Two weeks

[winfield]

What a great trip. Thanks for posting the pics--rather Ron Hurd-ish.

Several times you and others referred to your wife as a "real trooper." Given that you are Canadian and riding a motorcycle, wouldn't calling her a real "Mountie" be more appropriate?

[spyug]

Sounds like a real fun time and I'm amazed at how "lightly" you packed. The lady is a real "mountie" for not bringing along the kitchen sink like most of her sisters would .

I passed a gaggle of touring Wings and Aspencades the other day. They all had trailers piled with gear, a few had the "training wheels" and one even had a portable TV strapped to the top case. From the looks of the riders they were all in their 70's or so (thus the training wheels). I hope I have that spunk when I get to that age.

Enjoy the adventure and thanks for posting.

spyug

[shwaz]

Sounds like a real fun time and I'm amazed at how "lightly" you packed.

+1

btw, what luggage is that? samsonite? i'm pretty sure that's the set I want for my 850.

[salty_monk]

Nice trip.

Looks like samsonite luggage to me. Krauser do some similar too.

Be interested in your review of the Sena SMH10's, I have been using a cheap "Ebay" bluetooth for about 3 years, works great bike - bike or bike-passenger but it doesn't work that well with my phone/mp3. Once you switch it or it switches auto (such as a call coming in or the other bike connecting through to you) you can't switch it back without turning it off & re-pairing...

[eddie21]

Hi Rob, I'd like to get a review and a demonstration of the Sena setup as well! Also, we have to get together to talk about the highlights of your trip too!

[BassCliff]

Hey Rob!

Great trip! Nice pictures! I'm glad you two could get away for a while. What a fabulous trip. Thanks for sharing.

All the best to you and yours,

Cliff

[azr]

Been finding it hard to get internet time and post, no internet or too tired. Trip is still going great. Tonight we're in Arco, Idaho "the first town to be powered by Nuclear energy". Had a break down a few days ago coming out of Bozeman, Montana. My Realgasket valvecover gaskets blew a serious leak, oil down my left leg and covering the engine, niceeeee. We turned around into the first gas station and called it quits. My lucky day though, right across the street was this



And he even had one of these



I knew right away I was in the right place. A tube of "done right" gasket maker and she was good as new. Luckily there was one Inn right across the street, a bit pricy but tons of history and the swordfish dinner was A #1, good class of drivers too.



A bit ticked my realgasket failed though, I was under the assumption they lasted forever, even checked the torque on it before we left (a tich over finger tight). We had a great time in Yellowstone, woken by wolves howling, chased by Buffalo on the bike twice, and have seen some absolutely crazy roads and scenery. One such road, that will go on my 'do not ride again' list, the Teton Pass hwy #22, 12% grade for miles and miles with 20 MPH corners all the way. The old girl was in second gear all the way going down just so the brakes wouldn't be burnt out, totally crazy. Someone wanted to know the roads below Moscow that we took to get onto the #12 to Lolo (we were disappointed by the #12 going to lolo by the way, have seen far better views and roads elsewhere). #8 out of moscow, then the #99, then just outside of a very quaint little town called Kendrick take a right onto what google maps calls Country Rd P1 but when you're actually there it has a different name of course. Great road until it turns into dirt for miles and miles. So you know you'll see a road go to the right that is dirt and has the same name, take that road. You'll drive for quite some time up down and around then the road comes to a T, go to the right, again it goes up down and around for several more miles, don't worry eventually you come to pavement but it's after quite some time. We had to stop at two separate farm houses to get directions, boy did they look baffled because they we're way out in the middle of nothing and probably wondering what two Canadians on a bike were doing out there. Fun adventure for sure.

[cowboyup3371]

Any updates to this trip yet? Like the others, I'm interested in hearing more thoughts on that Sena as I already started looking at it too.

[shirazdrum]

Man I'm jealous. Beautiful pictures, and it seems that the weather is holding up nicely too. Enjoy the God's country, I sure miss Montana.

If you are still in Montana and don't mind a little dirt riding, some of the most spectacular spots are just off the road and I know this State like the back of my hand.

Enjoy your trip.

[azr]

Sorry for posting so late guys. Things just pile up around here. After spending the night in the tourist town of Jackson we went up and over the Teton Pass, (never doing that again double up) and pushed through to the Craters of the Moon National park and spent a night in a great RV park in a very little town called Arco. Very interestingly it was the first town to be powered by Nuclear Energy! The park was amazing, unbelievable how much lava flowed through that area. The drive getting there was nothing be heat and wind, crazy hot now.



Up the next morning to bright sun and heat already. At this point we've decided to push home so mileage is on our mind. We made it all the way to John Day that night. Man what a day of heat, thank goodness for the cooling vests. Amazing country but wouldn't want to live there. The next morning we traveled along the "old west scenic byway" taking in the "John Day Fossil Beds National Park". Great museum and even better roads.






I really had to watch how much 'looking' I did as the road was nothing but corners and the scenery was amazing.



The heat was on that was for sure but you spent several hours dipping in and out of these gulleys so you did get some reprieve from the heat, a bit anyways. I decided to take a more 'scenic' route and turned left at Fossil onto the #218, good choice, sort of. Up, up, up, up..corner, corner, corner corner, lol. Great road but we were very worried about having to come down but we hit the top and there we were on top of another plateau.





Truely spectacular country. The #218 turned out to be a great short cut. Just before Fossil in the middle of no where we come across this.



Great lunch, all homemade of course. A real treat on a hot day. Some more scenery and we carried on towards Portland.



As we near the border and the Columbia river we see what seems like thousands of these




Realized the next morning when we drove along the Columbia why they were there, talk about wind, yikes. We had to stay in Biggs Junction for the night as we were turned back on the #14 due to a large forest fire, the first one we had seen on the trip, really felt for the ranchers there.

[azr]

From Biggs Junction we were home by dinner thanks to the I-5. We don't like traveling the interstates but they sure do serve a purpose.



It was an amazing trip. We never had much of a plan other than Yellowstone would be the farthest East we would go but everyday we rode out it's as if our own personal adventure tour had been planned for us, we really were amazed each day. And again we were treated to amazing hospitality by our neighboring Americans. This was the longest trip for both Lisa and I and the bike for that matter and we all did great and can't wait for the next one. Actually.....I'll see you in two weeks Charlie!

[Charlie G]

The trip looks great. Someday I'll get over to Teton National Park and see some of that country. I'm not sure I can match the scenery but I may have the heat and forest fire covered. By the time you get here we may even have our first frost. Thanksfor postin.

Charlie G

[Wallowgreen]

Fantastic trip Rob. Going to hook up and ride with you some for sure next time.