Pacific North West National Parks and Yellowstone September 2014

[Sgt Bilco]

Has anyone completed the Bilco trip challenge of ordering a breakfast without the waitress asking a question yet this year?

No, not even me

Some big cold fronts coming in for the northern states and Canada so I'm told and we have been quite lucky with timing or is that skill and experience? California will just be bang on in October though.

 

[Jon]

No, not even me

Some big cold fronts coming in for the northern states and Canada so I'm told and we have been quite lucky with timing or is that skill and experience? California will just be bang on in October though.

For shame Christopher

Righto, 2 weeks out & back to LA by the looks of it Probably have a be an Eaglerider jobbie tho

 

[boatman]

Will that be on one of those HARDLY MOVING thingies ?

 

[Jon]

Might have to be (take your pic)

Anyway, enough of the thread hijack, more pics Chris

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Finished the trip today. 5,300 miles of motorcycling nirvana. A massive 'Thank you' to Christopher for everything.
"You. Make. Me. Sick!"

 

[tenyamman]

Well done to everyone and cant wait to see pics when you're home and uploaded them all ....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Apologies for being about 2 weeks behind on this but riding, eating and drinking beer have taken over!! Anyhow......the story continues.

After Waterton, we head south over the border to the good old US of A and very excellent and picturesque Glacier National Park which is very alpine in appearance. Again, views to die for in the early morning!! At the very small Chief Mountain border crossing, we encounter the usual humourless border guard but no problems. In the parking area, we came across 2 guys loading these mules with fencing material. They were working 7 miles deep in to the forest and reckoned it was still one of the best ways to get in and out. Also, there is zero environmental damage and no scaring of the grizzly population in the forests. They were government workers and loved their jobs and who wouldn't I guess.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

We normally have an incident or two in the park i.e Skygod bouncing his helmet and go pro down the road and a wheels falling off 1150's but nothing this time. The only issue came at our regular breakfast stop which had closed for the season but we found a better one with the best views from a cafe I've seen for a long time.

A real quirky little place and they even serve tree huggers out here......

 

[newboy]

Sent from my gadget using wires n string n stuff

 

[Sgt Bilco]

So, Glacier was as pretty as ever in the glorious sunshine. Our luck had held over from Canada because this was blocked with snow the week before we got there!! Still plenty of evidence but the temps were in the mid 20's for us.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

More from Glacier and check out the crystal clear water from the snow melt and the little buses for the tourist trips!

 

[Sgt Bilco]

After Glacier, we always stay in a small town called Hungry Horse where we have a brilliant BBQ ands the finest steaks you'll find anywhere on this planet. Grass fed Montana beef and I've even know vegetarians almost turn at the sight of these beauties. Lot's of beer and laughs make for a brilliant evening.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Away early with slightly thick heads down through Montana. What a stunning place this is and you just down't realise the scale and vastness. Pictures can't portray it but after a week or so in the Rockies, it seemed bloody huge and thank god for milkshake stops to cool down in the heat of the prairie!!

 

[Sgt Bilco]

We arrived at a little town called Ennis and checked in to another quirky little place. Cheap and comfortable and kept us dry from the massive thunderstorm over night!! A bit wet starting the next day but no bother and the breakfast stop in West yellowstone was superb. Doctors and those on diets look away now

 

[Sgt Bilco]

And so in to Yellowstone National Park. If you have been there, you will know what a weird place it is with the odd views and smells!! We caught it just after the main holiday season so the roads were quieter than normal but still busy. This coupled with weather from blazing sunshine to navy rain and thunderstorms didn't make for good pictures but I'm sure a few people will have better ones than mine. Great place though and well worth fighting through the crowds, cold and rain........thank god for heated jackets!!

 

[Sgt Bilco]

A few more of Yellowstone. Just a word on the Bison in the park. They are bloody enormous and it makes you realise how vulnerable you are on 2 wheels! When one of the big bulls casts his eye in your direction, it's a case of easing it into gear and clearing off.........................

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Very glad to get in to the motel at Cooke City and a bit of warmth. Cracking view from the motel even when it threw it down with rain......again!!

Luckily, the local saloon was a short hop across the road and great local beer, monstrous pizzas and the most miserable barman in the US made for an excellent night

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Straight from huge pizza's the night before, we hit the Beartooth pass in beautiful if slightly cool weather. I don't know of a road anywhere else I've been which makes you feel you are riding on top of the world. It just keeps twisting and climbing to 11,000ft and back down again to Red Lodge. Yu have to be very careful because they don't fit big barriers and there are 200ft drops straight off the side which get your attention!! The day before it has been socked in with cloud and rain so good fortune favoured us.......again!!

 

[Sgt Bilco]

After scaring yourself silly on the Beartooth Pass, both ways, we come to what in my opinion is possibly the finest road anywhere on the planet. It's called the Chief Joseph Highway or the Dead Indian Highway and it has everything from twisty and perfectly cambered corners, lovely sweeping bands, views to die for in every direction which leave you speechless, all manner places to stop and just take it in and almost zero traffic as most people seem to bypass it.

I rode it way back in 2005 and remember being blown away by it so bigged it up to everyone on the trip. My memory hadn't failed me and it was as stunning as I remember and for a lot of people it was one of the highlights of the trip. Again, mere pictures cannot show what a fantastic place it is. If you are ever in this area on a bike, in a car or an RV, just make sure you get on it.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

between the Beartooth and Chief Joseph, we had a quick stop in the cracking little of Red lodge to enjoy a milk shake or choice of 150 teas. I chose the milkshake as it was a warm morning!!

A couple more of the Beartooth to get you salivating........