OUT WEST - 2006 - RCT & CRT

Saturday, 9/9 thru Saturday, 9/16/2006

8 - Days - 3571 Miles

<============================================= Open your browser this wide if you can ==========================================>

Snow?, you say, as you peer at my wallpaper?  We'll get to that story later.............

My son, Chad, says to me early in the year, "...ya know, it's been 5 years since we've been out west.  Is it time to go again?"  Yes, there was question in his face and right away, I responded....... Let's go to lend some encouragement from this end.  I know he had been struggling with where all those vacation days were going to come from.  In my case, being semi-retired, that wasn't an issue.

Long story short, with (quite) a few brief conversations and some hem-hawin around, it was set.  As he said to me after the hem-hawing for a few weeks  ".... I'm heddin out west this fall, and if you're interested in joining me....".

Well, that was all it really took after such a positive statement.  I asked if he was sure he could cope with the ol man taggin along.  He didn't say much, but I felt welcomed with the conversation and the tone.

With all of the trips we have done together (on 2-wheels) I was wondering about my enthusiasm.  Was it still there and would I enjoy another 2-wheeled trip? It didn't take long before I was so excited, it felt like it was going to be the first trip ever.

Ya, ya, all the packing, planning, anticipation, etc, etc, it was awful fun getting ready (again).

If you've read any of my earlier reports, you already know my son normally does all the trip planning and "tour guiding" etc, and this would turn out to be no exception.  He got a little insight from a friend (Thanks Tad) on a general route to follow and some "not to miss" places and roads.  Between the recommendations and Chad's "in route" planning and modifications, the trip was awesome.

At nearly 56 years young, I had not been to MOST of the places we would eventually explore!  Ya, ya, shallow life.  (been there before)

Anyway, I guess I better get going.  This is gonna be tough.  I took 559 digital pictures that I will have to whittle down to maybe a couple dozen for this report.  I'll be lucky just to pick out the report pictures on my first attempt at the report.

But, I always like to put one of my favorite trip picture up at the start so here we go.  My "would have been" favorite picture, actually never got taken.  The milky way.  (oops, I'll get to that later to)  But for pictures I did take, here is one that really sticks out for me that was taken in the Medicine Bow Nat'l Forest in Wyoming. 

For anyone who needs a little help with where all this took place, since the bulk of our destination was in Wyoming, there is a map of Wyoming, highlighting the route at the end of this report.

Breathtaking............

The day finally arrived and there was plenty of excitement.  We both knew there was quite some rain in store for us "getting there", but the beauty of traveling westward, is that you get through the storms pretty fast since they were moving east. (or so we thought)

:-(

We knew we had the proper gear for moisture and temperature, so it wasn't any issue, and hardly a thought.  So, bright and early Saturday morning, Chad shows up at my house and we hit the road.

(Our generic route takes us out west on the low road (US 80) and brings us home on the high road (US 90)

So, we hit the slab (freeway) and start cranking on the miles.  I'm soon pleased to discover that I'm conditioned good enough so I was able to avoid most aches and pains.  Don't get me wrong, anyone who bikes and says their buttox doesn't get sore, is LYING !  But, it's all part of the trip and experience.

DAY 1 - 651 miles (hehehehe)

From Belvituckey, IL, it's down 39 south to 88 west to 80 west and put on as many miles as you can until you need sleep.  There, that's day one.  We made it to Lexington, Nebraska and yes, about half way there, we hit rain.  But like I said, our raingear and heated grips and vests keep things pleasant.  I was READY to stop when we finally did and got quite a good nights sleep in the motel.  The rain just would not quit and it was really windy at times.  We carry full camping gear and had intended to camp as much as the weather would permit.  This night would be a motel due to the constant and persistent rain!

The camera never even came out on day one.

DAY 2 - 392 miles (what wimps (low mileage), or should I say "the wimp ol man")

We were struggling with whether or not to re-visit Rocky mountain Nat'l Park since we had been there before.  I think Chad knew I really wanted to tour her again, so that was one of the options, to be at RMNP early afternoon.  When we got to the "fork in the road" (as Kermit said) at the Colorado border, I really and honestly didn't know if he would turn north or south.  A big smile came on when he turned SW on 76. 

We experienced a few showers for the morning ride, but all was well.

But, it was time to get off the slab and start exploring.  From Sterling CO, we picked up HWY14 west.  This would take us through Pawnee National Grasslands (northeastern Colorado).  Flat? See forever?  Yup !  But somehow, it was beautiful.

         (Click on pictures for larger view)

(notice the 65mph sign - on a backroad?)

It was kinda cloudy, but the rain was over.  We then jumped on 25 south for a bit and turned west on 34 toward RMNP.  After gasing up in Loveland, it was off to the park.  This was the part I wanted to capture on film (hehe) that I had missed on the last trip.  the HUGE canyon walls getting into Estes Park.

     Chad says (you done taking pictures yet?)

(North Central Colorado)

So, then, through yuppyville Estes Park and on to RMNP.  Thanks for buying my ticket CRT

It was getting a little colder as we rose in altitude and some dark looking clouds caught my attention.  Then it happened.  My biggest fear of the trip.  Yup, it started snowing.  I was petrified.  Chad was getting a kick out of it, but when we stopped for the third time just a few miles up the mountain, I got off and the rain droplets on my windshield had frozen to ice.  Now, in a car, you slow down, be cautious, and plunge on.  But for the ol man on two weels, I finally had to throw in the towel and get off the mountain.

ya, laugh it up buddy.                     My cause for alarm and panic:

So, we cautiously turned around and headed back down thinking we would try to find lodging in Estes park and call it a day.

On the way back down, ya, the rain and snow stopped and the sun was peaking out.  Stopped vehicles alerted us to stop and enjoy a group of grazing elk.  The rack on the male was HUGE.  He was keeping close watch over his harem.

Arriving at Estes Park, we drove around the masses of yuppies (people), and Chad finally pulls into a lodge.  Long story short, we took the last available room (I think in the whole town).  A little pricey, but we had a room!  And it was walking distance to downtown and everything. 

We ended up doing an emergency repair on one of Chad's hot-grips that the wire had broken during the days ride.  Boy scout Bob had his propane pencil soldering iron along.  (Imagine that)

We walked and ended up down at Estes Park micro-brewery and had some reminiscing conversations and laughter over the days journey.  We then walked downtown further to a really nice restaurant and had a delicious pasta dinner.

(I couldn't help myself taking motel pictures, but there was this bubbling stream running through the place!)

Once again, I slept well (and didn't even have any dreams of my rig sliding off the mountain in the snow!)

DAY 3 - 367 miles (the day was so perfect, I can't imagine we went that many miles and how they flew by)

We walked a mile (literally) to get to the only breakfast joint in the town, but it was good. (and the coffee was necessary)

Now there was another reason for aborting the mountain yesterday, the spectacular views.  We would have missed RMNP's splendor.

Here is just the first picture I took the next morning when beginning the climb back up the mountain that was aborted the afternoon before:

After several stops for pictures, all I can say is I'm sure glad the snowstorm turned us back last night.  The sights were beautiful.

Meeting up with a Friend in RMNP................. AWESOME!..............  Also said Hi to other friends Jeff & Tyrone that were traveling with Tad.

Soooooooo, on to Granby after exiting RMNP West, and then north on 125 up through Arapaho Nat'l Forest toward a gas stop in Walden.  At this point, we started thinking about a little longer term plans and knew about where we wanted to get to for the night, and had a decision to make.  Take the long way or the short way through Medicine Bow Forest.  I was REALLY glad when my tour guide headed northeast on 127/230, cause I was just enjoying to much to start cutting corners/time.  So, on up toward Laramie, then west on 130.  It was threatening one of those vicious mountain rains, so on went the rain over-gloves.  That was all it took.  It never rained a drop on us.   We kinda just kept going around it.

I had no idea, however that this route would take us through about the grandest scenery I have ever seen.  Thus, the reason for my favorite picture shown at the beginning of this report.  Sorry, I can't help myself, here are a couple more.

(Southern edge of Central Wyoming)

Ah-Rite-Den............it's on to 13 south, down to Craig for gas and a motel and the end of a GREAT DAY !

DAY 4 - 402 miles

This morning, lets go see the dinosaurs (40West from Craig, CO).  Now this was cool.  A sign that warned "No Gas for 58 miles".  What did that mean?  Well, we ended up calling it "The Nothingness" (from The Never Ending Story).

There was literally NOTHING but wasteland - ie, the nothingness.  But, that proved out to be so unique and, in its own way, beautiful, it seemed like we stopped at least a half dozen times for pictures.

HELLO DOWN THERE>>>>>>>>>>>

     (northwest corner of Colorado)

Tumbleweeds, sagebrush, junipers, yup, all of the mentioned.  (We even passed a little town (population 4) called Juniper)

It turned out to be actually 93 miles of wilderness from Craig to Dino-monument.

So, like I said, on to Dinosaur National Monument, where they have discovered Dinosaur bones.  We saw none of those, but took the long road north to end up at a couple of breath taking spots.  Oh man, more pictures.

I think we both spent a lot of quiet time, soul searching on this trip at various stops........

Hungry?  Yup,........... what a fitting name for a place in the land of the Flintstones

  The owners were in no hurry, but the homemade, grilled, sandwiches were terrific !!!!

And were those drinks good or what?  

After stuffing out on the huge sandwiches, we headed north from Vernal on 191 toward Flaming Gorge. 

        Check out the geology on these shifted layers!   (Southwest corner Wyoming)

After stopping at the dam, we wanted to circle back around to the west side of Flaming gorge area, but it was getting late and we wanted to make it all the way to Bear lake tonight, so it was back on the bikes and up 191 to I80, west on I80 to 30, and then west on 30 all the way to Bear lake.  Man, this was a high speed run of nearly180 miles at 80+ mph.  Thank you Wyoming for the high speed limits!!

Once at Bear lake (wow, we were in Utah), we were guided to an isolated campground where we consumed sandwiches from the local gas station/convenience store.  We were blessed at our site by left over firewood that was used for a really good campfire.  Thanks Father for planning that convenience out for us !

This was the spot where I missed a much wished for picture.  I actually think my camera would not have been able to get it.  After dark while we enjoyed the campfire, the milky-way came into view.  And I mean, I can't remember seeing that "soft white blanket of stars" in a pitch black sky for quite some time.  We were both in awe.

And so ends another Beautiful Day!  Where did the miles go?

DAY 5 - 228 miles

Today, we were strategically poised for a nice morning ride and then the Tetons and possibly into Yellowstone.  So, after breaking camp

We headed out on a nice morning ride.  Around Bear Lake, up through Montpelier Utah, then north on 89 toward the Tetons.  Stop one on the way, was Salt River Pass.  Beautiful scenery.

(West Central edge of Wyoming)

Then on through Afton, Wyoming.  I had to catch a quick pix on the fly.  Try that at slow speed and not drop the camera (or the bike)

Stop two, after breakfast of course, was a boat launch area to a gorgeous stream:

Then up to Alpine and then east and then north on 191 toward Grand Teton Nat'l Park.  After some confusion about whether or not there was an actual inside park, we did finally turn in and was glad to get a little closer for pictures.  Thanks Chad, for buying our way in (both for Teton and Yellowstone).  I guess I was a little moody this day, resulting in a brief scuttle about parking and pictures, but we worked it out.  I was actually surprised we lasted this long without some kind of tiff.

Genesis 2 :24  "....For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh."

I think there was another reason God had for a man leaving his father and going on his own.  Some fathers get kinda grumpy in their old settled ways

:-(  sorry

Although it was a little cloudy (to put the Tetons in shade as some points), it was a Grand sight none the less.

      (Northwest corner of Wyoming)

Now, since we were already INSIDE the two parks, and it was late afternoon, we started cyphering about what to do for lodging for the night.  After Chad made several phone calls, we soon discovered motel lodging was all booked.  So, another call to a campground at the north end of Grand Teton Park, it was set that we would have a place to rest our bones.  With that in mind, we didn't have to worry about rushing and enjoyed the ride to the campground.

Now, this is the second campground where I quizzed people about bears, since the subject petrifies me.  I couldn't understand why everyone I asked got a huge smirk on their face.  I was serious!!!!!! 

Anyway, the campground (Flagg Ranch Resort & campground) turned out to be luxury, and the heated indoor bathrooms and showers were REALLY nice !!  The campground even had a restaurant and lounge.

Sleep was not to bad.  It got down to around 45°, but with a 30 degree sleeping bag, I was toasty warm!

DAY 6 - 333 miles

Today, our destiny was fixed since we were already inside and in-between the two parks. We had breakfast in the campground lodge, and then set out toward Yellowstone.  We had both decided since there were threats of rain, we wanted to see Old Faithful first.  So we basically just enjoyed the ride thru south Yellowstone and headed for the geysers. 

Something you don't experience watching movies or videos of them on TV.  Sulfur gas.  Whew.... 

Old faithful was Old faithful, I guess.  I wasn't all that excited, but at least we can say we saw her erupt.  (psssst, I also didn't realize there was actually a field of geysers and not just one)

I also wasn't to excited about that darn Raven who was trying to eat my seat cushion!  At least it wasn't my actual motorcycle cushion.  It was a football stadium bleacher butt pad.  Must have been the purple color that attracted him.

After the geysers, we headed back around to a visitor center where we learned all about the great fire, quite a few years back.  We had been noticing all the burned pine trunks and also all the new growth that resulted.  I think it was there we discovered it was supposed to snow there that night.  Snow????????  Hey now, we have got mountain passes to get back over yet.

That spelled panic in ol RCT. 

Anyway, we next made it around Yellowstone to Canyon Village.  Upper falls, Lower falls, Artist Point.  This was fascinating.  "The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone".  My fear of heights kicked in just being on the observation areas.

Not sure if it was the threat of snow and a "change in the weather" as the ranger told us, and/or the fact that we were 1400 miles from home, but we then decided to head toward the NE entrance/exit to the park since the East entrance was closed for road repairs.

On our way out, we saw lots of Buffalo and at one point was stopped by a herd wanting to use the road more than we did.  We didn't argue with them.  Those animals are HUGE!  I can remember seeing their backbones above the roofline of some cars!

We also spotted some black bear.  Chad got a picture of him.

Never saw a Griz.  Darn..... I wanted to see a Griz.  The ride out of the park took a long time.  That place is Huge.

I'm not sure it was that and/or just realizing we were 1400 miles from home, So, anyway, we started heading East.  Down 296 to Cody, then east on 14/16 to Graybull, then sough on 16/20 to Worland, Wyoming where we lodged and ate. 

Now while we were on 14/16 heading east toward Greybull, I kept noticing the height of the mountain range ahead of us.  Yes, I will not tell a lie.  I was starting to get really concerned.  As it turns out, from this point, there are two ways over the mountain.  Straight ahead on 14 (which I was looking at and fearing) and an easier way by going south to Worland.  I didn't know all this as we were driving and found out that evening my tour guide took us south to the easier route.

This last mountain range we had to cross over are called the "Bighorn Mountains".  And I wanna tell you, they were HIGH!!!

DAY 7 - 562 miles

Well, at this point, the goal was to get across the last of the mountains and start putting on miles to get home.  I said some extra prayers today for some guidance and courage and safety.  With snow on our tail, and drizzle and fog as we started out, I have to admit I was mighty nervous.  We ran into some pretty serious fog at points crossing that mountain range, and I KNOW we had a special escort at one point when God put a pick-up truck (from Wisconsin) in front of us going at, lets say, an RCT pace.  I was surprised that Chad didn't pass him, since it was WAY to slow for him, despite the fog.  But, I believe he stayed to ALSO watch over the ol man on the ST1100.  Thank you!  Both of you!

At one point, while still up there, we encountered a slight break in the weather so we stopped for a few pictures.  It was really picturesque with the clouds hiding and then exposing mountain peaks.

After continuing on, and going through several hairpin turn-a bouts, I was mighty glad when we rounded a final curve and I spotted the flatlands ahead.  Man....we made it.  Yippee!

Once out of the mountains, we continued east on I90 to Moorcroft for gas and then jumped off the highway on 14 north toward Black Hills Nat'l Forest.

Along the way there, we passed Devils Tower Nat'l Monument, which, for me was another "ok, that's nice, I saw it".  I surely didn't want to pay a fee to go inside the actual park.

   (northeast corner of Wyoming)

So, we moved on east on 24 and saw some really nice scenery.    

At this point, we had made it out of Wyoming and had dropped into South Dakota.  Cool.......Never been in that state before.

We had no clue what the Badlands were all about, so decided to check it out.  We hopped onto I90 east for a bit and then got off at Hwy 44.  We took that east toward the badlands.  All of a sudden, we started seeing these sandstone monuments.  Ah-Ha........

That's what the badlands are....................

(southwest corner of South Dakota)

and a few more pictures:

So after I made a fool of myself at the ranger station over 20 bucks (No I don't want to go into details), we wandered our way thru the Badlands Nat'l Park and worked our way up to I90.  We hopped on I-90 and drove till after dark.  (I got a chance to show off my overly bright PIAA driving lights and my blue neon engine lights. :-)

Driving by the headlight only (despite my PIAA's) and not being able to see deer, I was rather nervous.   There was LOTS of dead road kill along the road, including deer!  We ended up in Chamberlain, SD at a REALLY nice mom & pop motel.  The price was right and the rooms were nicer that a lot of big chains we've stopped at in the past.  I think we need to take a lesson!

DAY 8 - 654 miles    :-)

We again hopped onto I90 and headed east for a ways and found a nice breakfast stop.  Then back onto 90 and we drove and we drove and we drove....... Through the rest of South Dakota, through Minnesota, into Wisconsin and finally, I had to pee.  (just kidding)

This was our rest stop in Wisconsin:

See that tower in the background? 

Thank you !

CONCLUSION....................

I cannot believe we visited as many places and saw as much as we did in a week.  It was a Fabulous adventure that I will never forget (with the help of this web page to remind me as my memory continues to fail).  After just a couple of weeks that it took me to get around to writing this trip report, I was starting to worry that I wouldn't remember everything.  Just the opposite, once I started into the report, tracing the map, looking at pictures, I was actually there.........., re-living the trip,......... re-exploring!

Despite a minor misunderstanding that I stirred up at the Tetons, I had an absolutely wonderful, companionship trip with Number 1 son.  (I never had any other sons, but that's what I call him)  I never once felt "left behind" as had been the case in many other trips where "speed" was at the top of someone's list.  Age and other hobbies tend to change things.

I actually feel a slight bit of being ashamed and burdensome, but, the older I get, the more I realize I guess that's just life.  The young step up and take over the reigns.

Soooooo, Thank you Chad for sharing the ride and wonderful vacation, and for all the incredible road, motel, campground, planning that you do.  Wow, how am I so lucky?

The old ST1100 ran perfectly and she gave me 47MPG average.  Now THAT I like!   I burned 76 gallons of gas. 

The new tires I put on before the trip worked out perfectly and have plenty of life left in them, despite traveling the long stretches of Slab, tending to make the tires flat rather than round.

I have to also thank God for being with us on the trip, giving us safety and, for the most part, grand weather to enjoy all his splendor!

I've got, like I said, 559 pictures to prove just a small fraction of his splendor, of which you've seen just a handful in this report.

I can't believe I still love my ST1100.  She's taken me over 46 thousand miles and still purrin like a kitten.  I hope to put many more miles on here before we both bite the dust.  Hopefully more exploring with my son.

Hey, we haven't seen  Redwood National Park yet..............................

Lets see, mapquest says..... Belvituckey, IL to Crescent City, California................ 2286 miles ...... One way !  (Sounds like we better reserve more than a week)