A 4,000 mile ride, told in segments

[BamaJohn]

With a plan to ride “somewhere west of Wall Street”, My Spydr protested being loaded upon a trailer for the first and last legs of a 4,000+ ride.

It was a hot summer day when I headed to Springfield MO to meet up with my buddy Joe.  Since I try not to do more than 300 miles a day riding, I trailered instead of riding to Springfield to save a night’s lodging going and coming, but the rest of the 4,000+ miles will be on 3 wheels.

 

A layover day to visit:  Joe had just moved to Springfield, so we spent the next day catching up on events of the move and the list of projects Joe has in mind for the house. And a healthy list it was.  I was glad it was HIS list and not mine!  

I downloaded the routes we’d be taking from my GPS onto Joe’s GPS, but I later learned that Joe’s maps were not the same as my updated maps, so the routes were not the same (more on that later). 

 

Riding begins:  Today begins a 12 day journey that would take us from Missouri through Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Kansas, and back to Missouri.  

Logging miles, we headed northward through Kansas City MO and over into Nebraska, overnighting in Lincoln…chosen only because it was 300 miles from Joe’s home.  Our 2^nd overnight was in Kadoka SD, for the same reason...it was around 300 miles from the first night’s stop.   

When I was planning/plotting this trip, the timing of it put us right in the middle of tourist season in most of the areas we’d visit.  We had reservations in Deadwood,  in Red Lodge, and in Yellowstone.  No winging it on lodging this trip.  

Our plan had us arriving Deadwood on the 4th riding day, via a tour through The Badlands and the requisite visit to Wall Drugs in Wall, SD.  

The Badlands seem to be an arid, scarred land with little signs of life or foliage, but Native Americans take issue with the term “Badlands”, feeling that no land is bad, it’s all good.  It seems that we’re all realizing that more and more.  

It’s only a short hop over to Wall SD, where we overnighted our 3^rd night.

 

[greiffster]

Looks like a great trip. Following….

[Indy Dave]

Just now, greiffster said:

Looks like a great trip. Following….

Ditto...

[taylor1]

Another +1

[Skywagon]

 

[Indy Dave]

3 hours ago, BamaJohn said:

......  but I later learned that Joe’s maps were not the same as my updated maps, so the routes were not the same (more on that later). 

 

 

Love foreshadowing, you just know this is going to be an adventure inside of an adventure.

[John Ranalletta]

3 hours ago, BamaJohn said:

 

With a plan to ride “somewhere west of Wall Street”, My Spydr protested being loaded upon a trailer for the first and last legs of a 4,000+ ride.

It was a hot summer day when I headed to Springfield MO to meet up with my buddy Joe.  Since I try not to do more than 300 miles a day riding, I trailered instead of riding to Springfield to save a night’s lodging going and coming, but the rest of the 4,000+ miles will be on 3 wheels.

 

A layover day to visit:  Joe had just moved to Springfield, so we spent the next day catching up on events of the move and the list of projects Joe has in mind for the house. And a healthy list it was.  I was glad it was HIS list and not mine!  

I downloaded the routes we’d be taking from my GPS onto Joe’s GPS, but I later learned that Joe’s maps were not the same as my updated maps, so the routes were not the same (more on that later). 

 

Riding begins:  Today begins a 12 day journey that would take us from Missouri through Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Kansas, and back to Missouri.  

Logging miles, we headed northward through Kansas City MO and over into Nebraska, overnighting in Lincoln…chosen only because it was 300 miles from Joe’s home.  Our 2^nd overnight was in Kadoka SD, for the same reason...it was around 300 miles from the first night’s stop.   

When I was planning/plotting this trip, the timing of it put us right in the middle of tourist season in most of the areas we’d visit.  We had reservations in Deadwood,  in Red Lodge, and in Yellowstone.  No winging it on lodging this trip.  

Our plan had us arriving Deadwood on the 4th riding day, via a tour through The Badlands and the requisite visit to Wall Drugs in Wall, SD.  

The Badlands seem to be an arid, scarred land with little signs of life or foliage, but Native Americans take issue with the term “Badlands”, feeling that no land is bad, it’s all good.  It seems that we’re all realizing that more and more.  

It’s only a short hop over to Wall SD, where we overnighted our 3^rd night.

 

[wbw6cos]

Woo hoo, a Ride Tale from a rider that can tell some tales!   Keep on keeping on, John.  Looking forward to reading all about it.

[Bernie]

You got my attention!

[BamaJohn]

Back to our different GPS maps:  I try to have the latest version of Garmin maps on my Zumo at all times, because two GPS’s with different version maps can cause discrepancies, confusion, and grouchiness.  Since Joe was covered up with buying/selling houses and moving to Springfield, I had made all the routes in Garmin Basecamp, but never checked to see if Joe’s maps were up to date…Hint #1.

The second hint is a conversation we had prior to leaving:

1.     I would lead, since I had made the routes and had a general knowledge of where we were going;

2.     We agreed riding at “speed limit +5”, and our helmet comms would allow us to stay in touch, and we would keep within sight of each other.

And so it was that we departed.  Within the first hour, I noticed that Joe was dropping back more and more, so I asked if he was ok, and he said he was ok.  A bit later, I couldn’t see Joe and couldn’t get him to answer on his helmet comms.  Not wanting to think the worst, I slowed down a lot…but no Joe, so I pulled over and sat, hoping he’d show up rather than being transported to a hospital. (did I mention that it was July and HOT?)

Joe finally came into view, so I pulled out onto the highway and asked him if he was ok.  He said his gps told him to turn off, so he did, but couldn’t find me!  I suggested again that he should stay in sight of me at all times, so that we could both make the same mistake or not.  Then, I committed the sin of reminding him that we agreed that 5 over the speed limit was ok.  He said “I just like to take it easy and see what’s around me”.  I had to bite my tongue!  We were on MO13, a 4 lane major highway, just burning up miles to get to the sightseeing areas!  This was to become the new normal.

 

By the time we got to The Badlands, I’d learned that the leader of this ride doesn’t get to set the pace, it’s set by the guy who doesn’t want to lead.  And so it was for the duration of this 12 day ride.  Did it sour things?  Not at all, once I learned how to forget everything I’d learned about group riding courtesy and adopt this new normal.  We got back home still speaking to each other.

[Indy Dave]

Priceless. Most of us have been there in most, if not all of those various situations. The view from inside the helmet is different for everyone, you've mastered the skill of 'leading' a ride! While there's a bit of a giggle in saying that, not everyone comes to terms with riding (and playing) well with others. And the larger the group . . .   

 

Almost without exception , I have found riding with BMWST folks to be good experiences - with grace, humility and compromise in abundance. Patience is the key!

 

Why I remember this one time  several times , when Endobob was revving his motor on his K1200 because HE was ready to go and . . .  but I digress . . .

[Indy Dave]

oh, Oh OH . . . There's also the quick decision to be made when YOUR GPS says to turn, but everyone ahead went straight. . .  and I mean, You JUST KNOW YOUR GPS is smarter than everyone else's . . . so you turn . . . not that I ever, ever would do that did that   

[Skywagon]

Our local Houston club has rides nearly every week.  If it is an interesting destination, I just meet them there.  One thing I've noticed about the lead rider, including me, for some reason the lead rider feels an obligation to go fast because they think that's what others want.  When I do ride in a group (seldom). I always take the last spot.  I don't need some idiot riding so close behind me at speed that I'm more focused on him than the road ahead.

[BamaJohn]

(forgot to include this video of The Badlands in original post). 

[BamaJohn]

3rd segment:

 

In South Dakota, the speed limit on I-90 is 85mph, so I decided to see what number my loaded down Spyder could show on the speedometer.  Choosing a flat area with a long line of sight, I hammered down.  At 105mph she was slow to gain speed, so I backed off.  Considering my large carcass, and the load of gear on the bike, I’m thinking around 110-115 would be max for this Spyder…which I’ll not be doing, it was just a test.  Now, back to riding at Joe’s pace of 70 in an 80 zone.

 

No more drama as we eased through The Black Hills National Forest to Deadwood, where the “Dead Man’s Hand” (aces and 8’s) became famous.  Neither Joe nor I were interested in poker, so we checked into the casino hotel.  The Devil’s Tower & The Needles Hwy were calling us.

 

Highway 87, best-known as “Needles Highway”, is fabulous!  It’s not to be missed if you get to that area! (See video herein).      

After 2 hours and full of sensory overload, Mount Rushmore was next.  

If you like twisty roads with tunnels that open to a distant view of Mount Rushmore, 16A is your road, riding from south to north.  This is fun!

Remember that this is July. And South Dakota weather in July might conjure up some excitement.  About 5 miles out of Mount Rushmore we got hit with a hailstorm!  The marble-sized ice pellets felt like cannon balls!  With no cover in sight, we could only pull over and hunker down until the pelting stopped.  Another 2 miles, and Mother Nature decided that we’d not yet paid our penance, so more hail!   

We got to the hotel wet and a little bruised, but no real damage.  A bit of scotch and a hand-rolled cigar smoothed out the day. 

 

The next day was a northwest loop into Wyoming to “The Devil’s Tower”. 

The Devil’s Tower (technically named “Devil’s National Monument”, is known to us luddites mostly from its role in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”.  

The oldest rocks found at the Devil’s National Monument were deposited in a shallow inland sea 225 to 195 million years ago, but Scientists are still arguing over how the Tower was formed.  

Somehow, a LOT of other travelers found out that we were coming and met us there.  

So far today we’d avoided Mother Nature’s Ire, so I reckon She forgave our transgressions.

 

The loop was completed by heading Eastward over to Spearfish SD, and back down to Deadwood to our hotel.  But Mother Nature blessed us once again with a hailstorm, only this time we had just made it back to the hotel as it hit.  We dared NOT thumb our noses at Her, ‘cause we had a LOT of miles to go on roads less traveled.

[Hosstage]

Needles, Iron Mountain Road, Spearfish Canyon, great roads for riding!

During The Rally, Needles becomes a stinky traffic jam, not so great then.

[BamaJohn]

 

The next segment of our ride included Cody, Wyoming; Red Lodge, Montana and; and Yellowstone National Park via some world-famous roads.

 

Cody WY was our next staging point, and It’s a long day in the saddle from Deadwood to Cody.   

 

After settling in at our room, we were hungry for a decent meal, and learned that the world-famous Irma Hotel had a prime rib all-you-can-eat special…plus, we could see the street fight shoot-out after dinner!  Yep, we went straight to the Irma Hotel.  A couple of prime ribs and the fixn’s topped us up for tomorrow’s travels on some of America’s most-scenic roads!

 

The next day would be a sensory overload ride, taking the Chief Joseph Highway (296) over to Hwy 212 Northward (known world-wide as “The Beartooth Hwy”), ending the day at Red Lodge MT, where we’d overnight.  It was a good thing that we had a short day, ‘cause I’m guessing we stopped at every scenic vista.  Life is good! 

Even in July snow is still piled up and surviving where it hides in the shade.  

Beartooth Pass elevation is 10,947’, so pack layers to keep you warm, because the wind can blow cold and hard.

We were both enjoying the natural high from the altitude and vista-overload, so an early toast to life, and a quick dinner finished us off, and sleep came easily.

 

The end-point of this segment is Yellowstone National Park.  So far, every place we’ve ridden has been a first-time for Joe, and he was hankering to see some wildlife.  

Entering the Park from the NE, it’s a bit of a ride at 30 mph getting to our lodging for the next 2 nights at “Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Lodge”.  Joe saw so many bison that I heard him say “oh, it’s just more bison”…I chuckled within my helmet.  Now the search is for Elk.

Once again, all of America knew we were coming and met us there!

 

We visited Old Faithful the next day, then rode counter-clockwise, stopping at various time-bomb pools of various colors, consistencies, & poisonous smoke…but no Elk for Joe.

Yellowstone is a two-sided beauty, and I kept wondering when it will explode.

 

At the cabin in Yellowstone is where I dumped my riding boots in the trash can…the soles were flopping loose and embarrassing Joe. 

 

 

[RandyShields]

Some of the best roads and sights in the entire world!

[BamaJohn]

The final segment:

 

After Yellowstone, the ride took us southward to Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park in particular.

 

The punishing winds of Wyoming kicked our butts for the next two days, but Colorado invited us back home and into Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park.  Earlier, I’d mentioned that Joe had a hankering to see Elk, and Estes Park is known for a large Elk population.  When I lived in the Denver area, I rode up to Estes Park fairly often and always saw Elk wandering around, but not today.  Joe kept asking “where are the Elk you promised?”.

 You might have noticed that there isn’t much drama reported on this ride.  Well, up to this point, there wasn’t much.  But when we dismounted after arriving at the hotel in Estes Park, I happened to notice that Joe’s rear tire was worn out! 

With both of us on our cell phones searching for a dealer to help us, we found one in Denver who (a) had a tire in stock, and (b) could replace Joe’s tire the next day.

Our last day in Colorado was spent getting Joe’s rear tire replaced, but we were thankful to get it done.  A good night’s rest and then it will be time to head East toward Joe’s home in Springfield, MO.  To me, the last leg of a long trip is the worst.  Like old horses heading for the barn…head down and running, we headed home.

 

If you’ve ever ridden across Kansas after a jaunt through the areas we had just traveled, you know that Kansas is a place to make up miles quickly on 2 or 3 wheels.  And so it was that we rode 2 days back-to-back 400 miles each day to get to Springfield.

I needed the next day to recuperate, then loaded up my Spyder and drove back to Sweet Home Alabama and The Treehouse.  

Ahhhhhh, my own bed!

 

[RandyShields]

John, great report.  It would be ok if you posted more pictures. 

 

Just my personal reaction, but you are extremely patient.  I don't think I would have been happy riding with Joe after his unwillingness to maintain the agreed-to speeds.  That's part of the cadence of riding with others. 

[TEWKS]

If he had even an ounce of competitiveness left in his body, you should have stuck him out in front. You could of pushed him up to the speed limit like you did with me on the Cherohala. Well maybe a little over but, no ticket pictures to prove it so it didn’t happen.  That was the greatest run on that road to date! 

[BamaJohn]

15 hours ago, RandyShields said:

John, great report.  It would be ok if you posted more pictures. 

 

Just my personal reaction, but you are extremely patient.  I don't think I would have been happy riding with Joe after his unwillingness to maintain the agreed-to speeds.  That's part of the cadence of riding with others. 

Thanks Randy...I realized that I had too few photos to spice up things...will do better next time.   I saw these elk in Estes Park, but Joe was not with me, so totally missed out ...  Maybe Karma?

 

 

[BamaJohn]

13 hours ago, TEWKS said:

If he had even an ounce of competitiveness left in his body, you should have stuck him out in front. You could of pushed him up to the speed limit like you did with me on the Cherohala. Well maybe a little over but, no ticket pictures to prove it so it didn’t happen.  That was the greatest run on that road to date! 

Thanks Pat...Joe is a friend with his own quirks, and I'm sure he could/would tell of my quirks (which I conveniently left out). 

I agree that our jaunt over the Cherohala was spirited and fun.

See ya a week from today!

[freetime2247]

On 4/7/2024 at 11:49 AM, BamaJohn said:

 

With a plan to ride “somewhere west of Wall Street”, My Spydr protested being loaded upon a trailer for the first and last legs of a 4,000+ ride.

It was a hot summer day when I headed to Springfield MO to meet up with my buddy Joe.  Since I try not to do more than 300 miles a day riding, I trailered instead of riding to Springfield to save a night’s lodging going and coming, but the rest of the 4,000+ miles will be on 3 wheels.

 

A layover day to visit:  Joe had just moved to Springfield, so we spent the next day catching up on events of the move and the list of projects Joe has in mind for the house. And a healthy list it was.  I was glad it was HIS list and not mine!  

I downloaded the routes we’d be taking from my GPS onto Joe’s GPS, but I later learned that Joe’s maps were not the same as my updated maps, so the routes were not the same (more on that later). 

 

Riding begins:  Today begins a 12 day journey that would take us from Missouri through Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Kansas, and back to Missouri.  

Logging miles, we headed northward through Kansas City MO and over into Nebraska, overnighting in Lincoln…chosen only because it was 300 miles from Joe’s home.  Our 2^nd overnight was in Kadoka SD, for the same reason...it was around 300 miles from the first night’s stop.   

When I was planning/plotting this trip, the timing of it put us right in the middle of tourist season in most of the areas we’d visit.  We had reservations in Deadwood,  in Red Lodge, and in Yellowstone.  No winging it on lodging this trip.  

Our plan had us arriving Deadwood on the 4th riding day, via a tour through The Badlands and the requisite visit to Wall Drugs in Wall, SD.  

The Badlands seem to be an arid, scarred land with little signs of life or foliage, but Native Americans take issue with the term “Badlands”, feeling that no land is bad, it’s all good.  It seems that we’re all realizing that more and more.  

It’s only a short hop over to Wall SD, where we overnighted our 3^rd night.

 

Living the Dream!!!