Fred W and TMJ's Vacation Ride to the Great Divide

[Just Krusen]

"Both were "Days Inn"s. Coincidence?"

NO. I stopped going to Day's Inn years ago because they were always run down. I'm sure there is a nice one somewhere but I stopped looking for it.

What worked for my wife and I was to fly her out to our touring area. I would iron butt it out and pick here up at the airport. Then do the same for the return ride. This saved us 3 to 4 days to enjoy at our destination area (out west usually).

 

[Fred W]

Fred, I think your plan to buy a 2014/2015 FJR is a good idea.

Ah, but you are making some assumptions... I'm not sure if it will be another FJR yet, but that is definitely on the short list. Especially after how good the '05 has been to me. I'll be considering an S10 as a replacement also.

I am also impressed by TMJ on a 6500 mile trip in 15 days. <applause>

I know... she's a keeper. Anyone that could stick it out with me for 36 years has thick skin. Just one more thing that makes her the magnificent one.

"Both were "Days Inn"s. Coincidence?"
NO. I stopped going to Day's Inn years ago because they were always run down. I'm sure there is a nice one somewhere but I stopped looking for it.

What worked for my wife and I was to fly her out to our touring area. I would iron butt it out and pick here up at the airport. Then do the same for the return ride. This saved us 3 to 4 days to enjoy at our destination area (out west usually).

We did hit one good one out of the three Days Inns we stayed in, and that was the one in Spearfish, SD. Not fantastic, mind you, but adequate. I think their franchising must run a looser ship than some of the others hotel brands. Like you, I will steer clear of them from here on.

As for flying the bride places, that is a no go for us. To begin with she won't fly, never mind alone.

Besides, I liked having her along, even for the boring stuff. You know that saying... "for better or for worse?"

Plus, I'm a died in the wool candy butt rider anyway, so I was perfectly fine with getting off the road after 500 miles or so.

 

[08FJR4ME]

Fred,

A lot of good information you have shared with the community. I will come back to this thread again when I plan to do the big trip someday. Like you I am getting up in miles on my ride also. That being the case my starting destination might be D&H cycle again. Just a thought for now anyway and it would be fitting since that's where all this shennanigans started for me. Although it would be nice I don't think I am ready for a wingabago yet. Still having fun on the FJR. We will see what next year brings.

Great thread,

Dave

 

[Blind Squirrel]

I might be somewhat tempted towards getting rid of the B4 and maybe trying a different bike to do our next long distance trip on. Maybe one with intrinsically better aerodynamics and heat management, slightly taller gearing, and a cruise control built in? Since TMJ and I are in agreement that there will be more such adventures in our future, and Ole' Blue is getting a bit long in the tooth, I think we have agreement about this move too. I'll have to work on that.

You just described my 2011 RT. With the RT (which is lighter than the FJR) I also get on the fly suspension changes, heated grips, heated seats, lower center of gravity and much more info from the dash. You do give up the whip-lash acceleration that the FJR offers. You normally need to drop a gear when passing.

With the RT self-maintenance is easy with those two cylinders sticking out there, which helps keep costs down.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

Don't kid yourself. Fred's gettin' a Harley!

A big Ultra Classic with loud pipes, loud radio and loud paint. At least TMJ will have a nice comfy place to sit.

 

[Geezer]

"Both were "Days Inn"s. Coincidence?"
NO. I stopped going to Day's Inn years ago because they were always run down. I'm sure there is a nice one somewhere but I stopped looking for it.

What worked for my wife and I was to fly her out to our touring area. I would iron butt it out and pick here up at the airport. Then do the same for the return ride. This saved us 3 to 4 days to enjoy at our destination area (out west usually).

I agree. I only use Day's Inn, or Super 8 when I can't find something a little nicer for a reasonable price. I prefer Best Western or Comfort Inn. Another place I like is Holiday Inn Express. They charge a little more but provide a nice breakfast that usually makes up for the difference.

 

[Just Krusen]

Last trip we hit several Sleep Inns and were pleasantly surprised by the clean large rooms. We'll be using them more in the future. I liked them better than the Best Westerns & Comfort Inns, which I like most of the time.

 

[Fred W]

So, someone contemplating such a vacation ride might ask; how much cha-ching did all this fun and adventure end up setting you back?

I made all hotel, gas and food purchases on a single credit card to help keep track of it all. Except for some few petty cash purchases (like snacks at rest stops, entrance fees to the national parks and memorials, etc.) here are the totals.

Biggest expense (obviously) was the hotels. Lowest price was $68.23 in Dayton. Highest was $160.92 in Cody (could definitely find something cheaper in one of the nearby smaller towns). Our total for 13 nights (including all taxes) was $1,415.24 for an average of $108.86 per night. You could definitely do that cheaper.

Next biggest expense (no surprise!) was fuel. We racked up $588.59 in total gasoline charges over the 15 days and 6543 miles of riding, which comes out to $39.24 a day, or just under 9 cents a mile (not counting oil and tires).

By being somewhat frugal with our food choices, as already described, we managed to spend only $37.03 per day on food for the 14 days (we ate at Brother in Laws 1 day) total spend was $518.39.

Our average daily spend for hotel, food and gas was $185. Our grand total for the vacation charges was just a hair over $2500, plus about $250 of petty cash expenses. Pretty cheap vacation, really. And like I said, someone concentrating on being ultra frugal on the hotel choices could spend quite a bit less. Or, if you stay only at posh hotels, and ate 3 squares a day, you could spend a whole lot more too. The choice is all yours!

 

[08FJR4ME]

It's only money, you can't take it with you. Time with the wife, memory's to enjoy will last till we depart. Can't put a value on that. So us more robust folks might settle on $200.00 a day.

Out of curiousity did you calculate average gas mileage?

Dave

 

[hppants]

I fully admit that for whatever reason, until yesterday, I completely missed this thread.

While I am only on page 9 now, I can wait no longer to express 2 sincere thoughts:

1. As I read this, I am so envious of your trip. I long to ride out Northwest to see these magnificent sites from a top my motorcycle. The fact that you get to experience that with your wife is even more impressive to me. (BTW - if it's not too personal, what does "TMJ" stand for?????). Ironically, my feelings are sometimes mixed, as my envy kind of turns to jealousy because I know that at least for this year, I cannot be there.

2. Without a doubt, Fred is crowned the 2014 FJR Forum Food **** award recipient. Anyone that questions this executive decision can go suck their thumb. As with all ****, it's one thing to get the pictures, but a righteous script is what really makes the show. You sir are well deserved. I shall have high hopes to one day emulate your greatness!!!

I can't wait to go back to page 9 and resume.

 

[ionbeam]

...(BTW - if it's not too personal, what does "TMJ" stand for?????)...

TMJ = The Magnificent Josie (Terms of Endearment for wifie Joann)

 

[Fred W]

It's only money, you can't take it with you. Time with the wife, memory's to enjoy will last till we depart. Can't put a value on that. So us more robust folks might settle on $200.00 a day.

Out of curiousity did you calculate average gas mileage?
Dave

True about the expense being worth it. And though you may think that we scrimped a lot, we really didn't. The FCBs were fine for both of us. We normally eat very light breakfasts at home, anyway (except when were out on RTEs with the hard eatin' NERDS

) and when you are just sitting on a bike all day you really don't work up much of an appetite for lunch.

After squatting at a hotel in the evening and having an adult bev. or two in the room, the appetite would come on and we would go out to whatever restaurant looked good within walking distance. We actually made some pretty good finds:

The ones that stand out in my mind looking back were Casa Mexico in Kalispell, the Golden Dragon Chinese in Spearfish, Bubba's BBQ in Cody and Bert and Ernie's in Great Falls. The chains we hit were all good eats too: Buffalo Wild Wings in Dayton, and Perkins in Lakeville.

also, no I didn't calculate the average miles per gallon, but I did at each fill up, and it was quite good out in the higher altitude and the states with no ethanol in the regular gas. I saw highs above 45 mpg, which my bike has never experienced before. But once we got back into the flatlands with the E10 fuel, mileggae dropped down to ~ 40 mpg at my preferred 80 mph cruising speeds.

@hppants - glad you are enjoying the travel log. Yes, TMJ stands for "The Magnificent Josie".

But it isn't just a cutesy term of endearment.

I call her that because she is totally amazing at how much crap she will tolerate, and do so quite gracefully. Best pillion a rider could have in my books.

 

[Geezer]

Good thing my wife doesn't read this forum, I always tell her that I spend less than a thousand a week when I'm traveling.

 

[snikr]

Glad you had a good trip. Enjoyed the reports.

 

[Iris]

Cost wise....that's what we usually figure on too. For a 14 day trip, we always figure around $3 k ......and then we're usually happy to return home with about $400 or $500 not spent.

You tracked your trip just like we do. It's funny.....all we do is eat, get gas and sleep...LOL

 

[Allen_C]

Definitely sounds like money well spent and time with your spouse that you will never forget! Kudos to you, Fred and TMJ.

 

[BikerGeek99]

Good stuff, Fred!

Several of your pictures reminded me of our trip out west in 2010.

 

[Fred W]

It's funny.....all we do is eat, get gas and sleep...LOL

Maybe you'll want to stay away from those Mexican Restaurants, Iris!

:lol:

 

[Big Sky]

Fred, in just a year or two you'll be able to buy the one-time senior citizens park pass (cough, cough) which will save entry fees. We are frugal tourists, too. We tend to find lodging along the old highways and small towns where the motels are mom 'n' pops, avoiding the chains and their higher rates. These can be risky, though, so if in doubt, we ask to see the room before we sign. Often we find wonderful places, clean, comfortable, run by excellent and accommodating folks.

So glad you had the trip of a lifetime. Next time, hopefully, schedules and lack of crisis will coincide. I would like nothing better than to take you folks for a river float, time at the family cabin, etc. (Floating actually has a lot in common with riding: you are always looking downriver and setting up early for that next turn while watching for hazards.)

 

[Big Sky]

Fred, in just a year or two you'll be able to buy the one-time senior citizens park pass (cough, cough) which will save entry fees. We are frugal tourists, too. We tend to find lodging along the old highways and small towns where the motels are mom 'n' pops, avoiding the chains and their higher rates. These can be risky, though, so if in doubt, we ask to see the room before we sign. Often we find wonderful places, clean, comfortable, run by excellent and accommodating folks.

So glad you had the trip of a lifetime. Next time, hopefully, schedules and lack of crisis will coincide. I would like nothing better than to take you folks for a river float, time at the family cabin, etc. (Floating actually has a lot in common with riding: you are always looking downriver and setting up early for that next turn while watching for hazards.)