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Duke
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I finally finished putting together my trip report of my vacation last september and thought that I would share.
My Western USA Tour along with the 3 Flags Classic!
Well here is my route that took me close to 7500 miles and and some unplanned major warranty work.
Day 1; Aug 25: Houston, TX to Lubbock, TX
Here I am prior to leaving the house. With my panniers loaded to the top and a waterproof duffel to use as my "suitcase", and my camel back at the ready.
I ride to work and make an effort to pay attention to what I am supposed to be doing that day. But it was a failing effort. So at lunch time I tell my assistant that I am heading out, and promise to check in often.
The big roads lead to the medium roads....
Which lead me through nice towns, with great old buildings, and interesting murals.
(?Milam County Courthouse, I Think?)
(I took the picture and it wasn't until I got home and was going through them all that I realized that the spots were painted in the shape of Texas...)
At least one of the residents of Rogers, TX (Just outside of Temple) is apparently at odds with the local Law Enforcement, or maybe it is just a low budget public service announcement. Either way it got my attention.
I am able to get out of the lonely roads again and get lost in my thoughts and am really having a good time.
Eventually I start to make the outskirts of Lubbock, TX ahead of a summer show that was blowing in from the west, following another rider that was doing a great job setting a pace that proved to be poor for fuel economy.
Day 2; Aug 26: Lubbock, TX to Grand Canyon Village, AZ
I woke up early this Saturday morning in hopes of making it to the Grand Canyon by days end. I made it to New Mexico before breakfast.
And while riding along the farmland west of Clovis, NM. I was surprised to look to my right and see this coming straight for me!
That was just neat, I don't care where you are.
As I was making my way west into Fort Sumner, NM I kept seeing signs for Billy The Kid this and that... One of the signs was to Billy The Kids grave. So, Left Turn!
A Closer View
I get done playing tourist and beat feet it to the interstate as I am going to have to ride it to make the miles I have ahead of me with any chance of making good time.
I make it across New Mexico and enter Arizona, not realizing that there was a National Park that straddles the interstate. So, Right Turn!
I get out of the Petrified Forest and and hit the interstate again and see a sign pointing the way to Meteor Crater... So, I exit and start to make my way to it.
(That's it at the end of the ribbon of road in the center of the picture)
I drive all the way up to it, but I guess no one else in Arizona had any better place to be on this Saturday afternoon, and all of them were here, so I did not stop at the visitors center.
It is now getting late in the day but I make it to the Grand Canyon just prior to sunset, and it was worth the hard miles ridden today.
I spend some time taking in the Grand Canyon, a truly magical place for me, and call it a night at a hotel I find near the front gate.
Day 3; Aug 27: Grand Canyon Village, AZ to Bakersfield, CA
I get up the next morning and make my way south back to the interstate planning on making it to my destination for the next couple of days Bakersfield, CA.
About 30 min south of the Grand Canyon N.P. gate I come across this.
Not a really large museum, but it was neat. I make it to the interstate and move along at a pretty brisk pace and make it to Kingman, AZ
Where I turn north and make it to this landmark.
And enter...
I make it up to Las Vegas, and did a really quick drive through... Although unlike the first time I visited Vegas, I did not get married this trip.
I take I-15 South out of Vegas heading towards Barstow and I know realize that the entire population of southern California must visit Vegas during the weekend and all of them try to drive back on Sunday afternoons....
35 & 45 MPH with the ever so rare chance to drive the speed limit for over 100 miles just made for a very long ride... and for those that don't know, it is truly a desert out here, and it is hot in the desert.
I made it to Bakersfield, CA. A couple of pounds lighter due to sweating my tail off. And a lesson learned that I am not sure I would have believed if I did not try it. I was cooler with my riding jacket on, than with it off. Now to search for a some new tires as the trip is only 1/3rd over.
That's what 7,500 miles on a stock rear tire will get you. Overall I am pleased with the performance of the Tourance tires that came with the bike.
Day 4-6; Aug 28-29: Bakersfield, Fresno & Visalia, CA
I am going to work out of my Bakersfield office Monday, Tuesday & until Lunch Wednesday and then head up to Fresno, CA to get new tires put on the ride.
Day 7; Aug 30: Visalia, CA to Tijuana, Mexico (Thursday)
Rise and Shine! I am woke up early this morning by my friends and we get ready to hit the road.
(Sunrise over the Sierra Mountains, that Sequoia & Kings Canyon N.P. over there)
There will be 3 Bikes well two bikes and a Trike heading to Mexico this morning. My Friend Marion and his Wife will be on the White GL1800 and his Dad Murrell who is 90 by the way, is riding the Trike... This is the first year that he has ridden the Trike, and he still has his 2 wheel GL1500 in the garage that he still rides often.
(No the sun didn't rise that fast, I had to manipulate the picture as it was too dark, Surprise Marion!)
We hit the road and make our way south...
Look the Pacific Ocean!
Eventually me make it to Mexico, after stopping to buy insurance at the border.
We need insurance because traffic laws are merely a suggestion that most of the drivers do not pay attention too.
We start to get closer to our hotel
Well we made it, and parked the bikes. We were pretty early to the check in and had no trouble finding parking. But before the day is done there will be over 350 motorcycles mostly from California but some from as far away as Maine and even a few from Peru.
Ok we got the bikes secure, now let us get ourselves refreshed... So we all belly up to the bar and get some Margarita's to make ourselves feel at home. 2 AM is going to come really early in the morning so these are also therapeutic as a sedative.. yeah.. that's right a sedative!
Day 8; August 31: Tijuana, Mexico to Modesto, CA (via Oakhurst, CA)
Good Morning Murrell, you ready to go to Canada?
Marion & Sheran, how about you? psst... quit jacking with the GPS...
This is 3 AM on Friday mind you, and it took us 2 hours to escape to the USA.
One thing about riding in groups, well for me anyway, is that I fail to take pictures like I would if I was riding alone. We make our way north to Bakersfield when we meet up with Sheran's brother, Marshall who has joined us for the ride to Canada. He also rides a BMW GS, brand new with less than 600 miles on it when we meet up.
We make it up to the 1st Check point in Oakhurst, CA near the entrance to Yosemite N.P. and then ride roads like these to our hotel in Modesto.
Marion... Always the clown.
We called it quits and relaxed for the evening. Although I will say that I have never had as bad of service before as I had at this hotel's restaurant, and for those that know me, know that I can be a pain in the rear when service is not what is expected when your paying prices that have you expect service in the deal.
Day 9; Sept 1: Modesto, CA to Hoopa Indian Reservation (via Willow Creek)
We got a modest start this morning and left around 8 am or so, and we had to make the rally check point located in Willow Creek, CA this day. We boogied up I-5 to Redding, CA and then took a left turn onto one of the best roads I have ridden for two wheels, CA-299. Talk about fun & scenic! I will ride all the way back there one day just to ride this road un-interrupted. (more on that to come)
We made it all the way to just south of Weaverville, CA and were making incredible time today. It was barely or 3 o'clock and we only had 60 or so miles to go to the check in which doesn't close until 9pm. Well we were making such good time that we stopped at a roadside rest area to walk off the monkey butt and re-hydrate when this very nice couple in a car with Oregon plates tells us that we might be in trouble with our planned route. Needless to say they were right!
You guessed it... ROAD CLOSED!
Now what do we do. Do we go up into Oregon and then come down to the check point?. Do we make our way to the coast and ride the PCH up and then back across to the check point? No, lets take 2 Goldwings (one of them a trike, driven by a 90 year old) down to a National Forest Road and circle the fire to a point that will put us just west of Willow Creek. Look at your map software and take a look where 299 & 3 meet, go south west on 3 to Mad River, and go north on Forrest Road 1. Sounds simple right? It was to be only 90 miles from the rest area to the check point this way, versus 150 plus miles if we went to the coast.
6 hours later we finish the 90 miles and get checked in at the check point. Then it gets more interesting. At least for us anyway. You see we did not plan on any hotel rooms during the ride up, just made reservations at the start and finish, and figured that we would just find a room away from the check points when we got tired of riding. Well at the check point in Willow Creek, CA we were most certainly tired of riding and there were no hotel rooms to be found. We called hotels as far away as Crescent City, CA with out any luck. Marshall and I were debating just what we were going to do when he had the bright idea of using the search function on our GPS to "->Find->Lodging->Closest to Location", it worked! (This is after we broke out the laptop and searched the internet, a AAA Roadside book and asking the front desks of the local hotels for help). It pointed us to a hotel on the Hoopa Indian Reservation, so I called and sure enough the have a room... "Well ma'am, there are 5 adults do you have 2 rooms?", "Yes", "Do you have a roll away bed for the second room?" "No, we don't have roll aways here, but I can give you a 3rd room for 1/2 off". "I'LL TAKE EM, we will be there in 30 min!". Now here we are 1 1/2 hours into a hotel search without any luck and we score 3 rooms not 15 miles from where we are parked. We make our way up there and then hunt a place to eat. the front desk tells us of three important things. "Hot food is available in the Casino, the grocery store is open for another 30 min, and the liquor store is also open for another 30 min". So we split up and head to the appropriate establishments, and come back with a frozen pizza (cooked at the Casio), Margarita mix and twice as much tequila that is needed for the amount of mix we bought. But it was with out a doubt one of the best meals we had the entire trip. (guess you had to be there but it was fun!)
Day 10; Sept 2: Hoopa, Indian Reservation to The Dalles, OR
After a good nights sleep, we make ready to hit the road.
And what scenic roads they were too, we traveled CA 96 North which ran along side the Klamath River.
We make it 100 miles (maybe a little less) and pulled off to eat breakfast in the little town of Happy Creek, CA. Where we had a very nice breakfast and then made ready to hit the road again. We got held up by this towns annual "Big Foot Day's Parade". It was really nice (short too) as we watched the school kids, and the local Boy Scout troop and the army surplus VFD fire trucks spray water along the parade route. Oh and we also got to meet Big Foot, some how they were able to catch him and put him in a cage for the parade. The gate keeper forgot to lock the gate though and Big foot would jump out and scare the spectators.
This town even has a statue memorializing Big Foot, pretty neat how it is made too.
We lose about 30 min watching the parade, and we realize that we are going to have to push it to make The Dalles by check in time.
Gold dredging in the Klamath River.
We are seriously falling behind schedule, it is now close to noon and we haven't even made it to I-5 yet. When we do make it to I-5, we remember that the check in is also open in the morning so we don't have to rush, which made the going a lot smother as the pressure was no longer there to make it 400 miles in 9 hours.
We stop for fuel in I think Ashland, OR and take turns riding into the Air Conditioner.
Riding on I-5 in Oregon somewhere...
Murrell,
Marion & Sheran,
Marshall,
The ride today, although not the longest by miles, was really LONG if you know what I mean. We had the added challenge of riding at night. Typically we don't ride at night and I will add that riding the Columbia River gorge at night is challenging. It was DARK, and I mean DARK! You had a hard time picking out the next turn and curves in the road. But we do make it to The Dalles, OR in one piece after the check in had closed. But minus 1 rider. It seems that Marshall had a warning light present on his dash and he pulled off in Hood River to check it out and stayed there for the evening.
Day 11; Sept 3: The Dalles, OR to Penticton, BC, Canada
We get up this morning after a much needed rest and make our way on the final leg of the official 3 Flags Classic. We head over to the check in and get our paper work in order and share a cup of coffee the hit the road into Washington State via U.S. 97. Marshall has called and he is going to catch up with us in Penticton later in the day.
We must have cris-crossed the Columbia river 3 or 4 times it seems.... this river is HUGE!
Crossing the Yakima River (I Think?)
We keep putting the miles behind us and eventually get here....
Along with many of the other riders from the rally.
Almost there..
60 miles later,
And about 15 min after that.... Here comes Marshall,
Quite a few bikes...
Day 12; Sept 4: Penticton, BC, Canada
This Tuesday was a rest day and also to just play tourist. I did ride up to Kelowna on the north side of the lake just to be able to say that I did it.
Marshall I was invited to tag along with Murrell and Marion to a dinner cruise that was sponsored by another rider on the lake Tuesday night.
The dinner was quite enjoyable, and then we retired for the evening.
Day 13; Sept 5: Penticton, BC, Canada
Not much going on today slept late, did laundry and then got ready for the 3 Flags Banquet, and then to bed, as we are back on the bikes in the morning.
Day 14; Sept 6: Penticton, BC, Canada - Priest Lake, Idaho
After waking up after a good nights sleep and having breakfast, we all left Penticton on our way to rendezvous with Murrell's daughter and Son in Law who have a cabin on Priest Lake.
Not a long ride today, only 275 miles or so, but it was a very scenic if not a slow paced ride.
Just a neat downtown that we rode through
Getting closer!
As we got to the town just south of the cabin we had to stop and stock up...
We make it to the Cabin and enjoy the evening... Either I was too hard at work trying to empty the boxes you see below or the the camera fairy came and ate the pictures that I thought I took, these are the only ones I ended up with.
After the sun went down you see very clearly the fires burning in the National Forest across Priest Lake from where we sat. Watching the flames flare up over the mountain peaks was quite humbling.
Day 15; Sept 7: Priest Lake, Idaho - Helena, Montana
I woke this morning and said my goodbyes to the Twibell's & family, and pushed off towards Glacier National Park.
Somewhere along the Flathead River
As I came into Kalispell I kept seeing old muscle cars and other classic cars, I eventually come across a parking lot where they are all gathering and pull in for a look. It turns out that they are participating in a road rally called "Yellowstone to Glacier" (well that is what the placards say).
I quit drooling and get back on the road towards Glacier National Park.
Saw this interesting gate
And then finally make it to the park (terrible picture I know)
I ended up stopping off at the visitors center for a little while waiting for a rain storm to lighten up a little and then pushed off to make it to a hotel somewhere along my way. I ended up making it all the way to Helena, MT. (And it rained on me all the way).
Day 16; Sept 8: Helena, Montana - Jackson Hole, Wyoming
I lucked out and found a hotel in Helena after stopping and asking at about half a dozen or so. I was cold and wet and very happy to have a warm bed for the night. I wake up feeling refreshed and have a small breakfast and depart for Yellowstone National Park.
It is raining on me again today all the way to the park, here I am somewhere north of the Wyoming border on HWY 191. (have I mentioned before that I love the heated grips?)
Eventually I make it to West Yellowstone and top of my tank and set forth to ride Yellowstone.
I was riding the "grand loop" I think that is what it was called anyway, and got tired of looking at buffalo and beat feet it over to Old Faithful. I pull up to the lodge and put the stand down buy a soda and a snack and walk over to the viewing area, and about 10 min later she erupts.
I leave the park and make my way down to Jackson for the night.
Can you see the Moose?
I get me a room and call it a night. A really neat place too, more like a small apartment than a hotel room
It even had a very cool lobby.
Day 17; Sept 9: Jackson Hole, Wyoming - Grand Junction, CO (Via Rock Springs, WY)
I woke up this morning (a Saturday) and the sun was shining and the air was cool, boy was it a beautiful day. I pack up the bike after breakfast and hit the road south. I should say that I also gave the bike a going over as I was feeling a little "grumble / rumble" in the pegs when I was on the accelerator while riding up in Yellowstone the day before. Everything appeared ok so I hit the road. I make it through Jackson, and then on down to Pinedale, staying on 191 towards Rock Springs. I motor on through Pinedale and get to, a GPS indicated 22 miles north of Rock Springs when a car pulls up beside me and flags me over. A good thing to...
!@#$%^&*()
I got a little upset. After all I am only sitting on the side of the road with a 5 month old motorcycle that is reputed to be a sound piece of engineering. After all look at all the company that I had to keep me cool while I sat there.
Using my cell phone was like playing the lottery and only getting 3 of 6 numbers. I was able to eventually get out and call one of my employees that work in Wyoming and left him a voice mail. I had no idea whether or not he got the message, after all it is Saturday. After a while vehicles start to pass by, motorcycles, trucks, police cars, you name it. I sat there for 4 1/2 hours and not a single person stops. I am not getting in a better mood to say the least.
Then a white chevy dually pulls up and I am very happy to see that my voice mail message got through, and a call was made to another company employee that was working about an hour north of me and he came down. He at least had a sat phone and I call BMW roadside assistance, and they tell me that I am out of luck. No Kidding!. They tell me that there are no tow trucks available in Rock Springs and that I should call 911 for help. I not so politely hang up and start to call tow trucks myself and true enough no one would tow a motorcycle. Now here I sit 22 miles north of civilization and no way to get my bike in the back of J.W.'s truck. When a truck pulls up with a low boy trailer hitched up on his way to Home Depot and asked if we needed help. My blood pressure falls a couple hundred points.
We loaded the bike up and headed to Rock Springs, and to a Hotel where I can start to figure out what I am going to do.
Mr. Buddy (really his name) takes me to a hotel in Rock Springs and drops me off, I tried to pay him but he refused to take any money from me. Only said to be sure and take my mom to lunch when I see her next. A great guy!
I get checked in and call my Employee in Grand Junction and asked if you might be able to come retrieve me as I knew that there is a BMW dealer in Grand Junction. He said sure and that he would leave right away to head north and come get me. In the mean time I am able to reach the Service Manager of the Grand Junction Honda / BMW dealer and tell him my tale and he tells me to bring it in first thing Tuesday morning and he would get on it. Well Jared and Gavin show up from Grand Junction and we load up the bike and hit the road again.
So finally around 3 am or so Sunday morning my day is complete, my bike is at Jared's house and I am at a hotel, boy what a day.
Day 18; Sept 10: Grand Junction, CO
I slept very late today and just zoned out in front of the TV. I call Jared and asked if he could pick me up on Monday and take me to the Office. After all, I am not going anywhere soon so I might as well go back to work and not use vacation days sitting on my duff.
Day 19; Sept 11: Grand Junction, CO
I get to the office and check in with my boss back in Houston to let him know what is going on, and it turns out that me being in Grand Junction was a good thing. He was supposed to be in a meeting up here on Tuesday and since I am here I can go in his place and he will stay in Houston. After I get caught up on the last 2 weeks of being out of the loop on work we have lunch and then head out to a couple of rigs.
Day 20; Sept 12: Grand Junction, CO
Jared and I get my bike to the dealer 30 minutes early and to my surprise the Service Manager "Bill" is already there and excited to see me. He was excited, he should have been in my shoes. After a quick interview of my breakdown and a inspection of the bike, he diagnosed my problem of it being broken... No Kidding! He basically said, look, your final drive is toast, I will not know why until I tear into it, but after our conversation Saturday I have already ordered a replacement FD and it should be here today or tomorrow. I will also replace this, that, and this, and this, oh and that. He makes a parts list and then goes to the phone and orders it while I am still there. Then turns to me and shakes my hand and tells me that he hopes to have all the parts by tomorrow afternoon and you should be back on the road come Thursday morning. I thank him and then we leave not 30 min after getting there. Jared and I head over to the office where I act like I am working again, but my mind is still on the bike. A little after lunch I head over to the dealer and Bill walks me back and lets me look at the bike torn apart. Turns out there is an inner bearing on the final drive that seized and heated everything up. Not to worry though as he has a new rear half of the bike coming to me. I mean everything but the rear tire and brake caliper. Everything else is being replaced with new parts. I can't ask for better service from these folks, there are bikes waiting in line for service, but being that I am still 1000 miles from home he I putting me to the front of the line.
Day 21; Sept 13: Grand Junction, CO
Wednesday comes and goes and not much takes place. I am still working out of our Grand Junction office waiting on my bike to be repaired. Jared and I head out to a couple of rigs over in Parachute and Rifle, CO to pass the day.
Day 22; Sept 14: Grand Junction, CO - Santa Rosa, NM
It is Thursday morning and I am itching for the return of my bike but respect that it is a long shot that I will get it back today. I head to the office and before long around 10am or so, my phone rings and it is Bill from the dealership telling me that my bike is ready! YIPPEE!!! I finish up some busy work and wait for a ride over to the dealership and retrieve my bike. Turns out Bill already left for the day so I could not thank him, but the receptionist told me that he was supposed to be on vacation yesterday and today but stayed back to fix me. True or not I do not care, I do know that Bill was one of the most professional, courteous and understanding person I have met in a very long time. And for who ever reads this, know that All Sports Honda - BMW in Grand Junction, CO is a first class operation and will forever be recommended by me to anyone. They truly are a credit to the riding community. Total bill. $32.00 for an oil and filter change that I asked for. Everything else fixed under warranty. So it is now about 11:30 and I am officially back on the road. After looking at the weather I decided to head home through Moab instead of Silverton due to a snow storm over the pass. Not that the weather was that much better heading west...
I am happy with my route as it took me to here...
I leave Arches and then make my way towards Colorado then on to New Mexico on this road.
I keep on putting miles behind me and promise myself that I make it to Santa Fe I will stop.
I ride all the way to Santa Rosa, NM and get a room for the night and a bite at Denny's.
Day 23; Sept 15: Santa Rosa, NM - The Woodlands, TX
I wake up early and hit the road before sun up, and ride all the way home this day.
I make it to the house just after 6pm and went straight to my pool and did the nestea plunge while still in my gear, and let me tell you it sure did feel good to be home again.
Tale of the tape.
23 Days, 7850 miles, and I learned a lot about myself during this adventure.
Thanks for looking.
Duke
My Western USA Tour along with the 3 Flags Classic!
Well here is my route that took me close to 7500 miles and and some unplanned major warranty work.
Day 1; Aug 25: Houston, TX to Lubbock, TX
Here I am prior to leaving the house. With my panniers loaded to the top and a waterproof duffel to use as my "suitcase", and my camel back at the ready.
I ride to work and make an effort to pay attention to what I am supposed to be doing that day. But it was a failing effort. So at lunch time I tell my assistant that I am heading out, and promise to check in often.
The big roads lead to the medium roads....
Which lead me through nice towns, with great old buildings, and interesting murals.
(?Milam County Courthouse, I Think?)
(I took the picture and it wasn't until I got home and was going through them all that I realized that the spots were painted in the shape of Texas...)
At least one of the residents of Rogers, TX (Just outside of Temple) is apparently at odds with the local Law Enforcement, or maybe it is just a low budget public service announcement. Either way it got my attention.
I am able to get out of the lonely roads again and get lost in my thoughts and am really having a good time.
Eventually I start to make the outskirts of Lubbock, TX ahead of a summer show that was blowing in from the west, following another rider that was doing a great job setting a pace that proved to be poor for fuel economy.
Day 2; Aug 26: Lubbock, TX to Grand Canyon Village, AZ
I woke up early this Saturday morning in hopes of making it to the Grand Canyon by days end. I made it to New Mexico before breakfast.
And while riding along the farmland west of Clovis, NM. I was surprised to look to my right and see this coming straight for me!
That was just neat, I don't care where you are.
As I was making my way west into Fort Sumner, NM I kept seeing signs for Billy The Kid this and that... One of the signs was to Billy The Kids grave. So, Left Turn!
A Closer View
I get done playing tourist and beat feet it to the interstate as I am going to have to ride it to make the miles I have ahead of me with any chance of making good time.
I make it across New Mexico and enter Arizona, not realizing that there was a National Park that straddles the interstate. So, Right Turn!
I get out of the Petrified Forest and and hit the interstate again and see a sign pointing the way to Meteor Crater... So, I exit and start to make my way to it.
(That's it at the end of the ribbon of road in the center of the picture)
I drive all the way up to it, but I guess no one else in Arizona had any better place to be on this Saturday afternoon, and all of them were here, so I did not stop at the visitors center.
It is now getting late in the day but I make it to the Grand Canyon just prior to sunset, and it was worth the hard miles ridden today.
I spend some time taking in the Grand Canyon, a truly magical place for me, and call it a night at a hotel I find near the front gate.
Day 3; Aug 27: Grand Canyon Village, AZ to Bakersfield, CA
I get up the next morning and make my way south back to the interstate planning on making it to my destination for the next couple of days Bakersfield, CA.
About 30 min south of the Grand Canyon N.P. gate I come across this.
Not a really large museum, but it was neat. I make it to the interstate and move along at a pretty brisk pace and make it to Kingman, AZ
Where I turn north and make it to this landmark.
And enter...
I make it up to Las Vegas, and did a really quick drive through... Although unlike the first time I visited Vegas, I did not get married this trip.
I take I-15 South out of Vegas heading towards Barstow and I know realize that the entire population of southern California must visit Vegas during the weekend and all of them try to drive back on Sunday afternoons....
35 & 45 MPH with the ever so rare chance to drive the speed limit for over 100 miles just made for a very long ride... and for those that don't know, it is truly a desert out here, and it is hot in the desert.
I made it to Bakersfield, CA. A couple of pounds lighter due to sweating my tail off. And a lesson learned that I am not sure I would have believed if I did not try it. I was cooler with my riding jacket on, than with it off. Now to search for a some new tires as the trip is only 1/3rd over.
That's what 7,500 miles on a stock rear tire will get you. Overall I am pleased with the performance of the Tourance tires that came with the bike.
Day 4-6; Aug 28-29: Bakersfield, Fresno & Visalia, CA
I am going to work out of my Bakersfield office Monday, Tuesday & until Lunch Wednesday and then head up to Fresno, CA to get new tires put on the ride.
Day 7; Aug 30: Visalia, CA to Tijuana, Mexico (Thursday)
Rise and Shine! I am woke up early this morning by my friends and we get ready to hit the road.
(Sunrise over the Sierra Mountains, that Sequoia & Kings Canyon N.P. over there)
There will be 3 Bikes well two bikes and a Trike heading to Mexico this morning. My Friend Marion and his Wife will be on the White GL1800 and his Dad Murrell who is 90 by the way, is riding the Trike... This is the first year that he has ridden the Trike, and he still has his 2 wheel GL1500 in the garage that he still rides often.
(No the sun didn't rise that fast, I had to manipulate the picture as it was too dark, Surprise Marion!)
We hit the road and make our way south...
Look the Pacific Ocean!
Eventually me make it to Mexico, after stopping to buy insurance at the border.
We need insurance because traffic laws are merely a suggestion that most of the drivers do not pay attention too.
We start to get closer to our hotel
Well we made it, and parked the bikes. We were pretty early to the check in and had no trouble finding parking. But before the day is done there will be over 350 motorcycles mostly from California but some from as far away as Maine and even a few from Peru.
Ok we got the bikes secure, now let us get ourselves refreshed... So we all belly up to the bar and get some Margarita's to make ourselves feel at home. 2 AM is going to come really early in the morning so these are also therapeutic as a sedative.. yeah.. that's right a sedative!
Day 8; August 31: Tijuana, Mexico to Modesto, CA (via Oakhurst, CA)
Good Morning Murrell, you ready to go to Canada?
Marion & Sheran, how about you? psst... quit jacking with the GPS...
This is 3 AM on Friday mind you, and it took us 2 hours to escape to the USA.
One thing about riding in groups, well for me anyway, is that I fail to take pictures like I would if I was riding alone. We make our way north to Bakersfield when we meet up with Sheran's brother, Marshall who has joined us for the ride to Canada. He also rides a BMW GS, brand new with less than 600 miles on it when we meet up.
We make it up to the 1st Check point in Oakhurst, CA near the entrance to Yosemite N.P. and then ride roads like these to our hotel in Modesto.
Marion... Always the clown.
We called it quits and relaxed for the evening. Although I will say that I have never had as bad of service before as I had at this hotel's restaurant, and for those that know me, know that I can be a pain in the rear when service is not what is expected when your paying prices that have you expect service in the deal.
Day 9; Sept 1: Modesto, CA to Hoopa Indian Reservation (via Willow Creek)
We got a modest start this morning and left around 8 am or so, and we had to make the rally check point located in Willow Creek, CA this day. We boogied up I-5 to Redding, CA and then took a left turn onto one of the best roads I have ridden for two wheels, CA-299. Talk about fun & scenic! I will ride all the way back there one day just to ride this road un-interrupted. (more on that to come)
We made it all the way to just south of Weaverville, CA and were making incredible time today. It was barely or 3 o'clock and we only had 60 or so miles to go to the check in which doesn't close until 9pm. Well we were making such good time that we stopped at a roadside rest area to walk off the monkey butt and re-hydrate when this very nice couple in a car with Oregon plates tells us that we might be in trouble with our planned route. Needless to say they were right!
You guessed it... ROAD CLOSED!
Now what do we do. Do we go up into Oregon and then come down to the check point?. Do we make our way to the coast and ride the PCH up and then back across to the check point? No, lets take 2 Goldwings (one of them a trike, driven by a 90 year old) down to a National Forest Road and circle the fire to a point that will put us just west of Willow Creek. Look at your map software and take a look where 299 & 3 meet, go south west on 3 to Mad River, and go north on Forrest Road 1. Sounds simple right? It was to be only 90 miles from the rest area to the check point this way, versus 150 plus miles if we went to the coast.
6 hours later we finish the 90 miles and get checked in at the check point. Then it gets more interesting. At least for us anyway. You see we did not plan on any hotel rooms during the ride up, just made reservations at the start and finish, and figured that we would just find a room away from the check points when we got tired of riding. Well at the check point in Willow Creek, CA we were most certainly tired of riding and there were no hotel rooms to be found. We called hotels as far away as Crescent City, CA with out any luck. Marshall and I were debating just what we were going to do when he had the bright idea of using the search function on our GPS to "->Find->Lodging->Closest to Location", it worked! (This is after we broke out the laptop and searched the internet, a AAA Roadside book and asking the front desks of the local hotels for help). It pointed us to a hotel on the Hoopa Indian Reservation, so I called and sure enough the have a room... "Well ma'am, there are 5 adults do you have 2 rooms?", "Yes", "Do you have a roll away bed for the second room?" "No, we don't have roll aways here, but I can give you a 3rd room for 1/2 off". "I'LL TAKE EM, we will be there in 30 min!". Now here we are 1 1/2 hours into a hotel search without any luck and we score 3 rooms not 15 miles from where we are parked. We make our way up there and then hunt a place to eat. the front desk tells us of three important things. "Hot food is available in the Casino, the grocery store is open for another 30 min, and the liquor store is also open for another 30 min". So we split up and head to the appropriate establishments, and come back with a frozen pizza (cooked at the Casio), Margarita mix and twice as much tequila that is needed for the amount of mix we bought. But it was with out a doubt one of the best meals we had the entire trip. (guess you had to be there but it was fun!)
Day 10; Sept 2: Hoopa, Indian Reservation to The Dalles, OR
After a good nights sleep, we make ready to hit the road.
And what scenic roads they were too, we traveled CA 96 North which ran along side the Klamath River.
We make it 100 miles (maybe a little less) and pulled off to eat breakfast in the little town of Happy Creek, CA. Where we had a very nice breakfast and then made ready to hit the road again. We got held up by this towns annual "Big Foot Day's Parade". It was really nice (short too) as we watched the school kids, and the local Boy Scout troop and the army surplus VFD fire trucks spray water along the parade route. Oh and we also got to meet Big Foot, some how they were able to catch him and put him in a cage for the parade. The gate keeper forgot to lock the gate though and Big foot would jump out and scare the spectators.
This town even has a statue memorializing Big Foot, pretty neat how it is made too.
We lose about 30 min watching the parade, and we realize that we are going to have to push it to make The Dalles by check in time.
Gold dredging in the Klamath River.
We are seriously falling behind schedule, it is now close to noon and we haven't even made it to I-5 yet. When we do make it to I-5, we remember that the check in is also open in the morning so we don't have to rush, which made the going a lot smother as the pressure was no longer there to make it 400 miles in 9 hours.
We stop for fuel in I think Ashland, OR and take turns riding into the Air Conditioner.
Riding on I-5 in Oregon somewhere...
Murrell,
Marion & Sheran,
Marshall,
The ride today, although not the longest by miles, was really LONG if you know what I mean. We had the added challenge of riding at night. Typically we don't ride at night and I will add that riding the Columbia River gorge at night is challenging. It was DARK, and I mean DARK! You had a hard time picking out the next turn and curves in the road. But we do make it to The Dalles, OR in one piece after the check in had closed. But minus 1 rider. It seems that Marshall had a warning light present on his dash and he pulled off in Hood River to check it out and stayed there for the evening.
Day 11; Sept 3: The Dalles, OR to Penticton, BC, Canada
We get up this morning after a much needed rest and make our way on the final leg of the official 3 Flags Classic. We head over to the check in and get our paper work in order and share a cup of coffee the hit the road into Washington State via U.S. 97. Marshall has called and he is going to catch up with us in Penticton later in the day.
We must have cris-crossed the Columbia river 3 or 4 times it seems.... this river is HUGE!
Crossing the Yakima River (I Think?)
We keep putting the miles behind us and eventually get here....
Along with many of the other riders from the rally.
Almost there..
60 miles later,
And about 15 min after that.... Here comes Marshall,
Quite a few bikes...
Day 12; Sept 4: Penticton, BC, Canada
This Tuesday was a rest day and also to just play tourist. I did ride up to Kelowna on the north side of the lake just to be able to say that I did it.
Marshall I was invited to tag along with Murrell and Marion to a dinner cruise that was sponsored by another rider on the lake Tuesday night.
The dinner was quite enjoyable, and then we retired for the evening.
Day 13; Sept 5: Penticton, BC, Canada
Not much going on today slept late, did laundry and then got ready for the 3 Flags Banquet, and then to bed, as we are back on the bikes in the morning.
Day 14; Sept 6: Penticton, BC, Canada - Priest Lake, Idaho
After waking up after a good nights sleep and having breakfast, we all left Penticton on our way to rendezvous with Murrell's daughter and Son in Law who have a cabin on Priest Lake.
Not a long ride today, only 275 miles or so, but it was a very scenic if not a slow paced ride.
Just a neat downtown that we rode through
Getting closer!
As we got to the town just south of the cabin we had to stop and stock up...
We make it to the Cabin and enjoy the evening... Either I was too hard at work trying to empty the boxes you see below or the the camera fairy came and ate the pictures that I thought I took, these are the only ones I ended up with.
After the sun went down you see very clearly the fires burning in the National Forest across Priest Lake from where we sat. Watching the flames flare up over the mountain peaks was quite humbling.
Day 15; Sept 7: Priest Lake, Idaho - Helena, Montana
I woke this morning and said my goodbyes to the Twibell's & family, and pushed off towards Glacier National Park.
Somewhere along the Flathead River
As I came into Kalispell I kept seeing old muscle cars and other classic cars, I eventually come across a parking lot where they are all gathering and pull in for a look. It turns out that they are participating in a road rally called "Yellowstone to Glacier" (well that is what the placards say).
I quit drooling and get back on the road towards Glacier National Park.
Saw this interesting gate
And then finally make it to the park (terrible picture I know)
I ended up stopping off at the visitors center for a little while waiting for a rain storm to lighten up a little and then pushed off to make it to a hotel somewhere along my way. I ended up making it all the way to Helena, MT. (And it rained on me all the way).
Day 16; Sept 8: Helena, Montana - Jackson Hole, Wyoming
I lucked out and found a hotel in Helena after stopping and asking at about half a dozen or so. I was cold and wet and very happy to have a warm bed for the night. I wake up feeling refreshed and have a small breakfast and depart for Yellowstone National Park.
It is raining on me again today all the way to the park, here I am somewhere north of the Wyoming border on HWY 191. (have I mentioned before that I love the heated grips?)
Eventually I make it to West Yellowstone and top of my tank and set forth to ride Yellowstone.
I was riding the "grand loop" I think that is what it was called anyway, and got tired of looking at buffalo and beat feet it over to Old Faithful. I pull up to the lodge and put the stand down buy a soda and a snack and walk over to the viewing area, and about 10 min later she erupts.
I leave the park and make my way down to Jackson for the night.
Can you see the Moose?
I get me a room and call it a night. A really neat place too, more like a small apartment than a hotel room
It even had a very cool lobby.
Day 17; Sept 9: Jackson Hole, Wyoming - Grand Junction, CO (Via Rock Springs, WY)
I woke up this morning (a Saturday) and the sun was shining and the air was cool, boy was it a beautiful day. I pack up the bike after breakfast and hit the road south. I should say that I also gave the bike a going over as I was feeling a little "grumble / rumble" in the pegs when I was on the accelerator while riding up in Yellowstone the day before. Everything appeared ok so I hit the road. I make it through Jackson, and then on down to Pinedale, staying on 191 towards Rock Springs. I motor on through Pinedale and get to, a GPS indicated 22 miles north of Rock Springs when a car pulls up beside me and flags me over. A good thing to...
!@#$%^&*()
I got a little upset. After all I am only sitting on the side of the road with a 5 month old motorcycle that is reputed to be a sound piece of engineering. After all look at all the company that I had to keep me cool while I sat there.
Using my cell phone was like playing the lottery and only getting 3 of 6 numbers. I was able to eventually get out and call one of my employees that work in Wyoming and left him a voice mail. I had no idea whether or not he got the message, after all it is Saturday. After a while vehicles start to pass by, motorcycles, trucks, police cars, you name it. I sat there for 4 1/2 hours and not a single person stops. I am not getting in a better mood to say the least.
Then a white chevy dually pulls up and I am very happy to see that my voice mail message got through, and a call was made to another company employee that was working about an hour north of me and he came down. He at least had a sat phone and I call BMW roadside assistance, and they tell me that I am out of luck. No Kidding!. They tell me that there are no tow trucks available in Rock Springs and that I should call 911 for help. I not so politely hang up and start to call tow trucks myself and true enough no one would tow a motorcycle. Now here I sit 22 miles north of civilization and no way to get my bike in the back of J.W.'s truck. When a truck pulls up with a low boy trailer hitched up on his way to Home Depot and asked if we needed help. My blood pressure falls a couple hundred points.
We loaded the bike up and headed to Rock Springs, and to a Hotel where I can start to figure out what I am going to do.
Mr. Buddy (really his name) takes me to a hotel in Rock Springs and drops me off, I tried to pay him but he refused to take any money from me. Only said to be sure and take my mom to lunch when I see her next. A great guy!
I get checked in and call my Employee in Grand Junction and asked if you might be able to come retrieve me as I knew that there is a BMW dealer in Grand Junction. He said sure and that he would leave right away to head north and come get me. In the mean time I am able to reach the Service Manager of the Grand Junction Honda / BMW dealer and tell him my tale and he tells me to bring it in first thing Tuesday morning and he would get on it. Well Jared and Gavin show up from Grand Junction and we load up the bike and hit the road again.
So finally around 3 am or so Sunday morning my day is complete, my bike is at Jared's house and I am at a hotel, boy what a day.
Day 18; Sept 10: Grand Junction, CO
I slept very late today and just zoned out in front of the TV. I call Jared and asked if he could pick me up on Monday and take me to the Office. After all, I am not going anywhere soon so I might as well go back to work and not use vacation days sitting on my duff.
Day 19; Sept 11: Grand Junction, CO
I get to the office and check in with my boss back in Houston to let him know what is going on, and it turns out that me being in Grand Junction was a good thing. He was supposed to be in a meeting up here on Tuesday and since I am here I can go in his place and he will stay in Houston. After I get caught up on the last 2 weeks of being out of the loop on work we have lunch and then head out to a couple of rigs.
Day 20; Sept 12: Grand Junction, CO
Jared and I get my bike to the dealer 30 minutes early and to my surprise the Service Manager "Bill" is already there and excited to see me. He was excited, he should have been in my shoes. After a quick interview of my breakdown and a inspection of the bike, he diagnosed my problem of it being broken... No Kidding! He basically said, look, your final drive is toast, I will not know why until I tear into it, but after our conversation Saturday I have already ordered a replacement FD and it should be here today or tomorrow. I will also replace this, that, and this, and this, oh and that. He makes a parts list and then goes to the phone and orders it while I am still there. Then turns to me and shakes my hand and tells me that he hopes to have all the parts by tomorrow afternoon and you should be back on the road come Thursday morning. I thank him and then we leave not 30 min after getting there. Jared and I head over to the office where I act like I am working again, but my mind is still on the bike. A little after lunch I head over to the dealer and Bill walks me back and lets me look at the bike torn apart. Turns out there is an inner bearing on the final drive that seized and heated everything up. Not to worry though as he has a new rear half of the bike coming to me. I mean everything but the rear tire and brake caliper. Everything else is being replaced with new parts. I can't ask for better service from these folks, there are bikes waiting in line for service, but being that I am still 1000 miles from home he I putting me to the front of the line.
Day 21; Sept 13: Grand Junction, CO
Wednesday comes and goes and not much takes place. I am still working out of our Grand Junction office waiting on my bike to be repaired. Jared and I head out to a couple of rigs over in Parachute and Rifle, CO to pass the day.
Day 22; Sept 14: Grand Junction, CO - Santa Rosa, NM
It is Thursday morning and I am itching for the return of my bike but respect that it is a long shot that I will get it back today. I head to the office and before long around 10am or so, my phone rings and it is Bill from the dealership telling me that my bike is ready! YIPPEE!!! I finish up some busy work and wait for a ride over to the dealership and retrieve my bike. Turns out Bill already left for the day so I could not thank him, but the receptionist told me that he was supposed to be on vacation yesterday and today but stayed back to fix me. True or not I do not care, I do know that Bill was one of the most professional, courteous and understanding person I have met in a very long time. And for who ever reads this, know that All Sports Honda - BMW in Grand Junction, CO is a first class operation and will forever be recommended by me to anyone. They truly are a credit to the riding community. Total bill. $32.00 for an oil and filter change that I asked for. Everything else fixed under warranty. So it is now about 11:30 and I am officially back on the road. After looking at the weather I decided to head home through Moab instead of Silverton due to a snow storm over the pass. Not that the weather was that much better heading west...
I am happy with my route as it took me to here...
I leave Arches and then make my way towards Colorado then on to New Mexico on this road.
I keep on putting miles behind me and promise myself that I make it to Santa Fe I will stop.
I ride all the way to Santa Rosa, NM and get a room for the night and a bite at Denny's.
Day 23; Sept 15: Santa Rosa, NM - The Woodlands, TX
I wake up early and hit the road before sun up, and ride all the way home this day.
I make it to the house just after 6pm and went straight to my pool and did the nestea plunge while still in my gear, and let me tell you it sure did feel good to be home again.
Tale of the tape.
23 Days, 7850 miles, and I learned a lot about myself during this adventure.
Thanks for looking.
Duke
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Great write-up - hope to be able to see the pix soon.
