Day 4

 Today we rode to the Teton Mountains and the town of Jackson. Parked our bikes and wandered around town. At noon the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar opened so we went in to look around and have a couple beers and a sandwich. It’s pretty cool with lots of unique architecture. The seats at the bar are western saddles.

There were a lot of tourists in town so it was fairly crowded. At around 3:00 we headed back to Dubois to do a little laundry and get ready to go to town for dinner, this being Steve’s birthday and all.

Here are pictures that were taken today.

The Grand Tetons

Local police

Steve at the bar

Local brew

Show case of spurs

Herd of Bison

Steve and his bike posing in front of the Tetons

The saddle chairs in the bar

Same herd

Gateway to the city park

Lots of burled woodwork in the bar

Jim and his bike in front of the Tetons

Stuffed Grizzly bear taken by a guy with his bare hands and teeth

The bar with silver dollars imbedded in the top

Scenic bluff

Jim at the bar

Scenic view

Day 3

 Today is a down day as far as riding is concerned. Our host, Mark, had to go back to Arizona do to family obligations so Steve and I are left without any adult supervision. We spent the morning familiarizing ourselves with Sena helmet communication devices. Then I washed the bugs from my bike and did a cursory check of its road worthiness. I brought my GS-911 diagnostics gizmo and hooked it up to Steve’s bike. There were some old fault codes that I erased and we set the maintenance interval reminder ahead some 30,000 miles.

A trip to town for a burger was in order and while there we picked up a few groceries for tonight and tomorrow. We will get plenty of opportunities to eat in restaurants during the next couple weeks.

We have a plan for a ride tomorrow but I’ll hold off on explaining that until then.

Here is look from the front of Marks house

There is a ridge of sandstone cliffs all along the back of his house

Day 2

 Another early morning. I set the alarm for 5:30 am but woke up at 3:30 wide awake so I figured why fight it and got up. It was about 70 but I knew I would ride in some higher elevation in the morning hours so I put on my heavy jacket. Sure enough at about day break I stopped and added a fleece shirt underneath..

I rode highway 139;North out of Loma, CO. What a great road, lots of elevation changes and both tight and sweeping curves. Fortunately the sun came up as I was negotiating deer and open range cattle on the side of the road. I love my Clearwater Ericas driving spot lights.

I stopped in Naples, UT which is near Vernal for breakfast. I had brought up Denny’s on my GPS but before I got there I saw Abby's Restaurant with the open sign out. I whipped in there and had a nice pancakes, ham and eggs meal.

At 11:00 I drove into Farson, WY home of the Big Cone. I’ve stopped there before and was determined to drive on by but…..the bike turned in just like a devining rod. Far be it for me to argue with outside forces so I parked and bought a “baby cone”. Imagine what a double scoop must be like.

No lunch needed so I carried on to our friend, Mark Quigley’s house in Dubois, WY. Steve had arrived earlier so we compared our ride experiences the past 2 days.

Pizza for supper and I’m sure an early bedtime tonight.

Flaming Gorge reservoir 

 

1/2 of Wyoming looks like this

Mmmm butter pecan

Mountains in the distance.

Day 1

 I rose early this morning and was saddled up and headed down the driveway at 04:11. It was a cool 80 deg. at my house but as I rolled into Flagstaff it was down to 58. I stopped at Mary’s Cafe for breakfast. It has been my favorite place to kick off any bike trip that took me North. I gassed up and was back on the road within 40 minutes.

The miles rolled away as I got close to Kayenta where I stopped to switch to my mesh jacket and a wet bandana. No gas needed yet. I visited with a rider headed back to Tucson from a few days in Durango, CO.

Riding North out of Kayenta  took me through Monument Valley.

North of Mexican Hat I pulled over and donned my wet vest figuring why fight the heat. I stopped for gas in a Blanding, UT at a combination gas, grocery and bowling alley, go figure. Back on the road.

As I got close to Moab, UT the temperature clicked over into the 100s hitting 109 in town. I stopped for a break and to cool off with an ice cream.

After that break I rode along the Colorado river, out side of town, making my way to Interstate 70. It was then a quick ride (speed limit of 80mph) to my nights lodging in Fruita, CO.

The Forrest Gump shot of 

Monument Valley

Soon to be back on the road.

 On Thursday June 17th. I'll be headed to Montana and then South Dakota. That day I'll ride up through Utah spending the night in Fruita, CO then North to Dubois, WY where I'll meet brother Steve at our friends place in Dubois, WY for a few days of relaxing and perhaps some trout fishing. We will then continue on through Yellowstone and over Beartooth Pass (my favorite ride) and stopping for one night in Red Lodge, MT. Then on to the BMW MOA (Motorcycle Owners of America) annual rally in Great Falls, MT. It was postponed last year do to the "pandemic" so we are looking forward to "doing it again'. 

After the rally Steve and I will take a couple days to get to Keystone, SD, in the Black Hills of SD, for a meet up with 3 friends for 5 days of exploring that area. The trip home is yet to be decided.

I'll try and post pictures here, on the blog, but after 50 years of on the road riding it's hard to take pictures of things I've already seen and also at 71 to take pictures to look at in my old age seems a little unnecessary. By the way Steve will have his 70th B'day while in Dubois.

The end of the road

 Another 750 mile day and I made it back to the barn after 14 days and 5,000 miles. Good weather again today. A couple sprinkles twice was all the rain I had for the whole trip.

I did stop and took a few pictures seeing as how I wasn't very good at it earlier.

                                             

                                         The Forrest Gump shot leading into Monument Valley

The river outside of Moab

What’s left of a volcano North of Kayenta, AZ

A view of the Rockies as I left Denver

Cliffs near Moab

Near Moab

A pull off along the river outside of Moab

Friday

 I left Cedar Falls this morning at 05:30 and arrived near Denver, Colorado 12 1/2 hours later. The ride was uneventful and cool until the last 100 miles but even then it was only in the 80s. I should make it home tomorrow by 6:00pm. Again nothing really to take pictures of so if you've driven across Iowa, Nebraska and Eastern Colorado you can call up those memories.

Looking forward to getting home.

Thursday

 Sorry to those readers who wake up early everyday just to see what I’m up to.

I've been visiting with my folks and old friends of mine that still live here. Not much more to add except it’s always fun to catch up with the friends.

I’m leaving town first thing Friday morning and have a room reserved in Brighton, CO just east of Denver. It will be a short 778 miles via I-80. Then another 800ish to home on Saturday. Right now the weather forecast along that route shows little rain and wind which is why I'm taking this route instead of the southern one through Kansas and then I-40.

All for now.

Made it to Cedar Falls

 I left this morning at 05:00 and after 940 miles arrived at Mom and Dads at 8:00 pm. Pleasant weather except for a couple hours of heavy cross wind in the afternoon. 

The last several days

Our riding group today at a lunch stop

All the bikes lined up this morning for a photo shoot. 

 I was having such a good time here that putting anything on this blog slipped my mind. We did some great day rides on fantastic black tops don’t ask me where we rode as all I did was follow the leader. 

Tonight is the banquet then my plan is to shove off in the morning by 05:00. There is 3 days of rain expected starting Monday so if all goes good I’ll make the 900 miles to Mom and Dads tomorrow night and miss the rain. 

Wednesday

 Not much to write about today. The weather was nice and I did a 200 mile ride with some of the other attendees. With all the twists and turns here I couldn’t begin to tell you where we went. 

Had a nice happy hour before dinner then some visiting around the campfire. No pictures although we road along a nice rushing stream that would rival some of Colorado's rivers.

I arrived

 Well I made it to my North Carolina destination, the Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge. It was a pleasant day of riding. I rode up the road nicknamed The Tail of the Dragon. It has 318 curves in 11 miles.

After arriving Janet let me know that her sister Jodi's son–in–law was in the state somewhere riding a motorcycle. I texted him and it turned out he’s stay at this lodge so we had a beer and ate supper together. He’s leaving tomorrow and moving to another place but at least we connected today.

Attached are some pictures taken at the end of the Dragon road and of the lodge I’m staying at.

Another 700 miles

 I woke up and looked at the motel clock that showed 4:30. I wanted to get up at 5:00 so I got up. After dressing I looked at another clock and it showed 3:45. I then checked my phone and sure enough it was 3:45. So I was back on the road at 04:00 again.

The temperature was 55-60 most of the morning with mid strength winds. By afternoon it was 70-80 and little wind. All and all a nice day for a ride.

By starting out early my gas stops were extended and I had a nice sit down breakfast at a Denny’s. I arrived in Jackson, TN at 3:30pm.

Only 350 miles tomorrow and the weather looks to be favorable.

Tree lined highway today.

Day one on the road

 I shoved off at 04:01 this morning and had an uneventful day of riding for 823 miles landing in Elk City, OK. at 6:15 pm local time so a little over 12 hours. It was a little chilly most of the morning but I had my heated jacket liner and the bike has a heated seat and hand grips. After lunch I shed the warm gear and donned my mesh jacket.

It got fairly windy in the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma and the temperature got up into the low 90s.

 I’ll try and get another early start tomorrow and put a bunch of miles behind me.

So imagine looking at this view for 12 hours with lots of semis thrown in.

A long day

It's Saturday and the bike is packed, riding clothes laid out, checked the weather for tomorrow and now it's wait time. I probably won't get much sleep tonight, I usually don't before any kind of trip. I'm looking forward to getting out on the open road even if it is suppose to be windy across I-40. 

The plan is to make it to Elk City, OK tomorrow night (823 miles) then somewhere in Tennessee Monday night and finish on Tuesday.

First long ride in 2021

 So it's that time of year again, the first long distance ride. Early, early Sunday morning I'll be hitting the open road heading to a gathering of BMW K1600 motorcyclists in North Carolina. We will be staying at the Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge near the famous section of highway known as The Tail of The Dragon. As of today there are 33 bike owners signed up to be there along with many spouses. This is the 5th year for this gathering so it's well organized and a lot of fun. There will be daily guided tours of the surrounding area rain or shine. I've met many of the folks, who will be attending, at other get togethers so after last years bust for rides it will be nice to catch up.

After this event I will ride to Iowa to spend some time with my Mom and Dad then down to brother Steve's in Kansas City and finally back home. I'll be gone for about 2 weeks.

I'll try and post some pictures and write ups during this ride so keep watching. 

Friday and the end of the RR ride

I brought Jerry and his bike home today and we are all well. Memorable trip on many levels. Now to start planning the next one.

Monday-Thursday of the RR ride

Eventful Sunday night. Jerry came down very ill and we had to call the EMT. They took him to the hospital. The short story is that he had an infection that became worse with a bacteria in his blood. Frank and I rode home where I grabbed my truck and motorcycle trailer and came back up to Estes Park in time to connect with Jerry when he was released Thursday morning. We drove as far as Grand Junction and will get home tomorrow. Jerry was fed lots of antibiotics and is doing well now.