nevada and stay at the Winnemucca Inn & Casino, 741 W. Winnemucca Blvd., 89445. 775 623 2565. On that Wednesday they will not have a problem with ride-in room requests. The route Thursday morning, May 21st @ 0800 hrs. would then be US-95 N to Id-55 E to I-84E and I-184E to the hotel. Food and gas stops are at 75 and 175 mile distances from Winnemucca and 80 miles later we’re at our host hotel. Note that this route has mountain pass summits very similar to the Lakeview route, but its roadways are more sheltered in narrower canyons and less susceptible to weather extremes.
Sunday May 24th @ 0700-0800 I’m in-the-wind for our 620 mile trek via Winnemucca back to Fairfield from where we started. I plan on doing a straight-shot home this year, but if we encounter storms through Idaho or Oregon or strong head-winds on I-80, I may stay over at the Best Western Inn, 1405 E. Newlands Dr., Fernley, Nevada 89408. 775 575 6776. On the slight chance I do spend the night in Fernley, my custom is to leave the hotel Memorial Day @ 0530 and beat the traffic home.
If you care to join me, let me know @ hos6350@sbcglobal.net and in case you haven’t gotten the forensic clues yet, the weather on this trip is always a crap-shoot. It can be crystal clear and perfect, or hot or cold or balmy or wet or windy, sometimes all on the same day. Come prepared.
Dennis Brown
-MAN Last modified:
01/20/15
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