My brief family vacation took us over to the east side of the state for a few days in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene. We decided to stay in Spokane and selected the Pheasant Hill Inn and Suites in Spokane Valley.

From the moment we walked in I was pleased with our choice. The lobby is large and well furnished. The staff, from the desk to the housekeepers, was pleasant and friendly. Our request for additional pillows and towels was answered in minutes.

Our double room was equipped with a refrigerator and a microwave. The room was quiet, clean, and the beds very comfortable. The four of us had plenty of room.

A large indoor pool and hot tub was just the ticket to unwind after the long drive. The 24 hour fitness center is well-equipped and I like that it is available anytime.

Each morning a hot breakfast is available in the lobby. A rotating menu including eggs, waffles, breakfast burritos and biscuits and gravy accompany a variety of cereals and breads. Coffee is always available.

If your travels take you to the Spokane area, I unhesitatingly recommend a stay at the Pheasant Hill Inn and Suites.

[The Pheasant Hill Inn and Suites is an advertiser on Northwest Cycle News.]

“One Woman, One Motorcycle, 20,000 Miles Across the Americas.” That’s the tagline for this well-written, witty two-wheeled adventure. Bored with her life in a real life re-enactment of “The Office,” Lois Pryce sets off a transcontinental odyssey riding from Anchorage, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina; the southernmost town in South America.

Riding a second-hand Yamaha XT225 Serow, Lois encounters all manner of character and obstacle on her journey. From the slightly-crazed Alaskan antique dealer to an amorous octogenarian Spanish teacher. Corrupt border guards, fixers, dodgy food, and generous, helpful strangers all make their appearance and are described with a witty, conversational style.

While a great read, the book does suffer from a lack of photos. Those that are included are in black and white and the reproduction is poor. Still, the story had me laughing out loud in several places and Lois is to be praised for her perseverance in the face of bad seafood, annoying traveling companions and a terribly underpowered motorcycle, particularly at high altitude.

Lois on the Loose is published by Thomas Dunne Books, a division of St. Martin’s Press

I was expecting something between Real World and Jackass. Instead, I was very pleasantly surprised.

Looking more appropriate for SPEED or ESPN than MTV, The Kentucky Kid is a surprisingly unembellished 2-hour look at former MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden. The show began with the start of his MotoGP championship season and his collision with teammate Dani Pedrosa. Following Hayden through his championship-winning season you see him and his family, including racing brothers Roger and Tommy, at home and on the track.

Hayden comes off as down-to-earth and resolute in his career. His litany of injuries and the collection of metal hardware holding his bones together are counterbalanced by the fire in his eyes and determination to win. One might expect to see the handsome young racer surrounded by a coterie of beautiful women, especially on MTV. However, it seems that Hayden spends most of his off-track time alone or at home with family. Hayden describes his life living in a motorhome while on the MotoGP circuit and takes us shopping in Jerez to stock up on supplies. (His language-challenged effort to locate hair conditioner in a Jerez market was amusing.)

The Kentucky Kid follows Hayden into the 2007 season and his frustrating defense of the title. Struggling with a new motorcycle and tires that just don’t seem to hang onto the asphalt, Hayden crashes in LeMans, ending any hope of a title defense.

The movie was informative and entertaining. Hayden never comes off as arrogant or anything more than a self-effacing, small-town guy with a passion and gift for going fast on two wheels. I’m sure MTV will air the movie again. When they do, don’t miss it.

Mr. Brown delivered my replacement helmet yesterday evening. I eagerly opened the box to see what, if any, changes were visible in the design. The first thing I noticed, was that Fulmer has upgraded the lining to a more plush, and hence more confortable, material. Other changes:

• They have added a small plastic snap to keep the loose end of the chin strap from flapping around (one of the few annoyances I had with my helmet before getting a windshield.)
• The flip up release button and mechanism feel tighter, as in better made.
• The overall fit and finish, including quality of paint and decals are better than my old helmet.
• The face shield appears to seal better against the shell. Hopefully this will reduce some wind noise (my other complaint about my previous helmet.)
• Finally, and it might be my imagination, the shell seems just slightly smaller. The chinbar seems closer to my face than my old helmet. Not uncomfortably so; it just feels a little… closer.

The new lid will get its maiden voyage this evening.

From IMDB.com:

In Ghost Rider, adapted from the Marvel Comic, Nicolas Cage stars as Johnny Blaze, a superstar motorcycle stunt rider who long ago made a deal with the Devil: he’s sold his soul in order to protect those most important to him, his father and his childhood sweetheart, Roxanne (Eva Mendes). What does the Devil want in return? By day, Johnny is still a stunt rider, but at night, he’s a bounty hunter of rogue demons known as Ghost Rider, forced to do the Devil’s bidding.

As a young man, Johnny Blaze traded his soul to the devil to save his father. As an adult, Blaze is a motorcycle jumper bent on determining if his success is the result of his talent or the Devil (Peter Fonda) keeping him alive to do his bidding.

When the Devil is challenged by Blackheart for control of a contract on 1,000 souls, he calls in his marker with Blaze and thus is born the Ghost Rider, a flame-engulfed wraith on a chopper. To motivate Blaze to do his bidding, the Devil agrees to return Blaze’s soul if he defeats Blackheart and returns the contract to him. Read the rest of this entry »