We were about to leave the hotel in Missoula and I got a phone call from my cousin. While I was on the phone, Eddie started his bike to warm it up and noticed a coolant leak. Luckily we noticed it before riding. We looked into the issue and it was only a loose hose clamp. So, Eddie tightened the hose clamp and it was all good. He monitored it for most of the day just to be sure, but it never leaked again. We rode down 93 south. We were heading to Alta, WY where I have a relative that has a house there. Along the way, we went through Darby, MT when we saw what appeared to be a police car. We realized afterwards that is was a security car. I missed it, but Eddie saw a banner that read “Yellowstone Dutton Ranch” and after looking online, it was indeed where they filmed the show, Yellowstone.
We continued down 93 through Bitteroot National Forest and into Idaho near Lost Trail Ski area. This was an unexpected road going through the mountains. There were some nice, smooth, sweeping turns along the North Fork Salmon River then the Salmon River until we reached Salmon, ID.
From Salmon, we turned on to route 28 to head southeast on our way to Alta. There was basically nothing for about 150 miles. It was like being in the Death Valley all over again. There were mountain ranges on both sides and just desert-like farm lands in the valley all around. We stopped in Leadore for gas. Everything in this little town was closed, but thank goodness the gas pump worked. Across the street was a little restaurant, but that was closed. So, I had a snack bar to help hold me over.
From there we continued on until we reached civilization in Rexburg, ID. We filled up again, got some beef jerky, and some water. It was about an hour until we would arrive in Alta. We rode down route 33 and passed a lot of farm fields. It appeared they grow a bunch of wheat and corn there on the rolling hills. It was a real nice change of scenery after the previous 150 miles we did.
We finally got to Alta after riding about 435 miles and it’s basically a town at the base of the western side of the Grand Tetons. We got to my relatives place and set up tents for the night. He wasn’t around, but he suggested going to Royal Wolf in Driggs, ID and they had some great food. We were quite hungry after going all day with some snacks. When we got back to the house, we could see so many stars. I can see a lot of stars at my house, and I am grateful for that, but I have never seen so many stars in my life! It was incredible! We could see the Milky Way
More photos: Day 9 Photos
Adventures of Matty Q 