Prelude to Alaska
Getting back on track
May 30, 2008
by floracycle
I awoke early in Ennis anxious to resolve my tire problem. The hotel clerk advised me of D and D Auto in town worked on car tires. I was on their door step at 6am. I believe it was the owner who was there by himself. I explained my perdicament and went for a longshot when I asked if they would work on a motorcycle tire. We all know the answer. He would take the flat tube which I saved and try to have one of his employees patch it when they got in at 8am. I left ate breakfast, got gas and went back to the room. I arrived back at D and D a little after 8am to find my tube still on the counter. I expressed my perdicament again to the young man there who took the tube to the help in the back. It wasn't long before he came back and said the hole was too big to patch. ????? However, they did have a new tube. Jackpot! I expressed that Butte was my direction and asked, what is the nearest place that might replace my tube. A customer in the store suggested J.R.s Auto Tire in Norris about 16 miles away. The young man at the desk even called them to see if they would work on it and the answer he got was yes.
Upon arrival the owner, Joe, said he just couldn't do it for insurance purposes. He did call and suggest several places in Butte (64 miles) for me and offered to check my pressure, which we did. On to Butte I limp.
Just off highway 90 I notice a Thunderbolt Harley on the side of the building was a big Kawasaki sign. Outside of the dealership sat a brand new KLR, this looks promising. Unfortunately they were too busy to change a tire. The young man at the desk suggested Benny's Power Toys and called. They could take care of me within an hour.
I found Benny's Power Toys at the corner of Iron and Washington Street in Butte, Montana. Benny himself came out to greet me and immediately surveyed the situation. He asked me to remove my gear and side bags and to put them in his office for safe keeping. I wheeled my bike over to shop doors where Benny's two crack mechanics were working diligently on a couple of atv's. In no time at all they had me ready to go. I felt the charge for the service and parts I purchased was extremely reasonable. If ever in Butte and you need motorcycle, atv or snowbile service I suggest you go straight to Benny's for a good deal. They also carry a full range of gear and parts and I'll bet if they don't have it they can get it. Can you tell I'm a big fan of Benny's?
For those of you who are curious about the wear on the folded up inner tube here is a good shot. You can see it is a bit herniated.
That's with nearly 100 miles at speeds approaching 55mph. I really think another 100 would have been possible but it would have been dicey.
With my new now fully operational rear tire I hit I 90 with a vengance, bound for Wallace, Idaho. When you cross the Montana, Idaho border the landscape really improves. Northern Idaho is beautiful country. Thanks to Benny and his crew I made it to the town of Wallace back on schedule.
Wallace used to be a silver mining town in the late 1800's as is typical the town was a haven for prostitution with the last bordello being shut down as late as 1988. All that remains is the quaint little tourist town with shops, restaurants and museums to commerate the two major trades. The bordello museum wasn't open but looking through the window I could see mannequins dressed in lingerie and t-shirts and coffe mugs for sale with a menu of services available back when business was good. Of interest to me in the area was a 15 mile bicycle ride all down hill on an old railroad bed through tunnels and the countryside.
