Picture day.

It was a good day today. Perfect weather except a lot of smoke in the atmosphere from far away fires.

Took a bunch of pictures most of which were in the town of Clayton, Idaho that has a strong history of lead and silver mining. In recent years the locals have refurbished some of the towns buildings and turned them into museums show casing life in the early 1900s. We happened into the town while they were having a celebration of their heritage.

Nate standing next to a Moline tractor.

So we're checked in to our lodge for the night and killing time before supper.

Idaho Falls, Idaho

All 8 of us arrived at about the same time here at the motel. The ride had cool temperatures for the six of us but we hear it was still hot for Frank and Bruce. 

We got to ride some decent roads along the Snake River but mostly through flat farm and cattle land.

Our friend,Tom Moon, recommended an ice cream shop in Farson, Wyoming so we had to stop. The only problem it was 1/2 hour after we had our breakfast so we had to pass on their Big Cone.

We stopped at a road side historic marker commemorating the Oregon trail for wagon trains over 150 years ago. Ruts from the wagons can still be seen in the distant field of this picture.

Here are some pictures of the pretty stuff.

Coming together

6 of us have arrived in Rawlins, Wyoming. We all had a nice cool day of riding coming in from 3 directions. Steve and I up through Colorado, Kevin and Nate from Nebraska and Jerry and Rick from Utah. Within an hour of arriving a pretty good rain storm hit but only lasted for a short while.

  After a mediocre supper down the street we're gathered back at the motel for evening stories. The guys are checking out Rick's Harley trike as I write this.

  Tomorrow it's on to Idaho where we will hook up with Frank and Bruce who made it to Panguich, Utah today.

New summer new trip

Well it's that time of year and we're off again on our motorcycles to see the great out west. The participants on this trip are: me, brothers Steve and Kevin, Nate, Frank, Jerry, Bruce and a new member of the group Rick. 

There will be 2 each: BMW K1600s, Goldwings, Honda ST1300s and Harleys one of which is a trike.

We are gathering from Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri and Arizona. Our first meet up will be in Rawlins, Wyoming on Thursday with the last 2 guys meeting us in Idaho Springs, Idaho on Friday.

We will be traveling west through Idaho, touching base in Oregon and Washington and then turning back east through Idaho to Montana. Then working our way SE to Red Lodge, MT where we will pick up Beartooth Pass (primo highway for motorcycles) and ending the group ride in Buffalo, Wyoming.

We will all scatter making our way back home.

I plan on posting pictures and commentary through out the trip, as long as I can get WiFi. Come along for the virtual ride.

Pie for lunch

We did a loop ride that took us on the Coronado Trail road. This road takes you through the copper open pit mine in Morenci, AZ and then for 90 miles of winding blacktop. We stopped in Alpine for lunch at the Bear Wallow Cafe. The total ride was right at 300 miles. The weather was comfortably cool and sunny.

Getting ready to hit 191 north (old 666)

Coffee break in Clifton

The processing plant at the mine

Part of the open pit mine. Look for the hauling trucks at the bottom.

A tire and wheel from one of those trucks.

A small portion of the long and winding road.

Lunch 

There goes my diet for the day

Going up to country

A quick 3 day trip from our homes to the White Mountains of Arizona and New Mexico. Clay from Tempe, Roland from West Tejas and me met today in Silver City, NM. Tomorrow we'll do a loop ride on the Coronado Trail and back. Hope to have more pictures for tomorrow's post.

Wednesday and Thursday

On Wednesday we left Dubois by riding back along the Tetons. They are so spectacular that you can't get enough of them. We stopped in Jackson at the Orvis store so Steve could ogle fly fishing equipment but alas he didn't purchase anything new. We cut back Southeast and spent the night in Rock Springs, WY.

Thursday found us heading South along the Flaming Gorge. I started thinking about skipping the Top O the Rockies rally and just going all the way home (700 miles). The more I thought about it the more it sounded like the right thing to do so Steve and I said our good byes just before getting on I-70 where he went East and I went West. It was a nice ride for me as I took a route that took me along the Colorado River and into Moab. From there I hit Monument Valley before swinging down to Flagstaff and home. I arrived at 7:30 pm while it was still day light.

All in all this trip was a nice one with good roads, scenery and great company.

A day ride

Steve went fishing today and I took a loop ride over the mountains to Idaho and back into Wyoming. This took me back pass the Grand Tetons which was gorgeous as usual.

The pinnacles outside of Dubois

A photo opp

A reservoir between Idaho and Wyoming 

The Snake River

One event over, another one begins

The MOA rally is over and all had a good time. It was fun to visit with all the folks from the forum who showed up at the rally and we met plenty of other K1600 riders who will sign up on the forum when they get home. Then there were the other riders who we met and had a good time with like the 2 guys from Cedar Falls, neighbors of mine who showed up for a day on their way to Seattle and a BMW rider from my home area that I hadn't met before.

Sunday morning camp was struck and everyone left for their corner of the world. Steve and I took some scenic highways to Dubois, Wyoming were we are staying with Mark Quigley. Besides being a great action event photographer he is also a professional fly fishing guide here in Dubois. Steve signed up with Mark for a day of trout fishing and they took off this morning to do that. I don't know what I'll do today so we will both have to wait for the next page of this blog to find out.

Bear Lake in Utah

Elk Antler arch

Another elk antler arch in Jackson, WY

The Grand Tetons with some light rain clouds

Doing some laundry for the week

Mark Quigley's passive solar house outside of Dubois, Wyoming

What a beautiful setting 

Kindig it

Steve and I went on a tour of Dave Kindig's Bitchin' Rides custom car shop. It was fun to see the cars that will be on their next season tv shows and meet the guys in the shop along with Dave and Kevin.

Breakfast

Thursday breakfast with part of the gang. 

Arrived in Salt Lake City and the MOA rally

We had a very nice ride from Moab to the rally. Some of the guys got here yesterday and got our group camping area set up. The fair grounds looks like it will be a good venue for this rally. Folks on our K1600 forum from around the country are starting to show up. We've got folks from Virginia, Vermont, Iowa, parts of Canada, Colorado, Missouri and of course Arizona.

K1600 central

The center tent is mine the one to the left is to the left

One of the guys pulled a camping trailer down from Canada