Sunday, August 17, 2008
Day 9, Saturday, Glendive Montana to Home.
Discussion over the supper table last night was about whether to stick with the plan today of visiting Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota and then stay at a hotel in Jamestown or to push all the way home. The trip all the way home would be a long hard one in that we were about 640 miles from home and may take 12 or more hours on a motorcycle. Keith and Eric had already decided to go for it and the rest of us decided to join them. The trip has been great but it is time to go home.
So, the new plan was to get up extra early and leave by 5:00 AM central time. It was a beautiful morning as we were packing our bikes. The full moon was setting in the west and the eastern horizon was starting to lighten. Filling our bikes with gas, reading a psalm, saying a prayer, and we were on our way....
The ride was indeed a hard one. It was chilly in the dark but our first problem was that at times we were driving directly into the rising sun. It also is tough to spend a lot of miles continuously on a motorcycle. We needed to stop about every 60 miles to stretch and and every second stop to fill with gas. But, we stayed with that regiment and made relatively good time, into North Dakota fairly quickly. Each stop we were shedding layers of clothes as the rising sun kept adding heat into the equation. After a lot of time and miles though, we made it, getting home around 7:00PM.
At our last gas stop we re-capped our week and said a final prayer of thanksgiving. All agreed that it was a great adventure and we were very pleased with the week. We rode at or around 3,000 miles total and not a single breakdown. Except for some rain in Spearfish and snow in the BigHorns, the weather was great and the scenery greater. We grew in our appreciation of God's creative wonder and the fellowship of a bunch of Christian men. And we had a heck of a lot of fun. Thanks guys! See you next year.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Day 8 Lovell, Wy to Glendive Montana
Snow!
Custers Last Stand.
Today's scripture: Psalm
Plan today was to zoom through the Big Horn Mountains on US14A to near Sheridan and then visit Custer's Last Stand and finish the day in Glendive Montana.
The motel in Lovell, WY is not far from the Bighorns and we could see them from the parking lot. There was some clouds around and the forecast has a slight chance of rain. But, feeling optimistic,we did not put on the rain gear. As we travelled closer to the base of the mountains we could see that it was raining up there and we were getting some drops on our windshield so we stopped and remedied that oversight at the base of the mountain.
As the highway began to get twisty and work it's way up the mountain we noticed that the pavement was wet which required attention for any slipperiness. But it was not too bad and we still enjoyed the beginning of the drive up. We stopped at a pull out which presented a beautiful view of the valley below and also rainbows would appear occasionally in the clouds. Very nice!
Then a truck would pull into the parking area that caused all of us to drop our jaws... it was covered with a deep layer of snow! We rushed over to the driver and asked where he'd been to pick up this snow. He said, "up the mountain where you are going". Wow, this day was turning into an adventure we had not expected. The truck driver did give us some encouragement by saying that he had been up to his cabin high in the mountain range and he figured that the main highway which is lower in elevation would not have any snow. Boy was he wrong! We drove on with this hope in mind but after not too many curves and switchbacks we were in an actual accumulating snow fall. We stopped for pictures of this unusual sight and Greg even did a snow angel!
We had little choice but to carefully proceed. The road was snow covered except where the 4 wheeled vehicles had left 2 paths on each side of the road. As long as we stayed in one of these paths we were fine, but then we got behind a pickup who felt he couldn't go more than 15 MPH and we had to try and pass him. This didn't work to well so he pulled over and let us by. But then the adventure intensifies as the we see a snow plow barrelling down the road from the other direction. His plow blade was very wide and reached across the yellow line onto our side. We had to quickly pass through the snow in the middle of our lane to get out of the way or turn into a snow bank!
Shortly there after we drove out of the snow and into just rain. We worked our way down the mountain to Burgess Junction and found a nice restaurant to dry out and have a breakfast buffet. Right in the right place and at the right time.
After breakfast we mounted up again and continued out of the mountain range. The roads were wet but the rain was ending. We got down to town for gas and laughed over the strange conditions we had just encountered. In 30 years of riding motorcycle I had never rode in snow in August!
Next we jumped on the super slab and headed up to Montana. Destination: Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. By then the sun was out and drying everything out. We took off the rain gear and headed to the park information center just in time to hear the ranger give a historic presentation of the events that led to the battle and of the battle itself. It was very informative to hear and to stand in the very place where this fight occured. We then toured the monument and viewed the gravesites.
After all this it was time to start heading east in preparation for our drive home. Glendive is in eastern Montana on Interstate 94 and we arrived after a long drive at or around 7:00PM. It had been an interesting day full of suprises and adventure.
Day 7, Thursday, Red Lodge to Lovell, WY
(Click on a picture to enlarge)
Todays Scripture: Psalm 139
Another beautiful day in paradise. We got up and gathered the crew for a group photo because some were heading in different directions. Jim and Bill were needing to head straight home and Steve was going to spend more time riding the mountains. We took the picture, read the scripture, prayed and headed out.
Today's plan is to head back across the Beartooth pass, take a left at Chief Joseph Highway, and spend some time in Cody.
The Beartooth was even more enjoyable because we knew the road better now and are more experienced in leaning into the curves. We stopped at the top and took a video of the riders heading down at the other side. We also stopped at a campground/store near the top called Top of the World. The place is run by a very friendly man and his store is remarkable well equipped considering how far up the mountain and desolate his location is. A few of us bought his nicely priced "do rags" and tasted the large muffins he offered.
The road to Cody called Chief Joseph Highway (state hwy 120) offers some fantastic scenery as well as a nicely maintained mountain road. Very nice. Great ride.
We pulled into Cody at around 1:00 PM and a guy named "Cowboy" pulled up to talk to us. You can read about Cowboy below. We then headed to Irma's in downtown Cody for lunch. Irma's is a national historic place built by Buffalo Bill Cody for his daughter Irma. It is quite the building. After lunch we spent about an hour walking around the town and checking out the shops.
Next it was onto the town of Powell where Larry had left his car and trailer. As we were pulling out of Cody the wind was picking up and rain was in the horizon. I thought that perhaps we would get wet but we made it there dry. I checked ID when we got there to see who was actually Moses becaus it appeared that someone parted the sea as there was rain on the right of the highway and rain to the left but blue sky straight ahead.
We quickly got the bike back on the trailer and hightailed it to our motel in Lovell as the wind was really picking up. And, in deed, we felt our helmeted heads were about to be torn off our shoulders the cross wind was so strong. But we made it without getting wet or with parts of our bodies blown off. That is except for Lloyd and John. They had been delayed in Cody and got caught in the wet stuff.
Supper was at Taco Johns. Bible study was Luke 10 the good Samaritan. Who is our neighbor?
Tomorrow: through the Big Horns and then a visit to Custer's Last Stand.
Todays Scripture: Psalm 139
Another beautiful day in paradise. We got up and gathered the crew for a group photo because some were heading in different directions. Jim and Bill were needing to head straight home and Steve was going to spend more time riding the mountains. We took the picture, read the scripture, prayed and headed out.
Today's plan is to head back across the Beartooth pass, take a left at Chief Joseph Highway, and spend some time in Cody.
The Beartooth was even more enjoyable because we knew the road better now and are more experienced in leaning into the curves. We stopped at the top and took a video of the riders heading down at the other side. We also stopped at a campground/store near the top called Top of the World. The place is run by a very friendly man and his store is remarkable well equipped considering how far up the mountain and desolate his location is. A few of us bought his nicely priced "do rags" and tasted the large muffins he offered.
The road to Cody called Chief Joseph Highway (state hwy 120) offers some fantastic scenery as well as a nicely maintained mountain road. Very nice. Great ride.
We pulled into Cody at around 1:00 PM and a guy named "Cowboy" pulled up to talk to us. You can read about Cowboy below. We then headed to Irma's in downtown Cody for lunch. Irma's is a national historic place built by Buffalo Bill Cody for his daughter Irma. It is quite the building. After lunch we spent about an hour walking around the town and checking out the shops.
Next it was onto the town of Powell where Larry had left his car and trailer. As we were pulling out of Cody the wind was picking up and rain was in the horizon. I thought that perhaps we would get wet but we made it there dry. I checked ID when we got there to see who was actually Moses becaus it appeared that someone parted the sea as there was rain on the right of the highway and rain to the left but blue sky straight ahead.
We quickly got the bike back on the trailer and hightailed it to our motel in Lovell as the wind was really picking up. And, in deed, we felt our helmeted heads were about to be torn off our shoulders the cross wind was so strong. But we made it without getting wet or with parts of our bodies blown off. That is except for Lloyd and John. They had been delayed in Cody and got caught in the wet stuff.
Supper was at Taco Johns. Bible study was Luke 10 the good Samaritan. Who is our neighbor?
Tomorrow: through the Big Horns and then a visit to Custer's Last Stand.
People we've met
Wayne's daughter, Sara, and her dog, Roxy, who met us in Yellowstone.
Sturgis
Couple who took our pic at Missouri River
Dick & Sally
Guy who brought the news about the snow ahead
Along our trip we have been praying for opportunities to be a help, encouragement or bring a smile. We have also been wanting to share the love of Christ with them, share the Word and pray with them.
Here are a few of those who we have met:
This is Mary who was the head waitress at Irma's in Cody. Irma's is a historic hotel that Buffalo Bill built. Mary's job is to be rude to people. It is part of the routine that she picks someone out in a group such as ours and berates him and bosses him around. That lucky person today was Pastor Keith. Keith played along well but asked her at the end of the meal if she would let us take a picture of her. She said "no, leave me alone and sit down". But we kept after her and she had us go behind their huge antique bar for pictures which she took of us but in the end we got her to pose with us and gave each of us a hug and she even smiled.
This is "Cowboy". He drove up to us on his old Harley and told us that if we are ever in Denver and need a Harley mechanic that his son is an excellent Harley mechanic. This was strange since we told him that none of us are going to Denver and none of us rode Harleys. Cowboy then told his life story from running moonshine as a teenager to fighting vietcong in Vietnam to working in Mississippi and divorcing his wife and working with famous people in Vegas. This took about five minutes. He also told us he is in Cody because his brother who had been estranged from him is gravely ill. We offered to pray for his brother which he was glad to let us do. We then asked him if he knows Jesus and he said he does and has some acquantances who have brought him to Christian biker ralleys, etc. We promised to pray for him and his brother and are very grateful that God sent him our way this day. Please pray that some of what we said will encourage him towards serving the Lord.
(more to come)
Sturgis
Couple who took our pic at Missouri River
Dick & Sally
Guy who brought the news about the snow ahead
Along our trip we have been praying for opportunities to be a help, encouragement or bring a smile. We have also been wanting to share the love of Christ with them, share the Word and pray with them.
Here are a few of those who we have met:
This is Mary who was the head waitress at Irma's in Cody. Irma's is a historic hotel that Buffalo Bill built. Mary's job is to be rude to people. It is part of the routine that she picks someone out in a group such as ours and berates him and bosses him around. That lucky person today was Pastor Keith. Keith played along well but asked her at the end of the meal if she would let us take a picture of her. She said "no, leave me alone and sit down". But we kept after her and she had us go behind their huge antique bar for pictures which she took of us but in the end we got her to pose with us and gave each of us a hug and she even smiled.
This is "Cowboy". He drove up to us on his old Harley and told us that if we are ever in Denver and need a Harley mechanic that his son is an excellent Harley mechanic. This was strange since we told him that none of us are going to Denver and none of us rode Harleys. Cowboy then told his life story from running moonshine as a teenager to fighting vietcong in Vietnam to working in Mississippi and divorcing his wife and working with famous people in Vegas. This took about five minutes. He also told us he is in Cody because his brother who had been estranged from him is gravely ill. We offered to pray for his brother which he was glad to let us do. We then asked him if he knows Jesus and he said he does and has some acquantances who have brought him to Christian biker ralleys, etc. We promised to pray for him and his brother and are very grateful that God sent him our way this day. Please pray that some of what we said will encourage him towards serving the Lord.
(more to come)
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Day 6, Yellowstone to Red Lodge, Montana
Wild flowers at Beartooth Pass (click on image to enlarge)
Sulfur pool at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone Park
Fossils at Beartooth Pass
Todays scripture: Psalm 122.
The overnight was not as cold this morning but still quite chilly by MN August standards. The plan is to meet for a quick cup of coffee and morning snack at 8:00 AM, then travel up to the north part of the park and get a meal at Mammoth Hot Springs. As mentioned in yesterday's blog most of the guys did not make it up to the north end of the park yesterday. After Mammoth Hot Springs we'd head back to the Northeast entrance and head up to Cooke City and Red Lodge via the Bear Tooth Pass. Here us what Greg has to say about the Beartooth: "Beartooth, good."
As mentioned previously, the ride up the eastern side of the figure 8 to Tower Falls is very dramatic. And, of course, it did not change from yesterday to today. We enjoyed it very much. At Tower some took in the falls, some just rested. At Mammoth we ate and filled with gas then everyone was to drive to the upper parking lot of the Mammoth structure to get the view from up high. Unfortunately the turn off into the area was not easy to find and many drove right by and had to come back and a couple never did make it so it took quite a while for all of us find one another. But we eventually re-grouped and were ready for the drive out of the park and up to Montana. By the way, I should point out that our numbers now are much less than the high of 17 we had on Monday night. Many of the guys had other plans or other things to see and places to ride. At this point we were 9 in number.
The ride up to the Northeast entrance was nice and scenic. We hit road construction immediately upon exiting Yellowstone and it was gravel the 4 miles into Cooke City. But from Cooke City to Red Lodge we were free and clear. The ride on 212 up to the Beartooth pass is one of the nationally known greatest motorcycle rides in the USA. The road is so remote and high in the mountains that it is closed in the winter and only snowmobiles take it. The pass is just 60' short of 11,000 feet above sea level. The road has many switchbacks and hairpin turns and outstanding views of mountains and valleys including large patches of snow. I (Wayne) remember taking this road on a motorcycle decades ago and the one other thing I remembered of the pass is the mountain wild flowers that grow amongst all the rocks. Well, they are still there and quite interesting. Again: "Beartooth, good".
The town of Red Lodge is a nice little town just at the bottom of the pass. It caters to tourists and a lot of motorcyclists during the summer and to skiers during the summer. We stayed at the Beartooth Hideaway in the town and ate supper at a Chinese joint.
Tonights bible study: Mark 15 Jesus and Simon of Cyrene and His passion.
Tomorrow: Beartooth again to the Chief Joseph Highway to Cody and Lovell Wy.
Day 5, Tuesday, Yellowstone Park
The night was very cold in the campground. Someone had heard of a forecast down in the 30's and I believe it. I had many layers of clothes on under my sleeping bag and pulled my riding jacket over the top of the bag to try and stay comfortable. But the morning dawned bright and pr0mised to be a nice day. We had our group campsite for two nights so we didn't need to tear down our tents this morning which was nice.
We met over at the Lake Side Inn cafeteria for breakfast. A few of the less hardy Fossils had stayed in a cabin there. After a gas fill we split up into smaller groups to tour the park. Whereas I know best of the trip I took, I will write of my adventure.
Steve and I have been to Yellowstone before and wanted to be sure and to make the largest amount of the big picture and not necessarily hit every viewing area. If someone were to stop at every stop Yellowstone has to offer he would need to stay in the park a week or two. So, Steve & I decided to make the large loop in a counterclockwise direction. If you have not been to Yellowstone you may not know that the highway around the center of the park is a huge figure 8 with many sight seeing areas along those main routes. The guys who spent more times at the sights only made a loop in the bottom half of the figure 8.
The road to the top right hand corner of the large loop from our camprground on the middle of the eastern side is very dramatic with steep drives and curves through majestic mountains with great long distance views. Though I had been to the park twice before decades earlier, somehow I had never been on this road. Before taking this road I was under the mistaken impression that Yellowstone was only a place for viewing dramatic natural wonders but didn't really have good motorcycle roads. Man, was I wrong! This route is an excellent motorcycle road and I was very happy to learn of it's existance. The end of the road in the top right of the figure 8 is Tower Falls. The falls is nice, not the most dramatic falls you will see but quite nice.
Next was across the top of the figure 8 from Tower west to Mammoth Hot Springs. The hot springs is very dramatic of what can be best described as what looks like a giant mountain of very colorfull salt with bubbling hot water with colorfull pools at each spring. Very interesting.
Then we headed south along the west side from Mammoth to Old Faithful. This sounds easy to write of but actually takes a long time of mountain driving in traffic. The views are always great, of course. Also, Steve & I were getting hungry and Steve needed gas so we stopped at a couple of places looking for both but found neither. Gas and food are only available at the select larger venues of the camp. We arrived at the Old Faithfull complex mid afternoon and filled up and eat at a gift shop/cafe. We then left the bikes there and began to walk along the boardwalk which runs for a long ways amoungst the many lesser known geysers and hot spring pools to the west of Old Faithfull. We walked for quite a long ways along this path and we could have probably made a day of it as the walks seemed to go on forever.
Back on the bikes we started the final leg of the loop along the bottom and up the right along the Yellowstone Lake. The lake is huge and one of the most beautiful lakes you will ever see anywhere. It is really dramatic to see the huge expanse of perfect blue water up against distant mountains. The lake shore at places are thetall pines found throughout the park, at places there are green grassy pastures running gentle up to the blue waters. As mentioned, very beautiful.
Steve & I were the first group to arrive at camp at I would guess was around 6:00 PM. I took the time to buy somemore firewood and call home. No cellphone or internet access in the park, so used an old fashioned phone booth. The rest of the groups were back within the hour and had all had similar stories of riding and viewing this amazing park. Animals we saw were Buffalo (we actually got guite tired of the buffalo because of their tendencies to walk on the roads) One group was stuck behind a buffalo herd for almost an hour. Also saw Elk and Bear.
Supper was back at the Lake Inn cafeteria. Bible study was Acts 9 the road to Damascus.
Tomorrow is more driving in Yellowstone and then across the BearTooth Pass to Red Lodge Montana.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Day 4, Monday, Buffalo to Yellowstone
The day began a bit chilly. The plan is to motor west on route 66, er, I mean 16 through the Big Horn mountains, across the high sierra of Wyoming into the Rockies and Yellowstone Park.
The ride through the mountains west of Buffalo started nice and ended up magnificent. This has to be one of the most beautiful rides in the USA. The cliffs and valleys and rivers and scenery was amazing. The road was nice and curved and well maintained. We kept stopping at pull offs and exclaiming "Wow, Praise the Lord!". Truly a great road.
The far side of the mountains broke into high plains at a little town called Ten Sleep. There we stopped for brunch at the "Crazy Woman Cafe". We saw no crazy woman there but there was a very efficient, driven waitress who had us fed in no time. Breakfast was great!
From Ten Sleep we continued west into the town of Worland for gas and discussion on what route to proceed on towards Cody and then Yellowstone Park. Part of the discussion included how to get rid of Larry's car and trailer. Lloyd knew someone in the town of Powell who said he could park his rig. That was north up US16. Some of us however noticed an interesting state hwy straight west across the high plains that looked as it may be less traveled. So, we split up, half went up with Larry to ditch his car, half down and across on the afore mentioned state highways.
The state hwys proved very nice with great scenery and little traffic. The northern route guys took a little longer because of the car/trailer situation buy Larry was onto two wheels in no time at all. Both routes brought us to Cody and then it was straight west to Yellowstone. The southern group made it a hour or so earlier than the northern group.
The road across from Cody to the Park was a very nice road as well. Starting with the Buffalo Bill Reseviour on the left side of town to the high cliffs and mountains shortly there after. The scenery was, again, awesome.
Someone at the gas station in Cody had told us that there have been on-going forest fires in the area which have at times closed the road. But today the wind was straight out of the west so there was no reason for concern. We did see much smoke billowing from some of the mountains in the distance. Also an encampment for the fire fighters was set up along side the road.
We got to the Park entrance and paid our fees of $20 dollars per motorcycle. Then we needed to travel to the center of the park and find our campsite at Bay Bridge Campground which was near the shores of beautiful Yellowstone Park. The travel around Yellowstone looks like no big deal but in actuality it always seems to take longer than expected. The roads are curved, (which is a good thing), the traffic often heavy, often stopped because of animals in the road or to the side causing tourists to stop and take pictures and the speed limit is only 45 MPH. But we (the south, state hwy group) eventually got to our camp site at or around 6:00 PM. My (Wayne's) daughter, Sara, was there already as well as Steve who had left before us and had already spent time in the Grand Tetons. Sara was passing through from her home in Portland Oregon to visit friends and family in MN. I was very happy to see her and she me.
Sara and I decided to head off to see Old Faithful yet that evening and get some supper even though it would mean we'd be returning after dark. We got there just as the geyser was sceduled to blow so we saw that without much waiting. The restaurant at the Inn was full and taking reservations at 9:45 PM. We decided to settle with a couple of sandwiches from the deli. When we got back, it was indeed dark but Steve had a camp fire going and many more Fossils had found their way to our encampment. Jeff, Rod, Keith R and Brian from the Tetons. The northern route crew from Powell and Cody. Also joining us for the first time was our "cheesehead" Fossils Mark and Les. We were quite the force in the camp!
It had been a long day, many of us drifted off to their respective tents. A few watched the ambers die in the fire ring but most were to bed at or around midnight. Thus ending Day 4 in this great Fossil trip.
(personal note from the Blog author: we had no internet service in the Park. I am writing this blog re day four at the end of day 6 in Red Lodge Montana. It is now past midnight. I will continue to try and catch up tomorrow, perhaps I can find a WiFi in Cody, otherwise at the motel in Lovel. Whatever, I willpost a couple of pictures and hit the sack.... type some more soon! In the mean time click on the video I uploaded earlier to get a taste of ridin in-group in Yellowstone) Wayne.
trip videos
from Lloyd's windshield camera: Road in Yellowstone north of Fishing Bridge towards Canyon (watch for Buffalo!)
Links to other videos we've taken:
Chief Joseph Highway overlook:
http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n237/waynedw/fossil%20vids/?action=view¤t=vidfromchiefjosephhwym.flv
Beartooth Pass:
http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n237/waynedw/fossil%20vids/?action=view¤t=vidfrombeartoothpass2.flv
Links to other videos we've taken:
Chief Joseph Highway overlook:
http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n237/waynedw/fossil%20vids/?action=view¤t=vidfromchiefjosephhwym.flv
Beartooth Pass:
http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n237/waynedw/fossil%20vids/?action=view¤t=vidfrombeartoothpass2.flv
Monday, August 11, 2008
Day 3, Deadwood, SD to Buffalo, WY
Scripture today: Psalm
Today, Sunday the 11th, we spent a lot of time in the saddle. Some of us wanted to see Mount Rushmore so we headed south to Keystone from Deadwood for breakfast on US385. Then our plan was to circle around the west and then north on US85 to Spearfish via Alt14, the Spearfish Canyon.
But before that we unloaded Larry's trailer so he could join us on two wheels. We found a parking place in Lead at the Highschool and were on our way. I, Wayne, had a restaurant in mind that we had a breakfast buffet at two years ago on a previous Fossil's trip. However I was confused as to what town this buffet was in. I thought that the town I wanted was Hill City but when we pulled into Hill City I knew of my error in thinking. But since we were there we decided to try and find some breakfast. There was only one cafe in town serving breakfast and it had seating for about 20, which was all filled with a waiting line. So, we decided to try and find the original target buffet in the right town this time, Keystone.
Fortunately, Keystone is relavtively close to Hill City and the really good news is that we noticed on the map a county road between the two which none of us had ever travelled before. I checked with a local store owner who assured us the road did go to Keystone and it is paved. He said it follows the train track and crosses the track about a dozen times. Sounds intriging, we thought. So off we headed with the store owners instructions on how to find the turn off to what they call "Old Hill City Rd" and the map calls county 352.
This road turned out to be a delight with many curves and switchbacks and it turned out the road ended in Keystone right at the breakfast buffet we were looking for. We were very happy with the turn of events in spite of the slow Harley riders we got stuck behind and were forced to try our best to pass since they refused to pull over. We all have bitter sweet memories of the lady on the pink Harley with the white frilly saddlebacks, hugging the center line at 10 MPH.
Breakfast was delicious though late and next on to Mount Rushmore. Some of us have see "the faces" more than a couple of times so we decided to find other things to do while the others went on in. The other thing to do turned out to be a quick run up the Iron Mountain on Alt16a. Another delightfully twisty road with unique tunnels and bridges some of which frame Mount Rushmore.
We all meet back at Keystone, and realized it was getting too late to make the planned long westward cirlce around to Lead so decided to head back the fastest way which was the same way we came, US385. All the way north, we were skirting rain showers buy were not getting wet enough to stop and put on rain gear. But, when we got to Lead to put Larry's bike back on the trailer it was another story as we were hit with a steady downpour.
Our plan now was to still head up to the Spearfish Canyon but to take it a little slower than normal what with the wet roads. Some of the group, however, decided to take the quicker route on the Interstate to Spearfish, SD. So, again, being as accomodating as possible we split up again to each rider's taste. Some to the Canyon and some to the town. The Spearfish canyon is another beautiful ride with some breathtaking views of the cliffs and rocks jutting high above the curving road which follows Spearfish Creek. To top off the great ride there is a Dairy Queen at the end of the road which we felt obligated to partake in their tasty delights.
We then meet the rest of the group at the Spearfish Walmart for the gear needed for the long trek into Wyoming. Things like new rainpants, etc. By now, the rain which had let up during the ride through the Canyon was falling harder than ever. But by the time we got out of the store to hit the Interstate west, it was letting up again. And, indeed we really didn't get wet at all after that. The sun was shining nicely after 50 miles or so into Wyoming.
The scenery in Wyoming was very nice, improving with each mile as we traveled west. With more rolling hills turning into the mountains in the distance as we got closer to our final destination of the day of Buffalo. Our accomadations tonight is in a small by nice motel on the west end of town. Perfect for our final push west on US16 into the mountains tomorrow. We had a late supper tonight at a steak shop which served a great steak.
Our "meetings on the road" bible study tonight was about Elisha meeting the mean kids who made fun of his baldness. Last night we studied the Ethiopian Eunich meeeting Phillip on the road in Samaria. Every evening's Bible study will be about a meeting on a road.
Tomorrow Yellowstone!
Saturday, August 9, 2008
day 2, Saturday, mitchell to deadwood
Saturday Aug 9,2008.
Today's Scripture: Psalm 34.
We took I90 west most of the day today. Stops at the scenic overlook at the Missiouri river, Badlands, Wall Drug and Sturgis. All the stops were very interesting and enjoyable. The day turned quite hot at the Badlands through our visit to Sturgis. The Sturgis ralley is closing down but we are still seeing thousands of bikes around, mostly Harleys. We ate a late lunch in Wall and spent about an hour working through the crowds in Sturgis. The ride through the badlands and from Sturgis down to Deadwood were the nicest today.
We are staying in the basement of the Masonic Lodge tonight. It is a huge stone room filled with beds. There is also a open, common shower. A bit primitive but cheap. Supper is at Mustang Sally's. Bible study will be tonight as well.
Tomorrow will be rides around the BlackHills and then west into Wyoming.
Friday, August 8, 2008
yellowstone trip day 1
(click on image to enlarge)
Today's scripture: Psalm 121
The day has finally come to stop planning and start riding! The first meeting place was Maple Grove Covenant Church where 8 guys (Keith S, Keith R., Lloyd, Jim, Bill, Greg, Eric, and Larry) showed up at the appointed time. The next stop was at US169 & MN41 in Shakopee where Wayne joined the crowd. Al & John had left from Owatanna earlier in the morning.
The weather was nice and the traffic not to bad yet as it was still fairly early in the afternoon.
First stop was in Mankato for gas and to check on how everyone was doing so far. Everybody was fine except Larry discovered that he left his wallet at home and couldn't pay for gas! Someone lent him a credit card but he still needed to solve this no I.D. and no money problem. He ended us calling his wife and heading back to meet her at a halfway point. This put him a couple of hours behind us but problem solved. By the way, Larry is driving a car with a trailer and his bike is on the trailer. The rest of us are on two wheels.
Supper was at the Blue Line Cafe in Worthington, MN. Nice time to catch up with everyone and get some good grub. We then got on the super slab and headed west. The sun was getting low by now but the weather still nice. The sun went down beautifully red and glowing. We stopped at the next gas station to switch out of the sun glasses and prepare for the final 60 miles to our appointed stop in Mitchell, SD. Pulled in at 10:00 PM just like Al said we would (he must be a prophet). Rooms at the Thunderbird Motel are nice, we are upbeat and looking forward to tomorrows drive to the Black Hills. We are seeing a lot of Harleys heading the other direction than us as they are leaving the Sturgis ralley.
Today's scripture: Psalm 121
The day has finally come to stop planning and start riding! The first meeting place was Maple Grove Covenant Church where 8 guys (Keith S, Keith R., Lloyd, Jim, Bill, Greg, Eric, and Larry) showed up at the appointed time. The next stop was at US169 & MN41 in Shakopee where Wayne joined the crowd. Al & John had left from Owatanna earlier in the morning.
The weather was nice and the traffic not to bad yet as it was still fairly early in the afternoon.
First stop was in Mankato for gas and to check on how everyone was doing so far. Everybody was fine except Larry discovered that he left his wallet at home and couldn't pay for gas! Someone lent him a credit card but he still needed to solve this no I.D. and no money problem. He ended us calling his wife and heading back to meet her at a halfway point. This put him a couple of hours behind us but problem solved. By the way, Larry is driving a car with a trailer and his bike is on the trailer. The rest of us are on two wheels.
Supper was at the Blue Line Cafe in Worthington, MN. Nice time to catch up with everyone and get some good grub. We then got on the super slab and headed west. The sun was getting low by now but the weather still nice. The sun went down beautifully red and glowing. We stopped at the next gas station to switch out of the sun glasses and prepare for the final 60 miles to our appointed stop in Mitchell, SD. Pulled in at 10:00 PM just like Al said we would (he must be a prophet). Rooms at the Thunderbird Motel are nice, we are upbeat and looking forward to tomorrows drive to the Black Hills. We are seeing a lot of Harleys heading the other direction than us as they are leaving the Sturgis ralley.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Meeting times and places, July 8
Here are the two meeting places on Friday August 8 and who is going to meet there and when:
A. Maple Grove Covenant Church: 1:30 PM meet, kick stands up at 1:45.
(1) Keith S.
(2) Greg
(3) Eric
(4) Bill
(5) Jim
(6) Lloyd
(7) Keith R
(8) Larry
B. MN41 and US169 at the Holiday Station: when the group arrives should be @ 2:30.
(9) Wayne
If any of this is wrong please let us know ASAP. If your name is not on this list it means you are joining us somewhere else on the trip:
Joining us at Mitchel, SD on Friday night:
(10) Al , (11) John.
Joining us at Deadwood on Saturday night:
(12)Brian, (13)Jeff, (14)Rob, (15)Les, (16)Mark.
Joining us at Yellowstone Monday night:
(17)Steve.
A. Maple Grove Covenant Church: 1:30 PM meet, kick stands up at 1:45.
(1) Keith S.
(2) Greg
(3) Eric
(4) Bill
(5) Jim
(6) Lloyd
(7) Keith R
(8) Larry
B. MN41 and US169 at the Holiday Station: when the group arrives should be @ 2:30.
(9) Wayne
If any of this is wrong please let us know ASAP. If your name is not on this list it means you are joining us somewhere else on the trip:
Joining us at Mitchel, SD on Friday night:
(10) Al , (11) John.
Joining us at Deadwood on Saturday night:
(12)Brian, (13)Jeff, (14)Rob, (15)Les, (16)Mark.
Joining us at Yellowstone Monday night:
(17)Steve.
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