From Glacier we are headed home Monday

Been in Whitefish, Montana since Friday, just outside Glacier National Park.  The Park was only recently opened a few weeks ago due to snow clearing.  From here we begin our ride back to Denver where I will pack up and drive back to Maryland.  Tom and Nancy will fly home and ship his bike and Dan and Cheryl will continue to ride south to their home in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, via New Orleans.  Sure hope it cools down for them. The weather on this trip has been the best, as you can probably tell from just looking at the photos. (Click on any photo to enlarge.)


Dan and Cheryl



A few days back I heard about 3 hikers in Yosemite who went over the barrier to take some pictures of the falls, and all 3 ended up falling in and dying.  Not even sure if they have yet been found.  Yesterday, while riding up The Road to the Sun, I saw this guy walking along the edge of the cliff on some falls...

The Road to the Sun seems to always be under repair. Guess if you ever had a chance to see it you'd wonder how they keep it open in the first place.  Sure not much keeping you from driving right over the edge.  Waterfalls were abundant due to the heavy snow this past winter, and a number of them were spilling onto the roadway, so the rain gear paid off.

Once we reached the pass we came upon the ski patrol...pretty serious guy too!

Headed back down towards East Glacier you run across Jackson Glacier, the largest in the Park and it is shrinking fast.

St, Mary's Lake looks like the Bahamas with the Glacier melt carrying minerals into the lake, the color is created.

During this entire trip we have seen numerous wildlife.  From Buffalo, Elk, Moose, Marmot, and many others.  Yesterday on the way out of the Park, a BIG Black bear was on the side of the road...maybe looking for huckleberry(?)...but it was there and then after that on the way back to the motel we ran upon some free ranging horses...

One animal we have yet to see is a mountain lion...however, as the sign says, I think there is more chance of coming across one of them, should you be walking alone!!!

  I try to take as many photos as the opportunity presents itself, but riding a motorcycle and trying to shoot photos doesn't work too well...so fortunately Cheryl, who is riding with Dan has taken some great great shots and videos as well.  I tried to upload some of both of our videos on YouTube, but the server here at the motel has prevented me on most.

Here is one that shows you how to open a Bear Proof Trash Can.

Here is the bear that taught Tom how to open the trash.

That's it for right now...will try to do more later.

Me at the Logan Pass

Jackson to Yellowstone to Cody

Day 4 and 5

While I write this, there is a major storm brewing outside my room, here in Cody, WY. The wind looks and sounds like a hurricane. The tumbleweed is blowing down the street and I am hoping my motorcycle stays upright!  It's crazy!



Looking west. The Rodeo is off to the right, you can see the lights.

Rain is now pounding on my window, but I'll try to concentrate on getting this published.  

Yesterday we left Jackson, WY and rode to West Yellowstone, MT.  It was a nice ride up over the Teton Pass and over to Idaho and highway 33 north.  We stopped in Driggs, Idaho for breakfast and two of my Juno Beach, Florida neighbors who happen to live there joined us.  Really weird stuff...I am riding with two couples who have homes just north on the river from my condo in Juno, and Gary, John and Christine who live in Driggs, live in the same development as me, in Florida...all of us just a mile from one another.


Breakfast in Driggs, Idaho at O'Rourkes
Christine, me Tom, Nancy, Dan, Cheryl,Gary and John



 



                                   

                              

                                    

I'm having too many problems with  the BS blog ...I'm done. 











After breakfast we began our ride north, only to pull off a mile down the road, fuel up and put on our rain gear...for the rain ahead. Well it never rained on us. At breakfast Gary suggested we take highway 47 and stop at the Mesa Falls...good tip!

And...when you gotta go, you gotta go.

From the Falls it was back on the road to Yellowstone. If you have never been to Yellowstone, you need to visit. It has to be , in my opinion, the best Nat'l Park in our country.We spent most of the day around the Old Faithful area and on our way into the parking area about ran over this little guy.







The following are some photos out of Yellowstone. I am about done with this blogging crap. Got two hours in just getting to here...

Grand Prismatic Spring.










Almost looks like foot prints.









Day 3, Jackson Hole, WY

Oh boy...this post may be tough. Just back from the Gun Barrel Restaurant and got to know Old Grand Dad who turned 100 over a coke.  That's a riddle.

Ok, so today we left Kemmerer, WY and rode through WY, then into Utah, Idaho and back into Wyoming to Jackson Hole. Staying at the Best Western Lodge.

This blog thing is really a pain in the ass since when I post a photo and try to trap it to copy it will dissappear then I have to start all over again...so lets get started.  Also, had music with the newest youtube and it wouldn't load...

Last night we had dinner at a local favorite in Kemmerer...today we are all still trying to figure out how it became a favorite. I will say the one thing that was good a the Bootlegger Restaurant was the vanilla ice cream.  A definite recommendation. 

The following  video sums up the day. The majority of the photos were taken by Cheryl as she rode.  Monday it's off to West Yellowstone and time in the Park, then Tuesday over to Cody...and a night at the Rodeo.

Kemmerer, WY to Jackson, WY... click on the video, go to YouTube, then click on it for a full screen. NOTE: This is not a full length video...there are still photos on it as well.

On the Road for Two Days

Departing Denver on Friday, I meet the others in the little mountain town of Nederland for breakfast at the Whistler's Cafe... and I must say it was one of the best cooked breakfast meals I have had in a long time. Yes, I know it was just breakfast, but you have to know me, and what it is for me to be excited about a good breakfast.      

From there it was off to the Rocky Mountain National Park. We headed out on highway 72 , then picked up highway 7 straight into the park.

I had no idea the elevation we were about to encounter and the amount for breathtaking views to come, so the best way for me to do this, since it is late and I am wore out is to just post the photo with a caption...click on any photo to enlarge try to enjoy, what you really need to see in person.



Just inside the gate. Tom and Nancy.



Dan and Cheryl



Pointing out south, no west, no north...that a way.




Two squirrels?



Riding up...no rumble strips on the other side of that white line.

Another life saved.

The winding road up.

Can't imagine the work involved to open the park.

At the Top of the World

Snowball fight!

Click to open the following video, then double click on the movie to go to youtube and full screen it from there.

Mars?



Don't go to close to the edge.

So while I am back in the park, climbing 20 miles up this one mountain...the guys take off and leave me, only to stumble upon some other bikers having a picnic...you know fried chicken, melon, the works...they all get a kick out of this and decide to document the whole party without me.  Little did they know I was lurking about the hillside and listening in. So guess who got the last laugh?





 Once out of the Park we haul butt for Craig, Colorado for the night.

Day 2, July 16

From Craig we ride west through the desert, into Utah, then Wyoming and head north past Flaming Gorge into Kemmerer, WY for the night.



Riding through the high desert.

Flaming Gorge

Lunch Stop at the Diner in Green River, WY

At dinner tonight in Kemmerer, WY

Tom and Dan... my mouth is sealed.

Tommorow, Sunday we head for Jackson, WY, then on up to Yellowstone.  Weather so far, as you can see from photos couldn't be better...hope it continues.