In late summer 2007, from August 24 to September 9, Mr. and Mrs. Knobby tackled a 2,400-mile, 15-day dual-sport adventure through Idaho and beyond, riding their KTM 525 EXC and Suzuki DR-Z400S. They kicked off by trucking from Moraga, California, to Meridian, Idaho, then hit the trails, weaving through Mountain Home, Stanley, and McCall, where rugged terrain and sweeping vistas set the tone. The route took them north to Grangeville, Pierce, and into Montana’s Superior, before dipping back to Post Falls, Idaho, for a KTM service and a scenic loop around Lake Coeur d’Alene. Refreshed, they pushed on to Bonners Ferry, Priest River, and Lewiston, then swung west to Joseph, Oregon, before circling back through McCall and Garden Valley, wrapping up in Meridian. With tired bikes and full hearts, they loaded up the truck and drove back to Moraga, capping off a dusty, exhilarating journey through the wilds of the Northwest.

Mr. and Mrs. Knobby embarked on a 19-day, 3,200-mile dual-sport odyssey across New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California, riding a KTM 525EXC and a DR-Z400S. They began by trucking from Moraga, California, to Blythe, then on to El Paso, Texas to meet up with their good friend Jack, before hitting the trails in Silver City, New Mexico. Their route wove through Reserve, Grants, and Aztec in New Mexico, then climbed into Colorado, passing through Dolores, Norwood, and Grand Junction/Fruita, where the KTM got a tune-up. The adventure continued into Utah, with stops in Moab, Monticello, Blanding, Hanksville, and Richfield, before swinging west into Nevada’s Baker and Tonopah, and finally looping back to California via Lee Vining to Moraga—a gritty, thrilling ride showcasing their stamina and the bikes’ rugged reliability.

In July 2006, from July 22 to August 5, Mr and Mrs Knobby set out on their Kawasaki KLR 650 motorcycles for a 2,400-mile dual-sport odyssey along the Continental Divide, threading through Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and Idaho. Starting in Moraga, California, we rode to Tonopah, Nevada, then carved our way through Panguitch, Utah, and into Colorado’s high country, hitting Silverton, Salida, Dillon, and Steamboat Springs, where rugged trails and stunning vistas tested our skills and spirits. Pushing north, we tackled the windswept expanses of Rawlins, Lander, and Dubois in Wyoming, before rolling into Jackson’s Teton-framed beauty and finally Rexburg, Idaho—where my trip abruptly ended with a doohickey (engine part) failure on my KLR, forcing us to U-Haul back home, exhausted but exhilarated by two weeks of dust, camaraderie, and untamed adventure.

In August 2005, Mr. and Mrs. Knobby embarked on an epic 4,300-mile motorcycle adventure, riding their Kawasaki KLR 650s through the Pacific Northwest, Canada, and Alaska, though they began by trucking the bikes from California to Portland, Oregon. From Portland, they hit the road, rolling through Wenatchee, Washington, and crossing into British Columbia, where Kamloops and Prince George marked their steady climb north. The KLRs thrummed along as they reached Smithers, British Columbia, and then Hyder, Alaska, a remote outpost that felt like the edge of the world. This initial stretch blended smooth highways with the thrill of the unknown, setting the stage for the wild northern miles ahead.

The journey’s core unfolded across the Yukon and Alaska, a rugged tapestry of gravel and grandeur. From Dease Lake, British Columbia, they rode to Ross River and Dawson City in the Yukon, steeped in gold-rush lore, before crossing into Alaska at Delta Junction. The ride through Denali, Palmer, and Glennallen showcased towering mountains and endless tundra, the KLRs kicking up dust on unpaved stretches. After hitting Tok, they looped back through Burwash Landing and Whitehorse in the Yukon, the crisp air and vast solitude sharpening every moment. Each overnight stop was a brief pause to recharge amid a landscape that dwarfed them, the bikes proving their mettle mile after mile.

For the return, they rode to Haines, Alaska, where rugged fjords met the sea, and instead of riding south, they loaded the KLRs onto a ferry bound for Bellingham, Washington, letting the coastal waters carry them through misty vistas. From Bellingham, they rode back to Portland, then trucked the bikes back to California, the final leg a quiet close to a roaring adventure. Over 4,300 miles, Mr. and Mrs. Knobby had woven through cities, forests, and frontier towns, crossing borders and braving the wilds. The ferry ride offered a reflective pause, but the hum of the KLRs—and the memories of an untamed north—lingered long after they rolled home.