12 days, 9 states and 14,000 ft

[sapest]

(Not inspired by IBR)

My riding buddy invited me on a ride to Belle Fourche (geographic center of the 50 states) last winter.

I told him I would be happy to join him if we could ride to Mt Evans as well.

Here we go.

Day 1

Leaving Bellingham WA, headed for Spokane. (My buddys sisters house)

In the first 35 minutes, spotted 6 LEOs all with customers. Leaving I5 for Hiway 2, with lunch in Leavenworth.

In Index, before Leavenworth, we spotted Bigfoot.

This is V1.2, the original had a raccoon, not a snowboard.

V2.0, the new Bigfoot.

Just past Skykomish, we turned north off 2 onto the Old Cascade Hiway. It rejoins 2 around Scenic. Recommended!

In Leavenworth, the Giant Suit of Armor.

Around Wilbur, its wheat fields and empty roads.

Got some right wrist exercise

In Spokane, found the Garbage Goat.

Day 2 to Butte MT

3 states today.

Great morning, good weather, and Kingston ID to Thompson Falls MT

62 miles of goodness.

Coeur DAlene River Rd to Prichard Creek Rd to Thompson Pass Rd.

In Thompson Falls, lunch at Minnies Cafe and Fly Shop

Chicken Fried Steak and a Woolly Bugger!

The afternoon was a really wet ride into Butte. With 20 mph crosswinds. What else can I say.

Stay tuned for more.

-Steve

 

[sapest]

A Garmin observation -

For some reason my 665 has been receiving the Garmin weather service for some time now. Im not paying for it.

We were in some pretty heavy weather yesterday, getting hit by some serious bands of rain, the kind where you can see the rear of the trailer, but cant see the tractor until you are right beside it.

I was watching the weather radar screen, which superimposes your position over the weather, and as we moved it was surprisingly accurate. And in real time.

-Steve

 

[sapest]

Day 3 to Red Lodge MT.

Today mother nature tried to kill us.

First she tried electrocution, a few miles out of Butte we rode into a thunderstorm with a lot of lightning.

Then she tried to drown us with a wonderfully wet rainstorm.

In Yellowstone, in the Lamar Valley, she tried to cook us with 85 ish temps behind a long line of RVs.

And when none of that worked, in Silver Gate she tried rain AND hail to finish us off.

Some of that killer weather.

Beartooth Hiway/Pass the highlight of the day, of course.

Before that, lunch was in Gardiner MT at the Corral Drive In.

I had the elk burger & fries

Oh, wait a minute .. .. ..

Entered Yellowstone at the North Entrance. Saw 4 FJRs within about an hour, around 1-2 pm. Was that you?

Got to Beartooth Summit

It was about 52F.

How windy was it? The wind was blowing so hard that I couldnt get the kickstand down. I had to wait until the wind died down a bit before I was able to hold the bike upright while putting down the kickstand. If that was a 25 mph wind, then the wind chill would put the temp at about 45F.

What I never thought about was the lightheadedness I felt as we left the Beartooth Summit. Those first two hairpins were quite a challenge.

Hopefully Mother Nature will find another target tomorrow.

-Steve

 

[philter]

I see Mr. Bigfoots problem with a small population, he doesn't seem to have any equipment.

 

[sapest]

I see Mr. Bigfoots problem with a small population, he doesn't seem to have any equipment.

There is a lot of hair on V2.0, so Im not so sure, nor am I about to check.
-Steve

 

[sapest]

Sidebar

Doh -

Sometime on Sat I noticed I was having trouble keeping up with my riding buddys H-D. WTF?

Im thinking bad gas, clogged fuel filter/line or something with smoke inside got wet. Sunday was the same.

This morning I realized I have been staring at a capital T for two days. *******!

Falling in love again -

I forgot how much the FJR likes to eat up road at 80 mph. All day, every day. The last two days of 70-75-80 posted limits have been just wonderful when it was dry. (Even in Tour mode you *******)

-Steve

 

[dcarver]

Before that, lunch was in Gardiner MT at the Corral Drive In.

Been there! Keep going and posting mi amigo!

 

[sapest]

Day 4 to Spearfish.

Three fashion by Cabelas states today. (MT/WY/SD)

Hey Wyoming, whats with the pinky/red roadbed? And the Buckle Up signs, its not 1968!

Breakfast at Cafe Regis.

Be sure you get the fruit bread. I had mine with a spinach omelette, the spinach is grown in their own garden. Find this place if you are Red Lodge, its behind the main drag across from the new school.

Today was all about making miles to Spearfish, (about 400), our stop of interest was the Custer Memorial.

The ***** tried to get us again in the afternoon, but it didnt work out for her.

(The greeny/red/orange blobs chased us all afternoon. Thank goodness for 80 MPH speed limits.)

Lunch at the Cowboy Cafe in Sheridan WY.

Peach Pie and soup.

They were out of ice cream.

The memorial is an interesting place. Even if you only have a vague notion of what happened, or know the Hollywood version; you can see history here. Its right in front of you.

Trooper Cemetery

The engraved Memorial.

Last Stand Hill, looking in the direction of the last battle. The line of trees mark the Little Bighorn River, on the other side of the river was the Native American village, 5/6000, with 1500 ish fighting men.

Last Stand Hill, the black marker is Custers.

A part of the Native American Exhibit.

The next few days are in and out rides in the Spearfish area.

-Steve

 

[escapefjrtist]

Nice trip Steve, thanks for sharing the adventure!

~G

 

[dcarver]

-Steve,

You have a good photo eye. Thanks for posting up.

 

[sapest]

Day 5

Todays route, thx to BigJohnSD.

First up Belle Fourche

Then the Stoneville Saloon, home of Topless Tuesdays

It was closed when we arrived, not open till 11. If then. They have a coffin for photo ops.

On to Devils Tower

Saw a little peak of the peak about 25 miles away. Then some pine forests and hills, until -

While waiting in line to enter the site.

Patriotic shot

Good luck buddy.

Devils Tower to Four Corners to Deadwood was a very nice ride. Thx again BigJohnSD.

We had lunch in Deadwood, and I played 6 hands of Blackjack.

Main Street is a construction zone.

Just about the time we finished lunch, the skies opened up.

The ***** IS back.

Only about 15 miles back to Spearfish, went for the rain gear, which turned out to be the right choice. It just got wetter.

Drier day tomorrow!

-Steve

 

[sapest]

Nice trip Steve, thanks for sharing the adventure!
~G

-Steve,
You have a good photo eye. Thanks for posting up.

Most welcome, thank you for the feedback. Very kind.

-Steve

 

[sapest]

Day 6
Good stuff/bad stuff. No Rain!
This mornings route -

14A Spearfish Canyon was a great wake up ride. Then back thru Deadwood construction and onto -
Sturgis. If I have to - I guess.

Sturgis has a plethora of no ethanol fuel and no helmet riders. Lucky for me I dont need to worry about ethanol, nor an organ donation.

Out of Sturgis on 26 south thru Nemo and turned onto Norris Creek Road, which connects to Hiway 44.
We took 44 to Hill City, then 244 to Mt Rushmore. All excellent riding.

Quiz time, name the noses, bonus points if you know which is the Hollywood famous nose.

Lunch at Mt Rushmore was quite good, and better than fighting the crowds in Keystone. I had the Buffalo stew.
If you are over 62, parking is half price. The only fee is parking, and each motorcycle is charged. ($10 is full price)

Afternoon route -

Back out 244 to Needles Hiway. Iron Mtn Road. Sad to say that journey wasnt joyfull. 3 miles of freshly oiled chipseal, what seemed like 50 trikes, and a pilot car escort took the fun out of it. Too bad. Couldn't even stop at the overlook.
However, Playhouse Rd which connects 87 to 16 was a really enjoyable, but a short second best.
From Custer we headed for the Crazy Horse Memorial.

Its a $7 donation. There really isnt much to see outside, (its going to take a LOT of $7s to finish this), many interesting things inside, plus washrooms and A/C. Parking was zoo-like, thx to the 100s of trikes that parked anywhere they wanted. (There is a trike rally in Deadwood at the moment)

Back to Custer and pie.

The Purple Pie Place.

Watch the driveway.

Jalapeño pie??

Blueberry for me, perhaps the best blueberry pie I have eaten in a restaurant.

Out of Custer, 16 to Four Corners (WY) 85 to Cheyenne Crossing (SD), 14A (Spearfish Canyon again) back to Spearfish.
That, my friends, is a great 100 miles to end the day with.


-Steve

Top left is Washington
Top right is Jefferson
Bottom left is Roosevelt
Bottom right is Lincoln (the North By Northwest nose)

 

[sapest]

Sidebar

Hey XM Radio!

I cant believe the reception in the forests and canyons around here.

In Canada, it doesnt take many trees before dropouts start.

Where is the So far north reception sucks refund line?

-Steve

 

[CraigRegs]

LOVE the Purple Pie Place!

 

[Niehart]

LOVE the Purple Pie Place!

+1

 

[sapest]

Post #13 -

It wasnt Needles Hiway that was under construction, it was Iron Mtn Road.

https://www.ironmountainroad.com/

17 MILES

314 CURVES

14 SWITCHBACKS

3 PIGTAILS

3 TUNNELS

4 PRESIDENTS

2 SPLITS

We could blame the GPSs, but really who cares? We are on holidays. Needles was today. More maybe tomorrow. Got in late and in hail.

-Steve

 

[sapest]

DAY 7

WE REALLY FIND NEEDLES HIWAY

Headed east on I-90 to Wall. Did not visit Wall Drugs. Took 240 South thru Badlands.

Exiting the park on 44 East, we stopped at the Ranch Store. Fed the prairie dogs.

After July 4 weekend, these guys are sick of peanuts.

After that, we took 44 west, on brand new, but bumpy pavement to Rapid City, lunch at Inferno by Fire.

Pizza with a gas station, and great A/C. South on 79 to 36 and into Custer State Park. Temp is 92F.

Drove the Wildlife Loop. If we were the hunter gatherers for our tribe, we would be naked and hungry.

The Loop comes out back on 36, quick jog and you are at the bottom of Needles Hiway.

Needles was a lot of fun. Its all new pavement. We were in front of a nice big truck that kept all the traffic away. In the second tunnel we had to fight with 2 goats for the right of way. No pics, but many posted on FB. I guess they think its theirs.

After Needles, 385 back to Hill City for dinner. Still on 385 to Deadwood, and back to Spearfish.

Right around Pactola, it hailed, hard. But we were dry by the time we hit Deadwood.

-Steve

 

[sapest]

Day 8

4 states, 450 miles.

Heading for CO now.

Spearfish Canyon one last time, into Wy on 85 south. Onto 26 east into NE.

Gering for lunch at the Mixing Bowl.

We took the road to Scotts Bluff National Momument.

The road is the original Oregon Trail.

Back into WY on 85,

chased by this storm cell.

Into CO, as we crossed the state line, elevation was 6100 ft. Temp was 94F.

10 minutes later we were at walking speed for the next 2 hours to our motel in Golden.

Tomorrow, assault on Evans!

-Steve