It was late June and I wasn't looking forward to July 22 as I would turn 70 that day. Friends and family were asking what were my plans, could they have a party for me, etc. I finally said "Thanks for the offers but I think I'll just go on a ride, by myself."
Over the years, when working, we would ride to Colorado, Montana, Utah, etc., to go through Yellowstone or Glacier National Parks, or just ride the Rockies. But with limited vacation time we always rushed across and back through the central States usually on interstate highways. For this solo trip my plan was to ride through some of those States predominately on small 2-lane roads. Starting in Clifton Mills, WV my ride would be northwest up through Ohio and Michigan, across Mackinaw to Michigan Upper Peninsula, west across Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, to the northwest corner of Montana. Then south through Montana, Idaho to return across Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, to WV.
This map obviously doesn't show the small roads but it was basically as highlighted, counter clockwise starting from the eastern most point.
I debated between two bikes, my V85TT or 2022 Honda Goldwing, finally deciding on the Goldwing and I think it was a good choice. The Goldwing is stock other than a rear rack and centre stand and with only 1,927 miles tires were good and oil had been changed at 1,100. I took my 1-piece Roadcrafter suit for rain and cool, and a BMW Air jacket for hot conditions, camping gear, tools, tyre pump, a few changes of clothes, and lots of maps. I ended up camping 4 nights and staying in "budget motels" 7.
The terrain varied back and forth the whole trip from hilly to flat, and close to sea level to over 3,000 meters, and lush green to dry. I stopped at practically every road side "historic sign" along the way.
The Goldwing was delightful on such a ride and it never dipped below 40 mpg, typically 43-45. I think the heat and some of the rough chip seal roads contributed to the rear tyre wearing out at 6,700 miles but I was fortunate to find a Honda dealer along my route back on a Saturday morning to change it. The front made the whole trip, the bike now has 8,056 miles. The ride totaled 6,129 miles over 12 days. Speed limits were generally 60, 65, or 70 mph on the 2-lanes, 4-lanes 70-80 mph. I generally set the cruise about 7 over but when there was no one in sight would wick it up a little. The fastest I saw was about 110 just to do it but the bike often just purred along at 85 to 90. Anyway a few pics I took along the way.
Ohio I saw this place selling little mini trucks, not all that muck bigger than the Goldwing!
There are a lot of campgrounds in Michigan's U.P. This was my second night.
From the side of Rt 2 across southern U.P. looking at Lake Michigan.
This was in a small town (I believe in North Dakota).
Later that evening a car arrived so there were 2 of us at this motel in Sterling N.D. When I called ahead to reserve she said she wouldn't be around but "room 7 will be unlocked with the key laying on the bed, make yourself at home and I'll catch up with you later.
Hard to grasp the size of some of these farmers buildings. Those trucks you can barely see beside it are large 18 wheel freight trucks. After seeing these I decided my thought of having a 24' x 36' metal building constructed beside my garage is not excessive!
I took this stone road for 30 miles or so and only saw one pick up truck.
I'm not sure what the significance of these were along a road?
I looked it up and I believe Amidon has a population of 21 people.
Another road I took near Bowman ND. I guess these two cars ran off the road years ago and they just left them.
Crossed into Montana on a hot July 24th. Temperature (left gauge) showed 105f, later hit 107. It was 102 at 7pm when I pulled into a motel. This was the hottest day of the trip.
The following day just making time across eastern Montana.
30 minutes of rising elevation later it's cooler, more green, and even a few trees.
Later that afternoon.
The following day and higher elevation.
That night at a State campground near Whitefish Montana.
The following morning.
I took this pic for scale to show how large the rows of large square stacks of hay bales are, I believe it was 2 rows deep. This was not even one of the large rows but it was accessible to park the bike beside.
Idaho
Later in Idaho up where the Salmon River begins.
Some more straight roads, this one in Wyoming, that I find fascinating because there's just nothing like them in West Virginia.
Having the rear tyre replaced. This "Honda" dealer in Nebraska also sells Kubota and Bobcat tractors, chain saws, side by sides, etc. so I enjoyed browsing while he worked on my bike. The 200 series Dunlop tyre (the same as what I had) was expensive at $320 but total labour was a reasonable $41.
Later that day after my new tyre at a State campground in Nebraska.
And a bourbon over ice in my plastic wine glass.
North Platte Nebraska golden spike tourist attraction for supposedly the worlds largest rail yard. There were hundreds of locomotives as far as I could see and I son't know how many tracks. I don't know why I didn't take a pic of it?
Monday morning at 6am in south western Iowa . I just left the motel and was still riding in a storm with a lot of lightening but it was clear ahead and the sun was coming up. I was able to stay ahead of it and by 11 the front had passed to the south.
30 minutes later this is looking west toward the gray sky with the sun coming up from behind.
The rolling road was state Rt 2 which goes the entire width of Iowa near the bottom and was delightful. At the eastern end near Illinois I decided that rather than getting a motel somewhere in Indiana or Ohio that evening I'd just ride another 5 and get home at 11:30.
Over the years, when working, we would ride to Colorado, Montana, Utah, etc., to go through Yellowstone or Glacier National Parks, or just ride the Rockies. But with limited vacation time we always rushed across and back through the central States usually on interstate highways. For this solo trip my plan was to ride through some of those States predominately on small 2-lane roads. Starting in Clifton Mills, WV my ride would be northwest up through Ohio and Michigan, across Mackinaw to Michigan Upper Peninsula, west across Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, to the northwest corner of Montana. Then south through Montana, Idaho to return across Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, to WV.
This map obviously doesn't show the small roads but it was basically as highlighted, counter clockwise starting from the eastern most point.
I debated between two bikes, my V85TT or 2022 Honda Goldwing, finally deciding on the Goldwing and I think it was a good choice. The Goldwing is stock other than a rear rack and centre stand and with only 1,927 miles tires were good and oil had been changed at 1,100. I took my 1-piece Roadcrafter suit for rain and cool, and a BMW Air jacket for hot conditions, camping gear, tools, tyre pump, a few changes of clothes, and lots of maps. I ended up camping 4 nights and staying in "budget motels" 7.
The terrain varied back and forth the whole trip from hilly to flat, and close to sea level to over 3,000 meters, and lush green to dry. I stopped at practically every road side "historic sign" along the way.
The Goldwing was delightful on such a ride and it never dipped below 40 mpg, typically 43-45. I think the heat and some of the rough chip seal roads contributed to the rear tyre wearing out at 6,700 miles but I was fortunate to find a Honda dealer along my route back on a Saturday morning to change it. The front made the whole trip, the bike now has 8,056 miles. The ride totaled 6,129 miles over 12 days. Speed limits were generally 60, 65, or 70 mph on the 2-lanes, 4-lanes 70-80 mph. I generally set the cruise about 7 over but when there was no one in sight would wick it up a little. The fastest I saw was about 110 just to do it but the bike often just purred along at 85 to 90. Anyway a few pics I took along the way.
Ohio I saw this place selling little mini trucks, not all that muck bigger than the Goldwing!
There are a lot of campgrounds in Michigan's U.P. This was my second night.
From the side of Rt 2 across southern U.P. looking at Lake Michigan.
This was in a small town (I believe in North Dakota).
Later that evening a car arrived so there were 2 of us at this motel in Sterling N.D. When I called ahead to reserve she said she wouldn't be around but "room 7 will be unlocked with the key laying on the bed, make yourself at home and I'll catch up with you later.
Hard to grasp the size of some of these farmers buildings. Those trucks you can barely see beside it are large 18 wheel freight trucks. After seeing these I decided my thought of having a 24' x 36' metal building constructed beside my garage is not excessive!
I took this stone road for 30 miles or so and only saw one pick up truck.
I'm not sure what the significance of these were along a road?
I looked it up and I believe Amidon has a population of 21 people.
Another road I took near Bowman ND. I guess these two cars ran off the road years ago and they just left them.
Crossed into Montana on a hot July 24th. Temperature (left gauge) showed 105f, later hit 107. It was 102 at 7pm when I pulled into a motel. This was the hottest day of the trip.
The following day just making time across eastern Montana.
30 minutes of rising elevation later it's cooler, more green, and even a few trees.
Later that afternoon.
The following day and higher elevation.
That night at a State campground near Whitefish Montana.
The following morning.
I took this pic for scale to show how large the rows of large square stacks of hay bales are, I believe it was 2 rows deep. This was not even one of the large rows but it was accessible to park the bike beside.
Idaho
Later in Idaho up where the Salmon River begins.
Some more straight roads, this one in Wyoming, that I find fascinating because there's just nothing like them in West Virginia.
Having the rear tyre replaced. This "Honda" dealer in Nebraska also sells Kubota and Bobcat tractors, chain saws, side by sides, etc. so I enjoyed browsing while he worked on my bike. The 200 series Dunlop tyre (the same as what I had) was expensive at $320 but total labour was a reasonable $41.
Later that day after my new tyre at a State campground in Nebraska.
And a bourbon over ice in my plastic wine glass.
North Platte Nebraska golden spike tourist attraction for supposedly the worlds largest rail yard. There were hundreds of locomotives as far as I could see and I son't know how many tracks. I don't know why I didn't take a pic of it?
Monday morning at 6am in south western Iowa . I just left the motel and was still riding in a storm with a lot of lightening but it was clear ahead and the sun was coming up. I was able to stay ahead of it and by 11 the front had passed to the south.
30 minutes later this is looking west toward the gray sky with the sun coming up from behind.
The rolling road was state Rt 2 which goes the entire width of Iowa near the bottom and was delightful. At the eastern end near Illinois I decided that rather than getting a motel somewhere in Indiana or Ohio that evening I'd just ride another 5 and get home at 11:30.
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