The Longest Day

[MikeO]

1st July 2015

After several fruitless hours trying to get the Wi-Fi to work, I give up and read a book for a while, whilst the air conditioner wheezes asthmatically. I eventually doze off and sleep relatively well.

I decide to give the complimentary breakfast a miss, load up the bike and I'm heading up the Beartooth Pass before 0800...

For the first time in days it feels cool, and I stop and zip up the vents in my jacket...

The road surface is virtually new and I have the road to myself - life is very good indeed...

I start the climb up towards the pass...

...the road is cut into the side of the mountain and I wonder at the motivation that got this built in the first place...

It's a steep climb and I can feel my ears popping regularly as the pressure equalises...

What a way to start a day...

I catch the occasional glance of the road I've just ridden - a tiny ribbon on the valley floor far below...

I stop at an overlook - the local wildlife are clearly used to being fed by tourists - but my God they are fast - I got several pictures of where they'd been before getting lucky with this snap...

Onward!

Well above the treeline now, there are long poles planted to give the snowplough driver a clue as to where the road is...

I remember being here - in August, if I remember correctly - in a blizzard...

I'm glad I set off early - when the road gets full of RVs, it becomes a pain to ride - as it is, only the radius of the next bend, or the grandeur of the next view governs my speed...

...and the sneaking suspicion (unfounded as it turns out) that a Wyoming State Trooper might be coming the other way...

I reach the summit - the last time I was at this altitude the captain had just told us to return our tray tables to the upright position...

I start the long descent towards Cooke City...

...the road surface actually gets better...

Can you see my grin through the visor?

The slope starts levelling off...

There's a dusting of wild flowers over the lush greenery of the alpine meadows...

That's a really pointy mountain, isn't it?

Back down amongst the trees...

I enter Cooke City and refuel the bike...

...and, on the recommendation of the chap behind the till, stop at The Bistro...

...for some light refreshment and excellent coffee.

I waddle back out to the bike and set off out of town...

...and a few miles down the road come to the North East entrance to Yellowstone National Park...

...to which my Parks Pass I bought at Glacier gives me free entrance...

I ride into the park...

...still all but deserted...

Now there's something about Yellowstone...

...that affects me unlike any other place I've visited.

It simply makes me glad to be alive.

I reflect on how lucky I am to be able to do this...

...and that, perhaps I should switch to decaff...

Traffic is starting to increase - particularly the dreaded rental RVs...

...but it's still a beautiful day...

...and getting warmer - I reopen the vents in my jacket...

I exit the park by the Western entrance. Unusually I have seen little wildlife today (some herds of bison and a few antelope - but all far from the road) - I will be revisiting, though, so I expect to see some more then...

I join the 191 North towards Bozeman, where I have a room booked today, and am delayed by more roadworks (they have to get all road repairs done in the summer - the winters here are cold)...

Pretty soon the speed limit is upped to 70mph - I have a spirited ride north.

I go to take a drink from my CamelBack to find the bite valve has gone missing. No matter - as I come into Bozeman I find a small sporting goods store. They don't stock CamelBack, but they draw me a map to show me where REI is...

...and they supply the exact piece for $6. Imagine having that degree of customer service in the UK...

I arrive at the Hampton Inn and I am quickly checked in, unloaded, connected to Wi-Fi (with no problems at all

) and turning the AC to Neptune...

What an absolutely brilliant day...

 

[dubster]

Enjoying this, please keep it coming. Last photo is a stunner :

 

[Jonno58]

Another great start to the day 'at the desk' reading this latest report Mike O, laughed at the Altitude/Return Table comment, keep em coming!

 

[Nutty]

Some stunning pictures there Mike, you really are very lucky to be over there.

As Micky says, it's never been top of my list of places to ride, but seeing those photos, it's a country I'd like to see more of, by bike.

 

[UturnTony]

Great pictures Mike which brought back great memories of last year. We went from Cooke City (which we loved) over the Beartooth (it was blowing a hooligan up there and was a bit scary) over to Red Lodge ( lovely place) where we spent an hour or so then back over the pass (scary again) turning left at the bottom for The Chief Joseph Highway which was another stunning ride. I absolutely loved Montanna "The Big Sky State". Keep the report coming

Oh. yes, the little critter. They are always there. A group of Harley riders turned up in that pull off while we were there and were toting bags of peanuts for them

 

[Andy B]

Great pictures Mike which brought back great memories of last year. We went from Cooke City (which we loved) over the Beartooth (it was blowing a hooligan up there and was a bit scary) over to Red Lodge ( lovely place) where we spent an hour or so then back over the pass (scary again) turning left at the bottom for The Chief Joseph Highway which was another stunning ride. I absolutely loved Montanna "The Big Sky

Great memories Tony one of my favourite days of the trip that, especially Chief Joseph Highway

 

[wreck diver]

Superb pics,that last one is amazing that's what you call a reflection .

 

[MikeO]

2nd July 2015

Taking a day off today (still not 100% over the stomach bug, I think). I'm going to stay here for a few days and do some local travelling - well not really local

Plus there's apparently a top fireworks display right next door on Saturday night

Having too much free time makes my mind wander as to how the Kitchen and Bathroom projects are going - I have told the builder not to contact me even if things go wrong (like the wall they're taking out turns out to be a supporting one after all ), so at least I'll not have anything spoiling the trip...

Still a few cars and aircraft unidentified - any more guesses?

 

[Ash]

Superb as usual Mike.....

 

[shuck raider]

If you're there for a day or two, have a look at the Museum of the Rockies, dinosaur heaven

Also Ferraro's Italian & Steak Restaurant on N 7th Ave is good.

Oh, and Over Easy on Main St is the best breakfast diner in the town

 

[MikeO]

 

[GSAMark]

Red Lodge, Beartooth pass and Cooke City along with Yellowstone bring back some fantastic memories of one of Bilcos' trips last year for me..... excellent ride report, keep it coming

 

[GSAMark]

Great memories Tony one of my favourite days of the trip that, especially Chief Joseph Highway

Sadly me & Jo didn't get to do the Chief Joseph highway but did the Little Big Horn instead. You can't do it all!

 

[2 wheel humvee]

2nd July 2015



Still a few cars and aircraft unidentified - any more guesses?

The blue one is a Buick, a Skylark maybe?
The Green Car on the trailer is a 55 Chevy Bel Air, errr I think, where is Schtum when you need him?
Enjoying the report Mike keep it coming

 

[notadrop]

Canadair CT133 Silver Star

 

[notadrop]

Avro Canada CF100 Canuck

 

[MikeO]

3rd July 2015

After a day off the bike yesterday - some of which was spent researching the market in dog ice cream - I decide to have a bit of a long distance dash today.

It is forecast to be warm today - so I want to be back in my nicely chilled room by mid-afternoon.

The alarm call comes in at 0528 and I stumble into the shower, get kitted up and walk out to the bike, deciding to skip the breakfast the slightly bleary-eyed hotel staff are setting out...

I am travelling light - just the tank bag and the seat cover thing (madness not to)...

I'm on the Interstate 90 before the sun has risen - it's a beautiful morning, cool and with a hint of mist rising off the fields...

The sun pokes its head over the mountains and the mackerel clouds begin to thin and dissipate as it gets warmer. The speed limit here is 75mph - a very comfortable cruise for the Adv - and with little traffic I easily cover 100 miles in the first 90 minutes or so, before the need for caffeine takes me to a MacDonald's of all places...

There really was nowhere else.

Back on the Interstate and the irrigators are getting to work on the fields to my right.

I turn south, towards the Wyoming State Line, and spot this old gent sunning himself in a field...

Any guesses?

I stop for fuel at about 0930 at Lovell, Wyoming...

...and then arrive at the Museum of Flight and Aerial Firefighting at Greybull at about 1015.

I pay my $2 entrance fee to Marcia...

...who is the sole member of staff on duty and has only recently started work there. She was unable to supply much information, sadly.

I first came across this museum completely by accident in 2006. It was a very different place then - my report on it is here...

These beautiful old WW2 bombers are PB4Y Privateers - a version of the B24 Liberator specially adapted for low level shipping attack. Until I saw the huge fin of one sticking above the fence in 2006, I had no idea any were still flying. There is a further connection - my late father was writing a book at the time on the history of the Liberator in RAF and Commonwealth Service, and I well remember the phone call I made to him the next day telling him about what I'd found and that there were a couple of hundred pictures heading his way. He was delighted.

Then there were a huge array of aircraft - and an old boy called Ralph, who was the same age as my father, but had flown these old aircraft for over 350hrs the previous year, who gave you the guided tour - laced with may tales. It was great.

Unfortunately, even as Ralph was showing me around in 2006, the company was being wound up. This was as a result of two fatal crashes a year or so earlier - these birds no longer fly...

I wondered whether the pretty little Beech 18 might be being restored, as its rudders had been removed...

...but alas, I don't think it will be taking to the air again...

All in all there are now just five aircraft on display...

Although, tantalisingly, across the airfield, a graveyard of old warbirds are bleaching in the sun...

I can see C130s, Neptunes and a Stratocruiser there. Marcia tells me that the museum is trying to acquire some of them (they are all privately owned), but can't tell me more.

Time to go - it has been a disappointing visit - I hope they can regain some of the spark that Ralph lent to the place...

It's now pretty warm - 91F according to the first electronic thermometer I see...

I make tracks retracing my route from the morning.

I stop at a red light in the town of Lovell (where I refuelled earlier) and, as it turns green, a couple of young lads in a dark blue car screech off the line and disappear. I have no idea what they were trying to achieve, but a quarter of a mile further on, I see them explaining it to the Big Horn County Deputy Sheriff...

Onward!

I see lots of bikes - mostly ridden by people dressed as pirates, but occasionally as spacemen...

Aha! Old cars...

The blue one is easy - what about the ugly stepsisters hiding under the tree?

I wonder if anyone on the production line had any inkling what might eventually happen to this Midget?

I am overheating and decide to stop at Fat Fender Freddy's restaurant...

...where the lovely (if a little over made-up and tattooed) Marie brings me a Reuben and a baked potato...

...and a huge glass of lemonade...

Onward!

I'm soon back on the I90, heading west. I've noticed this odd arrangement around the rear door of trucks here...

...and I assume it improves aerodynamics...

I make good progress and it's a little cooler now. The fuel light comes on 28 miles from the hotel and I play chicken with it all the way home...

I get back to the hotel at 1445 - it's 84F here, but cool and dark in my room - 480 miles...

 

[dubster]

Am only slightly jealous, you lucky bastard

Remember getting in a stratofortress cockpit when I was about 7 and thinking it couldn't get any better!

Enjoy the trip and keep it coming please

 

[MikeO]

View attachment 285099

Canadair CT133 Silver Star

Avro Canada CF100 Canuck

 

[MikeO]

The blue one is a Buick, a Skylark maybe?
The Green Car on the trailer is a 55 Chevy Bel Air, errr I think, where is Schtum when you need him?
Enjoying the report Mike keep it coming

1957 I think Steve...

You're going to have to narrow it down further than 'the blue one'...