On The Road Again!

[kd5cqt]

Down to 1 wakeup and at 0430 tomorrow, it's off to the Left Coast by way of everywhere. Got a month or so to see how many miles I can put behind me and how many sights I can store in the memory banks. This trip has been a long time coming and started in the planning stages while I was still figuring out the controls on the electric wheelchair. Now it's here. I'll be posting from various places as I find access to internet...carrying a tiny little laptop thingee with me this time. It worked great in Junction.
I'll be seeing many of you enroute, and hope to see many more of you when I return.

[foxyrider]

Have a WONDERFUL trip!

[d190]

Now it's here. I'll be posting from various places as I find access to internet...carrying a tiny little laptop thingee with me this time.

Remember Starbucks and McD's have wifi.........I can download your pics when we meet next week and dump them into my photobucket account.

Don't forget the usb cable for the camera and for your nuvi...that makes downloading pics into the netbook simple.....

See you soon.........

[kd5cqt]

Ron, first thing I loaded this time was the camera cable. Now I just have to remember to grab the camera tomorrow morning.

[Dinero]

Just got back from the lake house about 45 minutes ago. 140 mies each way and about 100 miles around the lake while there. Tomorrow is a chill out day after hanging my flag out.

[kd5cqt]

Outta here in about 5 minutes. All things ready, checklist complete, coffee almost empty in the cup, and ready to go. Will be checking in as soon as I land and find a connection for the computer.

[dynageno]

Hope to see ya. Have a safe, trouble free trip

[kd5cqt]

Made it to the west of San Antonio, and we are about to hoist a well earned cold one Tosay it was hot is to understate, and add the nice little side wind, I am a pooped puppy right now. Tomorrow, we leave here and head for Carlsbad and the big cave. No pix today, but sure did miss a chance for some good ones over the Henderson Swamp and Atchafalaya basin that is completely flooded. Rive at Batpon Rouge is to the top of the levees and really moving some water downstream. One litle hole and it's all over.
More tomorrow. Time to rehydrate!

[Dinero]

Hydration and rest. Plenty of stops in this heat, Daryl, and don't forget that the wind just accelerates the process.

If you ain't peeing, you ain't drinking enough. The darker the color the closer to dehydration. Pay attention.

[ms_tapestry]

Hydration and rest. Plenty of stops in this heat, Daryl, and don't forget that the wind just accelerates the process.

If you ain't peeing, you ain't drinking enough. The darker the color the closer to dehydration. Pay attention.

Also, cumulative fatigue is real. . . take care of yourself sir!

Just got home from the lake house. . .898 miles for the weekend. I be tired. . .

[kd5cqt]

Jim, to put your mind at ease, I'm already making the group crazy making them drink a bottle of water every time we stop for gas. I'm sitting in the room right now sucking up all the water i can get. The further out on that deseert we go, the worse it is going to get, and I am not going to keel over from dehydration.

[ms_tapestry]

Jim, to put your mind at ease, I'm already making the group crazy making them drink a bottle of water every time we stop for gas. I'm sitting in the room right now sucking up all the water i can get. The further out on that deseert we go, the worse it is going to get, and I am not going to keel over from dehydration.

A wet bandana around your neck works wonders. Y'all be safe!

[d190]

Keep Billy covered in sunscreen...last trip out here he looked like a Maine Lobster by the time he got to Kaliforny...

[Stoney]

Sounds good so far.... have a safe trip, and enjoy!!

[Rewind]

This is going to be a GREAT thread to follow!!!!

[dynageno]

Drink plenty of water. Dehydration is no fun. They will thank you later

[Wind]

This is going to be a GREAT thread to follow!!!!

I agree. Have fun, stay safe, and keep posting.

[ms_tapestry]

So where are you now?

[d190]

So where are you now?

They are in Carlsbad...I think you oughta run down there and see the figment of your imagination...aka Billy the Banker...

[ms_tapestry]

They are in Carlsbad...I think you oughta run down there and see the figment of your imagination...aka Billy the Banker...

Alas but work gets in the way. . . <sigh> I told them to go to Sitting Bull Falls while they are out that way. . .I hope they do. . .

[Dinero]

I'm sure there is plenty of bull along the way for these two.

[Rewind]

I'm sure there is plenty of bull along the way for these two.

:roflblack: :roflblack: :roflblack: :roflblack:

[kd5cqt]

Actually, Jim, there's 3 of us. Billy's BIL is with us. Arrived yesterday PM in Carlsbad. Had a really good run from San Antonio. Overcast, cool, a few light sprinkles on the way (west Texas monsoon), and we had the I-10 pretty much to ourselves after Junctiion. No one out here will ever starve if they live near the interstate highway. There is enough fresh venison from SA to Fort Stockton to feed a lot of people. Just lay out on the side of the road and set out a set of headlights. Deer are sure to run across in front of the lights and you should have an easy shot.
Took off this AM for the big cave. That is one big underground hole. Lots of beautiful formations, but the little strobe on my camera wasn't up to the low light task, so a lot of the shots I tried didn't make it. Hope the pix are worthy of the experience. Charging the battery right now before I try to download any of them. This little computer is driving me nuts....the keyboard is way too small for my big fingers.camera just . Some good ones survived, though.
Tonya, we are going to give the falls a shot in a bit. Taking a short rest after hiking in the cave.
More stuff tomorrow.

[ms_tapestry]

Tonya, we are going to give the falls a shot in a bit. Taking a short rest after hiking in the cave.
More stuff tomorrow.I hope you get a chance to see the Falls. . . well worth the twisty road ride out there! :Angel_anim:

[Screamin' Eagle]

More stuff tomorrow.

Works for me... :cool:

[kd5cqt]

We made it to Albuquerque today. Went through Roswell, but it was sort of a disappointment with only the infamous Ballard funeral ome and D-190's Dairy Queen to be seen. Never did find the stupid Extraterrestrial Museum. Cut across state on Hwy 380 whiich is a really nice run through the hills and a few lesser known places like the grave of Billy the Kid and the grave of Smoky the Bear. The bear had a better display and museum....wonder what he had been smoking. By now I have soaked up so much sun that i have broken my old tan record and still have most of the month to go. Even with sunblock, I am getting deep brown except for where my riding gloves block the sun.
Tomorrow, we head for Gran d Canyon by way of Painted Desert and Petrified Forest. Will be staying i9n Cameron at the Cameron Trading Post. Really nice place and excellent chow inthe restaurant.Time for a beverage and then dinner.
Later!

[Dinero]

Maybe ET took the museum home with him.:278:

[ms_tapestry]

The museum is right there on that road. . . It's a small place. . . .was that helpful?

[Screamin' Eagle]

Maybe ET took the museum home with him.:278:

OhhhCrap... :hide1:

[Wind]

Man, this sounds like a fantastic trip. I envy you. Please keep us posted.

[d190]

Daryl, I have reservations at San Simeon...and the grandkid is coming with me...see you soon....

[kd5cqt]

Good deal, Ron. Hope Billy survives. We're almost out of his CAnadian whiskey and there ain't a likker store for 100 miles around here in Navajo country.

Left Albuquerque this AM and not too far out of town, we all pulled over on the shoulder and started breaking out the heavy leather stuff. It gets cold on that desert in the morning. Pulled into the Welcome Center in Arizona on I-40 and got mobbed by a couple of groups from Mississippi who saw out plates. Everyone heaading west, I guess.
Made a little detour through Painted Dessert and Petrified Forest. I guess it is new cameera timee. This one is starfting to act like it don't want to be my friend anymore. Lost a lot of great shots because of shutter delay that I was not aware of. Still got a few keepers.
The ride up Hwy 89 was really nice. First a run through some nice snow capped hills, and then a gentle downhill for about 30 miles to Cameron where we will stay tonight and tomorrow night. Tomorrow is a visit to the big ditch. Also looking forward to the breakfast the serve here that is out of sight.
Now time for some suede and a little kickback time. Later.

[dynageno]

Sounds like a great time-keep us posted

[kd5cqt]

OK, finally got the camera to cooperate so I can post a few pix. Went to the big ditch today. Grand Canyon is really something to see even if you've already been here. After seeing all of the signs warning about elk and deer on the road, we came across one that warned about mountain ions next 10 miles......don't thhink there was any need for us to stop there. But I was paranoid about the elk and deer after readding all the local stats, and sure enough on the way back out, 2 elk bust out of the woods and run across in front of me some 50 feet or so. Slowed to a crawl and didn't see any more so took off. About 5 minutes later, from the right side of the road, out trots a deer who stops in the midddle of the road and looks right at me. Locked up the brakes and heard the ding ding ding in mye head....why is the bitch stopping. Hit the horn and up pops a pair of fuzzy brown ears about 10 feet to my right. Junior jumps up and runs to mama and off they went into the forest. Heading towards the north rim and then Utah through some se4rious elk country tomoorrow, so I guess I'll have to be tripally alert. One of the locals tells me today as we were doing a load of laundry that they don't come out in the daytime. Hmmmm, let's see, 4 critters on the road within 50 feet of me at 11AM. So much for local knowledge and advice. May be a long riding day as we go slow enough to have some reaction and braking time in case. Hope we have no more fun like that.
So here be some pix. First of these are from inside of Carlsbad Caverns. Then there's this neat sign over the door of a watering holee we found on Hwy 380 just down the road from Billy the Kid's gravesite.

[kd5cqt]

Here's some more pix from of some of the bikes parked out in rm Painted Desert and Petrified Forest. Then there's one of the bikes parked in front of theroom this AM followed by some stuff from Grand Canyon.

[kd5cqt]

More Grand Canyon stuff:

[dynageno]

Great pic's man. Your getting closer to me and Doug.

[kd5cqt]

Today we got sidetracked in Utah and ended up crossing over a 10K high summit still snow covered for miles. Haven't had much of a chance to review any of these pix, but I'll have them up sometime later this PM. Right now we are kicked back in a place in Cedar City, UT. The ride up went along te north rim of the GC, and the scenery was impressive to say the least.Today, we had probably the best scenery so far on the trip. Only one Bambi showed its nose to us and stayed well back off the road.
3 Ultras on last 2 fillups getting 48+ mpg.and yes, we are making sure they are filled to the top each fillup. All that downhill stuff really helps. Pix later tonight!
Geno, maybe Thursday afternoon we'll be in range. Will call when we hit the coast.

[ms_tapestry]

Today we got sidetracked in Utah and ended up crossing over a 10K high summit still snow covered for miles. Haven't had much of a chance to review any of these pix, but I'll have them up sometime later this PM. Right now we are kicked back in a place in Cedar City, UT. The ride up went along te north rim of the GC, and the scenery was impressive to say the least.Today, we had probably the best scenery so far on the trip. Only one Bambi showed its nose to us and stayed well back off the road.
3 Ultras on last 2 fillups getting 48+ mpg.and yes, we are making sure they are filled to the top each fillup. All that downhill stuff really helps. Pix later tonight!
Geno, maybe Thursday afternoon we'll be in range. Will call when we hit the coast.

Nice. . . :Angel_anim:

[dynageno]

Today we got sidetracked in Utah and ended up crossing over a 10K high summit still snow covered for miles. Haven't had much of a chance to review any of these pix, but I'll have them up sometime later this PM. Right now we are kicked back in a place in Cedar City, UT. The ride up went along te north rim of the GC, and the scenery was impressive to say the least.Today, we had probably the best scenery so far on the trip. Only one Bambi showed its nose to us and stayed well back off the road.
3 Ultras on last 2 fillups getting 48+ mpg.and yes, we are making sure they are filled to the top each fillup. All that downhill stuff really helps. Pix later tonight!
Geno, maybe Thursday afternoon we'll be in range. Will call when we hit the coast.

Thursday my work for me but, Doug works all week. We were hoping for Sat/Sun. Maybe you can hang down south till Friday and then move north so we can both hook up with you. Don't know what your schedule is, so play it by ear. Geno

[kd5cqt]

OK, Geno. Only thing definite besides the 8th is we haave to be in Big Sky ,Mt, by the 17th. Hope we can work out something.

[dynageno]

OK, Geno. Only thing definite besides the 8th is we haave to be in Big Sky ,Mt, by the 17th. Hope we can work out something.

And pm me your cell# Thanx Geno

[Wind]

Great photos.
I love it when the trip is over and a photo album is put together. There's 100 pictures of the bike parked in front of something.
The album should be titled "The Trip my Bike Took."

[Rewind]

Darryl............you are having just TOO much fun.
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KEEP IT UP!!!!!

[kd5cqt]

Robert, the fun we could be having if we could all be here.
Yesterday, we left Cameron, AZ and took 89A across the north rim of the Grand Canyon all the way to Utah. That was some fantastic scenery. Check it out:

[kd5cqt]

Wedropped a day in the planning somehow, got into Kanab and realized we had a programming error....yep, I and it turns out we have an extra day to play. We had a long ride already, so we decided to cut across hwy14 to Cedar City and overnight here. Turns out that this highway is 10K to the summit and we had to cross the top. Got up there and it was all ice and snow. The locals telll us later that they had a late surge of winter 2 weeks ago and it dropped about 6 feet of the white stuff up there. It looked like this:

[kd5cqt]

And finally, we braved the winds that woke me at 0400 sounding very much like Hurricane Katrina did when it hit the coast. We went to Zion National Park and it was awesome. Great rie on twisties and switchbacks for about 15 miles. Left there and headed to Bryce Canyon, but when we turned west on Hwy 14, we got hit with a broadside of winds that were carrying sand, gravel, and lots of nasty stuff that didn't sound nor feel like it was doing the paint on the bike any good, so after a few miles of riding at a tilt of 30-40 degrees to stay on the road, we opted to blow off the canyon and head back to the motel in Cedar City. That was one helluva long ride against some winds that shouldn't oughta be ridden in, but we had to do it. Weather guessers are saying 33 top 50mph stuff. It felt closer to 50...you know it's strong when you are standing on the sidewalk and it is pushing you around.
Anyway, here's some pix of Zion:

[dynageno]

Great pic's Darryl. too bad you could not make Bryce Canyon, it's awesome.

[Rewind]

This is going to be EPIC!!!

[Wind]

Beautiful, fantastic, unbelievable,...and the road goes on forever.

[Dinero]

...and the road goes on forever.

And the party never ends.

[d190]

Bike is packed just talked to Daryl...they are in Primm (aka:Stateline NV/CA)...as you hit the end of the onramp to I15 you be in Kaliforny...

Gotta go into work and finish up a couple things then meet with the merry wanderers....looking forward to either some good fish at Morro Bay or good gut bomb burgers and bbq at Cambria...

My backseat will be my 10 year old grandson...get him some coast he has never seen....5 days off........................

[ms_tapestry]

Bike is packed just talked to Daryl...they are in Primm (aka:Stateline NV/CA)...as you hit the end of the onramp to I15 you be in Kaliforny...

Gotta go into work and finish up a couple things then meet with the merry wanderers....looking forward to either some good fish at Morro Bay or good gut bomb burgers and bbq at Cambria...

My backseat will be my 10 year old grandson...get him some coast he has never seen....5 days off........................

Safe travels and y'all have fun! :Angel_anim:

[Dinero]

Sounds good Ron.

Make sure those Missipi South boys are doing okay.

[Dinero]

Oh. And tell Durl, "Happy Birthday".

[ms_tapestry]

Oh. And tell Durl, "Happy Birthday".

+1 :Angel_anim:

[Rewind]

Oh. And tell Durl, "Happy Birthday".

+2 :fam21:

[Wind]

I'm in. +3

[d190]

Too bad Ms T is not along....she could spank him and he would enjoy it.......

For those interested Spot Tracker..

http://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=2f1b4def7f10f1c01

I will be turning on my Spot Tracker today about noon when I hook up with the Cajuns...the above link is to the tracker...

[d190]

I placed the Spot on the covered walkway in front of my office and activated it to check transmissions....worked.....if you keep zooming until you reach max, you will see where my office is located...scan north to the parking lot you will see my Ultra parked...obviously this is not real time maps...but big brother is definitely watching...these are the sat photos that are released...imagine what the governments of the world have in secure mappings..

[Rewind]

Kinda scary isn't it Ron.

[ms_tapestry]

I placed the Spot on the covered walkway in front of my office and activated it to check transmissions....worked.....if you keep zooming until you reach max, you will see where my office is located...scan north to the parking lot you will see my Ultra parked...obviously this is not real time maps...but big brother is definitely watching...these are the sat photos that are released...imagine what the governments of the world have in secure mappings..

Thanks for putting up the link. . .I love watching you travel! Are y'all gonna eat at DQ again? :4Grinin:

[Dinero]

I placed the Spot on the covered walkway in front of my office and activated it to check transmissions....worked.....if you keep zooming until you reach max, you will see where my office is located...scan north to the parking lot you will see my Ultra parked...obviously this is not real time maps...but big brother is definitely watching...these are the sat photos that are released...imagine what the governments of the world have in secure mappings..

Almost scary, huh?

[Dinero]

Uh, Ron..................

That's a No Parking zone.

:4Grinin:

[Rewind]

Uh, Ron..................

That's a No Parking zone.

:4Grinin:

He's such a rebel.

[kd5cqt]

Sorry no report yesterday...no wifi at Primm or rather, they wanted 10 bucks to use it so I told them to shove it.. Had a bit of an adventure in Las Vegas. We had directions to the Harley dealership there, and as luck would have it we got separated in traiffic just before exit 40. I figured Billy and Terry would show up a few minutes behind me, but seems the directions weren't even close. After asking a few people on the way, I finally found it not on the street the brochure at the state loine said. Billy and Terry finally found the place, but not after a lot of worrying. That is one huge Harley stealerhip. They advertise that they are the world'slargest...it is close with Ft. Collins, CO. We left in search of gas....LV must not like to sell gas. Found only one in town and it was packed. Finally found one SW of town. Surew glad we're getting such great mileage, beecause normally, we would have been sucking the fumes out of the tank by the time we found that ARCO station.
Left Primm early this AM, and just like last time I was there, the trip across the Mohave was freezing. Good old leather stuff and lots of thermal shirts got us to Bakersfield, and we hooked up with Ron (D-190) and made it through a few hours of spectacular twisties to the coast. We are presently settling in, and will probably head across the road to take a few pix. Tomorrow, we depend on Ron's navigatoin since PCH is washed out up the road towards Big Sur, and we have to go inland to get around it. Don't know where we'll end up tomorrow. Probably will be up in the San Francisco area. Right now, I am settled in with a glass of good scotch wisfully lamenting the lost opportunity of having Tonya spank me 64 times....yeah, like that's gonna happen! :4Grinin: Wish y'all were here for the party. More later.

[ms_tapestry]

I'd spank ya if you weren't so far left. . . :fam21:

[Wind]

Love reading the post about your trip.

[kd5cqt]

Well,, today finds us at Watsonvile, CA someplace south of San Francisco. It was chilly when we left San Simeon where we found that the breakfast they said we would have this AM wasn't going to happen. We went back out to Passo Robles and found a Denny's where we pigged out before leaving for a backdoor way oround the washed out road on PCH. The route was a nice twisty road to the entrance of an Army Guard base through which we passed without incident and then the road turned into 155 miles of serious twisties with a narrow blacktop road all the way over the huge ridge and down to the Pacific Ocean side. Never got out of 2nd gear the entire way. When a car came up from the other direction, it sometimes got testy with not much room and near mirror hits just avoided. When the ocean came into view, it was spectacular. I managed to get a few shots but it was more prudent to manage the bike and the road than get the shot.
We made it to PCH and worked out way through Big Sur and its big redwoods lining the road. The weather has us constantly stopping to change into or out of leathers, jackets, sweatshirts, etc.
Getting time to go put on the feedbag. Willl try to get a few pix online later.

[kd5cqt]

Well,, today finds us at Watsonvile, CA someplace south of San Francisco. It was chilly when we left San Simeon where we found that the breakfast they said we would have this AM wasn't going to happen. We went back out to Passo Robles and found a Denny's where we pigged out before leaving for a backdoor way oround the washed out road on PCH. The route was a nice twisty road to the entrance of an Army Guard base through which we passed without incident and then the road turned into 155 miles of serious twisties with a narrow blacktop road all the way over the huge ridge and down to the Pacific Ocean side. Never got out of 2nd gear the entire way. When a car came up from the other direction, it sometimes got testy with not much room and near mirror hits just avoided. When the ocean came into view, it was spectacular. I managed to get a few shots but it was more prudent to manage the bike and the road than get the shot.
We made it to PCH and worked out way through Big Sur and its big redwoods lining the road. The weather has us constantly stopping to change into or out of leathers, jackets, sweatshirts, etc.
Getting time to go put on the feedbag. Willl try to get a few pix online later.

[ms_tapestry]

Oh nice. . .just nice. Keep the ride reports coming! :Angel_anim:

[kd5cqt]

Oh nice. . .just nice. Keep the ride reports coming! :Angel_anim:

Yes. Mam. I will do that fo sho. We're heading up PCH shortly and hoping to slip in behind the nasty weatheer currently covering Oregon and Washington. Hope we do not have to contend with soe flooding isues mentioned in Montana on the Weather Guesser Channel this morning.
Time to load the bike and go find some coffee.

[dynageno]

Safe journey's my friend. Sorry we couldn't hook up.

[Wind]

Ron, got a picture of your bike? How loaded is it? How much do you need to carry for a trip like this?

[Dinero]

Talked to Duryl this morning. He was in the fog waiting for it to lift so he could go find some coffee.

What a great sounding trip.

[d190]

Left Daryl, his imaginary friend, the BIL of that imaginary friend......but I have pics of the figment of Daryl's imagination...also my imaginary grandson...

Left them in Watsonville and they were heading north to SF and beyond...we had two great days of twisties..day one only touched the slab for 4 miles...the rest backroads...day two, didn't touch the slab until we passed Monterey and Hwy 1 turns into the slab....

Had a great time, Billy (the imaginary friend, befriended my imaginary grandson...)

http://s1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc498/aLeftCoaster/June2011%20Cajun%20PCH/

[Dinero]

Great pictures, Ron.

Thanks.

Looks like some choice riding and everybody looks like their having fun.

[kd5cqt]

I can't add much to the pix Ron posted...got a lot of the same stuff. I think I have one when we came down the mountain on that very skinny two-way road as we came into view of the Pacific. What a spectacular sight. Gotta wait for the camera battery to recharge, and I'll get it on the board.
I have to add that for years I have met and made some great friends starting with this, my first Harley or any other type of board on the internet. I have been blessed to have many great folks come into my life, and Ron Willy is among the greatest of these folks. We have never failed to have a grand time when we are together on the road, and it was sad for all of us to see him and his grandson disappear into the fog this AM. We rode some roads I would never have found without his experience on them over the years. That road from the backside of Hunter Ligget Army base to the PCH was one twisty SOB. Billy says this one is the Dragon of the West....and having riden the Dragon in NC many times, it is really tame compared to some of the roads we hit these past few days.
We left Watsonville rather late waiting for the misty fog to life.Finally decided to take a chance and wouldn't you know it, five minutes later, we werf in sunshine. Of course, along the coast, it ws like a very cold winter day. That road must be a real joy in February. Glad to have all the leather stuff and a bag full of thermies to wear undr them.
We gassed up in Pacifica and thenn braved the San Francisco traffic acrioss the Golden Gate. Then it was busy traffic for the next 50 miles or so, a slight break and then almost a complete standstill with construction on the 101. We decided to give the 101 a try thinking we could make up some time and get closer to the redwoods. Then we find out tht tis weekend is the annual Redwood Run....boo-hiss for us. Huge number of motorcycles and the traffic is rediculous....so we will get up at O-dark thirty and hit the road and try to get out in front of the rush to Humbolt. The target for tomorrow is someplace in Oregon. We have elected to get off of PCH and head inland into the mountains and work our way northward to Washington. We have a few extra days to kills since we re making some really good time most of the time....today was an exception...
So far, the scenery has been exceptional, almost stunning. And the best is yet to come. Timing has screwed up a couple of hoped for meets....didn't get to connect with Geno nor Sidecar Doug near San Francisco...will have to make another trip with just such a meet as an objective.
Later!

[Stoney]

Great pics..... the PCH is on my bucket list of rides. Glad that you're having a good time Darryl!!

[dynageno]

I forgot to tell you about the Redwood Run.

[kd5cqt]

I forgot to tell you about the Redwood Run.

We came upon it this AM on the way up the 101. They had the road blocked off for the bikers but we were early enough to beat the rush. Made it to the Avenue of Giants and rolled through some of the biggest damned trees I ever saw. We mostly froze our asses off all the way to Cresent City, CA, and then it slowly began to thaw as we rolled out from under the cloud cover we had all day, and we ended the day in Grant's Pass, OR. Got to get Terry's bike serviced (oil change past due) tomorrow AM which will entail a 40mile out of the way ride to a Harley stealership since the local indy is booked solid for days. Not sure where we willl end up tomorrow, but it willl be in the general direction of Washington.
Today was Bambi day. From the time we left Willits, CA, there were signs for deer hazard, and before we went 30 miles, I saw 2 of them on the left in a field just looking up from their lay down position like WTF are doing making noise when they're trying to catch a few z's. Not too far down the road, I'm looking at these sheer walls and thinking that I'd need rapelling gear to be on that wall, and figuring that there was minimal deer risk arond a bend we go and there are 4 Bambis standing on that sheer wall munching deer chow and looking at us....not sure what the deer equivalent of being flipped off is, but I am sure we got it right there. Then we go into one of the many Redwood Appreciation areas, and we see a place called Elk Meadow....and sure enough, 8 or 10 females are trotting around looking for a Harley to jump in front of. Glad to be safely camped in a motel room with a cold glass of Suede.
Had some 'puter difficulties yesterday and willl try to get past that and get some of these pix posted.
Later!

[kd5cqt]

Finally got time to download some pix, so theyll appear here at the end. Today, we are feeling 2 solid weeks in the saddle. All of us passed out from sheer exhaustiion last night and woke up this AM just as weary as when we hit the beds last night. Looking at the maps and it looks like we may have to blow off the extreme northern pat of tegh rip due to roads still blocked by snow of alll things in June. Talked to one guy today wo had just come down from Glacier and said the roads there are still being plowed, and they are still getting snow....not lloking good for us. They got over 186 feet of snow this year....that's some serious white stuff.
The alternative plan is now to focus on heading into Washington and then eastward towards Big Sky, Mt, where we have a condo loaned to us for a week or so..........just north of West Yellowstone so we have access to all of that great riding up there. Just did a rewprogram of the GPS, and we should hit BS Wednesday at which time we wil kick back and take a day or 2 off of the bikes while we enjoy the college world series among other things. Got to take Dinero's sage advice about taking a break away from the motorcycles and focusing on something else......and believe me, I fully understand the wisdom of that advice now more than ever.
Today, we rode through some beautiful roads aound Crater Lake aND HAd icew and snow all over the place for a few hours as wee made our way to Bend, OR. Found this neat litle store a fdw hours south of here where they had some very welcome hot chocolate and homemade cherry turnovers. We used that stopover to thaw out, and then made it the rest of the way to Bend at 55 mph (the posted speed limit).. Tomorrow, we get to Wasington state.
Here's some pix: NOTE: somehow, this piece of crap computer will not upload to ONLY this site. Something about a security token missing....but I just uploaded some pix to another site with no probs. Will try again later. Pisses me off because I got some really cool shots for ya!

[d190]

goto http://photobucket.com/ and signup for a free account....they have a bulk loader that loads full resolution pics fairly fast....use the bulk loader or it will take forever...

then dump the url into your post...

BTW, I found that 4 gig thumbdrive...or I should say my wife found it in the washing machine...must have been in my work shirt pocket...I knew I had picked it up off my desk...they do wash up nicely and survive...that is not the first one to go through the washing machine............

[kd5cqt]

Yeah, Ron, I've washed a few of mine and still have them working. Will go to work on the photobucket thing later.Heading for the rain room in a few minutes and then the rack beckons. Billy is already out cold on the couch in this suite they rented us. Two solid weeks of riding does a job on your energy supplies.

[Dinero]

Get some rest, Durl. We can look at pictures tomorrow.

[Wind]

Would love to do that trip some day

[kd5cqt]

Made it to Yakima, WA today. Oregon and it's 55 mph speed limit is a bit much, but when we hit the ridge entering the Columbia River Gorge, we hit some winds that defy description, and they gave us a helluva time until we got clear of the immediate vicinity. Purty country all the way down to the slab....almost forgot how it felt to roll almost in a straight line for a while. Looks like we'll be following a frontal system all the way to Big Sky, and the weather guessers are not smiling upon our endeavor right now calling for thunderbumpers and assorted rain showers for the entire time we have the condo up there. Hope I get to make it back to the South Coast without having to once break out the rain gear. We shall see.
Hope to get into some good scenery tomorrow...was busy hanging on for dear life today so no pix.

[ms_tapestry]

Yeah, Ron, I've washed a few of mine and still have them working. Will go to work on the photobucket thing later.Heading for the rain room in a few minutes and then the rack beckons. Billy is already out cold on the couch in this suite they rented us. Two solid weeks of riding does a job on your energy supplies.

Cumulative fatigue. . .I know about that stuff. . .great ride report sir. I'm wishing no rain for y'all. . . :Angel_anim:

[kd5cqt]

Cumulative fatigue. . .I know about that stuff. . .great ride report sir. I'm wishing no rain for y'all. . . :Angel_anim:

I recall some wise advice from two people who are very close to me and whose opinions I respect, so I have scheduled a couple of NO RIDING days when we hit Big Sky in a couple of days.
Leaving for Montana assoon as everyone rolls out of the sack this AM. Tme to go hit the free breakfast at the hotel.

[dynageno]

Ride safe my invisible friend

[kd5cqt]

Made it to Missoula, MT today. Went through some beautiful country across Idaho, but when we got above the snow line, it got cold enough that all the leathers weren't getting the job done. Tomorrow we should arrive in Big Sky around noon or one-ish (looks like we got an hour back with the time zone crossing), and the game plan is to make a quick stop in Bozeman for a few supplies and then go up the mountain and veg out for a couple of days just soaking up the scenery atop the mountain. Terry's son is coming up in his truck, so we may draft him as chauffer for our off the bikes days. We have the condo for about 10 days, so we'll be seeing a lot of the Yellowstone Park and all those grreat riding roads to the NE of the park like Beartooth Pass, Chief Josepth Hwy., etc. Hope to snag a ton of great pix up there.

[Dinero]

Most excellent.

[Wind]

The trip of a life time. Lucky you.

[Rewind]

Hey Darryl............here's a tip...............don't feed the bears..........just sayin'

[kd5cqt]

Well, we made it to Big Sky. Got lucky on the WIFI. First one I hit wanted a credit card and 50 bucks a week. Next one was a freebie....so far. We hit rain for the first time on the way here...nothing spectacular, but enough to break out the rain gear for the first time....got this suit on sale about 7 years ago (same time, Jim, that I got those 5 dollar T-shirts), and today was the first time I have worn it. Not much of a rain rider.
Got a few shots on the way in and some coming up the mountain to the condo. This place is going to be great once I get used to breathing air with no oxygen in it. We be up there.....11,200 feet more or less. The place has really built up since I was last here 6 years ago, but I managed to find the place somehow. Big task ahead is to do laundry which I have accumulated mass quantites of, and then we relax for a day or so to get past nearly 3 solid weeks and 6K mlles of riding.

[kd5cqt]

Here's a few pix that got missed the past few days. This batch is coming off of the mountain towards the ocean:

[kd5cqt]

And a few more on PCH heading towards Oregon:

[ms_tapestry]

It looks lovely and cool. . . :Angel_anim:

[kd5cqt]

Not only cool, but it's snowing right now.

[Wind]

Fantastic trip

[Rewind]

I'm loving these pics!!!!

[Screamin' Eagle]

I'm loving these pics!!!!

:metoo:

[kd5cqt]

Sri not checking in lately. WIFI is very unreliable up here on this mountain. Finally just got back in. Been snowing since we got here, and looks like more tonight, then it should be clkearinbg out. Heading for a day at Yellowstone tomorrow.

[kd5cqt]

Yellowstone today was a so-so experience. Bad choice of days with Saturday traffic making life less than fun. The park is still covered in ice andsnow and not much wildlife out and about except 4 scaggly elk and the usual bufallo taking over the roads. Went around the park and ended up at Old Faithful which was 10 minutes late.
Hope I can get some pix to load...this internet out here sucks big time.

[kd5cqt]

And a few more:

[ms_tapestry]

That looks lovely and cool! :D

[Screamin' Eagle]

:kewlpics:

[Rewind]

Maybe "old faithful" is getting a bit tired.

[Wind]

Maybe "old faithful" is getting a bit tired.

Old Faithful used to blow about every 20 minutes or so. Now its every 30.

Beautiful. I was at Yellowstone several years ago and we had snow the last week of June.

[kd5cqt]

Captain"s Log, Harley Date WTF?
First day of summer, and we rode 11 hours today in thermies and fiull leather. The anti hacker squad at Big Sky finally caught me and booted me off of their WIFI, so I was w/o internet for a day or so. We discovered Beartooth Pass was not open and so losing that choice bitof riding, we took off in a light rain into Bozeman and arrived in Deadwood SD this PM. Good riding, and we somehow managed to avoid some very serious looking thunderbumpers along the way. Deadwood is anythinng but dead,and there is a serious representation of bikers here today.
Tomorrow, we are going to explore the old town and go to Black Hills and Mt. Rushmore. Then a ride for some Pix in Sturgis and we'll decide where to after that.

[Wind]

I did Deadwood, Black Hills, & Mt. Rushmore. Great places to see.

[Screamin' Eagle]

I wonder where where Ginger is hiding in South Dakota? :hide1:

[kd5cqt]

I wondered about Ginger this AM as we drove down Main St. in Sturgis. Didn't remember where she lived and didn't think I could find her at the VA by asking for "Ginger". But I can now truthfully say I drove a Harley down Main St. in Sturgis, SD (as opposed to Sturgis, MS, which I have aslo driven through on Main St.). We also rode through the Black Hills and paid 11 bucks to take a few pix of this big rock with some heads carved on the top of it. They don't honor the senior citizen pass I have used through every other national park we have visited.
We took off after Mt. Rushmore and headed down I-90 and ran into some nasty weather with a 40 mph wind off my left shoulder and steady hard rain. After 125 miles of that crap, we gave it up and are camped out in a Best Western in Murdo, SD. Also looks like the planned route down I-29 through Omaha is nixxed because it is closed due to flooding along the Missouri River. Probably will have to go to I-35 and head down through Des Moines. The bad weatehr up here is going to be a problem because it is all over the map, and none of it is going to make for fun riding. Actually got to use my rain suit that I bought 7 years ago and had never used. Sure came inn handy today. The Froggys wouldn't have been worth a hoot in this stuff.
So sadly, the weather has caused us to push the button and start the last lap home. This trip has been everything I had hoped it would be. A few days at home in my own bed, I'll be ready to go again.

[d190]

In 2009 when I went to Sturgis, I was out 11 days...got hard rain 9 of them....the upper plains are just that way...that is why I motel it and no camping for this boy....

[kd5cqt]

Ron, I totally understand the motel thing. Had all of the camping I want for a lifetime.
Tomorrow, we head due south to let all that eastbound weather slide out of our way. Plan right now is to go into Nebraska and probably Kansas and Oklahoma before heading back east again. We may had into Arkansas and pick up Hwy 7 which is a beautiful ride all the way to Arkadelphia. From there it's a short ride to Ruston and I-20 and home.

[ms_tapestry]

I wondered about Ginger this AM as we drove down Main St. in Sturgis. Didn't remember where she lived and didn't think I could find her at the VA by asking for "Ginger". But I can now truthfully say I drove a Harley down Main St. in Sturgis, SD (as opposed to Sturgis, MS, which I have aslo driven through on Main St.). We also rode through the Black Hills and paid 11 bucks to take a few pix of this big rock with some heads carved on the top of it. They don't honor the senior citizen pass I have used through every other national park we have visited.
We took off after Mt. Rushmore and headed down I-90 and ran into some nasty weather with a 40 mph wind off my left shoulder and steady hard rain. After 125 miles of that crap, we gave it up and are camped out in a Best Western in Murdo, SD. Also looks like the planned route down I-29 through Omaha is nixxed because it is closed due to flooding along the Missouri River. Probably will have to go to I-35 and head down through Des Moines. The bad weatehr up here is going to be a problem because it is all over the map, and none of it is going to make for fun riding. Actually got to use my rain suit that I bought 7 years ago and had never used. Sure came inn handy today. The Froggys wouldn't have been worth a hoot in this stuff.
So sadly, the weather has caused us to push the button and start the last lap home. This trip has been everything I had hoped it would be. A few days at home in my own bed, I'll be ready to go again.

Sorry about the rain but so glad you got to ride Sturgis and the Black Hills. I got my opportunity last August and loved every minute of it!

[kd5cqt]

Heading south today. Just heard we may be heading into some weaher around OK tomorrow, so we will push it a bit to try to get out ahead of it and race it home. Glad I have the heavy duty rain gear with me now.

[Wind]

kd5cqt,
Thanks to your posts and photos, I have really enjoyed taking your journey with you.

[dynageno]

Too bad ya missed out on the Tri tip I was planning for you guys here

[Screamin' Eagle]

kd5cqt,
Thanks to your posts and photos, I have really enjoyed taking your journey with you.

:metoo:

[kd5cqt]

Too bad ya missed out on the Tri tip I was planning for you guys here

Geno, no one was more disappointed than me that the timing sucked so badly for you Doug, and the rest of our merry band with me. I was hoping that the worst that could happen is that we could hook up for a few cold ones as we went through, but things happen for a reason (not sure what it was yet, but I'm sure one will eventually reveal itself).
We'll be back, and probably sooner than you might think.

[dynageno]

Sounds good Durl

[kd5cqt]

Almost didn't get a chance to show you this one. We were heading eastbound on I-90 just outside of Murdo, SD and just north of the Badlands when this appeared on the north side of the highway. Someone out there has one helluva imagination or WAAAY too much time on his hands!

[ms_tapestry]

Almost didn't get a chance to show you this one. We were heading eastbound on I-90 just outside of Murdo, SD and just north of the Badlands when this appeared on the north side of the highway. Someone out there has one helluva imagination or WAAAY too much time on his hands!

Oh I like that one!

[Rewind]

That's cool right there!!!

[Dinero]

I'd like to have one like that for my front yard.

[Wind]

I think thats GREAT!