We left Paducah, KY about 715 AM CDT and arrived home about 615 PM EDT. A trip of about 540 miles. Just before we got home we stopped for bread at a local grocery store. There is not much room for a loaf of bread on a bike packed for a two week trip.
There were no issues on the way. It was all interstate, except for the last 15 miles or so. No major traffic tie ups but we did see a few accidents on the road, most notably a car on its side on the side of I-26 just before we got into South Carolina. It must have just happened because there were emergency vehicles present at the time we passed the accident. And there appeared to be only the single car involved in the incident.
I don't have the total miles traveled, but it was somewhere around 5,500. The odometer I had tracking the mileage apparently got reset at one of the gas stops. Its easy to do even though I was trying not to. The same button you push to resent the one odometer also changes to the second odometer. And its some times hard to see in bright light.
Would I do it again, yes. But I would leave out Hells Canyon. US Route 12 in Idaho was a very pleasant surprise. And I have the T Shirt (99 Miles of Winding Road).
The next trip is in the planning stages. It will be up the east coast (well not the coast more inland) to Nova Scotia.
We missed riding in Nevada by about 30 miles but did not want to chance the detour on the way to Cheyenne.
So what states have we not visited on two wheels? California, Nevada, Rhode Island (catch it on the Nova Scotia trip), Alaska, and Hawaii. I have no desire to go to Alaska but California and Nevada might be something to try in a couple of years.
States traveled today: Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
As I said it was a good trip.
Friday, September 6, 2013
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Thursday
We made about 480 miles today, spending the night in Paducah Kentucky. Not a bad ride, but the last couple of where the best, less traffic and fewer trucks. Going through St. Louis was not fun. Its not a real clean looking city from the interstate at least. And there seems to be lots of construction.
We crossed the Missouri river about three times and then finally the Ohio. The Ohio was a large river. It meets (co-mingles) with the Mississippi just north of here. The confluence of the two rivers, the Ohio being the larger of the two, becomes the Mississippi.
We should be home late tomorrow if we can handle that long ride.
Only took a few pictures today.
The St. Louis Arch
The Ohio river and bridge
Kentucky
Dinner - We try to use local restaurants when we can (with the exception of Waffle House and Cracker Barrel. This one is Captain's Place. A restaurant and lounge near Paducah, KY and one half mile from the hotel.
We crossed the Missouri river about three times and then finally the Ohio. The Ohio was a large river. It meets (co-mingles) with the Mississippi just north of here. The confluence of the two rivers, the Ohio being the larger of the two, becomes the Mississippi.
We should be home late tomorrow if we can handle that long ride.
Only took a few pictures today.
The St. Louis Arch
The Ohio river and bridge
Kentucky
Dinner - We try to use local restaurants when we can (with the exception of Waffle House and Cracker Barrel. This one is Captain's Place. A restaurant and lounge near Paducah, KY and one half mile from the hotel.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
The Return (Continued)
Good ride today (if you like the interstate). Its a fast way to travel. The only issues were some periods of rain, not very heavy, and some strong eddy's behind the trucks on I-80. The turbulence from them was very strong, moving the bikes around. Once we cleared the large number of trucks, it smoothed out.
We never saw temperatures over 84 degrees. We had lunch at the Hi-Way Dinner (or at least I think that was the name of the place). It is open 24 hrs a day and has pretty good food at a reasonable price. Only two other people were in the place when we entered. Two ladies playing cards at one of the tables. It appeared they were there for the remainder of the day
We traveled about 420 miles today and ended up in St. Joseph Missouri. Traveled through three states, Nebraska, Iowa (for about 15 miles) and Missouri.
We hit the Central Time Zone somewhere in central Nebraska so we are now in CDT. We will loose another hour on Friday and be back on EDT.
I have a couple of pictures I will post later.
Part of Iowa
We never saw temperatures over 84 degrees. We had lunch at the Hi-Way Dinner (or at least I think that was the name of the place). It is open 24 hrs a day and has pretty good food at a reasonable price. Only two other people were in the place when we entered. Two ladies playing cards at one of the tables. It appeared they were there for the remainder of the day
We traveled about 420 miles today and ended up in St. Joseph Missouri. Traveled through three states, Nebraska, Iowa (for about 15 miles) and Missouri.
We hit the Central Time Zone somewhere in central Nebraska so we are now in CDT. We will loose another hour on Friday and be back on EDT.
I have a couple of pictures I will post later.
Part of Iowa
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
The return (Continued)
We left Rawlins, WY about nine this morning. We got to Cheyenne about 11 (actually I did not log the time). After a short load up time, the bike and rider were on their way back to South Carolina and the two remaining bikes, headed back on basically the same route.
Tonight we stopped in Ogallala, NE where the billboards proudly proclaimed the original Boot Hill.
Its a small town and we are not going to explore it.
The trip through eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska was uneventful, with exception of some periods of heavy cross winds in Wyoming. We traveled I-80 all of the way, stopping in Cheyenne to meet the truck to take one bike home and in a the very small town of Nix, Nebraska to have a late lunch. Nix was a very small town with a small café that severed good food.
Temperatures in western Nebraska reached 98 for periods. Tomorrow will be warmer but as we travel east, the temperatures moderate some so we are expecting the high 80s to tomorrow.
One interesting note. The second night we stayed in the middle of a cornfield. I mean literally, the motel was surrounded on three sides by corn fields. That was in Monmouth, IL. Tonight, the motel is also in a cornfield but not surrounded on three sides. So we are back into the corn fields. Illinois and Iowa were full of corn fields, western Nebraska not so much, so far. But it is the Cornhusker state, so we will see. We will be traveling through the entire southern part of the state.
Tomorrow is about 420 miles. Today was on 360 or so.
Eastern Wyoming
Loading the bike
We head out minus one.
Tonight we stopped in Ogallala, NE where the billboards proudly proclaimed the original Boot Hill.
Its a small town and we are not going to explore it.
The trip through eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska was uneventful, with exception of some periods of heavy cross winds in Wyoming. We traveled I-80 all of the way, stopping in Cheyenne to meet the truck to take one bike home and in a the very small town of Nix, Nebraska to have a late lunch. Nix was a very small town with a small café that severed good food.
Temperatures in western Nebraska reached 98 for periods. Tomorrow will be warmer but as we travel east, the temperatures moderate some so we are expecting the high 80s to tomorrow.
One interesting note. The second night we stayed in the middle of a cornfield. I mean literally, the motel was surrounded on three sides by corn fields. That was in Monmouth, IL. Tonight, the motel is also in a cornfield but not surrounded on three sides. So we are back into the corn fields. Illinois and Iowa were full of corn fields, western Nebraska not so much, so far. But it is the Cornhusker state, so we will see. We will be traveling through the entire southern part of the state.
Tomorrow is about 420 miles. Today was on 360 or so.
Eastern Wyoming
Loading the bike
The rest of the day
Panoramic view of eastern Wyoming. For some reason the video does not work or me. I will leave it here just in case.Monday, September 2, 2013
The Return Continued
We traveled about 430 miles today, leaving about 915 AM and getting into Rawlins, WY about 645 PM. It was a longer ride than I planned last night. Two things contributed to that.
One, I use two different programs for mapping a route. One is much better than the other for describing where you are going and when. So, when I planned the stop for tonight, the program's directions showed the turn off to Rawlins at 322 miles. Acutally it was a turn off to the interstate highway that leads to Rawlins. The actually distance was another 100 miles or so.
Second, while Garmin's mapping software uses the same mapping database, the mheapping program and the mapping software in the GPS don't do the route the same way. Why, I have no idea. Also, the GPS allows you to choose whether the route is the shortest distance or the fastest. You can generally assume that selecting the fastest route will be mostly major highways, interstates if available.
When I initially set up today's -route, it was interstate all the way. When I set it up on the GPS, the distance was the same. However, when I selected the motel rather than just the town of Rawlins, it re-routed us through Logan Pass and Big Bear Lake. A really nice ride but it was slow going because of all the traffic and curves.
The road was a very scenic route, lots of rocks, following a stream, getting to about 8700 feet. Really a good ride and a surprise for us.
It was cool most of the day, starting out with a light rain which went away and came back but never really raining hard enough to cause any issues. We stayed in rain gear all day until we arrived at the motel. Temperatures never got above 80 degrees. A really nice day.
Logan Pass
Big Bear Lake
One, I use two different programs for mapping a route. One is much better than the other for describing where you are going and when. So, when I planned the stop for tonight, the program's directions showed the turn off to Rawlins at 322 miles. Acutally it was a turn off to the interstate highway that leads to Rawlins. The actually distance was another 100 miles or so.
Second, while Garmin's mapping software uses the same mapping database, the mheapping program and the mapping software in the GPS don't do the route the same way. Why, I have no idea. Also, the GPS allows you to choose whether the route is the shortest distance or the fastest. You can generally assume that selecting the fastest route will be mostly major highways, interstates if available.
When I initially set up today's -route, it was interstate all the way. When I set it up on the GPS, the distance was the same. However, when I selected the motel rather than just the town of Rawlins, it re-routed us through Logan Pass and Big Bear Lake. A really nice ride but it was slow going because of all the traffic and curves.
The road was a very scenic route, lots of rocks, following a stream, getting to about 8700 feet. Really a good ride and a surprise for us.
It was cool most of the day, starting out with a light rain which went away and came back but never really raining hard enough to cause any issues. We stayed in rain gear all day until we arrived at the motel. Temperatures never got above 80 degrees. A really nice day.
Logan Pass
Big Bear Lake
Back on the Interstate in eastern Wyoming
Sunday, September 1, 2013
The Return
Well we are sort of headed back home. Arrived in Burley Idaho about 30 minutes ago, 6:00 PM local time (MDT). One of the bikes developed a mechanical problem so we spent so time today trying to sort it out. Right now its OK but we are not 100% sure it will make it home, so we are taking the interstates back starting today.
We will go through southern Wyoming, not quite as planned, going through north eastern Utah (near Ogden) tomorrow. After that we will go into Nebraska. We will then intersect the planned route back near Kearney Nebraska.
More later.
We will go through southern Wyoming, not quite as planned, going through north eastern Utah (near Ogden) tomorrow. After that we will go into Nebraska. We will then intersect the planned route back near Kearney Nebraska.
More later.
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Lots of Turns and Hells Canyon
Got into Ontario Oregon about 700 PM local time (MDT). The time zones in this area are crazy. We are a little west of Lewiston Idaho and that was PDT. Here in Ontario its MDT.
Any, the trip was good. We started out of Lewiston, Idaho on Route 129. This road is carved into the side of the high hills leading out of Lewiston to the north west. There are no guard rails. There are sheer drops off the road that go down 100s of feet. Its not for the faith of heart and its a very thrilling ride. It makes the Tail of the Dragon in North Carolina look tame. Its not the sharp turns. Its not the 22 miles of sharp turns and hairpins. Its the combination of all of the above and the sheer drop-offs.
You look down and see the road you climbed up the mountain. The are no trees to speak of. Just grass and rocks.
We had lunch at the Cheyenne Café in Joseph, Oregon. We eat outside in the shade on the sidewalk. It was a very good Lunch. We also found a nice place for breakfast in Lewiston. The Bait Shop was a little hole in the wall that serves one heck of a breakfast.
After lunch we headed to Hells Canyon. I must say, it was a bit of a disappointment. The road was in poor shape (the one that leads to the Hells Canyon Overlook and then back down. The road, like the one of Lewiston, has no guard rails and drop offs. However, the area is covered with firs and as such you have no view of the area you are riding through. Those two things take away from the ride.
The Hells Canyon Overlook is very impressive. Its like a small version of the Grand Canyon.
We ended up the day following the Snake River out of Oxford Oregon until we got to Ontario. We left the Snake about 10 or 15 miles before we got to Ontario.
The view form the Hells Canyon Overlook was marred by some smoke that had be blown in from a fire in the area. The smoke arrived just before we got there. Otherwise the day was the clearest yet.
Temperatures started out in the low 70s. After we came down from Hells Canyon and reached the lower elevations, the temperatures got back up into the mid 90's even hitting 98 one time.
Pictures will be posted later.
The start of the day
I was wrong about the guard rails
Riding to Hells Canyon
Riding in Hells Canyon
The Fire (to the West of us). This is not a cloud, its smoke.
Any, the trip was good. We started out of Lewiston, Idaho on Route 129. This road is carved into the side of the high hills leading out of Lewiston to the north west. There are no guard rails. There are sheer drops off the road that go down 100s of feet. Its not for the faith of heart and its a very thrilling ride. It makes the Tail of the Dragon in North Carolina look tame. Its not the sharp turns. Its not the 22 miles of sharp turns and hairpins. Its the combination of all of the above and the sheer drop-offs.
You look down and see the road you climbed up the mountain. The are no trees to speak of. Just grass and rocks.
We had lunch at the Cheyenne Café in Joseph, Oregon. We eat outside in the shade on the sidewalk. It was a very good Lunch. We also found a nice place for breakfast in Lewiston. The Bait Shop was a little hole in the wall that serves one heck of a breakfast.
After lunch we headed to Hells Canyon. I must say, it was a bit of a disappointment. The road was in poor shape (the one that leads to the Hells Canyon Overlook and then back down. The road, like the one of Lewiston, has no guard rails and drop offs. However, the area is covered with firs and as such you have no view of the area you are riding through. Those two things take away from the ride.
The Hells Canyon Overlook is very impressive. Its like a small version of the Grand Canyon.
We ended up the day following the Snake River out of Oxford Oregon until we got to Ontario. We left the Snake about 10 or 15 miles before we got to Ontario.
The view form the Hells Canyon Overlook was marred by some smoke that had be blown in from a fire in the area. The smoke arrived just before we got there. Otherwise the day was the clearest yet.
Temperatures started out in the low 70s. After we came down from Hells Canyon and reached the lower elevations, the temperatures got back up into the mid 90's even hitting 98 one time.
Pictures will be posted later.
The start of the day
I was wrong about the guard rails
Riding to Hells Canyon
Riding in Hells Canyon
The Fire (to the West of us). This is not a cloud, its smoke.
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