Addendum Plus

UPDATE:  7/10/15


Lynn gave me some additional photos.   The first set was taken on the way to Jackson Wyoming  at the lunch stop on the way there in the rain.  We found a place, on a main road, just about 10 -20 miles after we left the national forrest.  It was located near a campground and I suspect that was the main source of business.  We got there just before closing and they had no problem handing the five of us with our dripping rain gear.

Out to the side of the restaurant they have a little "fun" area.  Here are some pics we felt obliged to take.

I must preferred being in the saloon and not in jail.

While in Yellowstone we saw lots of animals, some big, some small.  Here are some pics of goats along the side of the road.  You may have to look hard to see them

Prologue:  I have added a new folder to my Dropbox.  I will be putting some video files there for viewing.  Here is the link.

Video Files

I have been going through some of the photos I have not published here.   So here are a few  "extras"

When we were in Jackson (or Jackson's Hole to some) WY, we had dinner at the 1,000,000 Cowboy Restaurant.  And yes it was expensive.  I could not afford to eat there often but since it was vacation, what the heck.  

One of the things about Yellowstone that is interesting is the number of wild animals you see while you travel through there.  They are interesting and cause all manner of traffic jams.  You have no idea how some of our fellow travelers react.  In one case, a bison or some other animal was grazing on the side of the road.  A driver coming from the other direction stopped his car over the center line, opened his door, left it open, to take pictures (I mean he actually got out of the car, walked across the road)  Not for a few seconds but minutes.   Blocking traffic in both directions.

In another case, a bison was on the road way.  Actually on and off the road way.  While there were several bison around, this one guy just wondered on and off the road.  People would stop  and allow the animal to do its thing.  However, what they did not think about is that this is a big animal.   And if he decides to move, he moves and it does not matter about cars etc.  He just moves.  

Here is a picture we took as we rode by the bison.

We stayed in Hannibal, Missouri one night.  Here is a view of main street  (including lighthouse) and the Mississippi.

Speaking of the Mississippi, While we were in Hannibal and in the surrounding area, I looked at the elevation.  Memory serves that is was about 600 feet above see level.  So, if that is true, the Mississippi, as it flows form Hannibal, Missouri to New Orleans drops only 600 feet.  That is the1,000 miles of river flow is caused by a 600 foot drop.   For some reason I always thought it was more.

Some more videos.

I have been looking through the video files to see what I might have missed.. There is lots of data there, just needs to be edited.  I used both the Contur HD camera mounted to the bike and new hand held camera that takes HD videos as well.  Here as some hand held videos.

This one is as we are leaving Mesquite, NV headed to Utah and Zion National Park on June 4th.  At least thats what it should be based on date and time on the video.

This next video was taken on June 7th and should be somewhere near Yellowstone National Park.  Based on the time stamp, it should be early afternoon.

Hannibal to Lebanon, TN and then Home.

Arrived home about 4:30 PM on Saturday (yesterday).   Total trip length, about 5, 850 mies

The trip from Hannibal to Lebanon, TN was basically uneventful.  About 450 miles.  No real issues but heat and traffic.   Lebanon, TN is not an oasis on I-40 but it had a Cracker Barrel, a Waffle House, and a nice Ice Cream place... So I had Ice Cream for the first time in several months yesterday after dinner.  

The trip from Lebanon, TN to Home was about 390 miles.  Uneventful except for traffic on the interstate.  There were two areas where traffic as backed up for miles because of construction work.  In both cases, we could have been warned about this well in advance and provided an alternate route. In one case I picked my own alternate route.  The interesting thing is that in one case, the work on the bridge on I-26, paralleled a new bridge that had no traffic.  In other words we could have left the interstate, taken the new bridge on a US route and then gotten back on, minimal fuss .

Traffic on the bridge was backed up both east and west.  The west bound traffic was backed for three or four miles.   I don't know if it was because it was summer and vacation time or, just normal.  

But, other than that and the car/SUV we saw turned over and 100 feet off the road and down an incline on I-26 it was uneventful.   We were lucky, it appeared it just happened otherwise it would have been another traffic jam.   I know, that is not being very sympathetic to the SUV's occupants but it appears it happened on a section of road that was not heavily traveled at the time and therefore probably just bad or distracted driving.


Below are some images from I-40 through South Dakota.   It is interesting to note that there appear to be no water issues in South Dakota or Wyoming for that matter.  So is it all just west of the Rockies, probably. And the roads in South Dakota an Minnesota are really straight.

When we got to Fairmont Minnesota on Wednesday we looked for a place for lunch.  Since Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes I figured this would be a good place to eat.  Had BBQ, not  bad for Minnesota.  Ate outside under the umbrellas.  It was a fairly busy place.

In summary a good trip.  No issues with the trip, hotel/motels or bikes.   If fact this is the first trip we have taken out west (except when I went with no other bikes) that we did not have a bike issue on the trip.  The Silver Lady preformed well....   Now I have to find some artist to put a couple of decals/paintings on her.  I was thinking of something like this.

Fairmont, MN to Hannibal, Missouri

Travel today was mostly in light rain.  It was about 420 miles.   We would out run the rain, stop for gas or lunch and it would catch up.

But it was light and not a real issue on the road.   Left about 830 and arrived at the Best Western in Hannibal about 430.

Almost all the roads were limited access four lanes but not all interstates.  It is interesting to see the way some states handle four lane roads that are not limited access and still maintain the 65 MPH speed limits you see on most interstates.   

On a trip like this, we spend four days traveling out and four days traveling back.  that leaves, of the 15 days, 7 days for exploration, sight seeing.   Let me make a list of the places we have been in those 7 days.

Kaibab National Forest 

California

Lake Meade National Recreational Area

Zion National Park

Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument

Bryce Canyon National Park

Dixie National Forest

Canyon Reef National Park

Caribou National Forest

Grand Teton National Park

Yellowstone National Park

Absroka-Beartooth Wilderness

Custer National Forrest

Bighorn National Forrest

What could have been easily added?   Mount Rushmore, The Badlands, and Devils Tower.   I would rate them as Badlands, then Devils Tower and then Mount Rushmore.   The Badlands are cool. You just have to envision riding through them on horseback to see how they got their name.

Now lets talk about riding versus driving.   You only need one example to fully appreciate the difference.   As you ride north out of Jackson, Wyoming and turn the corner headed north the Grand Tetons jump into view. What you see is three or four rugged snowed covered mountains jumping up out of the landscape.  In a car, even a convertible, the view is blocked, limited by all kinds of things

But on the bike, you approximate, the same view the first settlers, explorers saw on horse back.  Ok, on the bike you are about three or four feet lower but still the view is from a saddle unhindered by stuff.  It is the only way to see these natural wonders (well some are man made because roads are used to access them)  

And so far, it appears the best way to travel to these areas (except Yellowstone) is south to north and west to east.

Lets talk base of operations and travel through.   Suppose you want to see them on a bike. You can trailer the bike to the area of you can rent one.  Renting one is out, for me at least, because I like the way I have mine setup and don't want to compromise.  

So you can trailer two or three bikes to a point, and then ride around from there.  It requires you to have a place to store the truck/car and trailer but it can be done.  You might save two days maybe three since you might be abel to drive longer each day and therefore cut the travel time there and back allowing more time on the parks.

Would I take this trip again.  Yes I would.  I might spend less time in Yellowstone.  While there is much to see there, the other parks offer what I think is better scenery and views.....   Just one guys opinion.

Tomorrow, Lebanon, TN and then home.   

Stop on the Way

We are currently in Fairmont Minnesota.  Nice rural place.  We will be visiting some relatives here.

The only problem is tomorrow they have flash flood warnings.   Heavy rain expected.   With luck we will ride out of the rain during the day tomorrow.  If not, well we have only had two periods of rain on the trip so far.  So another day is just what life is.

The internet speed here at the holiday inn is the best yet so I am going to try and upload some videos.

On top of Bear Tooth

Climbing Bear Tooth

Climbing Big Horn

On Top of Big Horn

Big Horn

Return Day two

Today we traveled from Gillette, WY to Mitchell, SD.  About 415 miles, all on I-40  And we are now back in the Central Daylight Time Zone.  So, we lost one hour.

Billy is now or will be in St. Louis.  Tomorrow we stop in Fairmont, MN for the night and then head to Hannibal Missouri on Thursday.

Temperatures got to 99 degrees today.  And it was not a dry heat.   It was hot.

I-40 has a speed limit of 80 MPH in Wyoming and South Dakota.  So, I took the opportunity to see how the bike handled at some speed.  The biggest problem, slip stream, air over the bike.  It can get brutal at speed.

And the difference on turns is interesting as well, and yes there were some nice sweeps on I-40.

Its mostly flat with elevations at about 1,900 Feet above sea level.

Tomorrow is a short day so it will be nice.   Back to long days the day after.   And no interstate on Thursday.

I am trying to upload some files to dropbox.  Will provide the address later and some images of South Dakota.  And they have plenty of water in Wyoming and South Dakota.

Here is a link to some videos from Bear Tooth and Big Horn

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/y4ip0t553eviovr/AAD5wIUNm-bxCAJqw9hss0A6a?dl=0

On the way Back

Today we traveled from Red Lodge, Montana to Gillette, WY.   Got in early, around 345 today.   After leaving Red Lodge Inn and having breakfast, we headed for Big Horn Mountain and US 14A.  This is a excellent road climbing up out of the low lands, well 4,000 feet above sea level, to about 10,000 feet.


As has happened in the past, some of the riders decided that, since the major aspects of the trip had been completed, they wanted to go accomplish some personal objectives.  Billy is headed back to Knoxville.  The other coupled is headed to Oswego, IL to visit some relatives.  We are headed, as planned, to visit relatives in Fairmont, MN.   We will get there early on Wednesday.

Today, wearing the same outfit I did last week at 100 degrees in Nevada/California I was very warm at 86 degrees outside.  I don't know the humidity in Wyoming at the moment, but it seemed much warmer.   So, when they talk about a dry heat, I can attest to the fact you can wear certain gear in very dry climates that are truly objectionable in high humidity conditions.

Oh, Interstate speeds in Wyoming are 80 MPH....      It makes for a quick ride.


Ok... Some images from toady.

Red Lodge Inn.   Its located on a river, well I guess it could be called a river.  Its maybe 50 feet across and very loud (across the road which was about 100 feet it is very audible outside the room).  We slept with windows open, no ac or heat.   The place is a really live part of the country.  They get little snow and real estate prices reflect that.

On to Big Horn and US 14A.  Here are some images of Bear Tooth from a lower level..

US14A takes you over Big Horn and here is a few from near the top.

After leaving Big Horn we had lunch at Sandfords Grub and Pub.  That was a really cool restaurant.  License plates for Wyoming  all over the place, Tee Shirts based on Sandford and Sons quotes.   Lots of food.  and a really nice place to stop and plan trip changes.

Here are some images going east on I-90.

Ok.  I am going to see what the video from the other camera looks like and post it if its any good.

Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, and Bear Tooth

I have not had a lot of time today to put a narrative to this post so here are some raw images.

As you leave Jackson Hole, the Grand Tetons come into view.  Here are some unedited hand held videos

Yellowstone Buffalo Jam

Buffalo's or Bison at play

And the local version of a dirt bike