We left home around 6:45am for Muskegon, MI. The ride itself was pretty uneventful. The weather was absolutely beautiful and the winds were calm. We arrived in Muskegon around 9:45am and headed straight for the ferry docks. We did not even have to sit in line. They boarded us almost immediately so that we could tie down the bike for the two and a half hour trip across Lake Michigan. Once Craig securely tied down the bike, we went up on the top deck of the ferry while they taxied out of the harbor. The water was fairly calm. Waves were about 1-2 feet, but even still I could not stay on the top once they achieved full power so we went down to the second deck for the entire trip. The sun was extremely hot, but we were not smart enough to go inside and stay out of the sunlight. Once we docked in Milwaukee, temperatures were around 88° and the humidity must have been just as high. Craig immediately headed out of town to the open highway. Along the way we spotted two separate accidents within five miles of one another. These people drive like maniacs. Oh well. Once on the expressway we made significant strides west. We had traveled 330 miles into Wisconsin when the skies started looking pretty ominous so we decided to exit at New Lisbon, Wisconsin for the night. We were lucky to get a room at a Travel Lodge despite the fact that they had two wedding receptions scheduled that night. Once settled into our room around 4pm (CST), we made a pot of coffee. When the rain subsided, we walked down to Subway to get a couple sandwiches for dinner. Needless to say, once we ate and showered up, we both passed out about 8:30pm.
We left New Lisbon around 6:45 am. Our goal is to cross Minnesota and possibly make Mount Rushmore by days end. Temperatures today are much more comfortable. In fact we had to pull over twice to put on heavier clothes. Later on in the afternoon temperatures had warmed enough that we were able to remove some of the bulky clothes we had put on in the morning. Around 3:40pm, we decided that starting around 5pm we would start seriously looking for a place to stay for the night as we were both feeling rather tired. We motored into Kadoka, South Dakota around 5pm and 674 miles from New Lisbon, Wisconsin, pulled into a Super 8 and unloaded the bike. We again made a pot of coffee, then went to Chopperz for dinner. Once back in our room, we went out to perform the necessary 1,000 mile maintenance on the trailer. While working on the bike a gentleman came over to look at the Goldwing. We discovered that he was from Cadillac, MI. What a coincidence. They were out here heading toward Yellowstone National Park. After we finished the bike, Craig sat down and had a couple of cold Leine Northwoods. We again passed out about 9pm.
We awoke this morning around 5am to discover that it was "raining cats and dogs." Our sightseeing plans for Mount Rushmore and Deadwood were no longer options. Instead we were facing a day stuck in a hotel room in Kadoka, South Dakota, until I recommended that they ride in the rain just long enough to get to Wall, South Dakota. This way we could spend the afternoon at Wall Drug. So, we got on line and made reservations at a Super 8 in Wall. About 10:30am we donned our rain gear and headed west toward Wall. Approximately two miles into our ride, it began to rain. The rain itself was not that bad, however with 35 mph winds, it felt like razor blades on your face. We trudged on. It was the longest 30 miles we have ever ridden. Our first mission was to check in at the local Super 8. They were terrific and had our room ready so that we were able to check in early. After unpacking the trailer, Craig and I walked four blocks to Wall Drug. It was simply amazing. You have to see it to believe it. Wall Drug covers approximately two city blocks and is full of various souvenir shops. We wandered around shopping for about 2-3 hours, stopping at the local pub for a drink before heading back to our hotel room. Drinking a fresh pot of coffee, we sat around and watched the verdict for Michael Jackson come in. Not guilty. You have got to be kidding me. Oh well. We will be walking to a near by Subway to pick up a couple of sandwiches for dinner, before retiring to bed early. Tomorrow is going to be a very big day. We have a lot on our agenda:
This morning we headed out about 7am for Rapid City, South Dakota. Our destination, Mount Rushmore. After walking through the memorial, which is absolutely unbelievable, we headed out for the Crazy Horse Memorial. First however, Craig insisted that we take a slight detour on the Needles Highway, which cost him $10 because it was located within the Custer State Park. Needles Highway is a long twisting road through various rock formations and some of the most beautiful countryside. The only concern that I had was the sign asking visitors not to approach wild buffalo. Dah. Obviously some other idiot must have tried or the state would not have felt the need for a sign. I must also point out that Craig had to explain what a cattle guard was as I had never experienced one before. Fascinating concept. From Needles Highway, we proceeded on to the Crazy Horse Memorial. What can I say? It was awesome. The size of the monument is incredible. Though still under construction it was a sight to behold. We walked through the museum and visitors center before heading off to Deadwood. Yeah, the moment that I have been waiting for. Upon entering town we stopped off at the visitors information booth for a map of various key attractions, namely the Gold Dust Casino. All casinos are located along the old historic main street in downtown so off we headed. It was amazing. We saw the Bullock Hotel, the Gem and the Star and Bullock Mercantile. Last but not least we did find the Gold Dust where I preceded to donate $20 for a players club card. I then took Craig out for the lunch buffet before heading on to Devils Tower. I am not even sure what to say about this particular site. It is a huge elevated rock formation in the middle of nowhere. It is beautiful, but the legend behind it is probably the most intriguing. Well, we both finally had enough and decided to head to Gillett, Wyoming for the evening. Along the way we saw hundreds of antelope, and some mule deer. Finally we pulled into a Budget Inn Express in Gillett around 6:30-7pm. After settling in, we walked to the corner Burger King for a bite to eat. Then I did two loads of laundry and passed out for the night. Even though we only traveled 330 miles, it was a very long day.
We were on the road again at 7am headed for Little Big Horn. We stopped into a little shop outside the memorial for a hot cup of coffee and a muffin. After walking through the gift shop, we drove over to the actual battlefield of Custers last stand. This is something that can not be put into words. The only way to truly appreciate the magnitude of the site is to visit it. It was well worth the 180 miles we drove. We then headed out for Montana. We first stopped in Livingston at the Great Northern Pacific Railroad. Much less impressive than we had hoped, but oh well. From Livingston we headed to our final destination of the day, Gardiner, Montana at the northern entrance to Yellowstone National Park. The drive through Montana was incredible. We were between the Madison and the Absaroka Mountain ranges. The sheer beauty took your breath away. Rock cliffs were all along one side of the road, while the Yellowstone River bordered the other side. Finally after what seemed to be the longest 51 miles of the trip, we strolled into Gardiner, Montana, which is a quaint little town. We checked into our room at the Super 8 and walked up the street to Helens Corral Drive-In for burgers. When all was said and done for the day, we had traveled 423 miles. Tomorrow we are planning to spend the day at Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons before heading to Jackson Hole.
This morning we got a late start. We hit the road at 7:30am. From our hotel in the mountains we headed directly for Yellowstone National Park. Upon entering the park it became clear that perhaps this was not the most intelligent of our ventures as we were literally driving around a sleeping volcano. There were hot springs, geysers and a strong sulfuric smell. Without fear we proceeded onward into the mountains. The beauty was somewhat diminished due to the fires of recent year, however there were plenty of other sites to see. We saw wild buffalo and elk. Noticeably absent were moose and bears. We traveled to Craig Pass (Continental Divide) at 8262 ft with snow all around us. We amazed at the various rock formations and the extent of damage done to the forest after the last series of fires while traveling to Old Faithful. Once at Old Faithful, we slipped into a gift shop for a quick cup of coffee and a fresh cinnamon roll, then rushed done to the viewing area for the next scheduled eruption. The eruption itself was incredible. Water and steam rose high into the air as we looked on. After a few minutes the show was over and we proceeded to finish our tour of Yellowstone before heading off to the Grand Tetons. Upon rounding a curve in the park, we were taken aback by a huge buffalo leading cars through the park. He was walking right down the left hand side of the road with at least 50 cars backed up. Craig slipped into a turnout so that we could make our escape without being put in harms way. I did snap a picture. Once out of Yellowstone, we promptly entered the Grand Teton National Park. Not much difference was noted other than the fact that there was no fire damage. It was absolutely breathtaking. Once through Grand Teton, we headed off to Jackson so that we could get on the local web cam for mom and Barb. As we traveled, we were caught in the beauty of the mountains and wildlife that surrounded us. Shortly before arriving in Jackson Hole, we pulled over to the side of the road to don our rain gear as a thunder storm came in over the mountains accompanied by some rather large hail. As soon as we arrived in Jackson, the sun was out once again. We quickly located the arch of antlers downtown and sought out the camera for the web cam. Once located, we contacted mom and Barb so that we could wave to them from Jackson. It was a success. Rain seemed to be moving in again, so we quickly got out of town. Our final destination for the evening was Idaho Falls. This is where the story gets interesting. Upon leaving Jackson, Craig asked which way I preferred to go, either take the southern summer route all the way down to Alpine and then back up to Idaho Falls or take County Road 22 directly to Idaho Falls. Stupid me, I said lets take 22. Once initially on 22 things seemed all fine and dandy, however all of the sudden we began to climb. See 22 is a mountain pass climbing to a height of 8,431 feet with no guardrails. As we were climbing Craig kept pointing out the road behind us so that I could truly appreciate how high we were. When we finally reached the peak, I was immediately relieved that we were once again descending, however this took 23 miles to accomplish. So much for short cuts. We did successfully make it to Idaho Falls however, and Craig was able to relocate the same hotel he stayed in last year.Not exactly as I had envisioned, however tired as I was, I was not about to complain. We checked in, picked up some beverages and ordered a pizza before showering up and settling down for the night. When all was said and done, we traveled an additional 259.2 miles today. This seems mild compared to other days, however we spent most of the day traveling at 35-45 mph through Yellowstone. Tomorrow we are off to Boise to spend the weekend with Don and Pat.
This morning we hit the road at 7am again. Our first stop of the day, Craters of the Moon. The weather itself was chilly and windy. After crossing through some of the most desolate land in Idaho, we finally arrived at Craters of the Moon. What a complete surprise. Located in the middle of nowhere is a 7 mile field of volcanic ash and hardened lava. I had no idea that Idaho once had volcanoes, but looking at this field it is very evident. The sights included walking paths through the lava fields and even caves that you can explore. Due to temperatures and very high winds (50 mph gusts), we did only minimal walking, but what we did see was absolutely beautiful. From here we headed toward Boise for Don and Pats. The sky suddenly started turning dark and we were both freezing so we pulled into a little town to gas up and get some coffee. In an effort to sit out the rain, we went in and had coffee and doughnuts, unfortunately the rain coming in was not going to be leaving anytime soon. We donned our rain gear and pressed on. Around 4:30pm, we pulled into Don and Pats. Pat immediately made us feel right at home. After a short visit, we unpacked the bike and showered up so that we could go out to dinner once Don got home from work. Though we only traveled 289 miles today, Craig and I were both exhausted so we both passed out shortly after dinner.
Finally we could sleep in this morning. I got up around 7am. I am not sure what time Craig got up, but it was probably early. We sat around drinking coffee and talking for a couple of hours before heading into Boise to do some shopping. When we got back, Pat started putting together a feast for dinner: venison steaks, cheddar potatoes, and corn from Pennsylvania.For an afternoon appetizer, Pat cooked up a batch of mud bugs (crawfish). They were not too bad. I would not make a habit of eating them though. I did our laundry again and then we sat down and played double deck pinochle. The girls beat the guys hands down. Then we switched and played euchre. Again the women won. By this time, we were ready to start dinner. What a feast. Pat even made homemade apple cobbler for desert. Yum, yum. After dinner we played some more cards and just sat around and talked. It was heaven being off the road. I discovered that Pat is a Club Pogo member so we exchanged user names so that we could add each other to our friends list. Wow was Craig right. Pat and I are very much alike. Around 10pm we decided to hit the sack as 5am would come very early. I almost forgot to mention Brandy, Don and Pats, shitzu. What a sweetie. I wanted to take her home with me, but Brandy did not want to leave.
Happy Fathers Day. This morning was bittersweet. Neither Craig nor I wanted to leave, but we knew that Pat and Don needed a day to themselves before going back to work on Monday, so we headed out at 7am for Montana. Our goal was to get as close to Glacier National Park as possible. The initial weather heading out of Idaho was not bad. However when we hit the Payette River Canyon, the temperature dropped to 36°, and we seemed to be driving in the clouds. Visibility was pitiful. We stopped twice for coffee in an effort to warm up. Later in the morning temperatures got up enough that we could peel off a couple of layers of clothing. The area that we traveled through was amazing. All along the Payette River were people fishing for salmon. Once caught, the fish were cleaned and smoked right on the spot. Incredible. The mountain passes that we were traveling had something new around each curve. I spotted several mule deer as well as a coyote eating a dead mule deer. After 523 miles, we decided to call it a night in Kalispell, Montana. Thank god. We were both exhausted. Tomorrow we are planning to visit:
This morning we headed out of Kalispell around 7am. Our destination was Glacier National Park. Upon first getting to the park, we stopped in at a gift shop to pick up another T-shirt, this one for Saxton. From there we proceeded into the park. I am not even sure how to put into words what we saw. The sites were overwhelming. Glacier was by far more beautiful than Yellowstone. As we continued further into the park, we stopped a couple of times to warm up, before I realized that we were actually climbing the mountain. The sites were breathtaking. I never really believed what Craig had told me about no guardrail, but he was absolutely right. As we scaled the mountain, we were driving right along the edge looking down over the valley below. Several areas along the road were under construction with one way traffic only. At one point, we were traveling through an area covered with snow. I could not believe that we were that high. Around one corner traffic was stopped and we could not figure out why until we finally were able to move along. There on the side of this mountain was a goat just eating as if nothing was going on around him. I quickly snapped a picture before we headed to the visitors center at Logans Pass (6,646 ft). Once at the top, I gathered my senses and we walked to the visitors center looking for a hot cup of coffee. Unfortunately there was no food so we headed back down on the opposite side to Lake St Mary. On the way, we spotted a roadside cafe and stopped in for lunch. Once back on the bike we drove to the lake and snapped a few pictures. The water was bluer than I have ever seen before. Once outside the park, we headed for Great Falls. Temperatures were on the rise. Once in Great Falls, Craig drove straight to the apartment building that he use to live in while stationed at Malmstrom AFB. From there we made a mad dash to Lewistown, Montana. It was not Glendive, but we were both hot and cranky. Our total mileage for the day was 383.
This morning we decided to hit the road a little earlier in an effort to make up some distance. We left Lewistown, Montana at 6am. The sun was coming up over the mountains and everything was quiet. We got on 200 East and all you could see was highway straight in front of you with no side streets. Traffic was almost nonexistent. We were cruising along at the posted highway speed of 70mph watching for mule deer, antelopes, etc. along the way. One antelope raced along side us. He was trying desperately to find a hole in the fence to make his escape, since they are not smart enough to jump the fence. That made for a little excitement in an otherwise uneventful morning. That is until we came across an overturned reefer truck just outside of Circle, Montana. He was hauling cherries and apparently lost it on a bad stretch in the road. Once we reached the expressway in North Dakota, we stepped it up to 75mph. Our next stop, the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Again, it was breathtaking. Miles and miles of unique buttes everywhere. We stopped long enough to go through the visitors center and take a quick potty break before hitting the road again. We seemed to drive forever and we did. At the end of the day, we drove 666 miles and spent the night at a Super 8 in West Fargo, North Dakota.
This morning we hit the road at 6am with plans of making it as far as Escanaba, MI. Soon after we got on the expressway, we got tied up in slow moving traffic due to road construction, slower posted speeds in Minnesota and traffic congestion. It became evident immediately that we would not make Michigan, but it did not matter, we were headed east. The temperature was already 77° at 8am. This would mean very uncomfortable riding conditions, but we were seasoned. There was one other slight delay this morning, we desperately needed to find a Minnesota T-shirt for Brooke. Unfortunately there were not any gift shops along the expressway, so we had to venture into Maple Grove, which is just outside of Minneapolis. Mission complete. After a long bypass around Minneapolis/St Paul, we crossed into Wisconsin and even more road construction. All we cared about at this point, was to get to Chippewa Falls and find the Leine Lodge. After taking a detour, we successfully located the lodge. Craig was grinning from ear to ear. He had now joined the ranks of those lucky enough to visit the lodge in person. We walked through the air conditioned building with Craig looking very much like a tourist. He was taking pictures of everything. After a pleasant conversation with the ladies at the lodge, we hit the road for our final destination, Shawano, WI. With temperatures soaring in the 80s with humidity just as high, Michigan was out of the question. When we finally parked at the hotel, we had traveled another 540 miles. One more day, before we get home.