Broomfield, CO to Gretna, NE

It's been a little while since the last ride report, however, The Norm and I are now back on the road and continue the adventure.

I left Broomfield around 8:45 this morning. It was sad to say goodbye to my cousins. I love them all very much and it's always such a long time in between visits. Hopefully it won't be next time.  Thank you again Joanna, Steve and Dalton! You really made me feel at home (maybe that's why I stayed so long :)

East Colorado and Nebraska seemed to blend together. Long straight roads w/ a little bit of undulation. All wheat and corn fields out this way. Saw a few feed lots off I-6 in Nebraska. Was quite depressing since on this journey I've seen so many free roaming cattle. So many in fact that I've come very close to hitting a few that were meandering along the road. I understand the necessity of feed lots, I just don't fully agree w/ them. They are also so god-damn ugly and they stink like nothing else I've encountered on my travels. Pretty nasty, pretty nasty indeed.

No pictures today, too busy trying to get to where I'm goin'. Stopped for the night just outside of Lincoln at a KOA (Kampgrounds of America). As I rode past the sign I thought to myself "this could be the last night for camping on this trip!", so I turned around and paid my whopping $17 entrance fee and pitched myself a tent.

Was a beautiful day today. Couldn't have asked for a better temperature this late in September. Little fire and pizza tonight (yes, this KOA serves pizza). Hopefully up early in the morning, trying to make Chicago before nightfall. 

Still Under Warranty?

I tried for quite a few hours to change Norm's tires myself (have to put back on the road tires b/c the ride East will be long and flat). It takes a big man to attempt this, but an even bigger man to admit when he's failed. I just couldn't break the beads. Need to pick up some more tools when I get a chance, that and a few more muscles probably. So I ended up calling around and was referred to a little grease shop called 'Woody's Wheel Works' down in Denver. For $25 a tire they would be happy to change 'em out for me today. Got to the shop and knew right away this place legit. The owner rides a BMW 1200gs (with some sweet wheels on it I might add).  Found out the rims needed truing as well. Since I still have quite a few miles yet to ride, I'm glad to get this done before I head back out on the road. I fly out tomorrow morning for my friend Mike and Leslie's wedding, so The Norm will have to sit like this for a few days until I get back from Pittsburgh.

It's nice to be able to kick your shoes off and relax once and awhile ;)

Day Ride to Pikes Peak

9/14/2010

Headed down to Colorado Springs this morning. Took about an hour to get there from Broomfield. The BMW dealership in Colorado Springs is The Norms birthplace (not counting Germany). This was the place Norm's previous owner purchased him from before having him shipped to Texas. Let me just go ahead and jump to the conclusion here. I was pretty disappointed overall. I actually rode right past it several times because it was combined with a jumbo Harley dealership. There were no signs for BMW (or any other brands as well), only the gigantic highway Harley sign out front. The Harley brand really overshadowed all the other quality motorcycles they have here. Also very little (if not any) salesmen on the BMW side. Very few clothing and accessory options as well. Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti-Harley. I like Harley just fine. I guess I just had higher expectations for The Norms original dealership.

I didn't venture to Colorado Springs to only visit The Norm's birthplace. The main reason for the trip was to ride to the top of  Pikes Peak, all 14,110 feet of her. It was a hot one today (about 87 degrees in Colorado Springs), not normal for this time of year. At the summit, it was about 43 degrees. Quite a temperature difference just based on elevation.

Sidenote: Skydiving was from only 13,000 feet.

Anyways, it was a great ride and a great experience. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Rock Springs, WY to Broomfield, CO

9/12/2010

Stayed at the Best Western Outlaw Inn which included a complimentary breakfast. Had a stack of pancakes and some OJ while I read my placemat this morning. They featured about 10 old school "outlaws" w/ brief histories of each. Rock Springs was even referenced a few times in these overviews. Seems Rock Springs was pretty bad ass back in the day. Now it's only a place to stop on your way to somewhere more important.

Long, flat, fast and boring. That pretty much sums up the ride after breakfast. Try and avoid I-80 in Southern Wyoming if at all possible. Chatted w/ two Harley Canadians before taking off, they also felt soory for me about that stretch.

After about 3 hours, I had to get off that road. I could just feel the tires balding on the crown. Took I-287 South into Colorado. That's the scenery I've been missing! Nice two laner w/ very little traffic. Turned out 287 was the perfect rout to take. It basically ran right into Broomfield. Okay, just so you know... Sometimes I don't change over the map until I'm quite a ways into the new state. Sometimes I have to purchase a map after I cross into that state. And sometimes I don't buy a map at all (only happened once in Montana. Was in and out so quickly, didn't have a chance to pick one up).

Had some time to kill before getting to my cousin Joanna and her husband Steve's house in Broomfield (this is where I will be staying for a few days). So I headed to Boulder to grab a late lunch. Nice little college town w/ a relaxed vibe. Reminded me a lot of Anarbor Michigan.

Going to try and get some day trips in while I'm here, but I'll will be flying out on Thursday. I will be attending a wedding in Pittsburgh this weekend so don't expect any posts while I'm gone.

Side note: The Norm's home before Texas was actually Colorado (not counting Germany). So this is kind of a reunion trip for him. 

I hope everyone is enjoying the blog so far. Many of you have written letters or notes expressing your interest and enthusiasm. I greatly appreciate your support. Check back soon for more adventures w/ Me & The Norm.

Ennis, MT to Rock Springs, WY

9/11/2010

Stayed at the Sportsman's Lodge last night, about 80 miles from Yellowstone National Park. The room was what you would call a "Rustic Shithole". Left early, very Cold!  Beautiful ride in alongside a stream which opened up into a lake. Could see the steam off the water in some places.

Entered the park by 9:30 and saw two buffalo eating breakfast by 9:45. At about 11:00, I watched Old Faithful from a far, very Spectacular! I honestly wasn't even that excited at first, but after the show, I was thoroughly impressed. 

It was pretty cold out today, rode past these hills right before exiting Yellowstone. It was cold enough to hold some snow just a few hundred feet above where I was standing.

Anyways, saw many other wonderful things in the park. It's a beautiful place. However, if I had my choice to go to ether Yellowstone or Yosemite, I would choose Yosemite.
Rode from North to South through the park, and then passed through Teton National Park which boarders Yellowstone. Also, beautiful scenery.

Hit Jackson Hole by 2:30, and was quite warm by then. Had a little lunch and did a little gift shopping as well. Awesome little town, and the perfect place to do both. I would like to head back there sometime in the near future (w/o The Norm however).
Then came the long boring ride South. Uh.... Flat, straight and windy. Watch out for animals, saw many crossing the road today.

Clarkston, WA to Ennis, MT

9/10/2010

Continued on I-12 East into Idaho. Followed a beautiful and scenic river down in a valley through the Clearwater National Forest which turned into the Lolo National Forest once I hit the Montana boarder. Spent a lot of time on this highway b/c of the slightly wet road conditions and all the twisties. So early in the day I saw my final destination of Yellowstone slowly diminishing. 

Have I mentioned yet how cold it was? I have on both sets of long underwear I brought (been wearing since Yachats), broken out my rain gear (helps cut the wind), put in my fleece glove linings, wearing my balaclava to keep my head and neck warm "supposedly" and have had my heated grips on full blast. But even w/ all these measures, nothing seems to stop those bone chilling Northern arctic winds from getting into places you don't want to know about. Okay, maybe not arctic winds, but definitely freekin' cold ones. I was even contemplating duct taping my clothes together to try and block some of the wind. It's that miserable at times I tell you. I crank up the iPod and try and drowned my worries away w/ great tunes though. That seems to take my mind off the cold somewhat.

Had to hop back on the expressway, I-90, to try and make up some time. No luck though, Montana is a very large state, and things just seem to take longer even traveling at greater speeds.

With only about an hour of sunlight left (lost an hour today), I irrationally decided to exit onto I-287 South towards Yellowstone instead of playing it safe and heading to a larger town w/ ample restaurants and hotel accommodations. Not quite sure why I chose this direction; 120 miles from Yellowstone, nothing but mountains lie ahead, I'm cold, hungry and it's almost dark. "Adventure is out there!" I told myself w/ a grin. I know what's waiting for me in that other town, but I don't know what lies ahead of me on this road. Just one of those choices I guess, I felt like taking a chance.

Nothing "Amazing" happened when I took that exit. Came close to hitting a deer actually and almost turned around. But I kept on and saw some antelope grazing in a field, I saw some beautiful landscape of hills and mountains in the distance, I saw some heartwarming colors in the clouds and sky from the sunset and then just as I rolled into the small valley town of Ennis, a breathtaking sight of the Big Sky mountain range came into view to the East. Just that, that little moment, that one special moment made the irrational decision of this road very, very rewarding.

Seattle to Clarkston

9/9/2010

Again, late start on the day. I think the trip is finally wearing on me, the mornings are the slowest for me now. Headed East on I-90 out of Seattle into the rain. Not too bad considering the amount of cloud cover, I had been expecting a bit more. Made it up and over the Snoqualmie Pass and the weather finally broke down in the valley afterwards. Cold, but sunny.

Took I-82 which drops further South, but still heading East. Then 183 to a two lane blacktop 12 (still East). This was my favorite part of the ride today. Went through miles and miles of golden wheat fields. They had already been harvested, but it was still beautiful. All part of the Columbia County Grain Growers (CCGG) I believe. Had to take a break b/c of the "numb butt" setting in. Stopped very little today, not even one photo taken. Found myself stopped about one mile from the Idaho state line in a small town called Clarkston. Just on the other side of the river is Lewiston. Seems I have been following the Lewis and Clark trail for quite a few hours now. My ass told me we were done for the day, so I pulled into a hotel to end it.

This evening, the sun was finally setting behind me and not glairing into my helmet like it has been for the last month. This is a first, it proves the trip is no longer heading North/West. I'm sad but happy. I've really enjoyed riding up here and will very much miss it. But I'm also excited for what ahead of me, there are still many roads I have yet to discover.

 Tomorrow I'm heading for Yellowstone, then on to Colorado to see some more family. The journey continues and I promise more photos next post.