WOW-Black Hills/Beartooth/Yellowstone

[utadventure]

We just finished a 5 day/ 1800 miles trip.

 

We had a fantastic trip and road some great scenery. Jan took the pics on her Iphone and I'll post them up as soon as we get them downloaded. I went through the bike before we left and figured I'd need to replace the back tire when I got back. I made it through the trip but just barely....

 

http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr70/utadventure/DFE843A7-586C-4AF7-84AD-78EC8AEF139C_zps95yklekr.jpg

 

So, today I installed new tires, changed the oil & pumpkin gear oil. Brakes are almost new and I changed out the brake and clutch fluid before we left.

 

I guess I'll just have to go take a ride and break the tires in tomorrow......any excuse, right?

 

[cowpuc]

BROTHER, YOU GOT THAT RIGHT = ANY EXCUSE!!:cool10:

That Dunny was gettin right down there, glad you made it safely out of those GORGEOUS mountains UT!!

Congrats on a GREAT adventure,, I am and will be even worse when I see those pics of some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet!!!

[utadventure]

Got the pictures loaded last night....

 

Day 1 - SLC to Martin's Cove, Casper, WY. Not a lot of pics this day. Martin's Cove is a great place to visit. It's the site of an amazing story of the will to survive. Our friends Jim and Carol Lindsey were there as tour guides/caretakers and they shared some of the sites and stories with us. It was about the half way point to Mt. Rushmore and a good place to camp for the night and stop fighting the wind.....

 

http://s470.photobucket.com/user/utadventure/library/Rushmore%20Day%201?sort=3&page=1

 

 

Day 2 - On to Custer, SD/Ride the Needles & Iron Mtn/Mt Rushmore

 

We still had wind part way to Custer but eastern WY is much better to look at than the west. Paul and Rhonda had the heel shifter on their bike fail, but the toe shifter is separate and worked the rest of the way on the trip. The Black Hills are gorgeous to ride through!! Iron Mtn was fun with the tunnels through the rock that you can see Mt. Rushmore through and also the corkscrew bridges.

 

We rode the mountains on the way to Mt. Rushmore and then stayed for the lighting ceremony that evening. The rodes are definitely a better ride in the daylight!!

 

http://s470.photobucket.com/user/utadventure/library/Rushmore%20Day%202?sort=3&page=1

 

Day 3 - Deadwood/Sturgis/Hwy 14a Dayton to Lovell/Red Lodge

 

This was a long day but we rode and experienced some of the most beautiful scenery of the trip. Rhonda reeeeeeallly wanted to see Sturgis, so we headed north out of Custer and rode the Black Hills through Hill City and Deadwood and saw Sturgis around noon. Really not much to get excited about...

Next we 200 miles or so of I90 going west (into the wind again). We finally turned off to Dayton, WY and caught Hwy 14a over the mountains to Lovell, WY through the Big Horn Valley. We all commented on how much fun this road was......even with 10% downgrade, minor road damage and sharp curves. Oh, and at that time of day we were driving directly into the sun. The have a great causeway that you drive across the Big Horn Lake. I could see the yellow and white lines defining the road and Jan had to shade the sun and make sure I didn't run into anyone. The final 110 miles of the ride to Red Lodge was in the dark.

 

http://s470.photobucket.com/user/utadventure/library/Rushmore%20Day%203?sort=3&page=1

 

Day 4 - Beartooth Pass/Cooke City/Yellowstone and into Idaho Falls

 

What can I say......Beartooth Pass was a fun as always! I've ridden it both ways and enjoy East to West more. The road construction was done and the ride was fantastic. By noon we were in Cooke City for a great lunch and then back on the bikes for Yellowstone. Going into the park through the NE entrance you go through the Lamar Valley. Every time I've been there, there has been a huge herd of buffalo.....except this time, but we did have one in Yellowstone that got real up close and personal. We rode out through West Yellowstone and down through Island Park. Two does ran right in front of Paul and Rhonda. As we got into Idaho Falls, it was threatening but it gave us time to check in and cover up before raining most of the night.

 

http://s470.photobucket.com/user/utadventure/library/Rushmore%20Day%204?sort=3&page=1

 

Day 5 - Back to Home

 

There are some nice mountains on the way back home. We had about 15 minutes of light rain as we left Idaho Falls and then it was mostly cloudy the rest of the way. I think the co-pilot was anxious to get home and was tired of taken pics.

 

http://s470.photobucket.com/user/utadventure/library/Rushmore%20Day%205?sort=3&page=1

 

1,772 total miles in the 5 days we were gone. What a great trip!! New tires and oil change after we got home. Do you think she's ready to go again?

[cowpuc]

WOW!! GORGEOUS PICS and an AWESOME story - thanks for posting!

So,, was that Harley you were working on just someone you stopped to help or was it part of your party? Either way,, GOOD ON YA for lending a hand!!

Puc

[utadventure]

That was our friends Paul and Rhonda. He got a steal on that bike and his wife has back issues. The Harley Ultra allows her to ride with him again.

[Condor]

Great post Dave. Looks like you and Jan had a terrific time....

[cowpuc]

That was our friends Paul and Rhonda. He got a steal on that bike and his wife has back issues. The Harley Ultra allows her to ride with him again.

 

 

IT DONT GET NO BETTER THAN THAT!!!!!

[Aussie Annie]

Loooove riding that area. Glad you had a good trip

[Max]

Got the pictures loaded last night....

Mare & I just checked out your trip report over a java, excellent and thanks!

Great timing, as we are in first stage of laying down an 8 week bike trip to CO,UT-MT next year.

A good kickstart and bookmarked.

[utadventure]

Mare & I just checked out your trip report over a java, excellent and thanks!

Great timing, as we are in first stage of laying down an 8 week bike trip to CO,UT-MT next year.

A good kickstart and bookmarked.

 

Let us know if we can help!!

[leo3wheel]

Very nice Dave! Thanks for sharing!

[Wade 2000]

We just missed each other out there!! I went to those same spots we also ran through Utah and Colorado on the way back to finish with a 1227 mile 20hr 20min Iron Butt home from Colorado Springs. ( waiting on my Cert) I love that area! We had great weather and just missed the cold snap.

[Max]

Let us know if we can help!!

 

muchly appreciated uta, will be in touch.

[Lone Eagle]

Great pictures, Dave - looks like you all had a ton of fun!