capozzir
Senior Member
254 Posts
Leesburg, VA
USA Honda
GL1800B
Posted - 09/04/2009 : 11:05 AM
My wife and I (along with another couple) have recently returned from a nearly 3 week motorcycle ride out to Yellowstone and back.
We spent nearly a year planing for this trip. Carefully planing out each day's route and trying to put something interesting to do or see each day. Everything went off without a hitch. We had a great time on our first "long" motorcycle road trip. We enjoyed the scenery that each of the 19 states we rode through had to offer. What a great way to experience the country! We're already planning our next one.
scottrnelson
Advanced Member
5262 Posts
[Mentor]
Pleasanton, CA
USA KTM
990 Adv, ST2, XR650L
Posted - 09/04/2009 : 11:58 AM
Ohhh, I want to do that. Too bad my wife doesn't like anything to do with motorcycles (but she's happy to let me ride them without her). My next vacation will be spent stuck on a cruise ship for a week.
Glad you both enjoyed the trip.
galileo Ex-Member
Posted - 09/04/2009 : 12:39 PM
Sounds like you had a great trip. I also enjoyed 36 through Kansas. It was surprisingly interesting and a great alternative to 70 for crossing the country.
I didn't see the map? Did I miss it?
capozzir
Senior Member
254 Posts
Leesburg, VA
USA Honda
GL1800B
Posted - 09/09/2009 : 8:49 AM
quote:Originally posted by scottrnelson
Ohhh, I want to do that. Too bad my wife doesn't like anything to do with motorcycles (but she's happy to let me ride them without her). My next vacation will be spent stuck on a cruise ship for a week.
Glad you both enjoyed the trip.
We've done a few cruises and have enjoyed all of them. They have all been extremely relaxing vacations.
capozzir
Senior Member
254 Posts
Leesburg, VA
USA Honda
GL1800B
Posted - 09/09/2009 : 9:12 AM
quote:Originally posted by galileo
Sounds like you had a great trip. I also enjoyed 36 through Kansas. It was surprisingly interesting and a great alternative to 70 for crossing the country.
I didn't see the map? Did I miss it?
Yes. We tried to stay off interstates as much as possible but we didn't avoid them totally.
Everyone I spoke to said how Kansas and Nebraska would be "boring." I didn't experience that at all. I guess it is what you make of it.
I didn't post a map. I have everything in MS&T. I just haven't posted them out on the blog.
bachman1961 Advanced Member
1408 Posts
[Mentor]
colorado springs, co
USA Honda
CB750 NightHawk
Posted - 09/14/2009 : 4:43 AM
Thanks for the blog. As a night-owl on midnights, it's a nice diversion to have such informative, interesting recreational reading. As to lessons learned or nit picks about equip. or riding gear and other details, I'd be ashamed to ask more of you as per writing .. You did a great job planning the trip and telling the story not to mention getting through it all and home safe! I need to review it at home since my computer here at work doesn't want to display the photos.
*Maybe a Top Ten list that could cover what you'd do different, what you learned that surprised you, what worked and what didn't ... (as 4 of those 10). Yes, I'm ashamed.
~brian
Niebor Ex-Member
Posted - 09/14/2009 : 8:27 AM
quote:Originally posted by scottrnelson My next vacation will be spent stuck on a cruise ship for a week.
LOL, Life is rough!
twc Advanced Member
659 Posts
[Mentor]
Fort Collins, CO
USA Harley-Davidson
Electra Glide Ultra
Posted - 09/14/2009 : 10:11 AM
quote:Originally posted by scottrnelson
My next vacation will be spent stuck on a cruise ship for a week.
Scott,
The funny thing is, I thought you were serious. I think I would be bored to death after two days on a cruise ship.
We did go on a cruise to Alaska last year -- on a 20-passenger boat (but with only 16 passengers aboard), the M/V Liseron on a cruise sponsored by Orvis. We were able to go places that the average people carrier couldn't hope to go, and do things that would have been unthinkable on a larger ship. Like the time we circled back so everyone could get a better shot of that young grizzly wandering along the shore. Everyone, crew and passengers, bonded quickly and we all had a great time.
Every night we anchored in a different bay and got out the sea kayaks so we could go paddle around. Had whales surfacing amidst us one evening, and grizzlies right along the shore one other evening. Always lots of seals, dolphins, whales, birds and other assorted wildlife. We also took several hikes through old growth sections of the Tongass National Forest, and even got in a bit of fishing for Dolly Varden (a fish you would readily identify as a trout, though it's actually a char). On the last evening, we took motor launches up an inlet to watch a glacier calving, which it did right on schedule. It was pretty spectacular.
We had two chefs on board, one of whom was dedicated to breads, pastries and desserts. Despite all the exercise, we gained weight. Incredible food.
That's my idea of a cruise, and it's why I thought you might have been serious.
gymnast
Moderator
2814 Posts
[Mentor]
Meridian, Idaho
USA Harley-Davidson
Sportster Sport
Posted - 09/14/2009 : 10:29 AM
What a fabulous report! It brings back a lot of memories of a run from Illinois to Vancouver Island BC my wife and I made about 40 years ago on a Sportster. I thing your bike was a bit more comfortable.
The pictures are great,your camera skills are obvious, and the picture of the view from Jenny Lake Lodge is one that all other vistas are measured by. It looked the same way when, again on a Sportster last year, my wife and I enjoyed the same view. The vistas of the Tetons Yellowstone and the Beartooth are every motorcyclists "Trip of a Lifetime". Thanks for the memories.
capozzir
Senior Member
254 Posts
Leesburg, VA
USA Honda
GL1800B
Posted - 09/14/2009 : 12:50 PM
quote:Originally posted by bachman1961
Thanks for the blog. As a night-owl on midnights, it's a nice diversion to have such informative, interesting recreational reading. As to lessons learned or nit picks about equip. or riding gear and other details, I'd be ashamed to ask more of you as per writing .. You did a great job planning the trip and telling the story not to mention getting through it all and home safe! I need to review it at home since my computer here at work doesn't want to display the photos.
*Maybe a Top Ten list that could cover what you'd do different, what you learned that surprised you, what worked and what didn't ... (as 4 of those 10). Yes, I'm ashamed.
~brian
Thanks for the kind words! And there's no need to feel ashamed. I do intend in adding my lessons learned from this trip. There are some things I would do differently and even some changes to the gear I brought. I'm gonna try and get my wife to make some comments from her perspective "from the back seat".
capozzir
Senior Member
254 Posts
Leesburg, VA
USA Honda
GL1800B
Posted - 09/14/2009 : 12:56 PM
quote:Originally posted by gymnast
What a fabulous report! It brings back a lot of memories of a run from Illinois to Vancouver Island BC my wife and I made about 40 years ago on a Sportster. I thing your bike was a bit more comfortable.
The pictures are great,your camera skills are obvious, and the picture of the view from Jenny Lake Lodge is one that all other vistas are measured by. It looked the same way when, again on a Sportster last year, my wife and I enjoyed the same view. The vistas of the Tetons Yellowstone and the Beartooth are every motorcyclists "Trip of a Lifetime". Thanks for the memories.
Thanks for the compliments! We had a great time and am glad I was able to share it with others. The Tetons were a bit more spectacular than I thought they would be. I didn't expect there to be such a sudden upward rush of the mountains sans foot hills. I really makes you feel small. There are soooo many great places left for us to travel to. I can't wait for the next adventure!
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Our Yellowstone trip
Posted - 09/04/2009 : 11:05 AM
Advanced Member
I do intend in adding my lessons learned from this trip. There are some things I would do differently and even some changes to the gear I brought. I'm gonna try and get my wife to make some comments from her perspective "from the back seat".