Westward HO! ride report, or Our 2nd attempt at going west

[Jetpilot5]

An absolutely great report, can't wait to read the rest of it.  Someday I hope to do an epic bike trip like this.

Didn't happen to see my Mom working at the gift shop in the Old Faithful Inn did you?  She says lots of people on bikes this year.  I told her to keep an eye out for coffee drinking sport-tourers from Illinois and Wisconsin.

[Grnarrowe]

It's later

DAY 8

Today's route...


Today we're off to Cody, WY. UP US-20 into YNP and thru the park to US-212 and the Beartooth pass. My original plan was to go to Red Lodge, MT gas up then head back down US-212 to the Chief Joesph byway, WY-296 and into Cody. But we did not have the time and I did not want to be on 212 or 296 in the evening or at night so we took MT-308 to MT-72 south to WY-120 into Cody. We got into Cody about 7PM or so, got to our hotel had dinner at the restaurant next door then went for a walk to downtown Cody. Cody is a great place to visit, friendly people and lots to do. We were in Cody for 2 days and I'd go back. So lets get to today's photos.



In YNP.


Falls start here then...



go down this way.

The problem with watching all this water is that it leads to you having to make a pit stop.


After the falls we stopped at a gas station in the park where we ran into a guy on an FJR from Florida. We talked to him for about 45 minutes a little longer than we wanted to but it's always good to meet new people. We then started to head north into YNP..





In my opinion the north end of the park is the best part. The views are second to none and there are less people up this way.  





After we left the gas station we saw a sign that said "Narrow winding road". You be the judge..




The speed limit in the park was 45MPH. I never felt the "Need for speed" going thru here. I mean, why?..


We eventually crossed the Yellowstone River









Getting close to the NorthEast entrance to the park.



Another river, I believe it is the Lamar River.

At this point we exited YNP and headed to Cooke City, MT. When we were talking to the guy from FLA he told us that the road from the NE Entrance to Cook City had been taken out by a slide. It was open just 4 miles of gravel, I hate gravel. The fact that it was gravel didn't bother me, it was the fear of getting a flat on either bike that worried me. But we made it to Cooke City without incident. We stopped at the Soda Butte Lodge for lunch but first we got gas, for the bikes.


Lunch for the bikes was here.


Lunch stop for us.

Then across the street for some merchandising.


The also had a few stuffed critters here.




CHZBRGR!!!!!!!!


Cooke City, Montana.

Then it was onward and upward to here.






We stopped at a place called the Top of the World general store.

This was just across the road from it.


Here's the sign. But the top of the world is actually down the road a bit.


THIS is the top of the world.


Chili was impressed, as was I.





This may be the only time that snow and our FJRs are on the road at the same time.


As we came around a corner like this one there was a car stopped in the middle of the road!   Good thing we weren't going fast otherwise it might have been painful. They did move up and pull off the road but why would you stop around a blind curve?


Just beautiful up here.

After reaching Red Lodge we turned east on MT-308. This was a nice road, fairly smooth and nice sweepers.


MT-308

We then came up on this.




The Smith Mine. It was abandoned after an accident that killed 23(?) miners.

We got into Cody about 7PM and got to our hotel. They had bears throughout the town like Chicago had cows sometime ago. This one was in front of our hotel.



By the visitors center


Careful buying a house here, it's a bear market. (ba-da-bum)


Buffalo Bills hotel, the Irma.


Keeping an eye on traffic.



Gettin a little honey.


And the Buffalo Bill historical center just a few blocks from our hotel. We did not get a chance to go thru it as some people said it takes a full day to see it all. We then went back to the hotel for a good nights sleep as tomorrow we would be heading out to the Chief Joesph byway.

[Grnarrowe]

An absolutely great report, can't wait to read the rest of it.  Someday I hope to do an epic bike trip like this.

Didn't happen to see my Mom working at the gift shop in the Old Faithful Inn did you?  She says lots of people on bikes this year.  I told her to keep an eye out for coffee drinking sport-tourers from Illinois and Wisconsin.

No we did not see her as we did not get a chance to get to the Inn. We did see someone with a name tag (Dorthy) and it was then that I remembered someone told us to look for her, we just didn't remember it was you. Next time you talk to your mom ask her if she was at Old Faithful about 2 PM to the right side of it. If she was then we were sitting right in front of her.

[cyclebabble]

Thanks for the great report!  If all goes according to plan I will be making my way out west at the end of the month.  I have been devouring ride reports that have anything to do with Wyoming, Colorado & South Dakota.

Thanks Again, looking forward to more!

Chris

[Ears]

Thanks for the great report!  If all goes according to plan I will be making my way out west at the end of the month.  I have been devouring ride reports that have anything to do with Wyoming, Colorado & South Dakota.

Thanks Again, looking forward to more!

Chris

Chris,
If you plan on doing any of the national parks, get the annual pass. It won't work for the state parks like Custer, but it's great for breezing thru the entrances of Yellowstone and Glacier. http://www.nps.gov  It worked for both of us, even tho we were on separate bikes.

[Grnarrowe]

Okay, let's see... What day is this?  OH YEA!!!

DAY 9

Todays route


Today was just a jaunt up the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway to Cooke City then back to Cody. We had wanted to go to the Grand Tetons but time & distance were against us.


The begining.






The road starts to climb almost as soon as you get on it. The curves here are not the tight curves you find up higher. And with the front tires cupped any frisky cornering or tight corners would be an adventure.







And there were some great views here too.


One overview on CJSH is the Dead Indian overlook. Why would you shoot the marker?


There is a road down there, see?


A local, he seemed to be unimpressed.




We could hear these two working the road, I bet they were having fun.




After leaving Dead Indian Overlook we came to a bridge that went over a deep gorge.


I forget the name of the bridge but the views were something else.




Looking down from the bridge.








You are here. How do they know????  


Beartooth from CJSH.



We got into Cooke City MT and had lunch at the Soda Butte Lodge again and got the same waitress. We could have gone back into Yellowstone then headed to the south entrance and gone to the Grand Tetons but we would have gotten there just in time to take a few pictures then leave to head back to Cody. Besides, there was no direct way back to Cody so we'll have to go back and get to the Grand Tetons another time.

After lunch we went back to the Chief Joesph Hwy and on back to Cody.


Yellowstone trading post in Cooke City. Got 3 t-shirts for $20 here.


More rushing water passing under CJH.




Saying goodbye to Beartooth.


Still some curves left to do.










 



Leaving the Shoshone forest along the Chief Joseph.


We saw these signs along some of the roads. We could not see where it was damaged. They should have these signs posted at all the border crossings when you come into Illinois, the roads here suck.


We don't see any damage from here...


or here.



Watch your food, I think Yogi is looking for a pic-a-nic basket.


The end.

It was back to Cody at this point. We wanted to have dinner at the Irma hotel. This is the hotel that Buffalo Bill built and named after his daughter. We had the prime rib buffette. Not bad but not all that great.


The bar at the Irma


Chili needed a booster seat for the bar.


The Irma Hotel.

After dinner we went back to our hotel and got everything ready to go in the morning. We would be doing almost 500 miles and we wanted to see the Little Big Horn and Devils Tower so a shower and some sleep would be the end of another great day.

To be continued yet again....

[Grnarrowe]

DAY 10

Today's route..


Today would start our journey home. For the most part we would be heading east. My original plan for today was to head east on US-14A to US-14 then to I-90 to The Little Big Horn. Then east on US-212 to Alzada MT then south to Devils Tower then onto Spearfish, SD. When we left The Little Big Horn and started to go east there was a road construction sign and one that said motorcycles consider alt route. So not knowing what the road was like I deiced to play it safe and head back east on I-90. This ended up taking us out of the way and adding time so by the time we got to the Devils Tower exit it was 6 PM and after a long hot day we decided to pass up DT. On a side note I think I saw it from the highway but I could be wrong.

On with the photos then.

We left Cody about 8 AM, gassed up the bikes, put air in the tires and headed east on US-14A. I chose this route cause it looked twisty on the map.  It was but I didn't figure on the elevation change.


For a while the land was flat but then we started to climb up some more mountains. The road had a 7% grade to it, at least that's what the sign said.



For some reason this road made me nervous. It looked like they were repairing it in some sections, it may have been damaged by a slide. As there was nothing on one side of the road and rock on the other side this may have been the cause of my nervousness, but the views from up here were fantastic.







Eventually the road flattened out and we were on a high plain, the temps were cooler up here and there was some snow up here as well.

We then started down the other side which did not bother me as much as going up. We saw the Fallen City,


which was a rock formation that had broken off and supposedly was to look like a city in ruins.


Looks like a bunch of rocks to me.







US-14 on the way down. This had some nice 180 turns to it coming down just before we got into Ranchester, WY where we stopped for lunch. We saw a VFR with FJR bags on it and it had Illinois plates on it. Anyone here?

After lunch we headed north to the Little big Horn.


We reentered Montana for the 735Th time, or so it seemed, to go here.



The site of Custer's last stand


Monument to the fallen 7Th Cav soldiers.


Markers show where the soldiers fell on that day.


Gen Custer fell here, he was reburied elsewhere, I forget where.


There were other markers scattered about as well.


There was also a memorial for the horses of the 7TH Cav.


There were these markers for the fallen Indian warriors.


And this piece of art. I forget it's exact meaning but it was a beautiful work of art.



Looking over the battlefield.


There also is a graveyard here. It includes some who fell in battle but it also has others, not sure of the exact details though.


This explains some of it.



After leaving The Little Big Horn and finding US-212 under construction we doubled back down I-90 where we reentered WY for the 984Th time, or so it seemed.



Alongside I-90. This about sums up our trip along I-90 through Wyoming to Spearfish, SD. By the time we got to the exit for Devils Tower it was about 6PM and we figured it would be too late to go see it. So we headed on into Spearfish for the night and our usual routine ensued, food, shower, sleep as we would have one more long & hot day to contend with.

To be continued......

[Grnarrowe]

And that long hot day would be...

DAY 11

Today's route..


This day would be the last day of curves and twistys, which would suck as we were becoming quite fond of them. Even though we had a few more days of travel left it was beginning to be a letdown(?) as we were on our way home.

First order of the day was breakfast at the hotel, hey it's free. We then got our gear loaded on the bikes and headed to Wal-e world for some water and a few other items. I got talking to a guy on a Connie while Vicki went in for our supplies. I forget where he was from but we talked about the differences of the Connie & the FJR and where we had been. Our next stop was for gas then onto Spearfish Caynon.


Another great road, US-16A


More beautiful views, and best of all..


Chili approved!  

We gotinto Deadwood and frankly we didn't see any reason to stop. So we headed south on US-385, I would have taken Nemo Road but it wasn't where I wanted to go, should have anyway but, oh well. The ride on 385 was as scenic as any we had been on. Not real twisty but just enough.


After a while we stopped here for a bathroom break and to take in the sights.










Our 3 intrepid travelers in this tale.



US-385 in South Dakota.

After leaving our little rest area, actually we left due to the underpowered, overpriced and overtly noisy V twins that entered the quiet rest area, we headed towards Custer and Iron Mountain Road thru Custer State Park. We had ridden this road last year but we did it at dusk  . I wouldn't recommend that but we had to get to Custer and well we got there. This time it was late morning when we got there and it was much better to do it in full daylight. Why? Cause the road does this a few times..


You start down here to get up above.


But you have to go around , to the left, more that 180 degrees. FUN STUFF!!  




Some views from under the bridge.

We got going again and after a short while we got stuck behind a car and a Murano. The Murano was slowing for EVERY corner and all I could think was "A Fool and his Murano..." Well the fool finally pulled off and the car in front of us, with Illinois plates, starts moving! Yea! Then for some reason after a few miles HE STARTS SLOWING DOWN!!! BOO!!! We pulled of into a pull out to let the bikes cool off as it was a hot day and thanks to fools like the ones above both bikes were running hot.

So it was picture taking time again!


Take the time




Even with the cloud cover it was hot.


Iron Mountain Road.




Me & Chili.


We did and we loved it.



Enough with the pictures, I NEED SOME LUNCH!!!

Chili was right it was time to go for some grub, but first we went to SD-87, Needles Hwy. We had done this last year but this time I only did 1 stop and that was at the visitors center by SD-89. Of course we ended up behind some knucklehead in a Prius(?) who couldn't drive the dam thing. Everytime a car would approach from the opposite direction he would slow down. At one point he did this in a corner, where he almost stopped!! I had my visor up and being the kind gentle sole that I am I yelled at him. My words of encouragement to him were "YOU DON'T STOP IN THE MIDDLED OF A CORNER YOU F@#$^%! IDIOT!!!" Luckily for me he had his window down and took these encouraging words to hart and started moving again. And guess what!? RIGHT, he pulled off into the VC also. Although I don't think he stuck around as 1) there were just a few places to park or 2) I was right behind him and he may have been a wee bit nervous. This wouldn't have been so bad but they just repaved SD-87 and it would have been a lot more fun without Mr Prius in the way.

After our merchandising stop, we bought 2 sweat shirts, we headed down SD-89 to US-16 then back south on SD-87 to the Blue Bell Resort for lunch. We had stopped here last year and it was so good that we stopped here again. And since 87 is twisty Thur here helped, also there was no traffic in front of us!  

Now if you remember about day 4 our front tires had cupped , going in a straight line was okay but any aggressive cornering was or could be an adventure, we were about to take an adventure. Due to the conditions, no traffic in front of us, a nice curvy road and add a couple of flatlanders and you get not one but TWO STNr's going into a 35MPH left hand curve at about 50MPH, WITH CUPPED TIRES no less!!! Both stayed upright but BOTH had an "OH SHIT!" moment. Now for me left hand turns were the adventure, I was having lots of fun when we came up to this left hand-er and I just went with it and realized I was going in TOO HOT!!! Did I panic, YES, for a split second then I kept telling myself "watch where you WANT to go and lean, lean, LEAN!! Now power power POWER your way thru, and holy cornering ability Batman it worked!! Did I slow down after this, NO WAY!!! THIS IS FUN!!!     Vicki had pretty much the same experience, had the front tires not been cupped it would not have been anything to write about. Just another meh moment.

We got to Blue Bell and had some Bison burgers which were very good.


Chili saddled up to the bar but we had to go. It was after 1 PM and we had to get to Mitchell, SD today so no ale for Chili.

After leaving Blue Bell and having an uneventful ride back up SD-87 to US-16 then East to SD-79 to I-90 we headed east. It was still hot but we were moving and we ended up here..


We had gone thru the Badlands last year but this time we were going west to east. There are some great views here also. If you haven't been to the Badlands you should go. Skip Wall Drug thou, it was a let down last year so we did not go this year.











It was HOT going thru the Badlands but we did have our water and we stayed hydrated. We then got back on the interstate and headed east to Mitchell, Sd where we would be stopping for the night. We made one stop for gas on the way to Mitchell.


The sun was going down and by the time we got top Mitchell it was 9PM. I missed the sign for the hotel as it was not lit up but we turned around without mishap and got checked in. We met a bunch of people on BMW's as they had stopped here on their way to Gillette, WY for the BMW rally. I guess this explains all the BMW's we were seeing.

By the time we got into our room we were to tired to go for food, so we had a pizza delivered. No not Di Gerono(SP?) Domino's, not the best pizza but after a long hot day it was better that starving, just.

Then it was time for a shower and some sleep. The next day would be hot but less miles as we were only going to Sparta, WI.


More to follow...

[Grnarrowe]

Lets finish this up, shall we?

DAY 12

Today's route..


Today would take us from Mitchell, SD to Sparta,WI. Since we used the slab there were very few photos taken.

We left Mitchell about 8 AM after getting some breakfast, remember it's free, some gas for the bikes and some ice & water for us. Again today would be a hot day going across SD, MN then into WI.

We stopped for a break after entering MN. At the rest area we were surprised to find it manned, we asked if all of them were and the guy said that some were, the major stops along the interstate I believe.

I also took time to check out the bug kill on the front of my FJR also.






Not a whole lot but most of that was from the beginning of the trip.

As we continued on thru MN it was HOT and I was just dreaming of the pool at the end of to days ride. I figured I would check in then walk on into the pool directly after checking in. BUT as we neared the WI border we could see clouds over Lacrosse(sp). As we got closer to the border we got under the clouds and it cooled off by about 15 to 20 degrees. This was welcomed. For a while it looked as if it might rain on us but we made it into Sparta, WI before any water started to fall from the sky.

When we got to the Super 8 I checked in while Vicki used the restroom. After getting the key for the room I went to check it out. This is what I found.


The front room..


The bedroom which had its VERY OWN Hot tub!


Chili & blue await the hot tub fill up.


It also had a fireplace.

Now you may be wondering what's a room like this doing in a Super 8, better yet what's it cost? I was pondering those very thoughts. I was surprised when I opened the door at first. After dropping my gear in the room I went out to get the rest of my stuff off the bike and by this time Vicki had exited the restroom so I took her to the room and said something like you wont believe this room. I then opened the door and she was amazed. There was a card on the back of the door which had the price of the room on it. According to this card this room ran $225 a night! Now I paid, with tax, are ya ready?? I paid $78.00!   That's right, $78 dollars for a suite at the Super 8 in Sparta, WI.  Stay there if you're passing thru. OH! There is a pool and hot tub for the masses to use but since we had our own hot tub..............

Thus ended Day 12 after dinner, shower & a relaxing soak in our PRIVATE hot tub.Tomorrow would find us back home after a good nights sleep


CHILI!!!!!!

DAY 13

The final route...


The last day of vacation dawned a bit over cast. It had rained a little last night after we got in. We also heard on the news that there had been some flooding in Lacrosse. The original plan was to take the back roads south and east to get home. But due to the rain we had had before we left we just slabbed it to US-12,hmmm. To bad US-12 thru WI isn't like it is in Idaho.

We left a little later this morning after the free breakfast, about 9 AM. We got into Lagrange, WI, one of the Region 4 haunts, where stopped for lunch. Now prior to stopping we knew we were home due to the slow moving cage in the left lane. US-12 goes from 4 lanes at I-94 where we picked it up down to 2 lanes then back to 4 for a short time then back to 2. Well where it opens up to 4 lanes this cager, going slow I might add, stays in the left lane even though there is a sign that says Slower traffic keep right. He didn't, he stayed planted in the left so we did the correct STN pass on the right while doing a wheelie and a head stand!  

Any way we got to our lunch stop





We also got some dessert for later.


I noticed that Chili is quite the chow hound and he may well have a drinking problem. It may be time for a Chili intervention. But enough about the troubles of an inanimate object.


The alphabit roads in WI are quite fun




Chili also rode a different kind of bike then it was homeward bound.

We got home about 1:30PM July,17 2008..

WITHOUT THE USE OF A TRUCK!!!!!!!!!!!      

Thus ends our vacation for 2008.

Overview:

Would I do this again?  YOU BET!!

What would I do differently?  I would do the route in the reverse order and maybe cut out going thru NV & UT. I would like to spend more time at Yellowstone and at Glacier National Parks. We did do most of the roads everyone has talked about,

Going to the Sun Hwy.  Check
Lolo Pass.  Check
Beartooth Pass. Check
Chief Joesph. Check
Rattle Snake Ridge. CHECK!

For those of you who live out that way you have some GREAT roads.
For those of you who are thinking about going out that way, STOP THINKING about it and just GO!

We had a great time and we hope to do another trip like this sometime in the future.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed the photos as much as we enjoyed taking them!  

[Hardware]

This is an awesome report...of an even more awesome trip!

I envy you both!

[Virginian]

Wonderful ride report and a good read while at work daydreaming!  
Thank you,
Eric

[wheatonFJR]

OUTSTANDING ride report there Pete.  

Glad the FJRs did better this time around.  Looks like you guys previewed my trip for next year.

[Orson]

Thanks for all the pictures  

Great report  

[Grnarrowe]

Thank you all for your comments, hope you can get out that way and ride the roads and see the sights we did.

One final note, about a week after getting home I took Vicki's bike down to get the front tire replaced, on the way down to the shop it started to rain. Light rain at first but 2 miles from the shop it started to POUR! With the vent on my helmet destroyed on day 2 by a rock flung into the air by a semi in Sask, Canada, this let more than the usual amount of water into my helmet.

I was going to try to wait until the end of the year to replace it but sine Jarrow, now Caberg does not have a US distributor it would be difficult to replace. At least you'd think so. Well Vicki found http://WWW.DESIGNERHELMETS.COM they are in the UK, Halifax to be a bit more specific. I ordered a new Caberg Justissimo GT and a week and a half later the postal person delivered it to my front door. I thought it would be at least 5 to 8 weeks before I got it, so a big to Designer Helmets. Price shiped to my door was $327.61 US plus my CC charged an additional $6.55 foreign transaction fee, so fo $344.16 I got the helmet I wanted.

It is much quietier that my Jarrow and looks a whole lot better, see?


The new, complete with top vent cover


The old, without.


Side by side.

With the top vent closed I do get a whistling noise at some speeds but a much better helmet overall.

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

Time to add video mounted to the bike Pete.  

[Oddball]

Nice report.  Don't know how I missed it, but you sucked me in with Westward Ho 2 or How to ALMOST end a vacation before it starts.  Now I'll go read the rest of that one.

[Heath3n]

Nice report.  Don't know how I missed it, but you sucked me in with Westward Ho 2 or How to ALMOST end a vacation before it starts.  Now I'll go read the rest of that one.

Same here! This was great report w/ beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing!

[Ramseybella]

I love epic tours like this. Magical and Stunning!

Your report was what makes me want to ride the world.

My last Epic was Santa Fe, NM to Idaho Falls, West Yellowstone, Grand Tetons south to Grand Junction to Ouray Colorado then back to Santa Fe.

I wanted to do more but the weather turned on me last part of the ride.

Loved every minute of it even 112 degrees in Moab, UT late July.

Hoping to do Redwoods and back to Yellowstone again this new season, God willing.

Thank you again for sharing your cool Odyssey.

http://goo.gl/maps/X4mqz


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[flips21]

A great read for the middle of winter.  

Thanks