Day 5

 We left Dubois this morning around 8:30 and rode West to the Tetons then North through Yellowstone. 

What a zoo that was. I swear there were 2 years worth of tourists in the park. Long strings of cars and motor homes all going 5-10 under the 45 mph speed limit. Then all the attraction pull offs were crammed full with 1/4 mile stretches in both directions of vehicles parked on the side of the road. We didn’t stop at any of them which is sad. Steve and I have been there several times over the years but it would have been nice to see some of prettier hot springs again.

One of the roads we planned on taking to get out of the park is under construction so we had to take an hour or more detour. We were able to connect to Beartooth Highway though.

On the North end of Beartooth is Red Lodge, MT where we are staying in a KOA Kabin for the night.

So with no stops in Yellowstone I don’t have any pictures in the park.

I did take some fresh ones of the Tetons and a couple along Beartooth.

We are off to the BMW MOA rally in Great Falls, MT tomorrow.

Tetons

KOA in Red Lodge, MT

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.