“…it’s about the journey, not the destination…”

                                                            SUMMER TRIP 2023

Montana is amazing. The contrast in geographic features is wonderful.

        Today did not go as planned…the tires on the bike have reached the point where they have to be replaced. No Honda dealer in the state ( 8? ) had both the front and rear tire. I had to ride 200 miles one way to get a rear tire from a dealer in Great Falls MT ( really nice guys! ) so that the dealer in Bozeman can mount the front tire he has and the rear I picked up today on the bike Friday morning. 

Just a sample of the various types of geographic features in Montana.

        The ride to Great Falls would be I 90 west to US 287 north to I 15 north to Great falls. Once I got off of I 90 ( 30 miles west of Bozeman ) there was very little traffic. This was a nice ride through amazing scenery to I 15. When I reached Great Falls I found an Air Force base there, resulting in an impressive city. The people at Sports City Cyclery, the Honda dealer there, were great. They had my tire ready to go and offered to help any they could if I needed them. Nice guys.        

Part of the view at the scenic stop off of I 15.

        If you have been observant  you can see my new rear tire on the back seat of the bike. Using bungee cords I secured the tire to my bike. The whole way back I checked to be sure the tire was secure. I stopped twice on the trip back I stopped twice, once at a scenic overlook and once at a historical marker. My mediocre  attempts to show you some of the diversity of the landscape simply don’t do it justice. It is a beautiful state.

 

Interesting story of the impact of the discovery of gold on this area.

 “…it’ about the journey, not the destination…”

                                                            SUMMER TRIP 2023

Today’s ride on the Beartooth Highway. That is NOT styrofoam 

in the background. Isn’t it August?

        The plan today was to ride US 212 west to the Beartooth Highway, then into Yellowstone, and then on to Bozeman. I did get this done. The problem was that it took so much time to ride the Beartooth and go through Yellowstone that I had to hustle to make it to my motel in Bozeman before 6pm.

Overlook on the Beartooth Highway.

        

        It was around 100 miles from Billings to the Beartooth Highway. I rode west on US 212 from Billings and topped up with gas before riding up to Beartooth Pass. As you ride up towards Beartooth Pass there are probably around 20 turns that are 20mph turns, essentially 180 degree turns. This is not like the Blue Ridge Parkway where you can ride along at a pace…and that’s OK. The scenery is spectacular. You need to focus on riding the bike, you can see incredible views of the mountains as you climb up. There are a number of places to pull over to enjoy the view. That is where you can take in the majesty. Of course there is a place where you can pull over at Beartooth Pass to take pictures. Then you start the ride down.

I am simply not good enough to do the scenery justice. You have to go see for yourself.

        While the ride up is challenging the road surface is great. This is not true on the way down. There is a sign declaring you are leaving Montana, and I guess the road goes into Wyoming. One thing that is clear the road can be rough. The scenery is still spectacular but the road could be rough at times. There are also fewer 20mph curves on the way down. 

The view of mountains, high mountains, that are off in the distance is awe inspiring.

        The road leads you to the town of Silver Gate just outside of Yellowstone National Park. Then you must pay a fee ( thank goodness for my Lifetime Senior Pass ) to pass into the park. When I got into the park I noticed a strong pine smell from the thick pine forest you pass through. Then I rode into the Lamar Valley. Beautiful. You are surrounded by mountains in this wide valley. There some “obstacles” you need to be aware of…buffalo. They roam freely in the park, but here, the the wide expanse of grass to feed on, they are all around you. Traffic moves very slowly, sometimes not at all, as you pass the huge beasts. This can be concerning when you are on a motorcycle. There were a number of times they were just acoss the road on the opposite shoulder, or on the shoulder on my side of the road. Park instructions are to keep you distance from the animals in the park. They are wild animals and can be dangerous if provoked. What provokes a buffalo? The sound of a motorcycle engine or exhaust? The sight of humans on sitting some contraption just 5 feet away? Who knows? 

The Lamar Valley within Yellowstone National Park.

        Let me be clear about this. I did not pull out my phone to take pictures of the buffalo. They are huge, and what kept occurring to me was what would happen if one of these animals “inadvertently” bumped into my bike. I kept both hands on the handlebars and focused on riding the bike. Due to the amount of vehicles in the park, and the number of buffalo this resulted in moving along at 5 to 7 mph for 10 or 15 minutes at a time. Sometimes you would come to a complete stop and start moving in 5 seconds. Very challenging on a bike with a clutch. By the time I got out of the Lamar Valley my left hand was aching! 

The Lamar Valley looking west. The buffalo were just up ahead.

        Due to the traffic and the pace the ride through this part of Yellowstone was not fun. LOTS of fellow tourists. At Tower-Roosevelt I chose to make a right and ride towards Mammoth Hot Springs. Here there were LOADS of people, and vehicles. I made a left making my way towards Norris, and the west entrance to the park. The ride here was more fun, higher with some curves and elevation changes.Once past Norris traffic thinned out and the ride was better. When you pass out that entrance you ride directly into the town of West Yellowstone, where I gassed up. From there it was around 90 miles up US 191 to Bozeman and my motel. On the way I gassed up and got a sub for dinner. When I got to the motel I carried my to the front desk, registered, and then on to my room. I did not leave my room again until 6 am the next morning.

The park service map of Yellowstone. Look at the mileage between places

The park is huge! 

 “…it’s about the journey, not the destination…”

                                                                SUMMER TRIP 2023

On the road by 8am I reached the border by 9am.

               Todays goal was Billings MT. The land consisted once again of rolling hills. Something I didn’t mention before is that Sturgis is going on now. Lots of Harley’s! The majority of them were going towards Sturgis while I was heading away from it. There were some who were out for a ride and going in my direction. When I stopped to take the picture at the Montana border two guys stopped and offered to take my picture in front of the sign. Not wanting to ruin a perfectly good picture I declined. They were impressed that I had ridden all the way from Delaware. Nice guys.

While there was some traffic on the route I chose it was never heavy.

    The route took me across the north east tip of Wyoming. In South Dakota the speed limit on the interstate was 80 ( I found that the cruise control on the Goldwing would not set above 77! ). I found out later this was also true in Montana. This meant that there were many drivers going 85 or 90 mph! I was just about the slowest thing on the road. 

In the background you can see some of the rolling hills I talk about.

        I stopped for gas in Broadus MT and then as I continued to ride west I came across a little roadside table. I pulled in and read for a while, watching a rancher ride around his domain now and then. Back on the road I decided to stop in Ashland MT for lunch. There were no restaurants in Ashland MT. So I stopped at a convenience store and had some chicken strips for lunch. As I ate I noticed a sign stating that the store was tribal owned. The last Native Americans known as “Plains Indians” had been in this part of Montana in the 1860s and 1870s. More about this later.

You have to look closely but in the background you can see the monument. 

Look closely and you can see the small white markers that show where each one of Custer’s men fell.

        As I got closer to Billings I saw a sign for a visitor center for Custer’s Last Stand. I went inside the visitor’s center I looked at a number of interesting displays, saw a short film, and rode up the monument for this historical event. The remains of Custer and his men are under the monument. As you can see in the picture above there are a number of white markers showing where each of Custer’s men fell. Quite a sobering visit.

At the monument site thunderstorm could be seen in the distance.

        With threatening weather in the area I decided it would be best to get to Billings and into my motel. It took around 35 minutes to get to Billings, and to my motel. I just didn’t want to get caught in a thunderstorm. Into the Days Inn, settled into my room. Later out to dinner at the Texas Roadhouse. I managed to get dinner, and get back to the motel before the rain came. Tomorrow US 212 to Yellowstone on the Beartooth Highway. Can’t wait!

 “…it’s about the journey, not the destination…”

                                                                  Summer Trip 2023

Now you have some idea of the weather I rode inn ALL DAY!

     The fourth day of the trip proved to be the most difficult. I only rode about 340 miles, but hit rain by     9 am. The rain would be heavy at times, really reducing visibility down to yards. There was fog at times, and windy conditions. Very challenging riding conditions. 

As I rode across South Dakota I went through this town. 

For a minute I thought I had made a wrong turn!

        The route today was simple. Ride US 212 across South Dakota from Watertown SD to Belle   Fourche SD. The route was not the challenge, the weather was. Hour after riding through rain, heavy at times, and the Gold Wing did not miss a beat. I stopped for lunch at Eagle Butte SD, eager to get out of the rain for a while. Just west of there I came to a sign that said pavement ends. No…this can’t be right! Right away I had to brake hard. The road turned into mud with many pot holes for about 2 miles. Not fun on a big bike, in the rain…obviously very slippery conditions. 

Not many pictures today. It was simply too wet to stop for photos!

        By the time ( 11:00 ) I stopped for lunch I had ridden a little over 200 miles. I had about 140 miles to go. This should have taken 2 1/2 hours or so. It ended up taking just about that. I got to the motel around      3 pm. When I ride in these type of conditions I ride “gently.” No sudden braking or turning. Easy on the throttle, leave plenty of room from me to vehicles in front of me. I reduced speed, looked over the windshield, not through it. By riding gently I got to my chosen destination. The weather is supposed to break tomorrow. Around 260 miles to Billings MT. Plenty of time to “smell the roses.” After today I’m looking forward to it!

        

 “…it’s about the journey, not the destination…”

                                                        SUMMER TRIP 2023

Another day riding in the heartland of America.

       The third day on the trip was planned to be the third 500 mile day in a row. I do this so that I can “get out there” away from population centers. My goal was to make it to Watertown SD where I had already reserved a room. The route I chose was IA 3 west until it met SD 75 north. Then north on SD 75 until it ran into US 212 west. Then US 212 west to Watertown SD. As I look at it now this was overly optimistic.

IA 3 west. Notice how much traffic there is!

        The day started out fine. The bike was, of course, running great. The thing about a Goldwing you simply get on the road, set the cruise control, play the music you prefer and enjoy. The bike is EXTREMELY comfortable. Miles simply melt away. However….when you’ve got 500 miles to do you really have to spend part of the day rolling at 70 mph or above. Clearly the route I chose ignored this! 

I simply HAD to take a picture of this sign. I wonder if the “old GRUMP” is a distant relative?

        The ride was really good out of Dubuque. IA 3 west is a very nice road, and the land consists of rolling land with some curves thrown in for fun. As the day went on the roads became straighter, but generally remained hilly for most of the day. 

LOTS of windmills as you ride across Iowa.

        I stopped for lunch in Cherokee IA. As I looked at the day I had only covered 200 miles. This may sound like a lot, but my preference is to get 300 miles in by lunch ( by riding on interstates ). This way when it is hottest, and you get tired, you are much further than 1/2 way. Looking at a map I decided to get up to I 90, take that west to Sioux City where I would pick up I 29 north to Watertown SD. Simple. 

This is in southern Minnesota. Looks a lot like what I rode through yesterday.

        I decide to use GPS. It makes the ride easier. I got to I 90, took it west and was making good time. THEN…the GPS told me to get off  I 90 to save time. Should I listen or not? I decided to follow the GPS, so I got off I 90. BIG mistake. The next several  hours saw me wander around norther Iowa, and southern Minnesota. Ultimately the GPS simply stopped navigating, leaving me in the “middle of nowhere.” In this area it may be 24 or 30 miles between towns, and gas stations. This could be a problem.

I had to take this picture to show there are indeed people “in the middle of nowhere.”

        Ultimately I simply stopped, look at a map, and came up with a route that would get me to I 29 and then on up to Watertown SD. Simply to make things more complicated it was clear there were rain showers in the area. I did ride on some wet roads, there were times that there were raindrops on the windshield, wet roads, and cooler air. In the end I was lucky. I could see showers around me but, with the protection of the large windshield of the Goldwing, I never got wet. I got to the hotel an hour later than I should have, but no harm done. Tomorrow starts the fun part of the trip. Only 360 miles to do. I will have over 1/2 done by lunch, will be able to stop several times and simply enjoy the day. Looking forward to it.

 “…it’s about the journey, not the destination…”

                                                            SUMMER TRIP 2023

Look what you can find if you get off the Interstate.

        I knew the second day of the trip was going to be difficult. The temperature was going to be higher, and I wanted to get past Chicago without getting near it. I came up with a good route, but it was going to take an hour longer than the first day. 

This is the Ohio, Indiana border on US 224. So far excellent riding.

        The route started in Galion Ohio. US 30 west almost to the Indiana border. Then take US 224 west until it runs into US 24. Then US 24 west, across Indiana and Illinois until it runs into I 39. Then I 39 north to US 20 west. US 20 west to Dubuque Iowa. Easy, huh?

A stop in the fertile countryside in Ohio.

        US 30 west from Galion to the Indiana border is like an interstate: 4 lane highway with a large grass median. As I rode it struck me how green and fertile Ohio is. Beautiful agricultural fields stretched away  to the horizon on both sides of the highway. This is an aspect of Ohio that most people miss. I found it very similar in Indiana and Illinois.

Fertile fields of Illinois along US 24.

        US 224 was very different than US 30. Most of it is 2 lanes, with stretches that wind through wooded areas the cast shadows across the road. Sometimes it was riding through a tunnel formed by the trees. There were times it was curvey, pleasantly so. Simply good riding. It intersected US 24 at Huntington. 24 west from Huntington is a major road, so it is a 4 lane highway with a grass median until Logansport. From there it is a pleasant two lane highway. Reaching Kentland, which is the last town before the Illinois border. I decided to have lunch. One of the things I enjoy most on these trips is finding the restaurant where the locals eat. I found a family restaurant in Kentland and had a good lunch. So far everything was going well.        

Along US 20 just before Galena Illinois.

        The plan went awry when US 24 was closed at Chenoa just 16 miles from I 39. I navigated through the Illinois countryside finally finding an on ramp to I 39. Then it was turn and burn up to Rockford where I hit US 20. I had spent a lot of time in the saddle, and the day was getting hotter, and more humid. 

You can seem just how much traffic I hit navigating across 

Indiana and Illinois on back roads.

        Arrived in Dubuque around 6:45 local time. It added up to 11 hours in the saddle, with increasing hear and humidity as the trip drew to a close. It was a tiring day. Checked into the hotel, turned the AC down to 66, went the Texas Roadhouse for an excellent steak dinner. Time to rest up and recharge for what should be an easier day tomorrow.

 “…it’s about the journey, not the destination…”

                                                                SUMMER TRIP 2023

The Goldwing on the side of the road along OH 586

        My wife and  I were watching Yellowstone on TV, and I kept noticing the scenery. I decided that my big trip this summer would be a trip to Montana, and to spend some time there exploring. I have been through Montana before, but just rode through on the interstate, and didn’t see much of the state. I put together a 17 day trip from Delaware to Montana and back. I would also take a look in Idaho, and would begin the trip home through Wyoming. Sounds like fun to me!

Downtown Martinsburg Ohio.

        The way I planned the trip was that the first 3 days would be 500 mile days. By the third night I plan to rest my head on a pillow in Watertown SD. This gets me beyond Chicago and all of those population centers. 

The park in the center of Mount Vernon OH

Notice the wonderful fountain in the backround

        I left home around 7:45 in the morning and rode to Lancaster PA. PA 283 from Lancaster to Harrisburg and onto the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Lunch at Somerset PA, then on to I 70 at New Stanton PA. 

Inside the Eat and Park restaurant in Somerset PA.

Notice the “Smiley” cookies on top of the pastry case!

        I 70 west through Washington PA, around Wheeling WV, then across the bridge into Ohio. I chose a route in Ohio that I knew would include some good roads out of Zanesville. OH 146 north to OH 586 that would take me to Mount Vernon OH, then up OH 13 to OH 95 west to Mount Gilead. Then north on OH 61 to Galion.       

My wife’s family home in Galion OH.

        The challenge tomorrow is to get to Dubuque IA, navigating around Chicago and other large cities. I have another 500 miles to do tomorrow so I can’t just wander around, taking my time. I think I’ve got a good route planned. I’ll find out tomorrow.