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Travel - These bikes were made for riding => Ride Reports => Topic started by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 03:46:33 PM

Title: Mounting Mountaina - Three some...
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 03:46:33 PM
Since I posted the other two Montana reports on Triumph-Tiger.com and they got moved to this one I don't want to hold back the third installment.

Here we go...
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 03:48:00 PM
Prologue and planning...[/i]

After the two previous trips to Montana I wanted to do one more before my project work is done up there. Bonus: get my wife up there as well. Bonus bonus: attend the Tiger Ride-In in Kamiah, ID. Hmmmmmm....

So I spoke to the project manager up there and arranged to do that trip in the last two weeks in July. Perfect!!! Still vacation time for the kids and a chance to 'park' them with the grandparents in Florida for the time my wife will be in Montana. So I could plan the whole thing as a surprise for her! :cool:

It was on that given Thursday that I was sitting in my hotel room in Indianapolis being happy about the positive note from my project manager when this email came in from my wife. The husband of her roommate from naval training was throwing a surprise BD-party for his wife on the very same weekend the Ride-In was taking place! Hellllo Murphy!! There goes the surprise!!!

"Looks like I'm taking another road trip this summer!" she wrote! "No you're not! You got somewhere else to be that weekend!" Of course that started the nagging machine! I didn't have my peace until she knew what I had planed. Oh well...

After the two previous trips to Montana my most favorite riding buddy Keith had mentioned that he might just come with me the next time around. And this was the next time around!! And he came with me!! He would combine the trip with a family vacation in North Dakota where his father lives. His wife and kids would fly up there and he would ride with me to and fro! So the plan came to be!

He said that I should plan the route and surprise him. Aaaaalrighty then!! So I made up the route going over the plains to Denver, then up north through the Rockies via Rocky Mountain NP and Beartooth Pass (this time it HAD to work out!!). Time line:

Friday / Saturday: Atlanta via plains to Denver
Sunday / Monday: playtime!!!

Doing the routes is 'almost' as much fun as riding them!!
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 03:48:42 PM
Now the only instances that I had my bike on a trailer was when the fuel connectors snapped and I didn't have spares with me. Other than that as far as I'm concerned: bikes are for riding, not pulling!!!!! No discussion!!! Keith knows that, so he was somewhat 'cautious' when he proposed to put the bikes on the back of his F150 and go to Denver that way. He has a cousin living there and we could leave the car with him. So let's see... that would bring the time line to this:

Thursday night to Friday night: drive to Denver, switching drivers along the way
Saturday / Sunday / Monday: playtime!!!!!!!!

So we would gain a day of quality riding! No-brainer!!! :cool:

The flat bed of the F150 is a wee bit small for two monstrous Tigers. And it just so happened that I had a trailer from a co-worker sitting in my garage. I had had it for a week, he was gone on business and would come back after I leave for Montana. So it would be sitting in my garage that whole time. Quick phone call: trailer to Denver it is!!!!!!!!! I love it when a plan comes together nicely like that!!

Keith almost had a heart attack when I told him that I had a trailer for us!

Keith arrived Thursday afternoon (7-19) and we got going getting the bike on the trailer:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175638044-L.jpg)

We are a bit marque-conscious:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175638264-L.jpg)

But just a bit!!!!   :lol:
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 03:49:47 PM
My daughter Madeleine had fun seeing us sweat:

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177020978-L.jpg)
(photo by Keith)[/i]

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175638360-L.jpg)

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177016137-L.jpg)
(photo by Keith)[/i]

My wife Susan made some dinner that vanished rather quickly! Moving Tigers makes for a mean appetite!!

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177021364-L.jpg)

Quick shower afterwards ñ no photos here; don't want to make anybody jealous! - and off we go 'in style':

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177016806-L.jpg)

It was 8 pm and we had more than 1400 miles to go:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179869635-O.jpg)

It promised to be a long night!
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 03:51:14 PM
A long night...[/i]

Traffic during Atlanta rush hour is always a nuisance. Tonight it was a bit less intense. I don't like to take the perimeter (I-285) any time. Traffic sucks there with all the trucks and no HOV lane and what not. I usually take the back roads to work. Not today! I-285 it is with the trailer!

Aww, crap! Now it's starting to rain on top of that! :( Fortunately that was over and done after only a short while. It actually took us very little time get out of Metro Atlanta and hit the open, empty, and peaceful road. We are racking down the miles now!!

The F150 is not the best choice if you're looking for good gas mileage. Keith mentioned he would get about 17-20 mpg highway with that thing. I thought: two tigers at 40 mpg, that's the same as one F150 with 20 mpg! So there is no loss! Yet the needle was sinking a bit faster than Keith was used to and we had to hit the next gas station:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175614342-L.jpg)

10mpg!!! Cr@P!!!! :( I guess doing 80 mph didn't help on that end... But: we are gaining a riding day, we are gaining a riding day, we are gaining... 8)

The drive itself went without incident. Little traffic and switching drivers helped us make very good progress. One person would be driving for 2 hours while the other one (just coming off his 'shift' would keep a conversation up for an hour or so and then snooze for another hour before taking over the driving again. And since Keith's F150 has enough leg room that even he (~7') was able to stretch completely it made for a decent rest:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175614435-L.jpg)

Next morning the upcoming sun saw both Tigers still following us: :lol:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175614546-L.jpg)

First of many Missouri crossings:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175614669-L.jpg)

Wx wasn't the finest, but there was nothing to see really, anyway!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175614800-L.jpg)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:11:08 PM
After a while the sun had burned the haze away and with improving visibility we saw a helicopter station next to the interstate:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175615602-L.jpg)

Temps outside are rising... Nice to sit in an air conditioned "cage" with drinks and music:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175616138-L.jpg)

Don't get any ideas, though! As much as I'm enjoying the drive, I still prefer to get to where I wanna go on TWO wheels!!!!!!!!!

Kansas..........As far as the eye can see:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175616338-L.jpg)

The first word means the same in German that it would mean in English if the 'i' is replaced with 'u'! Quite the tourist attraction. Is that stuff already history in the US?????? :lol:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175616544-L.jpg)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:12:06 PM
Keith, bogey, 10 o'clock!!!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175616668-L.jpg)

Here the pilot was already climbing! Unreal at what altitudes these guys go over the ground!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175616579-L.jpg)

Beats looking for snorkels in 100' at 180 knots!!!!!!

We're sorry! We now return to your regular Kansas sights after this rude interruption:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175617008-L.jpg)

Then ñ finally ñ after 20 hours the Rockies came into sight for the first time:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175617221-L.jpg)

We still had to go for another couple of hours before we made to Keith's cousin's house. They are kind of in a blur :P ) with evening rush hour and all, but we made it!!!

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177017226-L.jpg)
photo by Keith[/i]

May I introduce: Stephen and Keith! There is no family resemblance at all! Can't even think that these guys are cousins...

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175617544-L.jpg)

Stephen's wife Terry and Liz (one of two daughters):

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175617438-L.jpg)

Everybody was in a good mood, Keith's cousin and family were just a hoot!!!! It all promised to be a great evening!
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:14:19 PM
After some beer'n'pizza just in time for more beer Keith's cousin Jim and his wife Beth came by as well:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175618841-L.jpg)

BTW: I'm the 6'4" midget in the picture: :D

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175619354-L.jpg)

Family ties... ;)

After a good night's rest in a real bed it came time to load the bikes in the crisp morning air and sun. Stephen's driveway made for a perfect staging area

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175619561-L.jpg)

A quickie at the gas station

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177019907-L.jpg)

and off we go due south towards Colo Springs:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175620020-L.jpg)

Initially paralleling the Rockies

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175620090-L.jpg)

for about 45 mins and then taking the exit to the Air Force Academy North Gate:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175620345-L.jpg)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:15:33 PM
L-O-T-S or room for PT!!!! L-O-T-S!!!!!!!!!!!! Nice setting, though to get it 'served' from the drill instructor:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175620619-L.jpg)

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177021865-L.jpg)
photo by Keith[/i]

I've bee to quite a few basis in my time, but this is by far the one with the best scenic setting!!! The core is nicely laid out:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176873082-1400x800.jpg)

Just begs for PT, doesn't it?????  :twisted:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176873232-1400x800.jpg)

Cadet Chapel is quite an interesting architectural feat:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175623760-L.jpg)

and definitely more famous than its visitors today:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175623883-L.jpg)

But now it's time to say hello to the gods!!!
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:16:44 PM
Just South of Colo Springs right besides the interstate is the smallish park named "The Garden of the Gods".

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175624960-L.jpg)

Quite a contrast in scenery! Those red rocks really look out of place a bit and somewhat surreal:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176873387-1400x800.jpg)

just like all the half-cars......
There is practically just one small ring road through the park with some nice vistas

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175626954-L.jpg)

and, of course, the balancing rock:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175627128-L.jpg)

Coming around the corner it's like diving into an ant-hill! People everywhere! Keith is really disturbed by the masses:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175627379-L.jpg)

But that didn't stop him from taking a few ack-sean shots of me:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175628216-L.jpg)
photo by Keith with HG's camera[/i]

Honeycakehorse..............

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177028915-L.jpg)
photo by Keith[/i]

No, the tiger is not broken! My bike was actually the prototype of the default European lights setup... Yeah, that's it!!!!

With all those tourists streaming in we got the hell outta Dodge and pointed our bikes towards Pikes Peak by ways of US-24. I'm just a sucker for hot curves with a view!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175628567-L.jpg)

A few bad lights in a touristically saturated town

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177035365-L.jpg)

and we made it to the base of where we wanted to go:

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177035982-L.jpg)

And then: Deschavue!!!!!
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:18:19 PM
Remember my second Montana Trip last year?

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/99481447-L.jpg)

Pikes Peak today: :(

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175629087-L.jpg)

The ranger told us that they had some sort of a climbing competition and that park would be open again tomorrow. Rrrrrrright... As if we will be here tomorrow...

But in order not to have this stop be a complete waste of things you absolutely need to see we said a quick 'Hi!' and an even quicker "Good buy" to Santa:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175629756-L.jpg)

And as far as Pikes Peak is concerned:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175629977-L.jpg)

F@#$ it!! One day "we'll be bahk"!!!
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:19:23 PM
So we started making our way towards Rocky Mountain National Park. But St. Peter had something planned for us:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175630089-L.jpg)

With seeing the AF Academy and trying to get to Pikes Peak time kinda ran away from us. On top of that the wx didn't look promising at all towards where we were planning on going. We stopped on Wilkerson Pass and met a local biker that just came from the area where we wanted to go to. "Rain!! And loads of it!" he stated! Cr@p!! The system was north-west of us and was moving towards the north-east. Were we to go to RMNP we would be in that system the entire time! No way!!! Hence: change of plan... The biker mentioned that Independence Pass would be quite nice and the roads all the way to Aspen would be worth while. With the weather looking like this:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176872355-1400x800.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175630880-L.jpg)

It was a done deal!! Initially the road through the valley was somewhat boring:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175630264-L.jpg)

But that should change soon!
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:20:28 PM
Sun was coming out more and more and Keith wanted to get out of his very own private secret sauna. So we pulled over at a nice spot for him to strip:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175631315-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175631170-L.jpg)

Shortly thereafter the next plateau came up. By now the sun was dominating the sky again. Time to pull over again for some real pictures:

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177036875-L.jpg)
photo by Keith[/i]

The result:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176872456-1600x1200.jpg)

When we got back to the bikes two FJRs had parked right next to us. One of the riders came towards us. He was about 5' and 250 lbs, grinning from ear to ear. "Pals, I used to have a Tiger, too! Rode with it all over the US and never saw another one. Now that I sold mine I see two at once!"
That's one more 'thang' that I love so much about our cats: by now means mainstream!!!

Onward... We passed through some towns that were not only very little, but also very little photogenic. Then came the left turn onto SR 82 and left we went... Passed by this sign:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175632952-L.jpg)

The layout is not the greatest, but the views make up for it:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175633212-L.jpg)

The valley in the lower left corner is the entrance to Independence Pass. You can see how the road was destined to get better on the far right corner on the sign. This better:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175633282-L.jpg)

Or this better:

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177038826-L.jpg)
photo by Keith[/i]
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:21:38 PM
All you Dragon raid attendees know about "Keith's revenge". So we pulled into a driveway for him to relieve himself on a tree. Some driveway it was! Off the road and over the bridge and into this view:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175633855-L.jpg)

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177038947-L.jpg)
photo by Keith[/i]

Nice::

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175633703-L.jpg)

Nicely drained we rode on. A few curves into the ride after the break i found myself falling into the groove: Curve,  gas, slow down, repeat. Shweeht! All of a sudden i realized that Keith was no longer behind me. I don't know how long it had been since I saw him last. So I stopped and waited for a couple of minutes. I was just about to turn around when he pulled around a corner. Evidently he had seen a whole group of mountain goats and tried to get my attention without honking his guts out and the goats away and I was to much drifted off to notice. I had passed the group by about 15 ft... Bummer! Keith had pulled over and tried to get some pics, but I guess the white goats got spooked by the green tiger and ran off... Disappointing...

But let's put it behind us and move on. Or rather move up! The road, while still nicely sweeping was gradually gaining height. You can see it clinging to the mountain in the back:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175633953-L.jpg)

Sweepy:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175634228-L.jpg)

Is it time to re-jet yet?

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175634854-L.jpg)

Looking back:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175634956-L.jpg)

And we have mastered the summit!!!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175635239-L.jpg)

12095 ft !!! Highest I have ever been up with my cat. Was purring the entire time with power to spare!!!

Some bicycle rider were up there as well! Respect! (Can see them behind the sign)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175635313-L.jpg)

Next up: money, rats on leashes, and freefall ice...
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:22:40 PM
Aspen!! :P The Beverly Hills of the Rockies... Where the Creme de la Creme walks their little cute dogs and letting everybody else know that they are quiet the affluent kind... Puke! We actually saw a man (a quite beautiful one IMHO) with his dog walking, crossing paths with an equally looking woman walking her rat on a leash, getting into a conversational social interaction with lots of smiles an fake on-the-cheek-kisses for about 10 minutes... What a show!!!!!!

The city is somewhat decent, though:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175636033-L.jpg)

There are street musicians

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177045107-L.jpg)
photo by Keith[/i]

and single HP city tours:

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177045513-L.jpg)
photo by Keith[/i]

Among all that colorful folk our cats STILL stand out considerably:

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177045711-L.jpg)
photo by Keith[/i]

We even got our very own LEO to guard... He even told us: "If you don't want to pay money for parking, just park at that spot over there!" Cool!!! Good man!! Parking is darn expensive here. Then again: they ARE all affluent, right!?
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:24:01 PM
Keith in action:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175636106-L.jpg)

to take one of my rare pictures:

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177046348-L.jpg)
photo by Keith[/i]

Since our bikes were well guarded we walked over to the nearest sports bar for lunch...

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175636493-L.jpg)

Shift change for the tour vehicles guards:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175636603-L.jpg)

Eco-Mobil?

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177046902-L.jpg)
photo by Keith[/i]

The whole area is ready for the next ski-season:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175636854-L.jpg)

Not just artsi-fartsi people!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175637147-L.jpg)

After a little while we got our fish'n'chips and a cool, dark brewski. Life is good!!!!
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:25:03 PM
All of a sudden: KAAAAAAAAAAAABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!  :shock: The lightning struck into a tree some 200 yards away. Damn it was loud! I saw the lightning hit and it seemed to be there for an eternity. Dang! Of course the rain followed instantly!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175637283-L.jpg)

Thank god we were sitting in dry ground! Underneath some sun-umbrallas halfway into a porch towards the street. Some few lonely lost drops did hit us after all, but then again: we are not made of sugar...

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175637427-L.jpg)

Rain was getting more and more... Looks like we would be stuck here for a while. But hang on a minute! What is that sound? Rain doesn't sound like THAT! And rain isn't white, either!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175637528-L.jpg)

Ding dong doinc ding dong doinc... Hail was coming down sounding like gunfire. We were quite happy to be indoors with good food and drink on the table and not out there with these:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175637657-L.jpg)

That would have hurtsted!!
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:26:32 PM
When the hail finally subsided some we quickly got dressed and back on the bikes. There were some lightnings still wondering around, but we figured it was subsiding and headed out. Just outside the city limits the skies opened again and this time (just) rain pounded down like crazy. We were crawling along with the water 3 inches high on the road. Some cars passed us and Keith got drenched a couple of time. One time big time to the extend that I could not see him any more in the mirrors with all the water. Intense!!! I could feel some cold drop that were coming in through my collar dripping onto my stomach... Coooooooold!!!!! 30 mins later the system was gone and the weather improved:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175637768-L.jpg)

We were quite wet, late, and way off our planned route. Another 180 miles to go to our next reserved hotel room. As the sun was going down the wind dried us off:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/175637873-L.jpg)

I didn't any more pics. I was wet and tired. We both just wanted to hit the hay and hustled to get to the hotel at a decent time. We didn't want to ride in the dark for too long with all the wildlife out and about...

We got to Craig, CO, at 10 pm with only the McDonalds open. Nice dinner... After that it was the end of day 1 and snoozing-time...
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:28:32 PM
We used Bourbon and Coke to wash down the 'delicious' meal at McDonalds last night. It also helped us sleep better! Well rested we started to pack the next morning. All the wildlife that was on the roads last night was watching us this time:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176766189-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176765122-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176765567-L.jpg)

After a short, but bad breakfast we got going. Colorado by day looks different than by night

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176872565-1600x800.jpg)

Cowboy Country... Hence the different farming:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176766628-L.jpg)

After a few miles We zipped by a sign at the side of the road: "Juniper Springs". Maybe there was chance for a quick dip????? Let's see!!!

Just off the road the gravel started! Yeah!!!! Mesa explohrin!!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176767243-L.jpg)

On a small summit we stop to check the surroundings:

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177049854-L.jpg)
photo by Keith

No springs to be seen!!! Then again: There had been no distance on the sign!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176768952-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176768750-L.jpg)

After a short possibility- check we continue... We want to explore the unknown after all!! Colorado... The final frontier... These are the voyages of GatorTiger...

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177050695-L.jpg)
photo by Keith

8) Aaaaaaaaaaargl!!!!!!
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:29:28 PM
After a couple of miles through public lands we finally arrive at the springs. Not what we expected:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176769231-L.jpg)

The whole 'resort' had seen better days:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176769475-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176769673-L.jpg)

Strangely enough: the water was crystal clear!!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176769820-L.jpg)

Can't say that of the 'resort' building:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176770311-L.jpg)

Keith found an old photo somewhere on the internet. I looked but can't find it anywhere... Darn it!!

Explohrin makes "dursty"... Warm it was, yes!!!! Drink you must, humm!!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176770619-L.jpg)

Here a  link to the view from above: (Google (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=juniper+hot+springs,++co&ie=UTF8&ll=40.467356,-107.953312&spn=0.005697,0.01133&t=h&z=17&om=1)). Shows how desolate the area there is!
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:30:27 PM
You can see all the irrigated fields on that aerial view... Nice and green and round...

Onward... We return to US 40 the same way we came and headed further to the west towards Dinosaur National Monument. Lot's of ranches on the way... Some thought very efficiently and just left their decorations up all year:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176771080-L.jpg)

Others have an odd tast in barn decorations

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176771315-L.jpg)

Despite all the heat and all: Riding with your favorite riding buddy is almost the ultimate thing! Right, Keith?

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176771563-L.jpg)

Right!!!

This is where we were headed

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176771755-L.jpg)

this is where we came from:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176771889-L.jpg)

It's a bit too hilly already to get that Easy Rider feeling

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176772730-1400x1000.jpg)

Also, we had too little chrome...

The miles were flying by... The road was smooth, there was little wind, and almost zero traffic... Superp!

Our next destination was Dinosaur National Monument. We didn't want to take the standard route in, but go via county road 14. That one was so hidden that we blasted by it at first. Even with GPS! U-turn and back... We got gravel right away... Then the gravel turned into sand... Compact sand no less! At first, anyway......

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176773139-L.jpg)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:32:52 PM
We were alone. In the middle of the wilderness. No cell reception, nothing! Just us and the wind!!! Hooyah!!!

We could've stopped at every bend of the road to take pictures, but we wanted to get some mileage done! The road surface changed between gravel, sand, and compacted dirt. One patch of deep sand at the very beginning almost got us, but we made it through without injuries and pressed on. Whenever we did stop to let the bike cool and refill some liquids we did have a good chance for pictures:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176774292-L.jpg)

The vistas were incredible and are quite a teaser for the monument!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176872733-1600x800.jpg)

Small close-up:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176781666-L.jpg)

See the little rock peeking out of the green?

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176782100-L.jpg)

Reminded me somewhat of the scenery of "Cars"... That rock was about to play a crucial role today! Soon!

Pressing on...

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176782421-L.jpg)

Aaaaaand then: THIS!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176778705-L.jpg)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:34:49 PM
Deep sand! Like powder! We fishtailed it through the first 100 yards or so... I don't like sand!

We stopped to see how much more of this we had in front of us. Sand as far as could walk and see! Crap! Keith was anxiously waiting for me to come back with good news! Sorry buddy!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176778610-L.jpg)

Of course he didn't like the result either! He like sand as much as I did. So we decided to have a longer break and get some rest for the fishtailing back. And where did we end up? At previously mentioned rock!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176872941-1600x800.jpg)

Not very high, but high enough... Everything is sooo grreeeeeennnn...

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176778916-L.jpg)

Wasn't even missing the tree on top:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176779482-L.jpg)

Small pano:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176881030-1600x600.jpg)

There were 4-wheeler and 4x4 tracks everywhere. I bet it would be interesting to just be in the area at night and count ow many couples secretively head out this way... Air mattress or thick blankett... Only the stars... Maybe a bear or two... I guess it's safe to say the local sheriff doesn't check this neck of the woods often... Ahhh.... Memories!!!!  8)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:41:31 PM
Keith is sucking in the atmosphere:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176779679-L.jpg)

Is that really the end of the sandy patch? Let's see...

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177055375-L.jpg)

Monkeyhead:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176780520-L.jpg)

Whoever wants to see this area from up above, can do that here:  Google (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=dinosaur+national+monument&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=48.240201,92.8125&ie=UTF8&ll=40.372726,-108.542926&spn=0.002853,0.005665&t=h&z=18&om=1)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:44:02 PM
Eventually we turned around and headed back the few miles (seemed more on the first passage) back to the tarmac. That's where we had another break. Heat is so damn exhausting!! And here you can see why we passed the county road at first:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176760361-L.jpg)

No, not because of Keith... :P The whole entry to CR 14 looks like a "wreck"-neck-drive-way:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176882642-1400x600.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176760116-L.jpg)

Out 'n da house?

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176781365-L.jpg)

Onward towards the monument. The road was reeaally eeexiitiing:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176760693-L.jpg)

Well, the vistas were not too bad after all:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176880005-1600x1200.jpg)

To whoever it might concern: Fly Navy!!!! 8)

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177059648-L.jpg)
photo by Keith
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:45:21 PM
While we were buzzing along I saw another deer cadaver on the side of the road. Seems that one gets numb to that sight after a while... But wait: this time there is a big brown bird sitting next to it!!! EAGLE!!!! Hooyah!!!

I zoomed by... The eagle didn't budge... Keith drove by... The eagle still remained put. So I pulled hard to the right should and hit the brakes. Keith flew by even before he knew what was going on. I turned around and got the camera ready. And just as I was approaching the eagle this big ass RV came down the other way, slowed down to take pics as well, and the eagle took off. :(

It didn't fly too far away, but even my 12x zoom wasn't powerful enough to get a good close up:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176761079-L.jpg)

I tried a few other pics until the eagle had enough and took off for good...

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176761221-L.jpg)

We continued on and finally got to the southern gate of the:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176761656-L.jpg)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:46:52 PM
We parked the bikes under the trees of the parking lot and had a midday snack and some gatorade. Suddenly we heard that typical thumping noise of a big single... A red 650 GS stopped at the sign at the entrance of the monument to take a picture

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176761933-L.jpg)

and turned to the parking lot as well. May I introduce: Andrew!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176762207-L.jpg)

Andrew is from North Carolina and riding solo the inexpensive way: primitive camping on public lands and lots of exploring on whatever road he comes across! Way to go!! He had quite a few stories to tell and I enjoyed hearing them a lot!!! Riding all the adventures that come along with it are just the best!!!

We talked for a while before heading into the visitor's center and then into the park. All THREE of us on this my trip THREE to Montana!!! (hint hint 'bout the report's tiltle...)

It was some 25 miles to the parking lot in the middle of the park. After that it was another mile to the view point. Let's go:

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177060627-L.jpg)
photo by Keith

Initially our intend was to just ride and only make notes of where to stop on the way back to take pics, but not to take pics on the way into the park at all. Despite that I had the urge to stop here and take one anyway:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176881522-1800x800.jpg)

Good decision! On the way back there were more clouds and haze!
Colorful bunch!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176762500-L.jpg)

The road to the park's center was awesome:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176763998-L.jpg)

Empty - - - and fast!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176763133-L.jpg)

Once again I fell into my groove and the other two had trouble following:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176763566-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176764733-L.jpg)

Just kidding...  :wink:
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:48:07 PM
And again we tossed good intentions overboard and stopped for pictures:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176787948-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176787664-L.jpg)

I'm glad we did!!!!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176882782-1600x800.jpg)

Mind the road in there!!! Sign said impassable when wet!!! Hooyah!! If we only had more time!!!
It was further into the afternoon and we pressed on and reached the center parking lot after a couple more miles

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176788058-L.jpg)

Two cars were there total!!! Other than that completely empty!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Time to take a hike:

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177065768-L.jpg)
photo by Keith
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:48:50 PM
The walk to the "outer rim" (i.e. The view platform) is incredible! No fence, steep hillsides (only down from where the walkway is!), and a new, stunning view after every tree and corner:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176788586-L.jpg)

Even got my artistic side out a bit...  :D

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176788789-L.jpg)

Vistas becoming more and more dramatic after every step of the way:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176880063-L.jpg)

I guess the owner of one of the cars in the parking lot came back the other way:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176789155-L.jpg)
Title:
Post by: CBAT on October 12, 2007, 04:52:43 PM
Enjoying this....keep going!
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:52:57 PM
Like I said: a better view behind every next tree:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176789411-L.jpg)

and an even better tree, err, view:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176790183-1200x1600.jpg)

The road dowm in the canyon you can get by either continuing the way that Keith and I tried first and turned around because of the sand, or via the road we saw from that one overlook (the road that was impassable when wet. But (see below) it still is getting better!

Next tree, next vista:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176790548-L.jpg)

Why don't I let the pics talk for little while:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176878898-1600x1000.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176783069-1200x800.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176783670-1200x800.jpg)

This is what the rafts on the river look with 12x zoom:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176784047-L.jpg)

and like this with 1x zoom:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176784353-L.jpg)

And using my photo sticher the canyon looks like this:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176882505-1600x1000.jpg)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:54:17 PM
Thank goodness for digital! If I were still using old style film I would have gotten broke in here with all the gazillions of pics that I took! The slogan of the park is this: "We are not the biggest park, but the most beautiful!" (or along that line). And they are darn right!!!!!!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176784615-L.jpg)

The other side of the canyon as seen from the final platform:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176811853-1600x1000.jpg)

Pictures (MY pictures!!) cannot do the place justice! I was just standing there, goosebumps all over, sucking in the scene, and taking one picture after another. In-frikkin-credible!!!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176784982-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176785864-1200x1600.jpg)

And this is the spot i mentioned above where it would get even better:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176783361-L.jpg)

Can you see the cars? Gives one a size-relationship! Camping, baby! Just think: camping down there with a nice group, camp fires, steaks, hop and malt sodas... Yeah baby!!!!!!  :D
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:55:48 PM
With the sun going down the contours of the landscape REALLY came out:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176786621-L.jpg)

Another AAA (Ansel Adams Attempt):

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176786962-L.jpg)

before I got back to con-touring: (I love con-touring! As long as the con-tours are nicely shaped and firm to the grip!!!)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176879491-1600x800.jpg)

Sigh.... time to say good bye to the park and head back. Just a quick good bye to Andrew, a quickie.....photo at the gates

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176795779-L.jpg)

and off we went heading west again. We had "lost" quite some time playing around like that. It was now 6 pm and we wer about 5 hours behind our schedule! Oh well!!! Was time well spent!!!

Onward... Another quickie on the Utah border:

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/177088373-L.jpg)
photo by Keith

and we got to Vernal, UT, "Dinosaur capital" of the area:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176795956-L.jpg)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:57:27 PM
Quote from: "CBAT"Enjoying this....keep going!
Doin' it, baby!!  8)

Since I have the report already written it's just a copy and paste... But with all the pics even that takes a long time... ;)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:58:17 PM
Can't ride on an empty stomach. So we took Andrew's tip (he had had lunch in Vernal on his way to the monument) and stopped at a nice roadside diner:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176796111-L.jpg)

awesome wings

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176796756-L.jpg)

and a delicious burger for Keith:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176796908-L.jpg)

After having filled our bellies we filled the gas tanks and headed out. Another 250 miles to go to the next reserved hotel in Pinedale, WY. By the time we were done with dinner it was 7:30 pm already; with darkness falling upon us... So no more pics that day. But tons of future roadkill!!! Well, roadkill only if hit by a truck, not by us! So while riding US-191 north in the dark ñ and even in the dark we noticed how much scenery we were missing!!!! - we made use of the little traffic and combined forces for some deer-sweeping: Keith was in the right lane, I was in the left lane (only to move over for opposing traffic). With all our high beams and fog lights on we had the road nicely illuminated. Keith was watching the right side of the road, I was watching the left. Despite that seemingly work-sharing thing the whole procedure was very intense. And we were happy to finally get to Pinedale unharmed! We saw A LOT of deer (big bucks among them!!!), rabbits galore, foxes, you name it. Killed a few snakes and one squirrel on the way. Life can suck for the little ones!

2 am we finally got to the hotel. A quick coke'n'bourbon to ease off a bit... And before we knew it our heads hit the pillows and we were out...

Done with!! Coma!!!! So much for day 2!
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 04:59:37 PM
And on we go... Where was I? Errr, I mean, where were we? Here is a summing up of the route(s) we took so far:

Thursday night to Friday night we drove through from Atlanta to Denver:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179869635-L.jpg)

Saturday then to Craig, Colorado:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179869650-L.jpg)

And Sunday through the land of the Dinosaurs using deer-sweeping to Pinedale, Wyoming:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179869671-L.jpg)

Monday was our last day together for a while (until the return trip). The route would go via Yellowstone and Beartooth Pass to Red Lodge, from where we would go separate ways after a good dinner: Keith would head to Minot, ND, and I would head towards Helena, MT.

That was the plan, anyways....
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:01:29 PM
Monday morning... Our last day for this part of the trip. After the late arrival yesterday ñ or early arrival today depending on how you look at it ñ we slept in somewhat. After a short breakfast we were on the road after 10am. So we lost the first two hours of the 'planned' route for today.

Since the mountains came back into view and the sun was shining nicely we didn't care and happily went on our way:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176797142-L.jpg)

But one flaw persisted: the mountains didn't come closer! Yet after a while the road turned and we were actually headed back into the mountains again:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176879764-3000x800.jpg)

And when we finally reached the mountains again life was good.....again!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176797977-L.jpg)

The day promised to be another warm one. And getting there fast. So much to our delight this nice body came into view:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176798102-L.jpg)

Very inviting indeed!!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176798229-L.jpg)

I just couldn't resist and had to get my feet wet. So first a foot-friendly spot had to be located

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176798687-L.jpg)

after which snowwhite's legs had to be exposed and dipped in the cool goodness!! Fantastic!!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176799667-L.jpg)
photo taken by Keith with HG's camera[/i]

:P
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:02:42 PM
Some more mouth-watering shots of the area:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176800249-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176800683-L.jpg)

Freshly refreshed and drained of other liquids wie hoppen in our saddles again and pressed on...

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176801081-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176801450-L.jpg)

Whatever I tried, I could not loose Keith... He stuck with me like glue... :P

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176801578-L.jpg)

We followed the river (in the picture where the tree line is ñ hard to see) downstream through the mountains. Smooth curves and road surface, nice vistas, nice day!!!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176802320-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176802897-L.jpg)

We continued on to Jackson Hole, passing strange looking rocks

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176803156-L.jpg)

and countless recreational areas

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176803298-L.jpg)

we finally made it to the Hole's outskirts. With our tanks empty (of gas AND food!) we followed Keith's urge to some Subway chow:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176803646-L.jpg)

Nicely filled with soggy bread and coke we rode through downtown. The time being outside of ski season some other festival was going on. These decorations were everywhere:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176803789-L.jpg)

Hopefully they are made out of plastic!!!
We also came by the hotel I stayed in the last time I come through here! The wx - this time ñ was even worse than last time: Clouds were moving in FAST!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176803926-L.jpg)

 :shock:
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:03:43 PM
Soon thereafter it started raining. The Tetons were hardly visible due to the rain and low clouds. Ok by me, since I already saw them last time I came through. I felt sorry for Keith, though...

The rain didn't last long. The clouds remained, however, and put a little damper on the mood. But just a little!!

Next I had a bit of dejavu entering Yellowstone National Park and seeing this:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176804202-L.jpg)

With Yellowstone being a tourist magnet and therefore saturated with those they call city slickers one can bet that as soon as there are two or more cars parked on the side of the road there is some form of wildlife going on. Same here! We got to a crawl close to a small bridge with thousands of cars being on the side of the road trying to get an eyeful of this:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176804515-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176804849-L.jpg)

If you want to see Elk you just have to ride the highways! You see them galore dead and alive!

Traffic in the park is same as always: slow and unnerving!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176805252-L.jpg)

RVs!!! Guaranteed to slow you down!!! And hardly any passing zones... Depressing! Adding to that feeling was that the plantlife ñ although coming back slowly ñ still has that desolate look caused by the wildfires almost a decade ago:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176792445-L.jpg)

It will be another 15 years or so before the park is back in shape WRT trees and greenery.

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176792541-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176792749-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176793613-L.jpg)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:04:23 PM
As I feared we were making way less progress than we should have to stay in our timetable at least to some extend. One couldn't call it riding! Was more like crawling... We tried to check Old Faithful, but the traffic on its parking lot was even worse then previously. And with a few buses unloading we called it quits... Why did we take the route into Yellowstone again in the first place? Because 'me idiot' wanted to give Beartooth another shot. But by now we were behind schedule too far to make it through the pass in good daylight any more. My ETS to Helena was drifting towards 2-3 am fast like that. On top of that the weather was moving into Beartooth's direction. Another attempt for the birds...

Decision: Screw Beartooth! We took the off-ramp out of the park in West Yellowstone to make it to Bozeman for dinner and than part ways. That would put me into Helena around 10-11 pm. Much better! Would even give me time for a cool one!!!!!

Take off!

I guess all the park's tourists had a place in West Yellowstone village! What a trap! OMG!!! We pulled over to drink some more water and re-group. We checked the map and decided firmly now on US-191 north to Bozeman. The same US-191 as done at night previously!
At first the road was not that exciting. But then the first forest fires came into view:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176879858-1400x800.jpg)

US-191 is not officially part of the park, but is within the park bounds for a bit. And this area hadn't been hit by the fires YET. It gave us an idea how beautiful Yellowstone must have been

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176794332-L.jpg)

and still were if it weren't for this:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176794536-L.jpg)

The countryside is totally without smoke most like even more beautiful:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176794937-L.jpg)

A sign that the fires are indeed getting closer!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176812791-L.jpg)

We got close to the actal fire, but never saw any flames

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176813013-L.jpg)

And Keith was always waiting patiently for me until a had my photo phix:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176813180-L.jpg)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:05:05 PM
And suddenly there was it again: that pool of cars randomly stopped on the side of the road. Maybe a fox this time??? Nope!!! About 450 feet on the side of the road was this little fella:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176813277-L.jpg)

In my mind I was going through this what-if scenario: what if the grizzly started running towards the road all of a sudden? Made me smile! I left the engine running while taking the pictures, though........

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176813911-L.jpg)

Moving on... A look back to the smoke filled skies

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176814193-L.jpg)

and the somewhat clear ones ahead and all the good things still lying there:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176814298-L.jpg)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:06:19 PM
With the smoke getting less it got brighter a bit. Because we wanted to make some time I took pictures only via drive-by:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176814789-L.jpg)

the road got better and better as time went on! Fast, twisty, nice views left and right! And very little traffic!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176815306-L.jpg)

Fun in the sun!!!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176815768-L.jpg)

Shortly after I took this pic the road got so fast and curvy that I didn't want to take any more pics. Just wanted to ride! Ride fast!! But even at 80 some cars with trailers were attacking me and wanting to get by! These people up here are nuts!!!! Here is a sneak peak how the road looked all that time!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176806801-L.jpg)

Keith is still outta breath!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176806935-L.jpg)

"We needed that! Exactly that!" he exclaimed. And right he is!! After a short break we rode on. And just like switched the landscape changed to this:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176807466-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176807370-L.jpg)

In Bozeman we had some Chinese food and then split ways. Here is today's map:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179869700-L.jpg)

And with the last picture of today I bed you farewell...

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/176807552-1400x800.jpg)

...until the next installment of course!!!! :D
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:07:15 PM
So there I was in Helena. Got there early enough so that I could walk over to the Walmart SC and get loaded on groceries and some bubbly malt beverages... Then came the unpacking and some TV, all while sipping the cold ones. A quick WWW check for emails and the latest on my favorite forums before the time came to prepare the work clothes for tomorrow and hitting the sack...

Tue-Wed-Thu were work days. No biggie, work actually is fun! Good people up here in MT! Thursday evening came the next highlight: GatorWife would be flying in!!!! After work I went to the airport and picked her up! The back to the hotel, short freshen-up, get on the bike and off we were to the ìMarysville Houseî (see first Mounting Mountaina installment) to meet with my co-workers and some folks from the DOT for dinner. Moosedrool and crablegs, good company, but no campfires! :-( Because of the drought there was a open fire ban. We saw some very dark (and suspicious looking) clouds when we left the hotel. ìJust smokeî said the clerk. Trusting as we are we believed him, only to just skirt a major downpour on the way!!! Not wet, but a bit damp we got to Marysville and had a nice dinner with everybody.

It was just getting dark when we left to go back to the hotel. There had been just enough rain to wet the road and keep the dust down. We saw quite a few deer and bucks going home. Big ones! I'm just glad they didn't charge!

During the ride and back at the hotel my wife told me several times that she enjoyed the ride except for the gravel part. Hmmmmm... Guess I have to re-plan the weekend ride (included a pass in ID with about 60 miles of gravel roads). But now it was time to relief some of her tension......... 8)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:08:33 PM
Friday was another workday for me, but a relaxing day for GatorWife. Rounding off the nice day was a nice dinner together. Soooooo much better than to eat alone! By far!

Saturday then was the day for the tour. It was also the weekend for the Tiger Ride-In in Kamiah, Idaho. Since I had to work Monday I couldn't participate during the whole thing, but at least I could show my sorry face down there.
With the forecast for the weekend predicting heat like crazy I thought a cooler on the bike would be a good idea. So I picked one up (the blue ones were to small so I had to get a red one... ) and strapped it on the bike as a backrest for my wife. It would move a tiny bit, but was definitely up to the task! Filled it up with water, Gatorade, and ice. Sweet! A quick shot for posterity:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178025029-L.jpg)

And off we go... My re-routing would take us to Kamiah in paved roads all the way. But I did want to do some passes. So Flesher Pass it is... At least one of them! Not very high, but purty:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178025869-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178025334-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178026181-L.jpg)

Usually I don't pick up hitch hikers, but I might make an exception here:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178026836-L.jpg)

After a short brake (this was the very first real Trip for my wife ñ so I did take it slow!) we leisurely rode on

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178027146-L.jpg)

I didn't understand why Susan was always leaning forward so much. Don't get me wrong: I like full body contact, but it appeared odd to me. Must be uncomfortable... Oh well, she will sit in the best way for her I thought...
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:09:34 PM
Shortly after the pass we turned left onto SR-200 towards Missoula. Not very exciting, since it mostly straight. It was nice riding, though. Then I saw this tree stump on the side of the road. Pitch black. Odd... an when we rode by it moved!!! A black bear! 10 feet from us! And of course my camera was NOT ready... I was just about to turn around when I saw it vanish in the trees. Oh well, opportunity missed!!!

Onward... When we passed a small pond a little further down I saw a dear halfway submerged eating the plants in the water. Smart! Stay cool while eating and drinking!!!

GatorWife was quite happy about the road being straight like it was. She hasn't gotten into that twisty thing and bikes yet... All in due time!

We stopped at a rest area for a bladder break and some rehydration

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178027738-L.jpg)

The road to come looked like more fun again:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178028020-L.jpg)

Then a group of noisemakers with lots of straight pipes entered the gas station on the other side of  the road. I wasn't the only one shaking my head... Seeing this beast made me realize that I was hungry!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178028197-L.jpg)

After the short break the road was gently getting curvy again

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178028635-L.jpg)

and even more twisty...

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178019641-L.jpg)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:11:27 PM
Suddenly we passed this little river:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178028928-L.jpg)

We pulled over and took another break. Maybe there was a chance to get our feet a bit to cool off. This spot was very inviting!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178029264-L.jpg)

Inviting indeed! And popular! Two couples from Canada on HDs had the same idea:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178029521-L.jpg)

We only got our feet wet, but the Canadian riders did it full scale:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178029676-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178030109-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178018713-L.jpg)

It was VERY warm that day, but I guess the water was, err, chilly...

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178018915-L.jpg)

ìWet feet are enough!î my wife said!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178019312-L.jpg)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:13:44 PM
Freshly refreshed we said Adieu to the Canadians and rode on. We got to Missoula around 2pm. Home of UofM... Quaint little town!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178020449-L.jpg)

We had an awesome lunch at the American Bistro (loved the A/C, too!!! Did I mention it was hot that day??). Susan had to chill some more after her lunch:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178020794-L.jpg)

Before I forget: here is the route for the entire weekend:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179869740-O.gif)

#2 is Flesher Pass, #3 is just a waypoint in the middle of nowhere, #4 and #7 is Lolo...

Lolo Pass... Miles and miles of curves!!! No towns! A campground once in a while, but open road otherwise. Great!!!! We gassed up in the town of Lolo and hit the road again. At first the road was not what I expected. More straight and some run down properties. But the it started to gain altitude and curves started to show up. Nice!!
Just before crossing over the state line into Idaho I saw a familiar looking set of headlights behind me: a couple of Tigers!!!! Meet uncle Chris (left) and his nephew Joe (right) from California:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178021101-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178021352-L.jpg)

While we standing there chatting two more bikes came up: a GS and another Tiger! Dave (GS) and Pat (Tiger)! Both had been to the original Tiger Ride-In in Osage Beach, MO, in 2003. Dave had had a Tiger back then and switched brands due to some occurrences with his Triumph dealer:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178021579-L.jpg)

After a nice long break we rode on as a group

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178022096-L.jpg)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:14:45 PM
After an hour or so we took another break. Chris had found a nice spot in the shade. Of course we placed our cats so that the GS was hidden...

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178022735-L.jpg)

As a group it is much more fun to ride! When everybody talked about their other bikes they owned GatorWife was just rolling her eyes... I could not compete with my 'one-bike-only' scenario!

As the sun was going down we had another hour or so ahead of us

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178023699-L.jpg)

As the sun was setting we got to our hotel:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178024254-L.jpg)

Chris, Joe, Pat, and Dave rooms / tent spaces at the 'Tiger Ride-In Resort'. When I wanted to make reservations thy didn't have anything available so we had to get a room a couple of miles up the street. Wifey and I cooled off in our room and then went to the (probably) only restaurant in town and had a nice dinner! Then it was off to get some sleep. GatorWife was all tense and all. When I asked her why she said it was from being hunched forward all that time on the bike.

Me: ìWhy didn't you lean against the cooler?î
Her: ìYou told me not to!î
Me: ìI told you to be careful when you do because the coller would move a bit and I didn't want you to get spooked!î

Maaaaan!!!!  :roll:
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:15:02 PM
The next morning Susan wanted to sleep in some. I took off to go and see all the Tiger pilots at the resort. Here are some pics of the event:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178172038-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178171769-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178172528-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178173596-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178173785-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178174884-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178178421-L.jpg)

Then they all left without me to have fun in the hills all day!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178170195-L.jpg)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:16:13 PM
GatorWife and I went back the way we came towards Lolo:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178429813-L.jpg)

Chrome-Intermission....

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178429578-L.jpg)

This time I wanted to take the pic of the pass sign I didn't get to take yesterday:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178429974-L.jpg)

Today she was using the cooler as a back rest and was much more relaxed like that!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178430175-L.jpg)

The further we got east the more the smoke in the air was apparent. The visibility was decreasing because of it as well:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178430397-L.jpg)

Everything was smoky. For some reason it seemed as if there was more smoke in the air today than there was yesterday. Might have been my imagination:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178430524-L.jpg)

Back in Missoula we had dinner. In the parking lot we came across this Chick-Mobil:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178430641-L.jpg)

GatorWife and the signs in the restaurant had the same opinion (dang!)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178430852-L.jpg)

Nicely fed we rode on... Did I mention that it was hot that day??? Soon it would be getting really hot!!!!
Title:
Post by: CBAT on October 12, 2007, 05:18:21 PM
That antler archway in the center of Jackson is real. They rebuild it each spring after picking up the antlers the elk drop in the refuge just north of town. No animals are harmed in the annual production.   :wink:
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:18:24 PM
After Missoula I wanted to take I-90 towards Helena for a while to please the wife. But as soon as we had gotten onto the slab and up to travel speed I had to hit the brakes again: Jam! It wasn't even close to rush hour so I guess an accident had happened.
We were crawling along... My clutch hand was getting tired and I was almost well done in my suit. Did I mention already that it was 100+F? Anyway, a couple of miles down the road we saw the culprit: A car was in the soft shoulder, looking rather smashed. Next to it was a trailer with a bobcat that didn't look too good either. It looked as if one of the tires on the trailer had blown, overturning the trailer, which in turn took the car with it. Yuck! Fortunately no fatalities!
After about 30 mins we had passed the scene and had free reign again. Going faster pushed some air through my suit and now the soaked T-shirt cooled off nicely!
However, the smell of smoke became stronger as we were going down the road. And before long we saw this:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178420191-L.jpg)

Fires everywhere!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178420774-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178421167-L.jpg)

We saw planes dropping anti-fire-gel and helicopters dropping water:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178421248-L.jpg)

Here you can see a helicopter (white, slightly right of the lower middle in the picture) dipping its bucket in a small lake. The whole fire-flying is quite a risky business. We heard of planes and helos crashing because of sudden downdrafts due to the heat of the flames!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178421999-L.jpg)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:19:27 PM
There are signs all along the shoulder stating ìNo stopping!î. And there were thousands of cars stopped to watch the flames, of course. We pulled into the next rest area to safely be able to take a look:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178425505-L.jpg)

The smoke in the air makes for some nice photo ops:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178425693-L.jpg)

And now we saw all the real flames:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178425914-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178426364-L.jpg)

All of a sudden there was a warm gust of wind and the flames grew quickly. A few trees had them all the way up:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178426624-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178426879-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178427107-L.jpg)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:20:20 PM
Just as we were about to leave a totally run down sports car drove up and parked right next to us. Two equally run down teenagers got out and asked us with that special glazed look in their eyes if we had a smoke. We politely declined and left. These guys looked like nuisances. We saddled up and rode on.
The smoke from all the fires spoiled some of the views:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178427665-L.jpg)

A short while later I felt Susan tapping on my shoulder: bladder pressure! I pulled over at the next rest area and she went to the bathroom. A few minutes she came back, obviously relieved and smiling... In that very moment the same run down sports car drove up and those two guys got out and went straight into the womens' bathroom! WTF? Susan was looking at me with the mouth open. Another car drove up and a woman got out and headed towards the womens' bathroom door. Susan called out for her not to go in because of those two junkies. When the two guys didn't come out for another minute the woman's husband and I went to get them out. Just as I was about to grab the door one of the guys came out. ìBuddy, did you you know that this is the womens' bathroomî I asked. He just grinned at me with hazy eyes and went to his car. The other one came out. ìBuddy, this is the womens' bathroom!î ìOooops!î is all he could say and ran towards the car. The other guy and I went in just to check if it was all clear and then let the ladies (there were more by that time) back in.
The two guys fired up the wreck-mobile and drove off. My wife and I waited for a few more minutes and then left as well.
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:21:07 PM
In Garrison we got off the interstate and continued on US-12 for the last few miles to Helena. I was expecting a regular interstate connector with services and all but there was nothing! At least nothing I could see right away. I checked my mileage and my tank gauge and deemed it full enough to make it without problems.

The gauge is not very accurate, but precise and consistent:

shows half full: 2.5 gals gone (out of six)
hand at the upper limit of the red: four gals gone
hand at the lower limit of the red: (light comes on): five gals gone and one left

That leaves me with 30+ miles when the light comes on. My wife of course didn't know this and was eyeing the gauge more and more nervously as the miles went on.

Then we came across this:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178427864-L.jpg)

I said I had enough to make it to the hotel (it was another 30 miles and the light wasn't even on yet) but GatorWife wouldn't have it. ìPULL OVER!î :P
When I filled up the pump stopped at 4.5 gals. So I would have been good for another 70+ miles... Oh well...

GatorWife was relieved since we wouldn't run dry any more now

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/178428077-L.jpg)

We made it back to the hotel about 30 mins later and vegged out for the rest of the day...

Monday and Tuesday work was calling for me and the wife spent some time in Helena. We had dinner together in the evenings. No movies, though... Wednesday morning she flew back south again. I worked Wednesday and Thursday and packed up early Thursday afternoon and hit the road again myself. Going north for a change...
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:21:52 PM
I left the DOT building shortly after noon. Went across the street to the hotel, changed, packed, loaded, and left at about 2pm

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179835539-L.jpg)

The plan was to get to Medora, ND, by Friday afternoon and meet up with Keith again. Here is the actual route for the (entire) return trip (to Denver):

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/182066834-O.jpg)

Here is the segmentation:

Thursday: Helena (1) to Havre (2)
Friday:      Havre (2) to Medora (6)
Saturday: Medora (6) to Denver (10)

So there is a bit more to read...

I-15 was first. Heading north I got a nice look (despite the smoke) of the sleeping giant:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179835683-L.jpg)

All in the north of Helena the woods are burning. Smoke and haze everywhere spoiling the views... Crappy!
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:22:23 PM
There is always the exception to the rule. I usually prefer back roads to interstates, but there are some that are worth traversing (at least in part). I-70 and I-40 have their moments and so does I-15. The part north of Helena is indeed very scenic:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179835808-L.jpg)

Since it is going through a canyon most of time you spend leaning:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179835981-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179836973-L.jpg)

Rocky walls on both sides for miles

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179836116-L.jpg)

If only that darn smoke was not there!...

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179837418-L.jpg)

Messes up the enjoyment... Can I sew someone for that? :P

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179834186-L.jpg)

Then again: a bad day on two wheels is better than a good day on four!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179834853-L.jpg)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:23:15 PM
Thankfully the close-ups are not hazed out by the smoke too much:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179835027-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179848285-L.jpg)

Seeing where the fire had been already has a certain depressing aspect to it

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179853525-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179853687-L.jpg)

Thinking about Yellowstone and how long it takes until it is all green again one can imagine that this area got off easy:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179846555-L.jpg)

Onward... There are signs out there!! Signs of change!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179846974-L.jpg)

Time for the landscape switch to get flicked again. And sure enough:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179838252-L.jpg)

Click!!!!! 8)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:24:13 PM
I had planned to go through this part of Montana because I had never been here before and I wanted to experience it. I wanted to find out what is around these parts. And I found lots of it!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179847352-L.jpg)

Where is my list? Northern Montana? Check!! Next!!!

Guess I took a wrong turn somewhere:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179847424-L.jpg)

In Great Falls I left the interstate and continued on back roads. Wasn't the greatest:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179847764-L.jpg)

It's completely flat up here! When I sae this sign, though, I almost fell of the bike:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179848172-L.jpg)

A few miles down the road I saw something through the mist that very faintly reminded me of mountains

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179851804-L.jpg)

Then I reached Fort Benton. It was founded in 1846 and is the oldest settlement in Montana. Commonly also referred to as Montana's birth place. The river here was once an important trading route and before that a crucial pivot point in the Lewis and Clark expedition:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179855764-1600x800.jpg)

And this is Ft. Benton today:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179858103-L.jpg)

There are a few buildings that have that grand ambiance

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179860235-L.jpg)

but mostly it looked to me rather run down. With a few bright spots, however!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179858518-L.jpg)

Unimog with trailer!!! Suuuuuuper!!!!! Forget the hummer... Pah!!! :P
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:24:54 PM
I had originally thought I could grab some food in Ft. Benton, but changed my plan once I saw the place. I chewed up some beef jerky and headed on...

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179858790-L.jpg)

The surroundings showed signs of past good life and better times

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179859834-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179861143-L.jpg)

Old church:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179861439-L.jpg)

Anybody remember Alice from the very first Montana trip? No? Guess you have to read it again...
It seems, though, that I was getting closer to discovering who Alice really is:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179861920-L.jpg)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:25:40 PM
Just before Havre I got to Laredo. Not only can they not spell my last name right, the whole town is somewhat, err, run down:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179862361-L.jpg)

Exceptions prove the rule! You can see where the money sits!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179862074-L.jpg)

Behind the bank one can see the main business of these parts: grains!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179862663-L.jpg)

I got to Havre around 6 pm. Nothing spectacular to see here:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/179862780-L.jpg)

Again the whole town was booked solid! What is it with that? There is nothing out here but everything is booked up... Good thing I had a reservation! I had some more beef jerky and a few beers and hit the hay...

And I traveled to lala-land very quickly...
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:27:03 PM
Friday, August 3rd...

Today was a special day. Wedding day! After a good night's rest I got up, showered, and got ready to hit the road again. But before I did get on the road I called GatorWife. And what did I get? The answering machine!! LOL! At least I couldn't get blamed for forgetting!!!

So on I went... The land continued to be flat. Perfect for mellow cruising. If it weren't for oversize lawn machines:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181030063-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181030297-L.jpg)

With the little traffic this wasn't a road block and I could pass quickly. Only to be straight for a while longer:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181030424-L.jpg)

Strange locomotives they have in these parts:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181030577-L.jpg)

Pets look different as well:
 
(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181030780-L.jpg)

Although it was tempting with the border being so close and all I controlled myself:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181031475-L.jpg)

Since my passport was being renewed right now there was no chance of border crossing anyway. Timewise I was somewhat restricted also, so I turned right and south. And after exactly 5 minutes I came to a sudden stop:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181031675-L.jpg)

Cr@p!!! :(
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:27:45 PM
After about 20 mins we finally were allowed to drive on... Finally!!!

I imagined Fort Peck Lake to be more dramatic! They do have a power plant, but no raging waters you could see driving the turbines

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181032055-L.jpg)

Evidently the common drought had caught up with the lake as well! Here is the lakes's overflow...waterside!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181032609-1400x800.jpg)

This is the drain:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181035662-1400x800.jpg)

Enough seen...

The area became more desolate again but the road stayed straight. All of a sudden I came by some strangely erodes sand stone:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181036134-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181036473-L.jpg)

The countryside had its appeal. It felt wide, open, and peaceful!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181036774-L.jpg)

Not to forget and to mention that I was on my Mary's way on two wheels!! - Even if only in a straight fashion!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181033221-L.jpg)
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Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:28:41 PM
Once in a while there still are small highlights:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181033561-L.jpg)

I hope this bridge will hold another 100 years!!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181034169-L.jpg)

As I was coming closer to Medora the landscape was starting to change again

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181034378-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181034583-L.jpg)

But it wasn't just the landscape that was changing:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181035202-L.jpg)

Fortunately this storm sailed through in front of me and I only had to deal with the roads being wet. What is it with Montana showers on my ways home?
There was scenic overlook a couple of miles before my exit into Medora. I took it, luckily, and found this:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181035535-2400x500.jpg)

The interstate also became nicer. Now that I was almost in Medora...

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181045243-L.jpg)

Oh well, off I went into Medora... The views now really got excellent!!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181045724-L.jpg)
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Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:30:00 PM
Medora is a big tourist trap. The city is nice and antique and radiates that old wild west character quite a bit, but just like with a dish where a bit of salt can add taste too much salt spoils it, the same happens here. Too many tourists spoil the taste, even if they have nice back sides!!

Old meets new around every corner

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181045594-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181045704-L.jpg)

Even here hardcore bikers are present...

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181039813-L.jpg)

From the front desk of the motel where we had our reservations I had to ride for another half a mile to get to the cabin where Keith was already waiting. The clock read 5 pm...

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181046137-L.jpg)

Keith had thought ahead! One or six beers were cooling in the fridge already! Good deal! The dinner was arranged already also. Keith had set that weeks ago. Many years ago he had had a taste of the local specialty and was taken by it. When he had asked me about I wanted to give it a try as well: Deep fried steak on a pitch fork!!! Yummy!!

The restaurant was on a hill overlooking the town and the entire valley:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181040106-L.jpg)

After the three S we went to the bus stop and were waiting for the pick up, taking in the atmosphere. Keith had drowned his old cell in the pool at his father's house and was now setting up the new one

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181040367-L.jpg)

After a short bus trip we were not over, but on the hill:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181042160-L.jpg)
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Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:31:31 PM
It was another 30 mins or so before the whole thing would start and that gave us some opportunity to look around. A small rain shower skirted us leaving a few drops, but quickly went away. The air was warm, the wind soft, and the light warm. It was a very relaxing situation and the view into the valley put the cherry on top:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181051325-3000x500.jpg)

On the left side of the picture is Medora and on the right side is the open air theater of the restaurant. One had two options for the reservation: just the meal, or the meal and the show. Getting hungry yet??

Here another shot of our motel (between the trees to the right of the road on the left side of the pic):

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181041472-L.jpg)

Of course I wanted to get to the best spot to take my pictures! So I had to engage in a little climbing exercise (which felt good after all that saddle time) to reach the g-spot:

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/181188123-L.jpg)
photo by Keith

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181043807-L.jpg)

Keith had fun as well. It was the perfect end of a perfect day!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181042466-L.jpg)

And now for the food:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181042850-L.jpg)

Mass production requires the right tools:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181043235-L.jpg)
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Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:32:12 PM
And of course the goods to be devoured:

STEAKS!!!!!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181044029-L.jpg)

MORE STEAKS!!!!!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181044761-L.jpg)

EVEN MORE STEAKS!!!!!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181051834-L.jpg)

Hungry????????? The masses are lining up already!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181051610-L.jpg)

Can it be a bit MORE STEAK?????

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181047673-L.jpg)

The feast preparations are progressing well:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181052051-L.jpg)

To keep the masses calm there was music for them:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181047875-L.jpg)
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Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:33:03 PM
Finally the sticks were dipped into oil and the fun started:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181048503-L.jpg)

The steaks only need a few minutes before they are ready to be eaten. So the hungry masses line up to get some:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181049021-L.jpg)

Everything was disposed of ecologically sound and under avoidance of any dishwashing efforts by using plastic plates. But there were many sides:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181049393-L.jpg)

As the sun was slowly setting...

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181049146-L.jpg)

...we were enjoying a fabulous meal!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181049695-L.jpg)

Yummy!!!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181049946-L.jpg)

Keith and I both said: ìIt doesn't get any better than this!î

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181050140-L.jpg)
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Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:33:47 PM
About one after it had started the whole thing was over: Tables cleaned, dishes disposed of, steaks gone... Whoa! Yet we never had the impressing we were rushing! We felt great!

In case you were cringing on the sound of a fried steak: try it first! I never had a steak that was juicier! The meat was slightly seasoned and the oil added more flavor! Try it! You won't regret it!!!

To round things up just a small pre-show before the main one:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181050533-L.jpg)

The stage slowly came to live, but they wouldn't let  the people with tickets to the seats yet:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181050880-L.jpg)

Hang on... what does the sign say??

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181050727-L.jpg)

WTF? Who TF is Alice?????????

Although we didn't pay for a show we surely got one:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181057242-L.jpg)

At 8:30 pm the bus picked us up again to take us down into the valley...
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Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:34:24 PM
We had the driver drop us off in the middle of the town. Time for our cigar!

Keith: ìDo you have matches?î
Me: ìNope...î
Keith: ìMe neither!î

Cr@p!! So we went into the nearest saloon to find some matches (slightly left in the middle of the pic).

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181058578-L.jpg)

We had a beer and got some matches also. After finishing the beer and sucking in the saloon's old times appeal we left and lit our sticks: Oh yeah, baby!!

Enjoying our stoogies we strolled through town:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181057470-L.jpg)

Almost everybody was still at the restaurant enjoying the show. So we almost had the entire town to ourselves. Great!!! Here are some impressions of Medora:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181057786-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181058025-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181058200-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181058998-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181058621-L.jpg)

:D

As the cigars were coming to an end we reached our room again. We had a good meal, good drinks, a good walk, a good cigar, awesome company, and some eye candy! Perfect!!

Plan was now to leave early... Very early... So off into the hay we hit...
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:34:55 PM
We had set the alarm for 5 am. 45 mins later we were sitting on the bikes and heading out. Medora was still sleeping. Nobody was on the streets. We gassed up at the only station in town and hit the interstate heading east. No traffic, no rain, but overcast skies sent us off.

To review the map again: Medora is #6:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/182066834-L.jpg)

In Belfield we turned onto US-85 south. It was still cool and the overcast was decreasing...in altitude! After a few minutes we were inside it! It wasn't raining, but very wet:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181059212-L.jpg)

The streets were empty and we still had about 100 yds visibility. We were crawling along at about 80-90 mph towards Denver. The cloud was with us until just north of Spearfish, ND, when the cloud cover ripped open and the sun came out. We had not eaten breakfast and pulled over for some fast BF food:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181060107-L.jpg)

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181060329-L.jpg)

With Sturgis being bout 20 miles east of Spearfish the whole area was saturated with chromy V-twins. Bikeweek was about to officially start the next day. Draw a 100 mile radius around Sturgis and it was filled with 'bikers':

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181059407-L.jpg)

Saturated!!!!!!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181059875-L.jpg)
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Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:35:42 PM
I don't mind them being there, but their average speeds combined with the bikes in numbers made for a slow crawl at times!
We finished breakfast and continued heading south. Up to this point the lands were rather flat and not really exiting (from what we could see when the cloud was lifted slightly a few times), but that was slowly changing. It got hilly again:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181060446-L.jpg)

As we were turning into Spearfish Canyon a chrome-group slowed us down:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181062349-L.jpg)

The canyon is great! Curvy, scenic, and almost everywhere no-passing zone! So we were stuck behind that group for a while

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181053747-L.jpg)

There were quite a few pull-over-areas, but they kept on snailing on... Oh well!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181054237-L.jpg)

At the end of the canyon there was a bar that they all pulled into. Finally!!!! And half a mile later the canyon ended! The roads continued to be quite appealing, though!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181054634-L.jpg)

A bit more of the straight kind, but with nice views! It was fun!!!! And again: to share this with your best riding buddy: can't beat that!!! Life is good!!!

In Lusk (#8 on the map) we gassed up and called Denver to give them our ETA. Chrome was omnipresent here as well. This trailer would look good on my Tiger, too:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181056160-L.jpg)

After the call and a drink we continued on. Unfortunately we were on a tight time line. So low-level flying was the thing to do:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181056465-L.jpg)
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:37:46 PM
Just outside of town ñ I had just opened my visor to let some air in ñ I felt that known sting of an insect flying into my helmet. No other thing to do than pull over. Just think about it: if I had not had that bug fly into my helmet I would have missed this place:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181056669-L.jpg)

A few miles more and we were re-united with the interstate. Up to this point we were doing 80-90 mph. Nice!!! No traffic, no car-induced turbulence: easy!!! Now back on I-20 we had trucks causing strong vortexes and cars cutting us off. We actually had a smaller average on the interstate than what we had on 85!!

Slowly we were closing in on Denver. We saw quite a few storm cloud forming over the mountains!

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181057039-L.jpg)

We got to Denver high and dry:

(http://gatortiger.smugmug.com/photos/181057220-L.jpg)

Today's mileage: 630 miles in about 10 hours. Taking off the breakfast break would make about 9 and a half hours. Not bad for back roads!

We loaded the bikes back on the trailer, had a quick dinner at Taco Hell, and got some supplies at the supermarket. The it was off the next 1400 miles to Atlanta...

The storm clouds caught up with us on the way. We had quite a bit of a light show!! I have some video footage but need to upload that first (more to come on that!!)

We drove through the night and got to Atlanta at 7pm on Sunday. We unloaded the bikes off the trailer, put Keith's tiger back on the pickup, had a beer and something to eat and hit the sack... 2000+ miles will get to you!!
Keith left the next morning at 5 am heading back to FL. He got there at about 11 am. Good time!!
I had to go to the office again that day. Good time!!!!

It was a great trip!! Both Keith and I are looking forward to doing some more trips like that together. What we would do differently next time? Definitely no reservations!!! Too much of a harness and restrictive! When you want to do some exploring you should not have a timetable and set points to reach every day. On this trip it was a necessity, though, since I had to be in Montana for work at a certain time. Hopefully next time we can explore more together! Shared fun is twice the fun!!!!!

I'm already looking forward to the next trip!!!   :D
Title:
Post by: GatorTiger on October 12, 2007, 05:44:30 PM
Quote from: "CBAT"That antler archway in the center of Jackson is real. They rebuild it each spring after picking up the antlers the elk drop in the refuge just north of town. No animals are harmed in the annual production.   :wink:

WOW!!!   :shock:  :shock:  From what we saw in numbers of deer on the road I can understand why there are so many then!!!

Thanks for the info!  :wink:
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Post by: CBAT on October 12, 2007, 05:50:36 PM
Thanks for taking the time to post your ride. Made my morning.
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Post by: GatorTiger on October 13, 2007, 02:51:19 AM
Thanks CBAT!! Glad you enjoyed it!!  :D
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Post by: HockleyBoy on October 15, 2007, 10:06:40 AM
Looks like you had a great trip, thanks for the excellent report and pics, good to see :D
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Post by: HockleyBoy on October 15, 2007, 10:07:14 AM
Looks like you had a great trip, thanks for the excellent report and pics, good to see :D
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