DAY 23-24 JUNE 24-25, 2013

Several things contributed to the lack of a post yesterday not the least of which included 22 oz chilled mugs. So I will try to recap both days today.

Monday morning left the motel a little earlier than usual with everyone anticipating the ride from Red Lodge to Yellowstone over Bear Tooth Pass. The altitude at Red Lodge is about 5800 feet and we soon started climbing towards the pass almost 11,000 feet which was built as a route to transport coal from Red Lodge south.

The road was empty at 8:30 on a Monday morning and we started in thick forest climbing back and forth on switch backs until we broke out above the tree line. The road is two lane with minimal guard rails, hair pin turns that almost double back on themselves. Stopped for the required pictures at a view point and stopped briefly at the top ski area. The rope tow was running and several skiers were putting on their gear, we didn't stay long with the strong wind and cold temps.

Heading down the south side was just as interesting, snow on the mountains views of numerous lakes, some still covered in ice. The question comes up of is this the best motorcycle road or are there better roads to ride. We have ridden most of the roads on anybody's top 20 list and they are all different.  I can't say which is the best they all could be number one on any given day it depends on how I'm feeling that day, the weather, traffic, and so many other factors. I'll ride all of them a few more times and maybe give you a better answer.

Soon found ourselves in Yellowstone National Park along with the entire population of the state. Still beautiful with lots of wildlife and beautiful scenery. Rode through the area devastated by the fire, a decade or more ago, the recovery is well on the way showing the resilience of nature.

Pulling into Mammoth Hot Springs for a sandwich passed at least six signs to avoid the elk, we hadn't seen any elk. There right by the store were half a dozen elk just laying in the shade not ten feet from the road. Other animals of the day included bear, herds of buffalo, antelope, and deer. Stopped at Old Faithful and for the second year in a row timing did not allow me even a glimpse of the geyser.

Ended the night in Idaho Falls with a trip to the hot tub followed by dinner and the aforementioned 22 oz ice cold mugs.

DAY 24

South on I-15. That's it.
Actually it started out with 50's blue skies with a few light puffy clouds and an empty interstate. Snow topped mountains to the east with smaller hills and farms to the west. The farms here all depend on ground water and the sprinkler systems were running on almost every farm. Continued south passing through Salt Lake City finally stopping for the night still on I-15 in Cedar City UT.

Got a wife and kids in Baltimore Jack
Went out for a ride
And I never went back.
Like a river that don't know
Where it's flowin
I took a wrong turn
And I just kept going.
Springsteen

Day 24 it kind of feels like it's time to go back.