Vacation Dilema - The Adventure begins

[baddogonabmw]

Hey everyone.  It's been a while since I've posted as I've been blah, blah, blah.  Enough of me and how busy I am.

I am flying to Phoenix this week to pick up my new bike and begin my adventure.  I have about 21 days for my trip.  Here's a rough itinerary.  Note that I would like to average at least 400 miles a day.  

   1.
      Phoneix to Albuquereque (470 miles)
   2.
      Alburqueraque to Denver (449 miles)
   3.
      Dever - Teec Nos Pas (426 miles)
   4.
      Teec Nos Pas - St George (491 miles)
   5.
      St George - Las Vegas (120 miles)
   6.
      Las Vegas - Mariposa (472 miles)
   7.
      Mariposa - San Francisco (167 miles)
   8.
      San Fransico - Portland (636 miles)
   9.
      Portland - Sturgis (1400 miles)
  10.
      Sturgis - home (1700 miles)
  11.
      Total miles = 6331 @ 400 miles/day = 15 days

Do you think I'm being too aggressive or optimistic?  Of course my plans are subject to change from the minute I get to the airport, but at least it's a high level plan.

Oh yeah, I'm planning my accommodations totally by ear.  Might end up having to buy a tent and sleeping bag in case the motels get full.  I have 1 cousin near LA and another near Seattle and some family friends in San Fransisco, but that's about it for people I know.  We'll just have to see how it goes.  

I hope to get some nice pics and provide updates of my travels.  I hope you enjoy.

Just think... I'm doing this and you're not

Ha, ha - I would expect the same back

[MK96xj]

#10 is going to be a doozy. other then that +/-400mls is OK.

Looking forward to the report and pics.

[1moreroad]

MODS:  Can you move this to Rocky Mtn Region?

#10 is going to be a doozy. other then that +/-400mls is OK.

Hey, he's doing it the day after #9, right?    (I'm guessing the OP means that he will cover those last 3100 miles in 5 days)

Can't see how you will ride all those places except by interstate.  For example, Albequerque to Denver via I-25 is 450 miles.  You will be skipping a LOT of good roads if you stick to interstates.

400 miles a day is a good target.  Some folks on this board run 300 miles a day.  I don't like to go over 500 miles and it usually takes about 12 hours to do those 500 miles with sightseeing stops (hikes, national monuments, lunch and dinner, etc.) if I picked twisty enough roads.

But I'm second guessing your route as mostly interstate, and I'd ask, what's the point?

For example, 4 of the best roads in the country lay between Phoenix and Alb, sort of.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/4tw97h

191 in east AZ, 35 and 15 in west NM and 152 in central NM.  There are folks on this site that can recommend better ways to connect the east end of 152 to Alb.

Of course, that's 725 mile route between the two cities.

You will briefly see a lot of nice sites but you won't see any of the good roads in between by your schedule.  I would recommend you take your 15 days, do good roads in AZ, NM, and CO then head north into Wyoming and east into SD.  Loop all the way around WY to hit Yellowstone, Beartooth Pass, etc.  Of course, you should crisscross the Rockies over a bunch of passes in CO along the way.

At 400 miles/day, I'd think you'd do something like:

PHX - ALB -- 2 days
ALB - Denver -- 2 days
Denver up into WY -- 1 day
Around WY -- 2 days (at least)
Western SD -- 1 day

This is all riding and at best a few brief stops.  If you want to do some more touring, be prepared to ride 300 miles/day instead of 400.

As an example (and I've PM'd you about this), I'll be spending 3 days in CO next week on the bike, and I already feel rushed.  You will be riding from central AZ to central NM to central CO to the CO/UT border in the same amount of time.

Good luck.  Enjoy the trip.  You will see fantastic sites, but if you head east/northeast without your loop, I think you will enjoy your trip a lot more.

EDITED TO ADD:  There are pleasant roads to ride in MN and WI.  Nothing like the Rockies, but very nice in their own right.  Don't just assume everything between SD and PA is "fly through" country.

After WI, you could head southeast towards OH.  If you like airplanes, Dayton has the Wright Patt AF museum and the Wright Brothers Memorial.  Then there's the AMA Hall of Fame in central OH and supposedly good riding in southeastern OH.

Rapid City, SD to Dayton, OH -- 3 days on i-state
OH including Hall of Fame -- 1 day on i-state.  2 days if you have fun.
PA -- 1 day if you have get-home-itis.

That's 15 days and you miss some nice, but not great (compared to CO) roads in MN and WI.

[baddogonabmw]

Appreciate the feedback.  Granted those were rough numbers of point to point.  It may actually take me longer to do.  In any event, I'm in the 2nd day of my trip and I've made it to Los Alamos with about 60 Highway miles.  I'll continue to play it by ear and see how it goes.  If I can't get all done in one trip then I'll just have to leave it for next time

Day 1:

What a day.  Got up at 4 and left the house by 4:15.  The family took to me to the airport to see me off.  The trip from Scranton to Cleveland was uneventful other than for the Flight Attendant telling me how they had gotten out to the runway earlier in the week and had to turn back as one of the passengers was having a heart attack.

So, then I get on the plane from Cleveland to Phoenix and everything is still on time.  Now, I had a couple things happen on the plane that just made me wonder what the heck.  Now, I booked my flight months ago and I picked out my seat.  I like to be on the aisle.  Anyhow, this woman boards the flight and puts her bag in the bin over me.  She goes to sit down and I hear a guy ask her if she would mind switching seats.  She asks if it's an aisle seat and he says no, so she says no.  Pretty soon the guy comes out and asks me the same question.  I tell him if it's on the aisle, I will.  He tells me it's a center seat and I say no thanks.  He hangs out for a bit and finally he's like well, I have the center seat next to you, I'll have to sit down.  No problem.  I let him in and he litterally just plops in the seat and seems to be taking as much of my seat as possible.  Soon, his wife, or so I assume, comes out and asks if he wants something and she's got tears in her eyes.  OMG people, you are adults.  Grow up and sit by yourself.  Anyhow, the woman whom he originally asks sees all of this and it got to her before it got to me.  So, she switched seats.  No here's the kicker.  It seems to me as that he just wanted an aisle seat seeing as he never asked the people sitting next to the window to exchange seats.  I continue to sit there as the plane loads and watch at least 6 different couples ask to sit together.  Hey people, you're going somewhere together.  When you get there, be together as much as you want, but for now, sit down so we can get out of dodge.  *Rant Over*

The plane is loaded and we head for the runway.  We are 3rd in line for takeoff when the Pilot comes on and tells us we have to go back to the terminal due to one of the passengers being sick.  Deja vu?  We go back to the terminal and someone gets offloaded to the ambulance.  I have no idea what happened.  We end up being 40 mins late to Phoenix.  NOt bad, but I was worried my dealer might have been there waiting for me all that time.  Fortunately, these fellows were on top of things and knew my flight was late.  I catch up Ryan from Arizona Kawasaki and make the trip back to the dealership, where I get to meet 1) my salesman Rikki, 2) Bob "The Boss", 3) Randy the service manager and 4) my new ride!!!  She looks awesome.  Fortunately, Rikki had let me send all my gear out ahead of time and he left the bike inside in the air conditioning so I could load up.  This was very thoughtful of him especially considering that the temp was about 104 at the time.  I buy the guys some pizza, eat and then head out with best of wishes from the fine folks at Arizona Kawasaki.  These guys were great.  I would recommend them to anyone.

I get about 5 miles down the road and my message center is telling me that my rear pressure sensor battery is low.  I haven't gone far, so I turn around and go back to the dealer.  Apparently, Kawasaki has an issue with this and it is covered under warranty.  Unfortunately, they don't have one in stock and I don't really have time to wait.  I talked it over with Bob and decided I'll just get this resolved when I get back home after my trip is over.  No big deal other than having the damn message flash at you all the time.  I've got to check my owners manual and figure out how to stop that or I might go nuts over this.  I head east toward Globe.  Once there, I decide to continue on to Sanford, where I finally decide to call it a night after 4 or 5 stops to get watered up.  I still haven't peed since I arrived in Arizona over 9 hours ago.  If the temperature is 104 degree's and you drive 70 mph, how hot is.  It's still 104 and it's @#%!@ HOT!!!  I get in my room at the hotel and bring my gear in and I smell this awful stench.  Yeah, it's me.  I decide I better call home and let them know that I'm in for the night when I noticed I have like 10 missed calls.  I start to panic that something has gone wrong at home.  I pull up the list and realize all the calls were from the guys back at Arizona Kawaski.  I call back and get this - When I was loading my bike, my helmet and manual was on the salesman desk.  Apparently, I also picked up someone else's manual that was in a plastic bag with both keys to the bike.  OMG.  I felt like an idiot.  I check my bags and sure enough, I have it.  I'm like oh no, I have to drive back, but Bob says he'll get someone out to pick it up. He simply asks me to leave it at the front desk, which I promptly do.  I felt bad especially since they were trying to get ahold of me almost from the time I left the dealership and now they have to travel 100+ miles to come and get the keys and manual.  I already felt I owed these guys some beer, but now I definitely do.  I gotta figure out how to get some PA Lager sent back.

I rode through some beautiful country but some ugly country as well.  I personally don't see why anyone would want to live in this extreme heat, but to each their own.

So, how do I like the bike?  Pretty good.  It's very smooth and the ergo's on it are quite good.  I'm not real happy that I have a brand new bike that has a problem with one of its sensors already, but I'll deal with that. The bigger problem I have is that my head always seems to get wind buffetting no matter where I adjust the wind screen to.  I'm concerned that I might have to get the taller windshield, but we'll see.  The luggage on the bike is great.  It's big and roomy and you have more room than you think for because of the clam shell design.  One minor nit is that they provide elastic straps to hold your gear in place on 1 side of the saddlebag, but not on the other.  So, when you close the bag, some stuff stays in place and the other side moves around making it sometimes a little difficult to close.  Kawasaki even has holes set in the bag where you could put the straps, but alas, no straps.  The tail pack is nice as well.  It easily fits a laptop and extra gear.  Now, I haven't rode the bike without the bags, but I can tell you it rides very well with all my gear.  I didn't notice any negative handling.  Oh, I almost forgot to mention, this bike has a tall seat.  I'm almost on my tip toes with this thing and I'm 5'11".

Time to charge all my electronic devices and catch some Z's.

Mileage:  140
Gas:  $14
Hotel: $82

[baddogonabmw]

Day 2

I started my day in Safford and headed east on rt 70 and then took rt 191 north.  I have to say that with that ride, my quetioning of why anyone would live in Arizona was answered.  This was one of the top 5 roads I have ever ridden and that includes the over-rated Tail of the Dragon.  I went throught this mining town, I think it was called Clifton and it said last services for 90 miles.  Let me say the next 90 miles were awesome.  I had a Bighorn Sheep/Ram run out in front of me just 1 minute after I had stopped to take a pic of the sheep crossing warning sign.  I managed a couple shots of the fellar.  I saw cows, deer, turkeys, a dead skunk, a dead white fox and Vulcan Squirrels.  They were the damndest things.  They are the size of our PA red squirrels, but are gray in color as our gray squirrels are, but there ears were long and pointy.  I personally think these are kamikaze squirrels like you see in the commericals.  For the next 90 miles, I did not come upon any other vehicle, nor did anyone come behind me.  I did meet 2 trucks from the mine, or so I assume as they had 10 - 12 whip poles with flags on them, 1 big ass mining truck that they would never let on our roads up home, 2 Arizona DOT trucks and 1 van and a pickup.  Oh, I almost forgot, I did meet a group of 4 motorcycles also going the opposite direction, but that was it.  I stopped and took some pics and tried to call home to tell everyone about this great ride, but there was no cell service.  This actually made it even better.  I stopped in the small town of alpine to get gas at an old country store.  You got love plank decks where you could lose a leg if you aren't careful.

Now, it was time to head for NM and towards Albuquerque in particular, but how.  Well, I continued up 191/180 to Springerville and then headed east on route 60.  OMG, what a boring stretch of road.  Some nice views and all, but a boring road.  I got off than on to rt 36 and then 117 through the lava beds and the Mesa (?) mountain range.  As I was heading for Albuquerque and needed to make up some miles, I hopped on rt 40 east.  I got off and got gas and then started zigzagging across some roads and end up through Rio Rancho and eventually to Coronado state park where the ranger there recommended I go back into town for lunch/dinner at the Range, which I promptly did.  I think the enchilada's with blue corn or something like that.  It was a whole lot better than any mexican style food I've ever had back home, but then again, we're mostly limited to taco bell.  I then jumped on 550 until it ran into route 4 and I picked that up.  My hopes were to try to get back somewhere near Santa Fe, but I ran into some rain coming over the mountain range there and I couldn't make any time with all the congestion and people only driving about 20 mph.  I just wanted a warm place to curl up with a cold beer, so I stopped in Los Alamos.  Boy, that is one big facility.  I thought for sure I had gone the wrong way when I came to a security checkpoint right on the main road.  I almost turned around, but I came up to and asked about a hotel and the guard sent me right on through with directions and a good luck.  So, here I am.  I arrived a little after 8:00 PM edt, which is 6:00 here in Los Alamos.  I rode for about 12 hours today, minus and hour for lunch and picture stops to stretch the legs.  I did somewhere over 450 miles, but I'm too lazy to go outside and check the actual mileage.

Overall, I'm very pleased with bike, with the exception of the head buffetting.  That part needs some work.

I'm hoping to catch parts of route 84 and 64 before heading in to Colorado.  I would like to get to Denver, but that's probably pushing it as I really don't want this to be a "ride the slab" trip.

I have to say I'm really impressed with the colors of the New Mexico landscape and the earth tones used everyone.  Things just seem to blend in and fit together.  But, on the other hand, I was somewhat disappointed with some things like the Rio Grande for one.  Must of our creeks are bigger than this, but after seeing all the dry riverbeds, I can understand why the Rio Grande stands out.  The other thing that amazes me is how you can transition from desert type area to the alpines of the moutains.  I've seen sign for elk numerous times today, but so far, I haven't spotted one up close and personal.  There's always tomorrow.

I called home and spoke with the wife for a while, but I wasn't real talkative as I'm quite tired.  Nothing major exciting on the homefront although it is cherry picking season and the girls are all going for some this weekend.  I think I'll go hit the hot tub now and drink one of the beers I bought next door at the mini-mart.  Later.

Mileage:  450
Gas:  $31
Hotel: $92
Lunch: $20

[sagerat]

191 is a great road and the only place I've ever been chased by coyotes.  

[baddogonabmw]

191 is a great road and the only place I've ever been chased by coyotes.  

Tell me more.  I was freaked enough when I had this bighorn sheep across the road and I'm trying to balance the machine and get a pic and watch for traffic, all the while wondering, what the @#! will happen if he comes towards me.  I can't imagine if I had coyotes on my tail.

[baddogonabmw]

Day 3

Damn, but this is tiring.  I apoligize if my writing isn't the most innovating, but coming up with more than just the facts about the trip after 10+ hours in the saddle is tough.  I guess I'm behind "schedule", not that matters as I have no real schedule.  I just may have to cut back on other parts of my trip later.

I started to leave Los Alamos at 9:00 EDT or 7:00 local.  I stopped for gas, but they didn't open til 8 or 9 on Saturdays.  What???  That's unheard of in our neck of the woods, but good for them I say.  This shouldn't have been a problem as I was paying by credit card, but the damn pump only dispensed about .1 gallon per minute.  I would have left, but I had no idea where the next gas station was, if they were open, and whether there pumps might do the same.  It took me about 10 mins to get 2 gallons and I quit.  I headed out of town and hit route 84 north to the town of Tierra Amarilla.  The ride had been uneventful to that point.  As I approached town, I turned on to rout 64 east and went about 1/2 mile before looking at my gas gage.  I didn't know how far it was to the next town, so I went back for gas.  From there, I could see my first mountain, still with snow on it.  After being raped for $4.80 or so for premium, I returned to route 64.  Just as I'm coming intot he first set of corners that look promising, a turck pulling an excavater comes into view going 3 mph.  Ok, perhaps it was a little faster, but very little.  Fortunately, as soon as the driver could see it was clear, he motioned me on and I started my way into yet another great motorcycling road.  I was reminded of the gentle sweepers of the "Cherry Hole" (Cherhola) in NC or route 30 in Downsville, NY, but better.  I met next to know one all the way to Tres Pedras, other than 4 guys on cruisers and 2 guys on sport bikes.  I decided to stay on 64 and then proceeded to be bored out of mind for awhile til coming to Taos.  Now, just before getting to Taos, I crossed this bridge across the Rio Grande, which was more like a gorge of 100 feet or so deep.  That was quite strange to be going across this flat wide open expense and poof - a gorge.  Good thing someone thought to put a bridge in for me:-)  Taos appears to be a cool town.  It reminded me of Woodstock, NY or New Hope, NJ, but better.  I was trying to make time, so continued on through, other than for a brief attempt at stopping at the local Radio Shack, but it was closed for 4th of July celebrations.  Damn, still no power for my GPS.  I don't think I mentioned, but the mount is supposed to supply power, but it no worky.  So, no GPS until I can get a charger or DC adapter and therefore, no tunes.  That part really sux after spending so much time putting songs together.

At this point, I should have headed north, but NOOOOO, I decide to stay on 64.  Why not just stick hot needles in my eye.  Yes, it was beautiful scenary, but everyone west of the Mississippi, or at least half of them, where driving the same road.  Finally, I get to Eaglenest and it seems to die off.  Now, I have to decide whether to continue east or loop back around on 38 and points north.  Well, I'm not real patient at this point, so I continue on 64 as the guy ahead of me didn't.  Now, I'm going across the open plains again at about 70-75 mph and its droning on and on.  I blow by a coyote, who I don't think I would have even seen if he didn't jump away from the road.  Get out of my way dog, I have places to go.  Further down, I pass a couple of prong horn Antelope on the side.  I slow down to see if I can get a pic, but they're not having anything to do with me and take off.  I counting on tdown the road and follow 64 til I com to 25 and the town of Raton.

I stop for lunch as the Mexican American place and have a burger.  They bring up some chips and sals.  This stuff is so much better than back home and it's not even hot.  Now, to the fun part of my story.  I come out and clean my shield and decide to do the same for my windscreen.  I then notice by lights are on.  I figure this is strange, but I thought maybe the bike sensed I was near with my KIPASS and turned on.  I was wrong.  I had left the key in the on position.  I try to start it and it goes grrr-NOPE.  I can't believe it.  Now, for those that are asking why did you leave your key in the bike, I will tell you simply that Kawasaki recommends it.  They also don't put a hole in the key for you to attach it to a key ring.  I guess the idea is the bike won't start unless you are within 5 feet with the electronic keypass, so to keep dirt/water from getting in or to keep someone from sticking a screwdriver in your ignition, Kawi tells you to leave it there.  After all, it locks the key in place when you walk away.  There is a problem to this, especially if you turn off your bike by leaving it in gear and puttting down the kickstand as I always do.  Since I didn't take the key with me, I never turned it off.  I called home to tell my wife of the dilema.  I was hoping battery wasn't totally dead and my get some of its strength back if I left it alone.  I also looked for a place to coast/bump start, but it was all flat.  20-30 mins later I give it a try and it starts.  Woohoh.  The sacrifice of pointed ear squirrel to the motorcycle gods must have appeased them as I was surely in their favor.  I filled up with some gas and headed to Colorado.

I thien picked up route 12 somewhere near Trinidad as it was supposed to be a nice route, and it ended up to be one.  It's just that it took 15-20 miles to get away from the normal crap and into the mountains and some nice scenic stuff.  I followed route 12 out through the mountains and back to Walsenberg.  I got caught in another rain shower.  What is it with 4 wheelers that have to slow down to a snails pace as rain is coming.  I need to get out of it fast dude or I'll start melting.  I end up doing a rain dance just to get my jacket on and head on down the road thinking it won't be that bad.  Shortly thereafter, water starts running down the inside of my boot.  This is good, I'm not sure I washed my feet good enoug this morning in the shower.  This should do just ducky.  I'm cold, wet and tired once again.  I need a hotel.  Where should I find.  I decide to head toward the city.  In this case, that meant Pueblo to me.  I didn't make it.  I got as far as Colorado City and decided to call it a night.  Fortunately, they had a place for me.  So, hear I am.

I have started to hear a rattle/buzz when in 2nd or 3rd gear and I'm starting to wind it up some.  I think something is vibrating, but who knows what or where.

OH, I almost forgot to mention my first encounter with Prairie Dogs.  What a strange creature.  I had one that tried to come out and trip, but he scurried away before getting close.  A while later, I pulled off the side of the road in some shade, which by the way for the folks back east, is often times very hard to find out here.  Anyhow, I pull over and notice these light brown spots scurrying along and moving up and down just like the wack-a-mole game.  Now, I know why.  I just started to scan around and I bet there was easily 30-40 that I could see, let alone how many I couldn't.  They just reminded me so much of rats.  I can only imagine the damage they do to the fields and what could happen if an animal steps in their hole.  Down witht he mangy rodents I say.

Have a good night.  I'm wiped.

Mileage:  420
Gas:  $42
Hotel: $68
Lunch: $10
Dinner: $15

[sagerat]

Tell me more.  

Early morning as I came around a blind right hander after Springerville and before Hannigan Meadows and four Wile E. Coyotes were sitting in the road.  I max'ed braked to a stop and one coyote rocketed into the woods bound for New Mexico.  One hit the trees and stopped. Third just went to the shoulder and waited and fourth didn't move.  I stare at him, he stares back.  

I figure getting to the camera in the tank bag would scare him off, so I put GS in first gear and puttered by.  I look in my lh mirror and he's loping along behind me.  Soon the others join.  10 mph...15 mph...20 mph, as I hit 25 and second gear they lost interest and dropped the chase.

Glad the Kawi started for you after the requisite animal sacrifices.  That gorge on the Rio Grande is amazing; we came across it on our way to the BMW rally in Sipapu, NM, a few years back.  Stopped the bikes and walked out to the middle of the span.  Pretty impressive. Taos and Santa Fe weren't much fun in rush hour, though.

[baddogonabmw]

That's an awesome story.  Maybe they just thought you were the lead dog.  Nah, probably thought you were dinner

[baddogonabmw]

Day 4

Oh dear.  It's the end of the day and to try and think of everything that has happened to me in the last 11 hours is tough to do.  I can barely remember finding my way into my hotel room.

Well, the biggest disappointment of the day is that I chickened out of completing Pikes Peak.  More on that later.

I don't think I bothered to mention that on the beginning of Day 3, I went out to load my bike and came back to my room, but didn't have my key card.  I had to go to office and get another one.  Not a big deal, except for the fact that I did it again today.  Can you say dumb a$$?  I know you can.  As I come out at 5:30 local time, I'm surprised to see a guy loading his bike (V-Star) right next to mine.  We talk for a bit and find out this fella and his wife are on their way to Alaska to visit their son.  Two saddle bags and a T-bag (back pack type thing over sissy bar).  I'm like dang that's good cuz I got that much gear just for me.  His bike is also brand new (like 2 weeks).  He was telling me he had to get hauled from Vegas (I think) to a dealer somewhere because his forks were locked in position and they couldn't get them undone.  The tow job was $320 or so.  Hope that's covered under his warranty.  I am so glad my bike started.  Of course, I had to bore the guy with my story.  We both agreed that electronics are great, but sometimes not worth the bother.  I grab a quick bike to eat at the diner across the street.  No complimentary breakfast this morning:-(  I gas up and go back to hotel to get rest of my gear and head out on route 165 and take that to 96 west and on to 69 north.  In the first half hour, I have already had 8 mule deer along the road and the first one was standing there broadside with a big orange spot on the middle of his belly.  Fortunately, I'm not that good of an aim.  LOL.  I guess 7:00 in the morning in the mountains is breakfast time for them too.  I think I ran into some wild goats (is there such a thing around these parts) at the intersection of 69 and 96.  I got some pics.  Oh yeah, before that, I went through the town of Coke, which I believe was named after the coke (coal-like) production they did there.  I took some pics, but wouldn't you know it, something happened and now I can't find them.  Perhaps I didn't even take the pic.  I had passed on some shots as it was raining and I had the camera in my tank bank under cover.  So, it's possible that when I pulled it out to take that I didn't have it set right.  I know I had problems with that later.  I went through Silver City and another town, that were right together.  I thought it odd to have 2 different "towns" so close.

By the way, is Colorado known as the "Rainy Mountain" state?  I got rained out last night and a total of 6 different times today.  The last time was for over an hour and one of the times had about 10 minutes of hail.  I can tell you at even slow speed, those things hurt!

I got rougt 50 west into Salida and then 286 north to Buena Vista.  Up till now, things had been going good.  Nice roads and minimal traffic disturbances.  Oh yeah, I also got to see 3 female Elk, right after I saw the sign for deer crossing.  Where the hell was the deer crossing signs earlier.  Well, it was approaching 9:00 and all of that was about to change as I turned on to route 24 east.  

If you look at this road on a map, you'll say why the hell did he take that road.  Well, I wanted to go to Pikes Peak and that was the way.  It's open prairie type country and absolutely loaded with weekend campers going back to Colorado springs or wherever after their long weekend.  I get some gas in Hartzel and go to use the rest room facilities there, but there's a line of about 8 kids and some adults.  Great.  Now, I have to pee like an african mongoose (have you ever seen them go?) and I can't stand in line.  I figure I'll jump on the bike, go down the road and find a tree.  HA - what literally had to be at least 20 miles, there was nothing.  I finally found a pulloff with a tree so I could have a little privacy.  Boy, it was like setting a fire hose free.  Water was flying every where, but boy did I feel relieved.  I go down the road and head through Lake George (Colorado, not NY) and just before the town of Divide, I decide to take this road towards Cripple Creek and from there, it looks like it comes back to Pikes Peak.  Well, cripple Creek was a cool little town.  I should have stopped and stayed a while, but that's not my way.  They have parts of main street blocked off and route you around.  Well, there are no signs say what road is what.  I take the one that looks appropriate.  Do you get the feeling that something is about to go wrong?  Long story short, I ride around all these back roads, some quite nice a might add.  I finally get to this junction of this 7 horse town that has redneck written all over it with all the doo-dads out in the yard and all.  I'm stopped there when this fella in jeep pulls up and asks if I know where I am.  I say "nope".  He says where you going.  I say, "That direction (while pointing).  He says "Where you trying to get to?"  I say "nowhere in particular".  Well "Where are you from?"  I say "Pennsylvannia".  It was kind of hysterical to listen to us banter back and forth. He tells me I'm headed for Salida.  I'm like oh no that's not good, I was there this morning.  So, he sends me towards Hartsel.  Little did I know I had already been there.  When I saw the town come into view, I was %#^!$#^.  Time to fill up on some more of that $5.00 premium gas (I think it was $4.89).  As I get ready to pull out, down the road comes this parade of 12-15 cruiser types and they have about 10 cars behind them.  I'll pull out behind this parade back down 24 towards Divide cuz I want to go up Pikes Peak.  Well, the parade just annoys the heck out of me.  At one point, I know I had 10 cars behind me and I could see the front of the line at times and it was the "paraders".  Come on boys, you have miata's pulling popup campers coming up your butt, not to mention that team of mules pulling the covered wagon. Let's giddy-up.  It was a slow go into Divide.  I passed the place where I turned earlier in the day.  Oh good, fresh road.  I see a dark sky in front and figure I'm going to get wet for the 4th or 5th time.  Then I see lightening.  I keep going.  It's really dark, but road doesn't seem to be going towards storm.  It lightening's again and then a 3rd time.  I pull off into this Vet clinic and check the sky.  I decide time to turn tail and run.  I go back to this little town/intersection and stop for lunch.  A Harley dude came over and asked if I got caught in the hail as he just rode through that storm I was headed towards.  I wait it out.

On down the road I go.  I get wet again, but nothing major.  I get through Divide and finally come to entrance of Pikes Peak.  Right before the entrance is the town of Bust, Colorado.  I should have seen it as an omen. I pull up and as I'm paying the $taker says it's awfully wet up on top. I'm like, yeah, been that kind of day.  I head on up.  Now, for those that don't know.  It's 20 miles from the ticket booth to the Summit and only 1/2 of that is paved.  I did not realize this, but should have based on watching the ralley races.  No rain at mile marker 10 when it turns to dirt.  I keep going.  By milemarker 11, it is a torrential downfall.  I crawl along to about mile 12 and pull over.  This road looks slippery.  I take about a 5 foot start towards the road and jump on it in a sliding motion.  Yup, it's slippery alright.  About that time, a "Porch" club goes by and of course there drifting the corners and slinging shit everywhere.  It's coming down hard and doesn't look like it's letting up and the temp is only supposed to be 42 degrees at the summit.  Well folks, I hate to do it, but I turn around.  It's a dead end road anyhow.  You have to turn around on those things.  No shame in that, is there?  Oh well, put it behind me.

I head back to Divide and take route 67 north as it continues to rain.  I then flick on the toggle switch for my heated grips and I notice my GPS turns on.  What the heck?  A light bulb goes off.  They must have hooked the toggle to the GPS and the Variable switch to the heated grips.  Well, my GPS works nows, so that's great!  Now, I got to get it working with my bluetooth headset.

I should mention that I have a NOLAN modular helmet with the integrated bluetooth.  Well, the helmet is noisy.  I'm sure some of it is due to the buffeting issue I mentioned previously, but I think some may also be due to the modular design.  It just doesn't seal out noise like my Shoei.  I guess I'll have to drown it out with more noise now.  Like my hearing isn't shot already.  

Slowly it starts to dry out and I enjoy my ride up 67, until I come to Decker and then I take 128.  The roads are now dry and I head through this area that must have been hit by forest fire.  For folks back home.  Imagine driving from Susquehanna to Nicholson and seeing everything burnt.  The devasatation was incredible, but people are resiliant and things are being built back and the forest even seems to be coming back some.  Suddenly, I'm happy again.  I pop out onto 285 and take that into Southwest Denver where I am now.

I know I need to post some pics, but that takes a lot of extra time at the end of an already full day.  Maybe soon.  G'nite.

Mileage:  450
Gas:  $45
Hotel: $86
Breakfast $5
Lunch: $12

[baddogonabmw]

Last night, I found where Sun Enterprises was in Denver and plugged the address into my GPS so I could find it come morning.  Of course, I'm still operating on East Coast time and I'm up by 7:00 EDT, which is 5:00 local.  Even though I know Sun doesn't open til 9:00 local, I leave the hotel at 7:30 local.  I get to drive through Denver morning rush hour.  It wasn't terrible.  I went by the Bronco's stadium and never realized how the thing looked like it went through an earthquake before.  Kind of neat.  Didn't seem to be no where near enough parking for everyone.  I get to Sun and hang out for the next hour or so as employees start coming in and move equipment around and get set up for the day.  I stay out of their hair.  Hey, I want them to do work for me with aboslutely no notice.  About 8:40 (they open at 9), one on the service reps comes out and asks what he can do for me.  I explain my situation and ask if it would be possible to get a service, or at the minimum, an oil change.  He agrees to an oil change.  Less than an hour later, I'm out of there.  It cost me $70, which I think is a tad expensive, but no complaints overall.  I was really impressed that while waiting for them to open, almost every employee I saw come in, came in on bike.  It's good to know these guys are enthusiasts (read NUTS) like us.

I'm getting a late start to the day and figure there's no way to get my 400+ in, but that's ok.  I follow the GPS instunctions to Nederland, go north on route 72 to Boulder. OMG - Boulder is an amazing city.  It was gorgeous.  Now, I can't speak for the winters, but for the summer, I would live there.  The park facilities were phenomenal.  I take route 7 north to Estes Park, where I have one of the best meatball subs I've ever had.  Kind of funny though.  The lady's at the Deli had a hard time understanding me.  I think I spoke more quickly than they were used to.  I asked what's smelled so good back there and they thought I said something like where's the soda?  LOL.  I head out of Estes Park on route 34, which apparently splits off and you can take 1 of 2 routes.  1 is via national park and the other is something else.  I didn't realize this til I got to the national park, but since I don't like to turn around and I figure the day was going to be a short mileage day anyhow, I paid the $10.  It was well worth it as the scenary was spectacular.  Somewhere near the top, there was a bunch of elk cows and 3 young bulls, who were in full velvet. It was cool to see.  The odd thing was once I got down to normal level, I saw 2 much larger bulls and they didn't seem to have that much velvet.  Shortly after, I saw a monster buck where there were like 10-12 cars off road taking pics of this guy.  I was tired and sore and didn't stop to get a pic, but he had a drop tine on him.  When I stopped for gas just down the road, the attendant asked if I had been through the park and when I explained the Elk to him, he's like "I think I've seen him, he's huge."  At that same station, I talked to 2 guys from Ohio who had done a trip to Alaska last year and where touring the southwest and then some this year.  Nice to run into a couple of like spirits.  Forgot to mention I got wet for about the 3rd time today going over this mountain and in 40 some degree temp, it's not too fun.  Fortunately, none of the rains were soaking.

I come into Gramby and take route 40 to Empire.  For a 3 lane highway, I have to say that was pretty fun, at least on the uphill side where I had 2 lanes and could pass.  Down hill where they put us to 1 lane, not so fun.  I hope I 70 and go west to Fisco (?) and pick up route 91, which I take to Leadville.  I go down 24 for a stretch and then turn on 82 to go to Aspen.  Why is it that when you have to pee, there are no trees to hide behind and the traffic is non-stop?  Is this another of Murphy's law.  I'm giong up 82 and my GPS is telling me to get ready to turn on route 82D.  Well, had I followed the GPS, I would have went over the bank and into a stream.  It recalculates since I missed my turn (ha, ha you sob - didn't get me yet) and sends me on my way.  I go over yet another snow capped mountain peak.  The initial joy is over and this is getting downright bothersome.  I have now been rained on about 6 times for the day.  Again, nothing serious, but bothersome enough to suit up and cover everything.  I then come down into Aspen.  Boy, do I feel out of place.  No easily observable hotels and the ones I do happen buy look quite fancy.  I decide to mosey on down the road since I don't feel like paying $300 + a night.  Anyhow, I end up Basalt and pay over $100 for a room, which is OK, but still doesn't match any room I've stayed in so far.  Oh well.  It's late and I'm tired and I went much farther than I had expected.  I'm thinking I can make the 4 corners tomorrow.

Now, I'm about to gripe and I'll probably tick some people off, but I'm very disappointed with Colorado roads.  The views have been spectacular, but the roads, when they are twisty are covered like flys on a manure wagon with 4 wheelers everywhere.  Then, when you hit the ones going over the mountain passes, you have to focus so much on staying alive and not hitting something, or more likely, someone, that the ride isn't all that enjoyable.  Colorado has so much wilderness to enjoy and everyone seems to be out there doing it.  I know I had been given some warnings about doing this trip during tourist season, but I can't seem to catch a break.  Maybe I'm on the wrong roads.  I know I won't go down a road without a painted center line.  Maybe this is a good road in Colorado, but back home, it's not.  So far, route 191 in AZ has been the highlight of my trip.

Sorry, but I got into the motel late tonight.  Not much in left in the old noggin to be creative.  I'm also on my 4th Modelo beer from Mexico and it's making me very sleepy.

Mileage:  350
Gas:  $49
Hotel: $132
Lunch: $10

[baddogonabmw]

Day 6

Let's start Day 6 with some things I've forgotten to mention.

1 - First day in CO driving along the Sugarbush and Arkansas (maybe Alabama - they both begin with A) Rivers.  Great rafting oppportunities, which can be witnessed by the number of rafting opporunities available on the river(s).  I think this would be an awesome place to Kayak.  I think I would want a helmet as the water moves quite fast and there is a bit of whitewhater, but boy does it look like fun.
2 - Bigfoot does exist and I have proof.  Starting up to Pikes Peak, there is a big foot crossing sign.  Why would they put up a sign, it it's not true.  Besides, I'm relatively confident that Bigfoot is cross breeding with the locals as I say a number of half breeds nearby in Granby.  I mean there were 3 or 4 women there sporting mustaches way thicker than anything I could ever sport.  Coincedence? I think not.
3 - You know the signs that warn you about this, that and the other thing.  Well, they are not true.  Whenever, you see one of those signs, you will never see what they portend.  However, absence a sign, that thing will magically manifest itself in front of your immediate path and cause you to near abouts crap yourself.  In some cases, forget the near abouts.
4 - You know the signs that show a picture of a bicycle and then says something to the effect of share the road.  Well, I think they're met for the bicyclist, not for us motorist, because we share the road.  We don't take th road completely as our own and fill with as many parts as it takes to take a whole lane traveling at a whooping  10 MPH if you're lucky.  I see signs for free range cattle.  Why not free range bicyclists?
5 - 50% of the time I see a bicyclist in the opposite lane of travel, I will have a near death experience because drivers traveling same way as said bicyclist will come completely in my lane, thereby nearly causing a head on collision, just so they can miss some Darwin project that hasn't figured out they can put a motor on 2 wheels.  Dumb a$$'s, all of them.
6 - The minute I say something bad about a state, I will invariably have to eat more words.  So, let me say that the roads in Utah suck and there is no reason anyone will want to ride them.  I ate my words in AZ.  Read today's report to see me in them again in CO.  Yummmm, yum.  Delicious.
7 - I'm an idiot.  Most people probably already have a clue of this affirmation, but in case there is any doubt, let me state emphatically - I am a @#$@!!@#$ MORON.  
8 - If you ever stay at the Green Drake/Goose/some large bird of a Motel, beware the owner (female).  I think she's in search of a man.
9 - If you're a normal "Joe", stay away from Aspen.  Beautiful country, but "our types" just don't belong there.  Or, say the hell with it and teach the arrogant snobs to deal with us ignorant slobs.  The choice is yours.
10 - I'm on my 4th bottle Durango Amber Ale.  This is good shit.  My writing has improved tremendously.  Please let me belive my facilies.  Without them, I'm lost.
11 - I love my family and I miss this tremendously.
12 - This isn't the 12 damn days of xmas.  Get over it.

So why is it every water saver shower head I have ever used seems to be meant for the sole purpose of skinning a cat?  Well, let me just say after an absolutely great night of sleeping at the color enhanced male duck, I'm lucky I didn't bleed all over the place.  Those thigns should be outlawed.  Anyhow, I headed out of Basalt, or at least that's where I think I was and I headed for Carbondale (sound familiar folks at home?).  I pick up 133 south to Hotchkiss and have the time of my life.  Forgive me Colorado (part 1).  Yes, it's cold enough to make a witches tit stand at attention and flash the high beams, but hey, you might just like that sort of thing you pervert.  I even got a pic of the coke ovens in Red Ledge or Red Lodge or perhaps it was Hollywood. How am I supposed to know?  I've drank 8 of these Durango things.  I come into Hotchkiss and of course I have to pee and of course, there's no place to stop.  I manage to make it to the local mini-mart without wetting myself.  I need to get me some depends and I won't to worry about this crap (HA - no pun intended).  I take use of the facilities and purchase some water for the days travel (now here's an idea - why don't I keep the bottles, fill with water and freeze).  Did I mention I'm a dumb a$$?  I speak to the clerk there and ask for a recommendation for breakfast.  She sends me to Zach's bar-b-q house as long as today isn't Monday, cuz they're closed on Monday.  I head to Zach's and make myself to home and order breakfast.  As I'm sitting there, I see a guy (we'll call him "Zach" instead of fella or guy) come in on a KLR.  He comes in the place, which is quite large, and manages to seat himself at a table next to me.  I'm guessing he's a regular as he and the waitress have a little tet-a-tete, whatever that means.  She leaves.  I continue to eat breakfast, minding my business, when he says to me:  "Is that your Kawasaki out there?".  I look up and consider my surroundings. I'm the only one in the place night wearing a cowboy hat or boots, I have a helmet sittting in my chair, a tank pack on the table and a map sitting in front of.  I say "Yes, I am.  How did you know?"  No, I didn't.  I simply said "Yup."  What do you think I am, I smart ass or something?  Sorry, but that's not normally in my blood.  Only when I've had 4 Durango's in an hour does that happen.  Anyhow, Zach and I end up having a good conversation as I eat my breakfast and he awaits his.  He gives some input on the local roads I planned to take (he agrees) and even gave some input on roads in Montanna and Idaho as he used to live there.  Zach was probably in his late 50's, greying with a head of hair like I had when I was 15 and a big bushy mustache.  He reminded me of Gary (Jerry)
Garcia (ha, ha).  We discuss bikes and the road and I find myself having to leave.  I could have easily spent a day with this guy drinking beers and trading stories.  Instead, we swap spit and I head out.  I go 92 west and tehn 65 north through Grand Mesa and Mesa.  At that point, I pull out my map and look at route 141.  A STN friend recommended it, Zach confirmed it, and I'm going.  So, I pick out a town reference to put in the GPS so I can get directions and not have to stop to double check the map.  I input the town of Montrose and away I go.  I go up to route 70 and into Clifton, Grand Junction area.  I get some gas and head on down route 50 as Jill tells me to.  Jill is the voice of my GPS.  Well, Jill is right, but Montrose is not on route 141.  Did I mention I'm an idiot?  Additionally, I apparently can't read a map, or I ahve an infactuation with towns that are named the same as our County seat from back home, or both?  So, I head down route 50 expecting this 2 lane super freeway to the moon to combine into 1 lane and to start twisting like 20 mating snakes, but now.  I get all the way to Delta, before I realize I was looking at one road too far east, not 141.  I tell Jill to take us to Gateway and Jill says I have to turn around and go back the 35 miles + that I just came down.  I tell Jill she can lose the attitude and we had back north.  Now, I now we have to get on 141, so when I see the signs for 141 directly ahead and Jill tells me I have 9 more miles to go, well, I know Jill is a woman and doesn't know her directions.  So, I ignore her and head down 141 and right I am to have down so.  "Go .3 miles and make a u-turn."  "Go 1 mile and make a u-turn."  "Go .8 mile and make a u-turn."  Sorry Jill, but u-turn is not in my vocabulary, especially not when I having this much fun.  I don't care if this road is a dead end.  This one is worth it (finally).  This is my 2nd aplogy to Colorado.  Now, I've already seen a doe mule and a doe elk this morning. I had down 141 and I have a car in front of me going the same way and a truck coming the opposite, while I'm looking for a passing zone.  Well, dumb a$$, you should have been looking for the 3 elephants standing alongside the road.  Well, they were goats, bighorn goats at that.  3 of them.  The one closest to me was about 3 feet away, had a red ear tag with number 47 on it and had eaten milkweed for breakfast.  I was too damn close.  Did I mention I'm an idiot?  Well, now that I've had 6 Durango's in an hour, what more can you expect.  I'm surprised this is even coherant.  Damn,  the beer makes the creative juices flow.  At least, I think this does.  I'll probably get up in the morning hoping I didn't post this.  LOL.  Anyhow, the only other wildlife I see besides me, is a fox.

I go on 141 for a while and stop and get gas and head out again.  All the once, I'm not paying attention, 141 goes off to the right and 145 goes straight ahead.  Now I ask you...  I road is going along, wouldn't it make sense to keep the route number the same and then have the "off-shoot" be a different number.  Well, the folks that number the roads in Colorado are smarter than me.  So, I make the turn and countinue down 141, after all, that's where I know I need to be and I know I can't trust Jill.  The first few miles are ok, but then it ends up turning into straight stretch with a 1 degree corner one way or the other and then another straight stretch.  I'm heading southwest. OK.  I'm heading west.  OK.  I'm heading North-west.  I think something is wrong. Of course I'm out a ways and I don't want to stop to check my map. I know I'm right. Keep going.  Then, I start noticing the mile markers and the numbers are going down. 27, 26, 25.  OK, there is no way in H, E double hockey sticks that I'm going to Cortez, like I want to be.  I stop.  I check map.  I am a %@#%!$#! dumb a$$.  All the good roads are behind me.  Yes, I can still get to the Cortez by driving like a crow flies, but what fun is that.  I pull the U-turn that Jill wanted me to do earlier and head back to the split.  Since I had already been through there and knew what to expect, I made it in record time.  I pick up 145 south now and make my way to Cortez.  Holy cow... Let me tell you... You had better watch out at around 4:30 and all the forest service employees are headed for home.  It was white truck after white van, after white truck and so on, comign out of that park.  Fortunately, I seemed to be going the other direction.  I am having the best day of my entire trip.  Yet another apology to Colorado.  I'm sorry I dissed you.  Can you ever forgive me?  Will you still love me in the morning?

I go by Dove Tail or some town something like that on my way here.  Can you believe I can stil type after a 12 pack of miller lite?  Oh wait, I only bought a 6 of Durango.  Didn't I?  Hey - look back at the top and see what I got for beer.  It looks like a nice place, but I'm set on Cortez.  I get here and set up camp at a Budget Host.  I've never stayed at one before. It's OK.  There was a Super 6 advertised for < $40.  I need to start staying in cheaper places!

I get in the room and get my internet set up and realize some of my stuff from last night didn't get through. I repost for everyone.  Then, I call home.  I am having a great time, but boy do I still miss my girls.  You know who you are;-)  Here's a shout out for the loves of my life - all 3 of you;-)

So, I get off the phone with the wife and head to the pool/hot tub area.  I do a dip in the pool and then get in the hot tub.  There's like 3 couples sitting around a table at the other end at this point.  A young girl (6-8) comes in with her mother.  The girls is extremely excited about the possibility of getting in the hot tub. Now, the mother probably goes 300-350 lbs and she seems tentative. I say to the girl:  "Oh, you are in luck.  The hot tub is awesome and I was just getting out to get in the pool."  The young girl is very excited, but mom is so-so.  I get out and head to the pool.  Meanwhile, I notice that one of the women sitting at the other end is watching, perhaps staring, at this large women.  I go to get in the pool, and the girl is in already, when I hear the mother say something like:  "look at the lady down there staying as if she never saw a large women get in a pool before."  I felt awful for her.  Anyhow, I did a lap down and back and then got out.  As I walked by the young girl, I told ehr that I hoped she got a chance to enjoy the hot tub.  The mom said something like maybe it would be ok.  I hope that I didn't in any way make that woman fell uncomfortable, cuz if I did, then I'm really a dumb A$$.

So, in conclusion:  If I had't screwed up twice and had to turn around (twice), I could have been 150 or so miles further than I am now.  Am I?  You decide!

PS.  I need a riding partner to keep me straight and slap me aside my helmet when I'm being dumb.

Mileage:  525 - I'm now at 2340 total
Gas:  $50
Hotel: $87
Breakfast:  $10

[baddogonabmw]

Day 7

Some left over musings:

1 - On day I was leaving the Green Drake.  I'm at a stop sign and this 50 something guy pulls up next to me in his porch with the top down, but windows up.  He's bundled up as much as I am and the gal in the seat next to him appears to be wrapped in a blanket.  I just look at him and laugh.  He could of just got a bike and saved a few hundred g's.
2 - Tar Snakes - these things should be outlawed, particularly with the amount they use on some of Utah's roads.  I had the bejeebers scared out of me a couple times.  It's not fun to have your front end slip out 3 inches when you have her leaned over.
3 - Why don't they put mileage on road signs out here?  Sometimes they do, but often they don't.  Then, you're not sure how far it is or whether they will have gas.
4 - Do NOT mark a "town" on the map if there is only 1 building in a 10 mile proximity.  Reference Fry Canyon - 1 building and they appeared to have been vacated.  If I see a "town" on a map, I assume it has gas.
5 - I have seen the "free range" cattle signs every day of my trip, many times a day, but today was the first time I actually had a cow in the road in front of me.  I was starting to think this was just a farce to slow us down.

I left Cortez, Co this morning with nothing major of interest to note.  I stopped at the 4 corners monument.  What a disapointment that was.  I took route 160 into Arizona down to where it intersects with route 163 and Monument valley.  I get gas and head up through the valley, enjoying the sights.  I stop at the Utah border and get my picture taken in front of the "Welcome to Utah" sign.  Somewhere in here, there was a dilapidated hand painted sign pointing to monument valley up on Navajo lands.  I figure it's some marketing gimick as I didn't see any official looking sign.  Couple this with my experience at the 4 corners and I just went on by.  Well, apparently that was it.  Oh well, maybe next time.  I still saw a lot of beautiful sights going up 163.  

I head up to Blanding and catch route 95 west, stopping at the Natural Stone Bridges park on the way.  Now they had an official looking sign.  That was a nice slittle side trip and slowed my pace down so I felt a little more relaxed.  I notice my gas is down below 1/2 now, but I'll get some in Fry Canyon.  Imagine my suprise when I got to Fry Canyon and one deserted building was all that was there.  Well, Hanksville is 90 miles in front of me and Blanding is something like 50 miles behind me.  What to do?  Well, I don't like turning around, so continue forward I say.  Of course at around mile marker 18 (meaning 18 miles to Hanskville), the E light starts flashing.  Oh crap.  I'm out in the middle of nowhere, where I might see 1 car every 20 mins in 100 degree plus heat in a rock canyon in Utah.  It would have been a beautiful resting place assuming the carion didn't make a meal of me.  I'm guessing that it's too hot even for them.  So, I'm in a tucked position and I'm throttle back to a steady 55, even though the speed limit is 60.  I let out a sigh of relief as a see a trooper truck with a vehicle pulled over.  I figure at least he might find the body.  I continue my tuck and the miles just don't seem to dissapate fast enough.  Finally, I'm coming down this big hill with about 2 miles left and I see my salvation.  Woo hoo.  I'm not going to die today.  Well, at least not from dehydation.

A guy pulls in a crusier next to me at the pumps and we start talking.  He had left St. George, Utah last week and rode to his brother's in Colorado springs and was on his way back.  He camped most of the way.  He's definitely a better man than me cuz I can say now, I don't want to camp.  At the end of 400+ miles, I want the hotel.  I thought I might camp at first, but that's fast fading from the picture.  I've become soft in more places than my belly.

I take 24 west to Torrey and almost put up there for the night, but it was still early.  I jump on to route 12 south and come down through Boulder and into Escalante.  On the way, I went through the Dixie National forest.  What a relief.  It was so much cooler and it was green too.  Green is a beautiful color, unlike brown.  I mean brown has its charms, but green is where it's at.  As I drop out of Bolder (Utah), I hit canyons and heat again.  I'm up and down over the peaks and at one point, for about 1/2 mile or perhaps a little more, I'm traveling a road wide enough for 2 skinny billy goats to pass, that's also about 100-200 feet straight down on both sides of it.  So, I meet RV#1 and wonder how are we going to fit.  The lines on the road indicate that we should, but I think that's an optical illusion.  Well, guess I might die yet.  Lo and behold though, I make it through.  Thank goodness for that teleportation spell I was practicing.

I come into Esclante and pick up digs at the Padre Motel.  I meet a fellow motorcyclist on his Wing by the name of Ray (or Roy) Hall from Houston Texas.  He's been out for a week now and still wants to get farther west before having to return home for work on Monday.  I know the feeling.  A few people mentioned they think I may have bit off more than I can ride, but I don't like to be told that I can't do something, so I ride on.  Anyhow, I think I have to be realistic and see that I might not get everything in that I wanted to do and starting planning alternate endings.  I still want to get to the Pacific and ride the PCH.  However, if I do, I know that I'll have to ride it north with the mountains on my right as having empty space on my right really freaks me out.  Now, line the edge of the road with trees and I have no problem zipping along, but make it empty space and I just get all tense and spooked.  Doesn't really make sense, but that's the deal.

Apparently, most people were very entertained by the Day 6 report.  I'm sorry to report that there will be no major imbibing, quaffing, drinking or otherwise partaking of alchohol in large quantities this evening.  Maybe tomorrow:-)

I decided to treat myself to a "good" dinner tonight.  Well, it wasn't so good and I was disappointed.  Should have just went to ice cream joint across the way and had a burger.  It would have saved me $ and probably would have been better.  Oh well.  Tomorrow is on to Bryce and Zion and probably on through Vegas and possibly into CA.  I guess we'll see what the day brings.

Mileage:  470
Gas:  $38
Hotel: $72
Dinner:  $25 and it was not very good.  Should have stuck with the cheap dinner.

[1moreroad]

Glad to hear you are sticking to back roads.  

 I'm not sure if you are having a good time or not.

[TuffguyF4i]

How about some damn pictures!!!!

For all we know you're just sitting in your mothers basement!!  

[baddogonabmw]

I am having a ball.  I haven't been seriously stressed at all until today when I thought my debit card was revoked and when ordering tires.  But even that wasn't terrible.

As for pics, I have plent, but they're just too much to get loaded to a site for posting on top of everything.  I do need to get them out though.

If I am doing this from my basement, I must have a damn good imagination, which I'll be the first to admit, I don't.

[baddogonabmw]

Day 8

Some things I forgot to mention.

1 - I'm in Colorado, I think, and I come to this T intersection.  My lane is a single lane in and to left and right is a 2 lane highway.  I'm come to the light and stop.  It turns green, People in frotn of me and I start to go.  All of the sudden, I notice this car off to my right isn't stopping. I spike my brakes and the car behind me almost runs into me.  Anyhow, here's the weird thing - The far right lane was like a "passthru" lane.  The lane(s) we were turning into was just the one - the far left.  I've never seen an intersection like that and boy did it surprise me.
2 - I'm sure there's something, but I also forget.

I left Escalante this morning pretty early and went down route 12 to go to Bryce Canyon.  I decide to stop for gas as I don't want a repeat of yesterday.  Well, I stop at this hotel/gas place and attempt to pump.  It says something about credit card customers have to go inside.  They're not open yet!!!  It's 7:00 AM local time.  WTH?  So, I mosey on down the road to the next town (out here, that can take a while).  I pull in and attempt to fill up at the one pump.  It doesn't want to pump. I figure I did something wrong, so I try again.  It still doesnt' work.  OK, I figure, pump has issues.  I back the bike up to a different pump and try that.  Now, I get message to go inside.  So, I go inside and tell clerk I would love to buy some gas, but the pumps are not cooperating.  She's like that's ok, just put it as pay inside and I'll run your card in here.  So, I do as she says and go in to pay.  I swipe the card, enter pin, is amount correct, yup, enter pin.  I figure it's a 2 step confirmation.  No biggie.  It then comes back and asks for pin again, which I enter.  I then get message that I've tried 3 time and still haven't gotten it right dummy.  WTH?  So, I pay with a different card.  Well, being the Mensa candidate that I am, I later realized I was using the PIN to my GPS and not my Debit pin.  Oh crap, now I have to call the bank and home and get this straightened out.  Only problem is there ain't no damn cell service.  So,  I go down into Bryce and get to the rangers station where you're supposed to pay.  Well, the station was closed.  Guess I got there to early.  Didn't stop me from going in and enjoying the park though:-)  I wasn't in the park a minute and I ran into a bunch of pronghorn antelope.  Shortly after, I saw turkeys and some mule deer and a fawn.  The weird thing about Bryce is that it's a dead end.  You get about 20 miles in and you have to turn around and come back. It was still a nice relaxing morning through the park though.  I leave the park and take 12 west to 89 where I go north to Pangutch. I try the bank, but the person I want to speak with is busy.  I say I'll call back in 10 mins.  Well, the ride over 143 west to Parowan is 45 miles with, you guessed it, no service.  So, I arrive in Parowan and call my favorite banker - Lois.  Fortunately, she's able to help me out and assures me it will be fine as long as I definitely know my pin.  I feel better.  I hope on 15 south to Cedar City and stop for gas and then take 14 east back to route 89.  Yup, I'm just going back and forth across those mountains and having a good time.  I passed by a Volcanic Cone, which was pretty cool to see.  Utah saved it's best motorcyling roads for last, but that seems to be par for the course.

I take 89 south now to Orderville and shortly thereafter pick up route 9 into Zion.  The girl at the park says "You look hot.  You should consider taking a swim in the river in the park."  I didn't know that such a river doesnt' exist.  Well, maybe sometimes it does, but not now.  In fact, as I exited the park, I saw a sign for "Virgin" river, which most be so named as it's never seen a drop of water.  Zion was really cool, but how many pictures can one take of rocks?  Additionally, it's really @#$%! HOT!!!  I book down 9 to Hurricane, where I stop at the local subway to eat, cool down, and make some arrangements for tires.  

Now, this is the weak planning part of my trip.  I don't have tires ordered and I don't know how many miles I can get off a set, nor am I sure where I might end up the next night.  I call home and get some assistance from the wife.  We decide that I'm not going to coastal CA because of the wildfires, so where should I go. We decide to keep Death Valley and Yosemite in the mix.  So, the plan is to try to get up near Reno, Lake Tahoe and such for a tire change.  She looks up a number for me and call the folks.  I speak to the Service Manager.  I tell him, I'm riding cross country and I need a set of tires put on my pick. He asks if I have the tires with me.  Yes, of course, they're strapped to my back.  WTH?  So he says well you need to get a pair of tires and then we can put them on for you.  Let me transfer you to parts.  OK.  GRIPE= Aren't they called the service departmet?  Shouldn't that take care of this for me?  I mean, I tell him what tires I need and I want them on bike.  He should schedule appt and get the tires.  Am I wrong???  So, I get the parts genius.  I tell him I have a Concours and I need tires.  Mind you that I am calling a Kawasaki dealer...  He asks what size.  I tell him it's a concours and I don't know the size off hand, but I want the same size as stock.  Isn't that something a dealer should know?  I tell him I need both front and rear.  He puts me on hold. A few minutes later he returns.  He asks me what size rim I have. I'm like I don't know for sure.  I didn't know the tire size, so why would I know this.  Also, isn't this in the Concours manual?  I tell him I'll go out and look.  I read the entire tire size off to him for front and rear, including the rim size (17" for both).  He asks me how many CC's the bike is?  WTH?  I say it's a Concours, it's 1400. He's like, oh yeah.  He puts me on hold and comes back maybe 5 mins later.  Sorry about that, we were trying to determine if your bike was a street bike or trail.  #1 - why does it matter?  I told you the tire size.  #2 Who has ever heard of a 1400 CC trail bike?  #3 - You are a Kawaski Dealer and you don't know what a Concours is.  I'm screwed.  He tells me he has Michelin Pilot Roads in my size in stock.  I ask him if he can hold or if he needs me to pay for them now.  What does he know?  I tell him, let me pay for them now and that will be done and I'll be there on Saturday to have them put on.  Puts me on hold again.  Comes back 3 hours later and tells me the prices is $538.60 or something like that.  Holy #%@#$.  That's a lot of dough for 2 tires.  Whatever, I want the tires, I'll pay the price.  He takes the credit card info.  Of course, this gets screwed up and he doesn't realize the pattern of 4 that exists and he misses some numbers. We get that straight and he says I'm all set.  So, I ask, now will someone put these on the bike for me when I come in on Saturday.  Oh, he says, you need to talk to service about that.  WTH?  I'm getting PO'd.  I get transferred back to service and hopefully have an appt for Sat morning.  Now, what do you think the odds are that they'll have the right tires?  Also, want to place bets on whether that's installed price or not?  I'm guessing not.  We might have to have words.

I tell the wife that I'm going to try to make Beatty, NV and head out on my way.  Oh, what torture.  As I headed down 15 south towards Vegas, it just got hotter and hotter. I had to stop and get more water and I soaked my cotton T-shirt for evaporation cooling effect. I did this many times.  I'm about 4 miles from where I need to turn off when traffic starts to stop.  Now, I was worried about rush hour traffic, but I didn't think it should be going into Vegas.  Anyhow, it looks like some dude in a dodge pickup going north bound jumped the median and flipped the truck upside down.  Fortunately, we were able to go single file and get through relatively quickly.  I was seriously worried about the heat.  As I took 215 around the north part of Vegas, I was amazed at the work being done.  They have roads going to no where with lights (green right arrows into nothing in fact).  They also have apparently moved roads seeing at least one filled over with dirt for a half mile stretch and the new one of to the right.  They also have a neat idea where they put up a flashing light before the "red" light. It says, if flashing, be prepared to stop.  I think it's good in that it gets you prepared to stop.  Well, you had better be prepared cuz it blinked just as I went under the warning light and the real light turned red just as I went under it. Yikes. I hope they don't have those damn cameras.  Not that it really matters, cuz I don't see me coming back to Nevada any time soon.  I jump on 95 west/north and head to Beatty, making a few water breaks along the way.  It does seem as though it's cooler as I go north.  I worry that I might be getting heat exhaustion.  After all, I up shifted from 1st to neutral 3 times today, down shifted once when I should have gone up and hit the turn signal button on two different occassions and wondered why the bike didn't start.  I think the heat's getting to me.  I pass this truck stop that is the last one before area 51.  I guess you should stop there before going to visit with the aliens.  Finally, I arrive in Beatty and stop at Super 6 motel based on a fellow cyclist recommendation, who also rode a new connie.  Well, there full and they send me to the Casion next door, which was also recommeded. I  go over and they have a room.  I get my stuff off bike and in room.  By time it's settled, it's been about 15 hours since I got up and headed out this morning.

I call the wife and head for a beer in the casino.  Well, beer is free if you play there games, so I play some joke poker and black jack long enough to wind down and relax and get a few beers.   That's when I come back to you folks and type up the report for your enjoyment. I do hope you enjoy it as this is a lot of work.  Until tomorrow...

Mileage:  550
Gas:  $56
Hotel: $67
Breakfast:  $6
Lunch:   $8

Rocky Mtn National Park Pass:  $10
Natural Bridge Pass:  $3
Bryce Pass:  $Fee if you're early
Zion Pass:  $12

[baddogonabmw]

PS.  I've made some modifications to my trip to help me move from place to place much quicker by using the interstate some.  For example, going from Hurricane Utah to Beatty, NV just wouldn't have been fun on the back roads. It wasn't fun on the interstate either, but it got me there a lot quicker.

Now, I'm making another modification by not heading all the way to the coast.

Everything is a little give and take.  Hope you all understand.

[foosnut]

Hello,

I am Bad Dog's friend and I hope I can upload a pic or two of his trip here.

1. Bad Dog picking up bike

2. Zion National Park and Connie.

3. Bad Dog himself..

[baddogonabmw]

Thanks Foo's for posting the pics. I always have such trouble.

Day 9 report

As I start to load my bike this morning, I look over at the Motel 6 next door and notice there are hardly any vehicles there.  So, after I'm packed, I do a drive around the parking area and count like 34 cars.  They told me last night that they didn't have any openings.  Well why not.  I almost wonder if I was a victim of motorcycle discrimination.  However, there were 2 bikes in the parking lot (1 cruiser, 1 sport).  Maybe that went inside in civilian clothes where I stil had my gear on.  I found it strange.

I head up through to Death Valley at 5:30 AM as I don't want to get caught in the heat.  I later find out it was still 95.  As I approach, I keep seeing signs for this being a fee area and be prepared to pay ahead.  well, I'm expecting a toll both operation and figure I'll be able to roll right through.  Well, it's a machine, so it's an honor system type thing.  Damn.  Ticket was $10 for motorcycle.  I had out 95 west as I want out in the shortest distance, plus I want to go to Yosemite.  I take a few pics including the sign for Scotty's castle, sorry, but no run up there for me. By the way, the run down into the canyon was fun.  I head on out across the desert and go thru Steamboat Hat or something like that, which is a little "town" or station there.  I see a couple people movng about as I start to head up out of the valley.  I hit some fun corners and then go back down into another valley.  It looks like an old lake bed.  Meanwhile, I've been seeing a pair of single lights in the background.  Looks like a couple of bikes gaining on me.  The lead rider passes me on her yellow BMW, yellow jacket and helmet and luggage with flowers on it.  Plus, I see a pony tail.  I'm assuming girl.  As I pull over to take a pic, the guy passes me and it looks like maybe he's a fly fisherman.  They go on out ahead.  Eventually as we're going up and out of the valley through the 11-14 miles of corners (can you say weeee?), I catch up.  Just as I do, the 2nd bike pulls into a viewing area, but the first one keeps going.  I continue to follow the first bike.  She's a good rider setting a nice pace, so I continue to follow.  We turn on 136 and head up toward Lone Pine, when I finally stop to take another picture of the salt flats there.  I think it's at that point that the lead rider realizes that I'm not her partner and she pulls a U-e.  I continue up into Lone Pine and stop for gas and a breakfast burito.  Pretty soon, those 2 riders plus another guy on a Hyabusa pull in for gas.  We say hey, but that's about it.  I was wondering if the guys got left behind.  I talked to a local guy there at the station that was originally from Iowa.  He suggest I try route 198 around lake June plus tells me some things about Yosemite.

I then take the long boring ride up 395, which is mostly a 2 lane highway.  I noticed a strange smell in that valley and never could put my finger on it.  As I go north, it gets more hazy.  Eventually, I'm smelling smoke very strongly.  It gets quite bad at times, stinging my eyes and sometimes making it hard to breathe.  I do the Lake June loop, which would have been much better if you could see the mountains that were only like 100 feet away.  I continue on up to the turn into Yosemite.  I figure I'll run the 11 miles up to the entrance and see if it gets any better.  It really doesn't and there's a line and I'm getting tired (exhausting day yesterday).  I decide to put a move on.  I come back down the mountain and stop at the Mobil station for gas.  I hear they have good food here.  I run into the guys and girl from earlier.  I talk to the one guy and he said they camped in the vally overnight.  They came in as it was getting dark, when it was 120 and it never got below 95 all night.  Then, the guy tells me he was running low on gas and switched over to reserve.  He said as he pulled into the gas station where we first said "hey", that he had 1 mile showing left on his gas range indicator.  That was close.  I pull out to leave and see this guy is moving his bike away from the pumps and then I see disaster unfolding.  His helmet is on the back and as he sits the bike up and starts to pull away, the helmet falls.  I see it bounce off the ground.  Damn man, I feel for you.  That had to hurt.

I push myself on up to Carson City hoping that if I get here early enough, I might get the guys at the cycle shop to get me done.  Fortunately, there's a hotel right across the street and they say they'll try, but no promises.  It sounded to me like I won't get it til morning, but I can hope.  I really don't like being in the city and would like to get back out in the woods, so to speak.  I talk to the one service guy and it's 2.3 hours of labor for changing the tires at $70/hour, I'm looking at $170 to install (530 for tires + 170 to install = Are you crazy?  $700).  He asks what I paid for tires and he's like "oh, let me look into that".  He comes back and says they charged you full retail.  I'll see if I can help you on it, but there might not be anything I can do.  Ok, fine, whatever.  Just get me on the road.  It was my short sightedness that lead to this situation, so I'll have to deal with it and pay accordingly.  Fortunately, the service guys seemed to know more about the bike than the parts guy did yesterday.  Here's hoping it gets done.

I was disappointed about the smoke and not doing Yosemite, or being able to get to the coast to do the PCH, but I guess that will just have to be a trip for another time.  Maybe the wife and I can fly out and ride a harley up the coast just for shits and giggles.

If I haven't made it clear, I am having an awesome time.  I love riding my bike and I'm enjoying a lot of the scenery and not getting in as many "bike" roads as I originally anticipated, but that's ok.  I am missing everyone at home.

Now, I have to decide what to do and where to go since the fires have altered my plans.  I'm not sure what to do.  


Mileage:  400
Gas:  $42
Hotel: $69
Breakfast:  $8
Dinner:  $?

Death Valley:  $10 Honor System.  Thought I might get by being early, but to.
Yosemite:  $don't know - Drove up to where line began and with all the smoke/haze in the air, still couldn't see anything, so decided not to go.

[chornbe]

Planning on getting to NorCal? Some AWESOME stuff up there. We have NOTHING here in Eastern PA to compare.

Rts. 190 (between Springville and Sequoia National Park, especially as far as Ponderosa) & 36 (Red Bluff to Fortuna) are must-rides.

Here's 190:


Here's 36:

[baddogonabmw]

Thanks Chornbe, but the wildfires scared me off. I stayed in Western CA and headed in to Oregon. I'm now quite torn between finding nice windy roads, or just sitting back and enjoying the scenary.  I try to do both when I can.

Day 10

The good news is that my tires got done last night just before closing time.  So, I got my back such that I could head out early this morning.  The service guy knocked $20 off the bill and had my bike washed for me (normally 1/2 hour labor charge min).  I think he felt bad for the parts area dicking me over.

So, let me vent this.  I get to the cycle place early on Friday to see if they could possible get me in.  They agree to try.  Then they tell me I had better check with the parts department to make sure they have my tires.  The parts department is in the same @#% building on the other side of the wall.  Why do I have to do this?  If my local dealer did this to me, I would be done.  Anyhow, I think the service guy did try to help me and appreciate them getting me out early.

I leave Carson City somewhere between 5:00 and 5:30 am headed out of town on 395 north.  I go right through Reno with barely a spot of traffic at 6:00 AM on a Saturday.  Imagine that.  As the 4 lane goes back into a simple divided highway, I come upon an accident.  Looks like a PU hauling a 5th camper had an incident.  Less than 1/2 mile after I go by, I see a sign that trucks may be impacted by severe cross winds next 56 miles.  Yikes.  I wonder if that's what happened.  I'm starting to get a little chilled.  I continue up 395 towards Susanville and then take A3 shortcut over to Lichfield and jump back on 395 to continue to Alturas.  Damn, that's a ways out there in the middle of nowhere. It's the high plains and I saw nothing but hay and haying equipment all the way to Alturas.  I stopped at a local coffee and donut shop there.  No, Jeff is not moving the donut shop.  He was thinking of starting a luncheon business, but that fell through.  Please stop spreading rumors.  LOL.  Gotta love life in a small town.  I continue up 395 past Goose Lake which is quite dry and come into Oregon.  I continue on until I get to Lake Albert and then I pick up route 31 as I remember someone on the STN board pointing this out as a good route.  Well, the scenary all morning has been gorgeous, even if the roads aren't real challenging.  It's probably the most relaxing day driving that I've had.  Somewhere before La Pine, I pull off and take a nap.  I get back on road and come into La Pine on route 97.  Now, my day gets a little more stressful.  First, I pull in for gas at this GNC (?) station. I put in my card and it tells me card not recognized.  I then see a sign like only for GNC customers.  I'm like, oh, I get it.  I move on to the next station.  I pull in, hop off bike, put my card in and star to pick up the filler hose when all of the sudden I have this guy in my face asking if he can help me.  I'm like "No, I'm just getting gas".  Then he tells me he's supposed to do that. I'm like really?  Are you supposed to swipe my card too.  "Yup, I'm supposed to do that too."  I'm like OK, still somewhat confused.  He says it's not my law, it's Oregon's.  Apparently, in Oregon the state legislature either thinks that 1) people are too stupid to pumb their own gas or 2) they want to keep a certain level of minimum wage jobs.  At least that's all I could come up with.  I can say that there are many things I don't mind having people do for me, but pumping gas is not one of them.  Get out of my way and I'll do it.  NOw, get this, they are supposed to swipe the card, select your gas and take the hose/nozzel off the pump and then they can hand it to you. I'm like "Oh, I can do the filling part."  He's like "Yeah, don't want to get it on the paint."  OK, so probably the most important step and that is to fill properly and not spill gas over everything is left to me.  WTH?  Am I the only one who thinks this is silly?

It's still early afternoon and rather than put up in Bend, I decide I definitely have to get to the pacific ocean.  So, I decided to find this loop of routes 46 and 42 that someone recommended around Mt Bachelor (not Mt Bishop).  Funny thing is that in Oregon, they don't seem to number their lessor route numbers or at least I couldn't find them.

At one point, I decide to find a main road and just head towards the moutain. I have to run into sooner or later.  I go down Cottonwood road and end up in this development and then find that Oregon is very fond of round-abouts (circles).  After going through 1 or 2, I decide to head back out of there.  By the way, I went by Cascade Brewing Company.  Do they make good beer?  I get more lost and finally see a police officer.  I pull over and ask for directions.  Go back to circle 4, look for sign for circle 11, go through circle 11 and look for signs for circle 10 and then look for sign to get back on 97.  Umm, OK.  So much for normal instersection and directions. I make it back to 97 ok.  I still haven't found 42, 45 or 46.  I come into Bend and get off at Downtown exit and Mt Bachelor.  I head downtown and see 1 (count them - 1) sign for Mt Bachelor.  I then go through one of these marvelous circles and nothing.  I figure I must be all goofed up.  Back to 97 I go.  I go south looking for my routes.  Don't find them and so head north.  When 20 and 97 split, I know I've gone to far. I  finally figure out how to get Jill (my GPS) to help.  So, we head back down town.  After going through 3 circles, we are actually on route 46, accorind to Jill, but not according to any signage I could find anywhere.  Even the circle signs showed nothing.  I wasted at least an hour on these 2 excursions.  I also went over a river with a ton of people Kayaking.  Bend seems to be a place for that.  Remember it.

The day seems to be set straight again and then I start to see those damn bicyclists, but they're spread out on the other side of the road going in a different direction than me. I figure I can deal with it.  Well, then I come to the the ski area and the joining of like 3 mountain peaks and I'm presented with a choice of going left or right. I see some people who are apparently involved in the bike event, so I decide I will ask.  I come down and the guy stops me and then says it's ok to go through, but please watch the bicyclists cause I can see there in your lane and they really aren't supposed to be there.  Well, no kidding.  I roll through and then I really start to get aggrevated. I have this care with orange flags on it and apparently affiliated with the bike thing coming up stradling the center line with his/her 4-ways on and motioning for me to 1) slow down and 2) move over.  Ok, I'm already slowed and like 20 mph and I'm moving over as far as I'm going.  You're in my f@#%@%# lane idiot.  For the next 4-5 miles, the bikes are backed up and so is traffic behind them. I have people trying to get by the bikes, giving them 8 feet of room, coming into my lane giving me like 2 feet of room.  I call  BS and starting riding in my lane where I normally would, about 3 foot from center and start motioning everyone back into their own lane.  Finally, I'm out of that and I get to enjoy the rest of my ride through some absolutely gorgeous scenary.  I decide to head towards Oak Ridge and Eugene. It's been a long day and I'm approaching over 550 miles.  Finally, I come to Oak Ridge and I decide to fill, or rather, have someone else fill up my bike in case they're not awake in the morning when I want to leave and I pick up a six of beer - Henry Weinhard's Private Reserve, which once I get to try it, is quite good. I recommend it.  I go through town and stop and 3 different hotels.  Each one is booked.  So, I guess I have to head to Eugene.  Finally, I find a motel 6 and head in.  Now, it's only 5:00 PM local time here.  Why are hotels already full?  The guy has like 3 rooms left and I take it.

While checking in, I see a flier for local businesses and I ask if the pizza is good at this one place.  Yup, he says.  I'm like great, I know where dinner is coming from.  I call and order.  She figures out where I am and then tells me they have a $15 min order.  I'm 1 guy, I want a pizza, I don't want to have to drive. I tell her to just forget it.  She apoligizes and I say fine, have a nice night, but not in so nice a tone. I kind of feel bad about that now as it's probably not the girls fault, but I wasn't in the mood for bs.  So, then I see Domino's has their ad all over the door cards.  I call.  Do you deliver to this hotel?  "Yes", Do you have a min order amount?  "No."  Good, then I want a small pizza.  "We have a $2 delivery charge."  Fine.  "It will be there in 40 mins."  Well, it was here in 20 and I gave the guy I $3 tip on top of it.  Still ended up costing me $15 for dinner.  Guess I'm tired and grumpy.  I had probably 10-15 things that I wanted to mention in today's notes, but I forgot them.  In fact, if I didn't have a map to help me, I probably would have forgot where I was.

Despite any negative things I may have said, I am still having an awesome trip.;

last nights dinner:  $10
Tires:   $530
Install:  $150

Mileage:  600
Gas:  $58
Hotel: $77
Breakfast:  $4
Dinner:  $15

[baddogonabmw]

fyi... I had 36 on my to do list, but as I said, I cashed out due to the fires.  I just got concerned after going by Yosemite and seeing how the smoke impacted everything there.  I'll just have to come back another time.

[baddogonabmw]

Day 11

Let's see, where did my day begin.  Oh yeah, back in Eugene.  The motel I stayed at must have been near railroad tracks because about 4:00 AM the train whistle blew in the room next to me.  I just about had a heart attack thinking I must have fell asleep on the railroad tracks.  Took me a while to fall back asleep after that.  Got up and got out about 6:30 local time, which is a little later than I have been recently, but I was whooped.  I get on to rt 126 west and head for the ocean.  I even go buy the Oregon Country (or county?) fair on the way.  I'm amazed at the "farming" type communities through here, especially being so close to the ocean.  I come across this river and stop to take a picture.  Ugh-oh.  My battery has gone dead. Oh crap, dumb a$$ strikes again. I remember forgetting to shut the camera off last night after uploading pics onto my pc.  I need to get my battery charged.  So, I head into Florence and stop at the first coffee shop I come to. The waitress indulges me and allows me to charge my battery, litterally speaking. Armed with a charged battery, I head up highway 101 to Waldport.  Oh my, this is absolutley gorgeous.  Not like our beaches on the east coast.  It has ocean coming right up to mountain and tree's.  Awesome.  I hang a ralf in Waldport and head down rt 34 figuring to go back to Eugene and out 126 to the east.  Well, this road is an absolute hoot up to Alsea, where I stay straight on 34, but should have turned on to 99.  Oops.  Of course, I get to Corvalis before I figure that out.  So, I decide I'll head out route 20.  I stop and phone the wife and ask her to make reservations for me as close to Wood Village as she can as I don't want to run into No Vacancy situation again tonight.  I look at the map when I stop in Sweet Home (Alabama - not) to get some gas.  Looks like rt 11 is a cool rt.  I ask the gas attendant and she says it's a gorgeous ride and she was up through there last weekend on the bike with her husband.  I'm like cool.  So, I head out that way and cross the resovoir on to the other side. I have a lot of traffic to start, but it thins out.  Then, I see a preminition of what awaits.  There's this yellow/orange sign with a squiggly mark on it.  Under it, it says:  "Next 80 miles".  Holy crap batman.  I'm so tickled that I forget to stop and get a pick.  Well, I cruise up along Foster Lake and Green Peter lake, which is similar to riding the back side of Pepacton for the folks back home.  Then the road just starts following the river when the resovoir runs out.  This is awesome.  Ugh-oh.  The road narrows ahead.  It becomes essentially a 1 lane road.  I pull over next to a car (one of few) that is coming from the opposite direction and I ask if the road is open and paved from the other direction and she replies that she believes so.  Apparently, she didn't come all the way across.  What the hell, I say to myself.  Let's go for it.  Well, I do and I have one of the best rides of my life over this 1 to 1 and 1/2 lane road for the remaining 30-40 miles or whatever it was across this National Forest Route 11.  I don't think I ever broke 30 miles and hour, but the sights were marvelous and the corners were cool too.  Yet, I never had to go fast.  I got to the bottom where the road intersects with route 22 and am thinking to myself that probably no other biker goes over that road and what a shame, when this guy pulls up behind me on his CBR.  The guy gets off too.  He's 65 years old and is about 6'5" tall.  On a CBR 600 mind you.  My back hurts just thinking of it.  Well, Dennis is a local heavy equipment operator from Eugene who also does track does and such.  We shoot the crap and he offers to take me down to the town of Detroit and send me on my way up Brientenbush path.  

This is route 46 on my map.  Again, another good road.  I end up going through Mt Hood national park.  Part way up, I see a bike standing up on it's stand out in the jing weed.  I stop and take a quick look around.  The bike had definitely been down.  I don't see anyone around and since the bike is upright on it's side stand, I assume that the rider had went for attention or help.  I head on down the road. and pick up rt 224 in to Escada.  From there, I jump up to Troutdale, where the wife has reservations for me.

I didn't do a lot of mileage today, but I had one of the best rides of my life.  The scenary here is spectacular and if the summer months are any indication, I could definitely live here.  

Once again, I forget about all the little things I was hoping to mention.  I'm going to have to start writing these down.  Well, I hope to head into Washington state tomorrow, at least for a bit and then it's time to turn tail for home.  I hope to make it to the Atlantic Ocean on the way home so I will have gone from coast to coast.

Even considering the crisis at home with water in the basement tonight do to so much rain, I still can't get the smile off my face.  This trip was so worth it!

Oh, and for my beer sewer friends, I had a Widmer Brothers Drop Top Amber Ale tonight.  Good stuff.

Mileage:  400
Gas:  $42
Hotel: $55
Breakfast:  $5
Dinner:  $10

[chornbe]

Awesome. Keep it coming.  

[sagerat]

Welcome to the Cascade Cycling Classic, a local road race they hold every year and where I always make sure to be on a road going somewhere else.    I don't want to tell you how close you were to making the correct turn several times in your criss-crossing of Bend.  Reed Market Road leads to the Cascade Lakes Highway.

The road you took from Sweet Home over the Cascades is US 20 and you went on Tombstone Pass, one of my favorite rides.  

[foosnut]

Here are some more pics for STN...

This time I picked some of Phils photos with more bike related....

[CJBurbank]

We still have 10 more days of this!   Keep it coming.

[baddogonabmw]

Sorry, but no internet last night, believe it or don't ya...

Day 12

I got on the round between 5:30 and 6:00 local (8:30 and 9:00 at home) and headed east on route 84 right into the sun.  Boy, the next 1-2 hours of riding in an easterly direction were really tough.  I was heading up to see the cascade valley and the hood river region.  Interstate 84 runs along a good portion of the river on the oregon side and route 14 runs on the Washington side.  I crossed over into washing at the Bridge of the Gods and stayed on that side of the river until I crossed back just past the Dalles and just before the big hydro-electric plant.  I continued on 84 east until exit 147, where I got off and took route 74 (south/east).  I stopped in the town of Ione for gas.  The only problem is that the only gas station in town is closed.  So, I go into the local cafe, lunch house and saloon for breakfast and some info.  I was the only one in the place besides the waitress (owner?).  Apparently, the owner of the gas station passed away recently and the kids (probably in their 50's) come down once a week to keep it running.  I guess they're trying to sell and if they drain the tanks and all, the new owners might have trouble getting permits and such.  Fortunately, there is gas just 9 miles down the road.  Whew.  I'm on an E now and this is where Jill brought me to.  Well, it's not blinking yet, so I'm sure we're fine.  Ione is a town of about 350 people, about half of which are kids.  They graduated 15 seniors this year and have won numerous state titles in football and girls volleyball (what I like to hear).  They play 8 man (iron-man) style ball.  I thought that was kind of cool.  They had pictures of the town dating back to 1890.  They could have been taken yesterday.  I finish my breakfast and head on down to the next town and get gas and head out.  Route 75 does a lind of winding around in some 1/2 fast sweeper type corners, so I was finding a nice rhythm.  Finally, I come into town of Heppner and I make the turn to stay on 74.  Well, being the smart one that I am, I didn't check my map to see that I really wanted to pick up 53.  Anyhow, this isn't a bad thing as now they start adding in all sorts of elevation changes with these sweepers.  Man, who designed such a track out here.  This is sweet.  No traffic either.  After 30 mins or so of delighful flight, I come to 395 and decide to take that south so I can pick up 53 again.  Well, I come into the national forest near Ukah and am enjoying that road such that I go right through and never noticed that I crossed route 53.  I then come to the town of Long Creek.

Well, I can continue ahead on 395, but now that's getting boring.  I decided to hang a louie and head toward Galena, which is 25 miles away accordingt to the sign.  I program Jill for Boise as that's where I want to be at end of the day.  As I go up this road, Jill tells me I should do a u-turn and go back.  She often does that until she see's that we can go my way and still get there.  So, I tell Jill to wait it out.  About 8 - 10 miles later, I run out of pavement.  No warning, just gone.  Now what.  Well, I had my spirit of adventure, so I went forth until I came to a fork in the road.  With no signs telling me what to do and Jill yelling at me that I shouldn't have gone that way to begin with, I turn around.  Jill has that "I told you so tone of voice."  I have to apogize and tell her "I'm sorry.  You were right."  Man, I must be losing it.  I'm talking to the damn GPS now.  I come back in to Long Creek and jump on 395 south again.

I come to route 26 and it's time to head east.  Now, my problem is that I don't have an Idaho map with me and the GPS is NOT good for looking at the big picture.  I have to kind of guess where in Oregon I have to be when I cross the border to be semi-close to Boise.  I decide I can still run up route 7 by Austin, which I follow back through the national forest and up to Baker City.  I'm treated to some really fast sweepers here.

I jump on 84 east now knowing I have to slab about 120 miles or so to Boise.  I get on highway and go a ways when I see a car up ahead turn on it's blinker for the median. I expect something is up and slow down some.  Then the 4 ways come on and there's extra's.  I'm like ugh-ohh, something's up, but I wasn't going much over, but still, maybe.  I go by and the "unmarked" car now pulls back into traffice behind me, but he starts lagging back.  I'm starting to get nervous. I keep it right at the limit and he slowly fades from view. I think he may have been after the truck that was near me at the time.  All I know is left me alone and that's a good thing.  Boy, it's getting hot too.  I stop at a rest area to take a break and all the truckers were kind of looking at me strange.  Like they ain't seen a woman in a year and I"m looking good in my motorcycle pants.  Either that or I just looked freakishly like a power range.  Either way, it was a little unsettling and I booked out of there.  Finally, I cross the border into Idaho and look forward to pumping my own gas again.  Fortunately, I get the opportunity as I coming into the Boise area. I decide to pick up a map while there.  All they have are the glossy ones, so I get it. I figure I better get one for Montanna too since that's not in my bag either (I got 15 maps, but not those 2).  I also pick up a $2.00 gatorade.  Grand total is $15.38.  Those damn maps were expensive.

I hook up with my hotel for the night, but no internet, so all you folks will be getting this a day late.  Sorry.  I'm in development type area and a I got to Sarah's or something like that for dinner.  It's kind of like a Friendly's.  That had a very good loaded potato soup.  The rest of the food was decent and I'm stuffed and ready for bed.

Some things I forgot to note previously:

1 - From Eugene, Or to the coast and back to highway 5, I stopped counting old Chevy pick-ups (pre-1980) at 28.  These all appreared to be running trucks and most appeared to have the original paint.  I think 6 of the ones I saw were for sale.
2 - Did I mention I lost a pair of gloves.  Left them on back of bike when I stopped to take a picture and then left without them.  Went back looking for them, but never found them.  They were my light weight pair.  I need to pick up another set.
3 - There were a lot of elk crossing signs near the coast.  I didn't realize that elk enjoyed the beach so much.
4 - Knock on wood (Kirk - that's for you)...  Most people here are very aware and courteous of motorcycles.  Thanks all.  I hope this continues.
5 - CA has more police than anywhere I have been, at least by my count.
6 - there are a lot of wineries on the Washington side of the hood river along route 14.  Wish I had more room in my saddlebags.
7 - I scraped the right peg today around 4975 miles.  Woot!  I have street cred!  Well, maybe not, but who's gonna know.
8 - When I have to start running highways full time to get home - that is going to SUCK!

Mileage:  540  (5275 total)
Gas:  $42
Hotel: $51
Breakfast:  $8
Dinner:  $18
Maps:   $15

[baddogonabmw]

Day 13

Some leftover thoughts from previous days:

1 - what are those stainless steel type containers along the road every so often that look like some sort of coffee machine? I saw today that were a light green?
2 - Had a weird dream a couple nights ago.  It essentially ended with someone coming up behind me and wrapping their hands around my throat trying to strangle me.  "It" said something like I bet you didn't think it would be this easy.  I woke up swing and kicking the covers and all.  Freaked me out a little.  Kind of like Freddy and nightmare on elm street type thing.  
3 - Why are all the trucks and vans out west white?  The forest trucks are white, the police vehicles are white, all the other pickups and vans are also white.  It must be crazy in the winter when all the vehicles are camoflauged.  They do make other colors.
4 - I want to see a bull moose. I've seen just about every other animal that north america has to offer, but not a grizzly and not a bull moose.  I do not wish to see a Grizzly.
5 - Every motorcycle rider I have met that is doing some sort of touring is the same age or older than i am, or at least they are not distinguishingly younger.  Kind of weird when the guy next to you on the CBR is 60 + years old.
6 - 95% or more of the riders I meet are wearing full gear.
7 - The majority of touring riders are on BMW's.  
8 - Guys on K-bikes and even the R model boxers are ok.  The guys with the big old square metal looking containers don't like the rest of us cuz they never wave.
9 - Cruisers will wave to me, but never will they initiate a conversation, which is OK, cuz I don't talk to them either and I own/drive a cruiser.
10 - Definitely more waving happening on the west side of the country
11 - Had a dream last night that someone moved my bike so they could get into a parking spot.  I woke up in cold sweet ready to do bodily harm.
12 - Last night at hotel, a handicapped gentleman got out of vehicle parked in the handicapped spot and he was in a wheel chair.  You know the area that is stripped off where no one is supposed to park?  Well, that's where he unloaded.  This morning, I walk out to load my bike.  I notice 3 cars with handicap tags hanging from the mirror and 1 without.  Well, the one without is parked between the van and another vehicle in the no parking area.  Well, this pisses me off as there was 1) another parking space 3 spots down right in front of the door and 2) there were multiple other spots in the lot that were open.  I left a note for the guy telling him not to be dick...  Now the guy in the wheelchair can't load himself into the van because of this person.  
13 - it amazes me how generic America has become.  Their is practically nothing out west that I haven't seen back home.  It gives me comfort, but yet concerns me that we are becoming so vanilla and losing our individuality.

Last night as I was without internet, I was busy planning my course for tomorrow (now today).  I decide I would head up rt 21 to Stanley and then pick up route 75 to Salmon and then pick up 93 to take me up to Montanna.  From there, I would hit 43 east over to Wisdowm, pick up 278 east to Dillon, 41 north/east to Twin Bridges and then take 287 into Ennis and down into West Yellowstone. I  then decided that I should have the wife try to get reservations for me in case things were to be full by time I go there.  Well, it's a good thing I did because the closest she could get me was Belgrade, which is about 40 miles north east of Ennis up by Bozeman.  Bozeman just happens to be where my friend Chris used to live when I visited him 8 years ago. He's since moved back home.  When I walked into the hotel at 5:00 local time, the girl was like "I hope you have a reservation because we are booked."  Thankfully, I did.  I'm now about 90 miles from west yellowstone, where I wanted to be.  Yikes!

So that was the plan and I followed it pretty much to the T.  I left the hotel around 5:30 and jumped on 84 to get out to rt 21 and took that.  I got a nice morning pick of the damn in the 6:00 am time frame.  I couldn't believe how busy traffic was on 84 at that time going into Boise.  Also, the traffic coming down 21 from Idaho City in the 6:00 time frame was pretty impressive. I think the sign for Idaho City had the population listed as either < 4000 or <400.  If it was <400, I can tell you that everyone in Idaho City must drive down to Boise each morning because I met at least that many cars.  The riding was good and there were good corners, but a little too congested for me at that time of the morning.  I continued on up and caught site of a couple of bikes ahead of me.  I continued to gain on them and finally caught them.  A BMW K bike followed by an R model.  They were running a decent pace, so I settle in behind them almost all the way to Lowman when they stopped off at one of the scenic areas.  The ride was spirited and most folks simply got out of our way.  Well, I'm down to a half tank and due to my Nevada Desert experience, I get nervous when I get that low and start looking for gas.  Both places in Lowman are closed.  I figure I can make it to Stanley and push on.  Suddenly, out of the morning haze is an oasis... last gas for 47 miles and they serve breakfast.  Sweet.  I stop and fill up both my gas tanks before continuing on to Stanley.  In Stanley, I see the BMW boys must have stopped for breakfast too.  I jump on 75 headed for Salmon when I catch sight of another motorcycle a ways ahead of me.  I always find this a bit challenging to see if I can match or beat the other guys pace and catch him.  It takes a while, but I do.  This guy rides pretty well.  I hit a geologic hot spot and stop for a pic. I  take off again and wonder if I can real this guy in again.  Well, after passing a car and a camper, I decide this is ridiculous and settle into a less aggressive pace.   Just as I do, a nice view of the river opens in front of me with a pull off, which I decide to hit.  At that same moment, I see a motorcycle in the pulloff with a guy standing/jumping beside it.  I think I caught someone taking a nature break and he was trying to get things tucked away.  LOL.

So, I end up talking to this guy, I believe his name was Howard.  He's from CA, out near Yellowstone.  He's supposed to be meeting up with a buddy of his, whom he claims set out earlier and did 800 miles the first day.  Both Howard and I think that's nuts as 600 is around our max.  Anyhow, we had a nice chat about numerous things, including the Pilot
Road tires, which we both like, although I didn't tell Howard how much a was gyped, I mean paid, for the tires.  We continue up the road and hit a lot of nice corners.  

I continue on up to Salmon and stop at the local Yamaha shop looking for a pair of light weight riding gloves.  Unfortunately, the shop was very dirt oriented and light on stock.  A kind of cute thing did happen though when I stopped for gas.  3 guys on trail bikes stopped and then ma and pa kettle pulled in with jethro and a young blonde grandson in the back of the truck.  Gotta love the rural country where it's OK to put an 8 year old boy in the back of a pickup to bounce around.  Me, myself, have no problem with it as that's how I was raised, but now-a-days (sp?) that would be a major no-no on the east coast.  Well the kid is tickled pink with my bike.  He wants one of them.  I'm like:  "Oh, you like my helmet."  He says:  "Not the helmet, the bike (you dumb a$$ was implied;-)"  I smile and he says I like the helmet too.  Well, Granny walks by just a smiling with a mouth full of gums and 2 teeth.  She speaks and I do understand, but then Pa, who is driving the truck says something that even Boonhauer from that Hank Hill cartoon thingymabobshow would have had a hard time understanding. OK, stick to the kid.  He's young, seems intelligent, has all his teeth and speaks so I can understand him.  Anyhow, I chatted the boy up for a while and I finally asked him if he could ride a bike.  Well yeah I can ride a bike he says.  I can even ride it with no hands.  So then I tell him he could definitely ride a motorcycle.  Mom and dad may not like me much now, but the boy just grinned even bigger, if that was possible.  I geared up and got ready to head out.  I told him I hoped to see him out on the road some day.  Well, let me tell ya, it's really cool being a "hero" to a kid even if you know you're not.

I then picked up 93 up out of Idaho.  Climbing the big hill up to route 43, it's 2 lanes going up and 1 coming down.  Well, this was a good time to play and up I went.  I drug the right peg first at mile 5583.2 and the left peg at 5583.3.  Woot, woot!!!!  I got them both now.  The Connie and I are gelling, like magellan.

Once I hit Montanna though, things kind of get boring because I just hit the upper plains.  I get into Wisdom and stop to do a panoramic picture of all the mountains around me.  It takes 20 pics trying to string them all together.  I drink some gatorade and check the map too.  The whole time I'm there, which might have been 15 minutes, 2 cars go by me (this becomes important later).  I continue down the road for probably 10 miles or so and I'm keeping the speed limit as it's flat and open and those are good places for spped enforcement officers to lay and wait.  I can see at least a mile or more ahead of me and I can see something shiny at first and then I can make out it's a vehicle and it seems to be sitting at the entrance to a ranch that's another 2 miles back up the hill.  About 20 minutes later, I reach the ranch entrance and the local sheriff sitting there trying to catch speeders.  I wave as I go by, but he doesn't even look at me.  I give thought to turning around and doing mach 100 by him just to make his day entertaining, but decide that can only work out bad for me.  Here's the thing.  I would have to guess in a half hours time, no more than 10 cars could have gone by this guy.  Is this an efficient use of taxpayers money sitting out here in the middle of nowhere trying to catch a speeder?  So, even if one guy is doing 80 (instead of the 70 mph posted), big deal.  You can see forever and no one else is out there.  I have to question this.

*This brings up another topic I wanted to mention.  On the east coast, the speed limit is normally 65 in rural areas and 55 in more densely populated areas.  As a rule, everyone does 75 all the time.  When I get to the west, the speed limits are 70 - 75 mph and people do 55-65.  What the heck people?  I'm doing the speed limit and feel like I'm doing something wrong as I'm passing people.  In fact, I passed a police office on rt 84 in Oregon the other day as he was doing 72 in a posted 75.  No one else would go by him.  What makes this even more strange to me is that in the east, the most you may ever be able to see in front of you at one time is 1/2 mile, where in the west, that's about the minimum.  So, in the west, you can see further (generally), the roads are flatter and straighter, your speed limit is higher, but yet you drive slower???

I continue over 278 to Dillon, hop on 41 to Twin Bridges and then tack 287 in to Ennis, going through Nevada City and Virginia City.  Virginia City was kind of neat to go through, but I think it would be better if they kept all the cars off the main drag and parked them somewhere else.  That would be kind of freaky driving through and old western town with no sign of modern "stuff".  I get into Ennis and finally, I have phone service. I have a message from the wife saying she has a reservation for me back in Butte, not quite, but holy cow... I want to be in West Yellowstone.  So, I ask Jill to point out the local lodging, which she does. I do a drive by, but everyone is full.  Off to bidderbocker I go and here I am.  

I filled up with gas so I'll be ready to go in the morning and picked up a 6 of beer.  The selection is limited to bud, coors, corona, the "american" standard crap, but they do have Henry Weinhard's private reserve.  I pick up a 6 of that for the second time on my trip.  I'm guessing if I drank all of it before writing my ride report, it would have been more interesting for all of you.  G'nite yall!

Mileage:  530
Gas:  $54
Hotel: $120 <- Tough finding a hotel anywhere close to yellowstone.  Thanks honey for finding!
Breakfast:  $10

[eye.surgeon]

Well I'm really enjoying reading this, what an interesting experience you are having.

You sure went out of your way to buy a Concours. They are a hell of a bike but didn't they have one on your side of the continent? Your daily miles are also insane, back to back 1000+ mile days? You're either extremely hard-core or crazy! Also it's very brave to take a brand new bike on such a long trip with no shakedown or time to get the seat and windscreen dialed in. And Death Valley in JULY?? I'm willing to bet you didn't see a lot of other bikers on the road with you there.

Anyways I love your new bike and admire the courage  .

[foosnut]

Well, Since I have been appointed picture guy, here are some more he sent me, Phil has trouble uploading them.

I am including a picture of Phil's desperate attempt to get some street cred, it is OK Baddog, no need to spend all night lying on your back in the motel parking lot with a file, I know you can toss that thing around.

Kirk

[baddogonabmw]

All, I could have got a Concours back home, but what's the fun in that.  One of the problems with trips is you have to drive away from home to your destination, before coming back.  So, that limits your range and how far you can go.  By flying out west in < 1 day, that meant I had the full 20 some days to have fun before come back.  Also, the guys at Arizona Kawasaki were awesome in price.  I found one place in North Carolina that was cheaper, but I've already been to North Carolina.

I never did a 1000 mile day.  If I posted that, it was a mistake.  I have done as much as 600 miles in a day, or 1000 or more in two though.

You believe the number of motorcycles I saw in Nevada.  Even as I was coming up out of Death Valley at 6:00 AM, mind you, I had two bikes come up on me.  They camped out there, so now who's crazy???  Death Valley was one of the reasone I wanted new tires on the bike as I didn't want to risk it more than I already was.

The concours has held up awesome as I expected.  There's no way I could have doon the mileage that I've done so far on my bird.  Anyway, thanks all for the comments and questions.  Keep them coming.

Day 14.

miscellaneous musings:

1 - Saw adobe homes in the monument valley area starting at $399,000.  WOW.  A mud home for close to 1/2 million.
2 - coming into the national forest from Idaho, I thought I saw a sign for 2 acres for sale for $89,000, but as I went by, I'm sure it said $899,000.  OMG.
3 - Up near Brickerman, MT, building lots were a bargain at $79,000
4 - A saw a bull moose yesterday.  In fact, if I hadn't been so damn cold and been slowing down to put on more clothes, we may have come into close physical contact.
5 - Found out why there's so many BMW riders - a rally!!!  Right were I had hoped to be staying.  Boy, did that suck for me.

I got an early start on the day and pulled out of Brickerman or whatever that town was I stayed in.  All I can remember is Bozeman and that's the next town over.  I took 191 down to yellowstone, which parallels the Gallatin river most of the way.  The closer I got towards West Yellowstone, the colder I got.  It even got to the point that I couldn't feel my hands through the heated grips.  I was getting ready to pull over to put on more clothes when I thought a horse was up by the guardrails when it then jumped right out in front of me.  Holy cow, that horse has horns!!!  Fortunately, I was already going slow.  I didn't want to stop in such close proximity to him, so I pulled up the road a hair to take his pic.  I also put another sweatshirt on.  I continued down into West Yellowstone and where 287 and 191 intersect, a guy on a BMW pulls in behind me.  Well, when I stop in West Yellowstone to get some coffee and get warmed up, he pulls in right behind me.  We never introduced ourselves, but I'll come him Eng as he was an Engineer from Chicago area.  Well, Eng and I chat for a bit and then go our seperate ways.  Shortly after, he comes in to the same place I'm at and takes a seat behind me, so we strike up another conversation.  This time we're talking about where we're going. I mention I hope to hole up somewhere in Buffalo or Gillette.  He wishes me luck finding a room as Gillette is where the BMW rally is being held and they've been out of rooms for weeks.  Yikes.  I call home and talk to the wife and ask if she can find me a place to stay.  I had a decision to make.  Should I pull up short for the night (I should have) or should I go long (I should not have).  Anyhow, she finds me a place in Sundance which is a good hour past Gillette.

So, Eng and I go our separate ways and I head into yellowstone park's west entrance.  I go to the north entrance and stop and pick up something for my girls and continue on to the northeast entrance up by Silver City and Cooke City.  What a mess they have in there with road construction.  You have to follow a pace truck if you will.  Not a fun place for a street motorcycle.  I stop in Cooke city to get a drink before heading on my way.  Yellowstone was beautiful of course, but having been there once before, I didn't feel a need to explore the whole park for if I had, I would have been in big problems.

Well, I then have to decide to go over the Beartooth to Red Lodge or jump down to Cody.  I really want to do the Beartooth, so I do.  I noticed they seem to have a lot more guardrails on it than they did 8 years ago.  It's a nice ride down to Red Lodge and only got hit with a little rain.  I jump on 308 over to Belfry and run 72 north to Bridger and then 310 down to Lovel where I pick up 14 across the Bighorn mountains.  As I go across the plains, it's getting hot again.  Well, as I come up into the Bighorns, I get cold again.  Not as cold as going over Beartooth or as cold as I was this morning, but very cool none-the-less.  The roads up into and down out of the mountains are awesome and I'm fortunate there is minimum traffic.  I don't know what the material is that gives the road a red look, like red shale or something.  Whatever that material is, I love riding on it.  It seems to be very grippy and the sun doesn't seem to beat off it with the same intensity.  Well, I follow 14 to route 90 to do my super slab race to Sundance.  Yuck.

Note that it took me about 8 hours to go the first 200 miles of today's trip from Belgrade (that's it!) to Red Lodge and I've got to do about 600 in total.  I get to Buffalo and wish I pulled up short for day.  I get to Gillette and I'm cursing the BMW rally.  I pull over and get wifes voice mail with directions to hotel.  It's a rodeway inn.  Well, I plug this in to Jill as I head for Sundance and the only ones she finds are back in Buffalo or ahead in Rapid City.  OMG.  Not Rapid City.  That will be over 700 miles.  I pull over and call home in a panic.  I'm assure that the hotel is in Sundance and I get the address.  Everything worked out in the end, but I didn't get here until after 9 local time.  Remember that I left at 5:30 local time.  That was like 14 hours.

So, after getting here, I went to "The Dime" (a local bar) to get a bite to eat and have a beer.  I learned some things about Wyoming Liquor practices, which maybe I'll update you on tonight.  It's now 8:00 local time and this is the latest I've been in a room.  I just wanted to get this typed up and posted before I forgot.

So, Good morning everyone and wish me well with today's travel's.  I don't expect to go too far today.

Mileage:  600+
Gas:  $45, but I didn't fill up when I came into town at night, which I usually do
Hotel: $85 <- Tough finding a hotel anywhere close to Gillette, MT due to BMW Rally.  Thanks again honey for finding me a place.
Breakfast:  $4
Dinner:  $10 - a tombstone pizza + tip at "The Dime" bar in Sundance.

[baddogonabmw]

Day 15

Well, I got a late start on the day due to the long day I had yesterday that just left me beat.

I promised you some insight on Wyoming liquor law, so here's what I remember:  1) you must be either a bar or a liquoir store to sell either.  2) until September of last year, a passenger in a motor vehicle could legally have an open alcoholic beverage in the vehicle when traveling on a state road (not interstate and town though).  3) a short time prior to that, the driver could also have an open alcoholic container provided he wasn't over the limit.  4) some bars had drive up windows where you could pull up and order a margarita or a gin and tonic to go.  5) some towns still allow you to walk the streets in public with an open container.  Sundance is such a place.  I could have bought a bottle of jack or a bottle of wine from the bar and left with it.  As it is, you can also just buy 1 beer if you want it.  This is awesome!  I'm sure I learned more peculiar things, but in my exhaustion, I'm plenty sure I forgot some too.

I get up around 8:00 am local time (10:00 am for home time) and get my gear ready to go and write my ride report from yesterday and get that posted.  I'm ready to ride by 8:30 and out the door I go, headed for Devil's Tower up route 14.  One good thing about driving all the way to Sundance last night is I'm now only 1/2 hour away.  About 1/2 into the trip, I realize I left my sunglasses on my bed at the hotel. Oh well, that's why I buy cheap sunglasses cuz I'm always leaving the damn things somewhere.  I'm not going back, so plunge on.  Even though it's late for me, it's still pretty early here and I encounter little traffic.  I do however, have 2 bikes pass me when I pull over to take my first pic of the tower.  I think, oh good, I can go fishing again.  Unfortunately, these fellas got tied up behind a slower moving 4 wheeler and I reel them in quite quickly.  I follow them into the Tower entrance, where these 2 older fellas get off their bikes to walk up to the window and pay.  The one guy walks with a limp and I notice a cane on the back of his bike.  I later come up on these 2 guys again at the top and they have got to be at least 70 years old.  I'm thinking that is so awesome that these 2 are still riding and getting it on.  I hope I can still be doing that when I reach their age.

I walk the trail out for a ways to the prairie area and come back.  I see a couple on an BMW K1200 LT and go over to talk to them about their impressions on the bike.  In particular, I'm interested in the passengers perspective.  The couple is very friendly and I gain some perspective on the bike.  As I walk back to my bike, a guy (Paige) comes over to talk to me.  He's on an older model Concours and wants to get my feelings on the bike.  His buddies Bob and Paul also come over.  Bob is riding an LT currently, but is looking for a new bike.  They ask me a bunch of questions on the bike and we swap war stories and all.  I even let Bob sit on the bike to get a feel for it.  After about 30 minutes of this, we decide we need to break up the party if any of us are going to get any riding done today.  I say farewell to the boys from Virginia and ask Jill how we should get ourselves to Keystone, where Mt. Rushmore is located.  Jill says we have to go back to Sundance.  Great, I'll get my sunglasses and I do.  Jill wants to take the interstate again.  I overrule and we take 585 down to Newcastle, where we pick up 16 back to Custard area where I stop and see the Crazy Horse himself.  I paid the entrance fee, watched the video, took the bus ride up the mountain, explored the grounds and enjoyed myself tremendously.  It had been threatening rain all morning, but sprinkles was all I got thankfully.  I didn't want to be seeing any lightening.  As I was walking back out to the parking lot to leave, a US Marshall vehicle went by me blinged to the nines.  I mean any up and coming rapper would love to have had this escalade for a ride.  I'm seriously considering changing careers, especially if I get fly equipment like that.  Am I jiggy or just nerdy?  Don't answer, it was rhetorical.

So, I head to see the 4 presidents.  Now, the fellas from Virginia had told me that I would go through 2 tunnels and said after going through the first, find a place to take your pic and bail out as otherwise, it just wasn't worth it.  They said they wanted $10 to park your bike.  I'm not sure what they might by tunnels, but I didn't go through on the way in and only hit one on way out.  Anyhow, I had taken 16 in oto Custer and 385 up to Crazy horse and continued up til I hit 244 up to Mt Rushmore.  I see a 16A on my map with what looks like tunnels, but I dont' remember that.  In any event, I stole a picture in the "No parking, no standing" zone in front of the monument as they dont' want you getting a freebie.  Somehow, I ended up in Keystone and I made tracks for Rapid City, where I picked up route 44 that took me to the badlands.  I head for "Interior", which I assume to be the interior of the badlands, but later learn, is a town.  I stop at the horseshoe tavern for a drink.  Many, you have not been in a bar until you have been into one of these old western saloon type places.  You want to talk about atmosphere.  Damn, I could live here.  Now, just as I was going in the place, a guy pulls in with a pickup (looks like a company truck, but I'm not telling).  He follows me in.  I have a drink and am ready to roll.  This doesn't look like the sort of place I want to eat at. I walk outside and when I do, I notice the truck is still sitting there idling.  WTH???  Worse, the windows are down, so he's not even trying to cool the thing with air conditioning.  
Can't be his money he's spending on gas.  As I'm gearing up, 2 older guys come out of the place.  1 gets on an old harley with a kick starter with a bicycle pedal on it that also had a bucket of tools strapped to the back.  What a machine... And people think I'm crazy for heading across the desert in a brand new, state of the art machine...  This guy was the definition of cool in my book.  His buddy comes out and gets on an old Concours.  Of course they're not much on gear, so he fires up and pulls up beside me.  He looks at me and at the bike and repeats enough that I'm getting nervous.  So, I say "This is the new version of yours."  He says:  "I know.  I like it."  He then drives away.  Damn, my kind of people.

So, telling that story reminded me of this one:  This morning as I take 14 under route 90 headed to the Devil's tower, there is a sign with motorcycle rules for South Dakota.  One was that anyone under 18 must wear a helmet.  The next one really made me laugh.  Your handlebars must be below shoulder height.  Well, who's shoulder.  I have a cousin who is 6'5" and a friend that is 5'3".  If my cousin's bike has handlebars level/below his shoulder, does that mean my friend can't ride it?  This sounds quite arbitrary.  What if you suffered from a form of dwarfism and the handlebars on your stock bike are higher than your shoulders.  Is having your handlebars up that high unsafe, or do you simply not want to see people's arm pits?  What about the really tall guy riding a "crotch rocket" where the handlebars end up being below his knee's.  Come on folks...  My $.02

I leave Interior and decide to head towards Wall to make it a short day.  Of course, they put another friggin toll booth in my way.  They call these National Park entrance fee's, but they are friggin toll booths.  Basically, you're telling me that my tax dollars and everyone else's has already paid for this park, but now you want to pay extra to go through it on a federally funded highway.  Anyone else confused by this?

Recommendation:  If ever taking a trip like mine where you're hitting a lot of national parks, get the annual or lifetime pass.  It will probably save you in the long term.

The park is gorgeous, but you can only take so many pics of the same type of thing, so I head towards Wall.  As I come into town, I see this beautiful looking log cabin "motel's" if you will.  I fill up with gas, grab some food and drink for the night and drive back just to see what the price is.  As it turns out, it wasn't bad, so I took it.  The place comes with cable, which I haven't used yet on my tip and wi-fi, which I use every day to send my pics and post my ride report.  It comes with refridgerator and microwave and air.  What more can a man want.  I'm in such a state of nirvanna right now that I just can't explain how this feels.  I've gone 2 weeks now not worrying about anything more than where can I get gas and occassionally, where will I sleep.  I want to thank my family for letting me do this.  It's been great.  I've now down everything I wanted to do except for the Pacific Coast Highway and that was called off on account of fire.  Now, begins the trip home.  From this point on, I have no plan.  I'll have to see how it all pans out.  I still have to get to Ocean City NJ after all.  Coast to Coast baby!

Mileage:  300
Gas:  $37
Hotel: $85 <- I'm in a gorgeous cabin rental in Wall, SD.  Like it here a lot!
Breakfast:  N/A
Dinner:  $10
Devil's tower:  $5
Crazy Horse:  $5 + $4 bus trip up mountain
Mt Rushmore:  Refused to pay the $10 parking for a motorcycle
Bad Lands:  $10

[foosnut]

More pics

[baddogonabmw]

Day 16

 More miscellaneous musings:

1 - I saw 1751 or 1571 acres for sale in the gallatin valley on my way to West Yellowstone.  An acre is roughly a size of a football field.  I have a hard time imaging how big this property is, let alone the price they must want.
2 - I've seen these American Inn's all over the west and finally decided I should give one a try, so I stopped in Albert Lea as I was out of gas and tried it.  Price is over $100.  I think I would rather go to Holiday Inn at that price.
3 - Gas light just started blinking 3 miles before I got off highway to get gas.  I took 4.5 gallons of gas.  My tank shold be 5.8 gallons, so that means I have 1.3 gallons in tank when the E light starts to blink.  Even at a measely 30 mpg, I should be able to go 40 miles with flashing E light.
4 - Gas mileage goes down when traveling at speeds of 75 mph + for extended periods of time
5 - What's the deal in SD of building your expectations with road advertisments 50 miles til you get to a place.  Wall Drug - OK.  corn Palace - kind of cool.  1880 Town - didn't stop, so don't know.
6 - I have not eaten at Burger King, McDonalds, Arby's or any other recognized franchise, yet I still haven't lost a lot of weight.  This means I can eat as much junk as I want, but I don't want.
7 - I only had 1 soda this whole trip so far and that was the day I was coming into Montanna and I felt iffy.  I drank 1/2 can of coke and was good to go.
8 - Wine makes me giddy.
9 - I decided NOT to go to North Dakato.  I was going to do it just to say I did it, not because there was anything I wanted to see there.  I decided to keep plugging east.
10 - Similarly, I didn't go down in to Iowa.
11 - Back in SD, I saw a sign for Bear Country.  It had a picture of a wolf on it?  What the heck?  I think someone is confused.
12 - ***The badlands were not what I thought they would be.  This is because I have a memory of an old western, which I think had Clint Eastwood in it.  In the moview, the actor is leading his horse through this area of dark black lava spires (Pumice looking). I think he puts his hand on one and pulls it away and says to the horse:  "Now, I now why they call these the bad lands."  Does anyone remember this movie?  I mean the badlands were cool, but my memory of this movie distored the whole experience for me.  I gots to know man, I gots to know.
13 - Note to my Mom.  I did see a place called the Cow Palace back in eastern Oregon, but it was a rodeo arena, not an ice cream stand.  LOL.
14 - I passed some Pinnacle Stone national park, or something like that.  Anyone know what this is?
15 - Somewhere back in Oregon, I crossed the 45th parallel, which is halfway between equator and north pole.  Ain't I a fountain of information?
16 - I also passed, somewhere in lower Minnesota, a monument for the Golden Spike. Was this really in Minnesota? I would have figured it to be farther west.
17 - Back between Wyoming and South Dakata on route 16, I think it was, on my way to Crazy Horse, I passed a cattle stockade.  This place stunk like nothing I've smelt before.  I grew up on and around farms, including those with "slurry stores" (big blue shit tanks).  Nothing, and I mean nothing, ever stunk as bad as what I smelled that day.  Yuk!
18 - I could have swore my sister-in-law passed me and she even had a Michigan state helmet on her trailer hitch. I passed the woman back and let her pass me again.  Damn, I guess everyone does have a twin.  I hope to never find mine cuz my guess is that he's an ugly SOB.

So, I'm guessing this ride report is going to be pretty much as my day started - dreary.  Sometime during the night, the rain, lightening and thunder came.  I slept in.  I found that southwest SD is apx 4" above average in rainfall for the year and 1/2 - 1" of that came during my stay here.  Awesome.  I wake up and find it raining and I sleep some more.  Lather, rinse, repeat until you can't take no more. I get up and it's still storming pretty bad.  What should I do?  Well, I figure I have to make some easterly progress, so I decide to head out.  I pack up, gear up and run up to the Cabin office.  By the way, if you have the chance to stay in the Cabins just off the Wall exit where they sell fireworks... Do so. It's worth it.  I grab a bite to eat and get ready to go. Now, before I move on, I should mention that the people acting as "caretakers" of the place.  They could be the owners for all I know.  Well, they both ride bikes.  When I registered, I indicated I didn't put in a very good day at 300 miles.  They were like "Well, that's not bad."  This is then followed up with "We usually run 500 - 700 miles a day", which is subsequently followed up by the woman saying that her longest day was 1050 miles or so.  Holy crap.  My longest day is 600 and some.  Granted, I have down a few of these now, but still.  I commented that it sounded like Iron Butt material and she's like "Oh, you've heard of the Iron Butt.  Yup, that's what it were fer."  
Too cool.  She said on their last trip (I'm assuming they are a couple by now) that at 500+ miles she told the guy to go on without her and that her elbow, or shoulder, was hurting her to bad to go on.  Friggin wuss.  LOL.  I know many people that 300 miles is a lot for.  Cool folk.  Anyhow, I say my thanks and get ready to head out, but decide I have to go see the Wall drug store.  I mean I've only seen signs for this place for a 100 miles out.  Ok, I went, I saw.  It was cool and I'm glad I went, but wouldn't have been terrible to miss.  It's cool to see a piece of history though.  

It's almost 9:00 local time (11:00 edt) when I leave.  It's stopped raining, but roads are moist. I head east on route 90 and I'm good for at least an hour or so before I get splattered with some wet.  I get dry again. I repeat the process a few times before I decide I'm about to get soaked.  It appears as though I've been following the storm. I can either pull over and wait it out or push through.  Seeing as patience is NOT one of my virtues. I push through.  Something about doing 75 mph is pouring rain passing tractor trailers, or vice versa, that really gets the blood pumping. Ha!  In actuallity, I hate it, but I had to keep moving.  The funny thing though was I met a lot of people on bikes going west bound and it seemed as though everyone waved.  It was like it was a relief to see someone else as stupid as you were out here plodding along.  All along now, I've been seeing signs for the Corn Palace.  Finally, just before I get to Chamberlain, which is where I think the Corn palace is, it stops and starts to get muggy.  I decide that this place had it's requisite 50 signs, so I'm obliged to stop. *I should note that I stopped more for my old riding partner Kirk (foosnut) as he likes oddball things like the worlds largest ball of twine and such.  In the end, it was pretty cool to see.  I'm glad I stopped.  Now, I'm wondering if I should have stopped at 1880's town.

Speaking of those damn signs.  What's up with Al's Oasis. I didn't stop.  I thought I was comign to the Missouri river, but it may have just been a lake.  However, I don't see it on my map.  Does anyone know where I was?

I eat lunch at a sidewalk cafe (i.e. bar) next to the Corn Palace.  There's a guy on a BMW there when I walk in. I say hi, but don't get anything in return. I don't know if he's deaf, didn't see me, or simply doesn't want to associate with me. I assume it's the latter.  I have some chili and get back on route 90 heading east.  The number of motorcycles I see decreases as the day goes on.  I have to say that at first, I was upset by bikes that didn't wave back, which were mostly american made cruisers. Then, I decided to make sport of it. If I saw one of these American made cruisers (if I was able to tell, which I wasn't always - I would look for now helmet, cut off sleeves and a "bitch" on the back), I would wave my arms wildly like I knew them.  They would go by me looking so perplexed.  Why would someone on a jap touring bike wave at me like that???  Sorry, it's a straight boring ride.  Let me have what little fun I can.

I continue east chewing up the miles and an excruciatingly slow pace.  I can see 20 miles ahead of me at any time, but I must maintaing the speed limit. No sense getting a speeding ticket here.  Save them for when I'm having fun some place I shouldn't.  I'm come in to Minnesota and keep plodding along.  A car passes me and has a bumper sticker on that says:  "Where the hell is Wall drugstore."  I laugh, to myself of course, and look at the license plate.  This person is from Wisconsin. Oh My Gosh (cleaned up for the kiddies)...  I have traveled 1/2 way across the country and can pick out all the states, except for, you guessed it, Wisconsin.  Where the hell is Wisconsin?  When I get into the hotel room, I pull up a big map and figure it out. I'm headed straight for it.  Now i know.  The best geography lesson is the one the one you experience.  Lower Minnesota reminds me some of the Lancaster, PA area, only more spread out.  

The E light is flashing.  It's getting late.  I'm not sure how I want to go home.  So, let's call it a night and see how to approach tomorrow.

After checking in, I head over to the Liquor store.  I decide to have some wine tonight only to go in and find that they actually have a selection of "oddball" beers.  Unfortunately, they're all mostly warm.  I pick up a bottle of White Ziffandel and gead back to my palace. I call the wife and we share stories for the day.  Gosh, I miss being home.  Soon, I'll be home soon.

I'm sure I forgot more than I remembered, but that's the way of things.  

Mileage:  475
Gas:  $49
Hotel: $110
Breakfast:  N/A
Dinner:  $10

[baddogonabmw]

Day 17

More miscellaneous musings:

1 - I went by the Spam museum early this morning.  It was also the manufacturing plant.  That is not a smell you want to encounter early in the morning.
2 - Went through a number of small neighborhoods along the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi.  Saw many bars with a Heileman's sign.  Do they still make this?  If so, I need to get some.
3 - I saw my first Pigly Wigly today (supermarket).  We don't have these back home.
4 - Saw a corvette and an old International tractor for sale in the same yard.  My kind of people.
5 - I think it was back in Eastern Oregon or maybe it was in Montanna coming out of Red Lodge, but somewhere as I came into town was a huge sign that said "Beware of Dog."  I thought that was an odd sign for the town entrance until I saw a sign for the High School team - Bull Dogs.  I got a chuckle.
6 - I may have forgotten to mention when I was coming up NF-11 on the reservoir as I came around corner on to a bridge that crossed the reservoir was a pickup stopped on the bridge.  A 20 something male climbed on to tailgate and stepped on to side rail of truck and then jumped over bridge railing into the reservoir.  Damn.  I never would have the Cohojones to do that.
7 - Did you know that Prairie Du Chien is the 2nd oldest settlement is Wisconsin?  Now, you do.
8 - Was Laura Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie a real person?  I went by a historical place for Dr Lauri Ingalls "some last name" Homestead.  This got me to thinking that Little House may have been based on a real life story.  Anyone know?

I was on the road by 7:00 AM local (8:00 AM at home) and simply jumped on route 90 east towards LaCrosse.  Once I crossed the big muddy, I jumped off and picked up route 35 south, which parallels the river.  At one point, I pulled off into this lot to get a picture of the locks.  I pull in and building on my right, RR tracks straight in front of me and locks are down to my left.  I'm looking at the looks and am stopping to park the bike when this train pops into my sight about 50 feet away doing mach 1 and the horn is screaming.  I just about jump off the bike Right there.  Damn, going to have change my shorts again.

Just down the road, I stop for gas and there is an Amish couple out front selling home made baked goods and rugs.  I go over and pick up a plate of chocolate chip cookies and a cream pull.  I pull over a little ways down the river to eat the cream puff.  It was damn good.  I continue down 35 toward Dubuque and go throw the beautiful rolling farmland of south west Wisconsin.  The farms here are gorgeous.  I even come to the town of Lancaster, which reminds me of Pennsylvania again.  In Dickyville, I come to Sunset lanes, a bowling alley.  This reminds me of our Sunset Lanes in Hallstead.  I can almost smell home.  I continue down into Dubuqe, which is in Iowa, to my surprise.  I cross the Mississippi into Dubuque.  Go a block or two down and turn onto Route 20, which takes me back across the river and into Illino.  That's not my spelling.  That's the spelling on the sign where I came into the state.  The "is" were blocked out.

I follow route 20, also known as Grants Memorial Highway, into the town of Galena.  Seems to be a big tourist attraction area, but I can't figure out why.  Shortly after I come upon a sign for President Grants Homestead.  I knew Illino was the homestead for Lincoln, as was advertised on the sign, but I must have forgot that Grant was from here.  I continue to roll out route 20 through the Illinois corn fields.  They must have had some flooding here too as I can see evidence of it in the fields still.  As I approached Rockford, I had to stop for gas.  I think it was in the town of Winnebago.  Anyhow, I went by a Miller distribution center and a Lowes retail outlet and through a somewhat seedy portion of town on my way to route 90.  Then, I see a sign that indicates route 90 is a toll road.  I hate toll roads on a bike.  First off, I'm cheap.  Second off, I hate the time it takes to get through the booths and all the jerking around.  I tell Jill to ignore toll roads and find me another route around.  So, Jill does here duty and I go across a bunch of roads.  I'm on 72 at one point and then back on 20.  I'm headed for Chicago.  At less < 35 miles to Chicago, I am still in some major corn country, but I'm coming into a bunch of high price developments. I could buy a home for anywhere from 350K to 1 Mill.  What a bargain.  However, I went by this one development where the house appeared to be done, but the roads were still gravel and they had grass and wild flowers growing up through it all.  My guess is that the housing market is down here.  I hate seeing farm land converted like that.  Jill wants me to get on 290 East towards the airport.  Oh yeah, somewhere before getting on 290, I went by a Daimler Chrysler plant and saw them loading cars on train cars.  Cool.  I also went by the largest Nursery I've ever seen somewhere back in this area too.  It was called Wilson's Nursery (hear that dad?).

Now, up until this moment, my vacation has been pretty much stress free.  All of that is about to change as enter the Chicago freeway system at 3:30 in the afternoon on a Saturday.  I can't begin to imagine what this is like during a work day. 290 is packed.  Speed limit is 55, but one minute we're doing 70 and the next we're stopped.  I have a beautiful charcoal grey Ferrari (sp?) pull up beside me, whom I follow for a while.  Boy, that car sounded great.  It can scoot too, but why you would drive it here, I'm not sure.  At one point, I goose it to get out into the passing lane just as everyone break lights are coming on.  I practically pull a stoppie.  Why?  Because some idiot decide to pull into the U-turn spot, which was also occupied by a police vehicle.  Not cool.  I continue towards the city and traffic comes to a dead stop.  I tell Jill we have to detour and she does her job.  I get off the next exit and meander the Chicago burps with Jill's assistance.  At one point, I go past a city Zoo.  I think the town begin with "B" like Bedford Park maybe.  Jill brings me back on route 55 and follow that to 90/94.  I remember seeing sign for Lake Shore drive and I did see the Chicago sky line. I  think I was close to lake Michigan, but I never actually laid eyes on it.  What's that on the traffic sign?  State police are targeting reckless Motorcycle driving?  Just motorcycles???  Why not all the other reckless shit I see out here.  I'm the only motorcycle I've seen and I'm just trying not to get squished.  Grrr.  Jill has me popping on to 94/90/80/20 and so on.  I'm not sure where I am.  I'm just mindlessly taking instructions hoping to get through this in one piece.  Oh good, sky is dark up ahead.  I'm going to get wet.  Welcome to Indiana.  Yup, it's starting to rain.  I have to pull over and at least bag up my duffel.  I can get wet, but I don't want to be changing into wet stuff.  Back on the road I go.  It's a downpour.  I'm in construction.  I can't see.  This is not fun.  I get off at next exit and find a truck stop. I top for coffee and chili and to wait out the storm.  I get done, gas up and head out again.  Jill has me going up into Michigan (cool) cuz I don't want any toll roads.  Guess what?  I'm faster than the storm is.  I want to make Michigan before I hit the storm, but it's not going to work.  I can see places on the west bound side where road is flooded many inches already.  Let's get off here in Michigan City.  OK, but easier said then done with all the construction.  I number of people goof the construction exits (I saw 2 other bikes and a bus do so) and I'm dodging orange cones like at the advanced rider training, and in the wet mind you.  Well, I finally find my first Red Roof Inn where my AMA card will get me a whooping 10% discount.  

Well, I'm off the road and I'm safe.  Where can I find beer?  The check-in girl (sorry if not politically correct, but so what - it's my story) says you probably want it cold don't ya.  Well, duh!  Do I look British?  Yeah, well the gas station across the street sells it, but it's not cold.  You can go to liquor store or to the supermarket.  Forget it.  I'm not going back out on the bike.  It's not worth it.  Time to crash and figure out tomorrow's route.

By the way, in case you're wondering why I'm in a hurry to get to the east coast, it's because I'm meeting some people there that are very important to me for a few days of sun and surf.  This is a can't miss event, so that's what I'm scurrying along this way.  I still got some time though to run down the Miss.  Maybe I can hit some back roads in West Virginia.

Mileage:  510
Gas:  $44
Hotel: $68
Breakfast:  N/A
Dinner:  $8

[cyclebabble]

Well I spent the last hour and fifteen minutes reading your report, and it was worth it.  Thanks so much for sharing.  Especially enjoyed your musings, and sense of humour, though it might have been the beer!  

Oh, and yes Laura Ingalls Wilder was a real person, and Little House on the Prairie(the show) was based on her books.  I guess it is a Mid West thing, mandatory that you learn this in elementary school.

Thanks again for sharing your trip.

Chris

[chornbe]

Anyone heard any more from bad-dog? Hope everything's OK.

[foosnut]

Actually I haven't and although I am concerned I also am not concerned, his last day was in Ohio at the AMA Museum, He was then heading for Ocean City to meet wife and kids, I have a feeling he is sitting with his feet in the sand having a beer and can't be bothered at the moment. I will call him tonight and pester him for the final report...

Here are a few last pics....Neil Pearts bike and drums, that is for me a huge RUSH fan.

Corn Palace, AMA Museaum and Baddog eating a creampuff.

[baddogonabmw]

Alll is well guys although I did have an incident on Day 18 that made my whole adventure sour for about a day, but I have since gotten over it.  Now, for your reading pleasure:

Day 18 - Wheeling

More miscellaneous musings:

1 - Somewhere, I passed a house with a sign that said "Corn hole games 4 sale."  It certainly made me wonder, but I wasn't stopping to find out.


I left Michigan City around 7:00 AM local (8:00 at home) and decided I wanted to head up the lake and get some pics.  Well, I got to New Buffal and headed to the local beach, but they already had the park gates manned at 7:30 in the morning on a Sunday.  So, I got a pic from the road and decided to continue my pursuit northward.  I continue up rt 12 until I come to Some Dunes state park.  I pull up to the $ booth and there's a young girl working.  No one else is around, so I shut off bike to talk to her.  I ask "how much to see the lake?"  She asks if I have Michigan plates on the back of that thing.  Not thinking, I answer truthfully and say nope.  She tells me it will be $8.  For a motorcyle?  Yup, it's $8 for anyone from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  So, let's say I just go in take a pic of the lake and come back out.  Should take 5 minutes tops.  Sure, if you pay $8.  Damn kid.  Too much moral upbringing here.  She tells me I can go 10-15 miles up the lake and then there are some overlooks.  I thank her and head up the lake.  I happen to notice it's getting very grey out.  I look up and I can tell there's a storm coming.  Crap.  I decide to boogie out of Michigan.  I find some nice back roads for a bit, but also find a lady parked almost smack dab in the middle of a 4 way intersection and she is out of her vehicle gabbing up with some other lady who is half pulled off the road coming in from the left.  I proceed through and they don't even bother to look at me.  Ok then.  I'm continuing through the countryside and come around a corner and there's a washout immediately in front of me.  Talk about pucker factor. Yikes.  The Concours hardly even blinks.

I check out of Michigan and come into Indiana, headed for Ohio with an eventual destination of Wheeling, West virginia.  I let Jill lead the way and she takes me on a combination of highways and back roads.  I think I primarily traveled route 30, 31 or 33 in to Fort Wayne, Indiana and then on through Ohio.  I stopped at a rest area and had a truck driver come over and talk to me about bikes.  Seems he's an enthusiast himself.  Well, 45 minutes later, we both decide we need to get going and head on down the road.  I never did catch the guys name, but he drives for Rodeway out of Akron.  Somewhere in all of this, I ask Jill to find me a gas station.  She does, but when I get there, both ends of the street it is on are closed for repairs.  I end finding a back alley and weed my way in to get some gas.  The E light was calling, so I didn't dare push on too far.  When I left, I just went down the closed street.  Eventually, Jill took me into Columbus and as I'm going up the highway, I see the AMA Hall of Fame Museuem sign.  Well, you can bet your tutu that I've got to go there.  I take the next exit and get myself to the museum. I love the motorcycle only parking that's also covered.  The exhibit's were ok.  They were geared to TV and Superstar type stuff a bit much, but it was all cool.

I get back on the road and head to Wheeling.  I jumped off the highway a few times and tried some of the back roads, but they all just paralled the highway for the most part and were stop and go traffic.  I figure I'll just get on to Wheeling and I'll get to enjoy some twisties tomorrow.  I did go through the town of Zanesville and they have a Y bridge.  There are actually 3 spans and it Y's out.  I thought that was a little different.  I come into Wheeling, just before the tunnel and go into the downtown area. I'm not impressed. I decide to head back to Island City and find the Casino since the last Casino I was in treated me pretty good.  Well, this place is a lot bigger and they appear very busy.  I go inside and sure enough they are booked for the night, but they can put me on a wait list and rooms are $135/night. I'm sure I can find something cheaper.  I go to leave and the Valet comes over to talk to me about my BMW.  I have to laugh as this is the 5th or 6th time that someone thought my bike was a BMW.  We chat a bit and when he finds I'm not staying cuz there are no rooms, he assures me he can get me one. I decline and he gives me some advice on where to find a room.  Well, I don't feel like shelling the $ on the Hampton, so I go to the Super 8 where they want $110.  I ask the girl if there is any place around under $100.  She suggests I go back to St Claire on the Ohio side, maybe 10 miles or so.  I do and I find a Red Roof Inn there for like $58.  Great.

Well, here's where my trip hits a sour note.  While talking to people on the cell, I was moseying around outside and happened to notice a fella who seemed to have a bit of an unhealthy relationship with his truck.  Basically, he was always in it or doing something to it.  So, a little later, a grab the chair out of my room and pull it up on the sidewalk directly in front of my room so I can enjoy the night and still talk.  Here's the setup.  The sidewalk is probably 3-4 wide and is made of cement and butts up against the building.  On the other side of the cement, is apx 3 feet of gravel and on the other side of that is the asphalt parking lot.  Now, I had a couple people walk by me and when they did, they just stepped into the gravel to go around.  Well, I'm talking and I happen to sense someone near and I look up and the truck guy is standing there and he says excuse me.  I'm like sure and I swivel the chair and my feet out of his way.  As he goes by, he mumbles something about not owning the whole damn sidewalk.  I'm flabbergasted.  I'm talking to Chris at the time and tell her what just happened.  Well, the guy must have just went into the office quick and he comes walking back.  I'm turned to the side for him to get through.  The conversation goes somelike this:

Me - Hey buddy.  What's with the owning the sidewalk comment.  I let you through and didn't give you any attitude.
Him - Well you're sitting in the middle of the sidewalk.
Me - So?
Him - Why don't you go in your room?
Me - Why don't you go in your room and then you want have to look at me sitting in the sidewalk
... He continues walking down towards his room and can hear him muttering something still
Him - Hey
...  I turn and lock
Him -
Me - If you had any, you would come on back down here.
Him - Know what you are?
Me - Hunh?
Him - You're a punk.  That's what you are.  A punk.
Me - Ummm, yeah, ok - why don't you just go in and go to bed

So, I just blow it off, but as usually happens with me, I started to get heated up after the fact.  I'm still on phone with Chris and still sitting out on sidewalk.  Truck guy goes out and sits in his truck again.  I talk to Chris for a while yet and go inside to upload my photos for the day.  Now, every time I hear a noise though, I'm up and looking out the window to make sure he isn't screwing with my bike.  By this time, I want to vent my anger at the fellow, but decide it's best to remove myself from the situation as I don't see this ending well.  I go to the desk and let them know one of the other customers has apparently taken issue with me sitting on the sidewalk.  Well, come to find out, it's Billy and Billy is a bit of a regular.   They assure me he's harmless, but that's not entirely what I'm worried about.  The offer to refund my money and make me a reservation at a nearby hotel.  I vacate.  Now, here's the funny thing to me.  I get to the new place and go to my room and 3 doors down, people are sitting out on the sidewalk.  When I get up this morning, the same people are out, plus my immediate neighbors have brought their chairs out of the room and are sitting out enjoying the morning.

I just don't get it.  I know that Jaboree in the Hills just ended cuz the one clerk told me about the "drunk fest" and was glad that was over.  Maybe this guy was still angry from that, or maybe he just doesn't like guys on motorcycles, or what.  I'm not sure.  Anyhow, that ate at me just about all day today.  It's good to get it off my chest.

Since I left the Red Roof, I then didn't have internet to send anything out.  Plus, I was aggitated and didn't feel like doing my trip report, so this is written a day late.  Day 19 finds me at Ocean City, NJ and we don't have internet here, so this will be late getting posted too.

Mileage:  490
Gas:  $44
Hotel: $58 the first place and $68 the second
Breakfast:  N/A
Dinner:  $12

[baddogonabmw]

I make it to Ocean City, NJ to spend a few days with my family on Day 19.  I was still PO'd about the idiot back in St. Claire, so I didn't write much.

More miscellaneous musings:

1 - Did you know that the first father's day originated in Fairmont, WV?  Well, it did.
2 - West Virginia is one weird place, especially in the hills.  It just gives you the jeebies to go through, but the couple of times I did stop, the people were very nice.

So, I left St Claire around 8:00 local time.  Yes, that's 8:00 our time.  I don't know where I crossed the time line to Eastern time, but I think it was back in Indiana.  Part of me wanted to go back to the Red Roof to confront Billy, but again, I decided it was best to just to leave it alone.  I jump on 7 south and pick up route 250 in Moundsville, down to Hundred and eventually into Fairmont.  I continued on down to Gratton and troads are getting good, but Jill is insisting I have to take 191 north to Morgantown and some other back roads.  I eventually find myself doing the superslap out 68/70 and run past DC, Baltimore, Wilmington and then headed to the Ocean.  Now, I'm here and I'm whooped.  Time to take a couple days R&R and then head back home.

Other than my incident with the truck lover, it's been awesome.  Unfortunately, the last few days on the east coast dealing with the traffic and such has made me more stressed than I've been in weeks.  Oh well, guess it's time to get back to the grind.  Hope everyone enjoyed the reports.


Mileage:  480
Gas:  $46
Hotel: My honey has this bill:-)
Breakfast:  $4
Dinner:  n/a

[baddogonabmw]

Day 20

In Ocean City with wife and 2 daughters and one of their girlfriends.  Son coming in later tonight.

Mileage: 0 *NOTE: My mileage when I arrived at beach was 8650
Gas: $0
Hotel: My honey has this bill:-)
Breakfast: she has this bill too
Dinner: and again:-)

[baddogonabmw]

Day 21 - Another day of R&R

Family's is all here and we're just doing the typical beach and boardwalk stuff.  I've eaten better in these two days than I did in 3 weeks. Still, the girls don't think I look any skinnier.  Damn.  It must be the beer!

Mileage: 0
Gas: $0
Hotel: N/A
Breakfast: N/A
Dinner: N/A

[baddogonabmw]

I'm home!!!

Got itchin for home during the night.  Decided to come home a day early and let the family enjoy a day at the beach without me.  I was more upset leaving them today though than I was 3 weeks ago.  It must have been the excitment of my trip befpre.  

It's been 3 weeks to the day that I began my adventure and now I'm home with 8,902 miles on the Odometer.  I think the bike had 2 miles on it when I started this adventure.  Funny how it worked out.

Other than the run in with the truck lover, this trip was absolutely awesome.  I would do it again if given the chance.  Yes, I would do some things differently and would likely slow down and enjoy places longer, but I would have that luxury now that I've seen the things I've seen and done.

Damn, I love home.  I'm sitting here on my back patio and looking out into my back field and the mountains behind and still think I live in the one of the most beautiful areas in the country.

Hope everyone enjoyed the reports.  If not, then go out and do a trip and let me critique yours

Mileage: 250
Gas: $26
Hotel: N/A
Breakfast: $12
Dinner: Don't know yet.  Probably going out for wings since it's been 3 weeks!

[CJBurbank]

Well done!  

[chornbe]

Very awesome!  

[baddogonabmw]

I forgot to post my pics, or tell you where to find them.  Sorry about that.

Go here:  http://cid-13bab56da2de2a2d.skydrive.live.com/albums.aspx and click on the Albums Day 1 thru Day 18.  Enjoy.

[atadaskew]

First time I read this, fantastic, thank you!

How many miles were on that first set of tyres? And how many did you get out of the second (the Roads)?

[baddogonabmw]

The first set of tires were the stock Bridgestones.  I had something like 3900 miles on them.  The front was definitely in need of replacing and the rear could have got some more out of it, but I changed them together.

I had over 13,000 miles on the bike (so about 9,000 on the tires) before I looked to swap out the pilot roads for another set.  I figured I had to get bike inspected as my 6 month T-plate from Arizona was running out so I might as well get new tires as they were getting iffy.  I got the rear changed back in Oct, but the dealer had problems getting me a front at that time.  I'm still waiting on my front, but it should be here in time for spring.

I really like the Pilot Road 2's.

[baddogonabmw]

By the way, this trip took place from July 3 (Day 1) to July 24 (Day 22), so you can figure out where I was and on what day I was there if that's your kick.