Denver to San Fran via 2 Potatoes

Nemo · Sep 1, 2019

Decided to make the trip that I'd ben promising myself and after getting a "Pink Chit" it all fell in to place quite quickly. I flew my bike to Denver in June using Motofreight at Heathrow (great people - very helpful), picked up my bike and headed off.
I wanted to see and experience roads that I'd driven on and also to visit some Roadside America that I'd seen years ago in a book of the same name (no longer in print). The one that stuck in my mind as being the most potentially dull artefact was a giant model potato in Idaho. I factored this in to my plan and then discovered there was an even bigger spud on the back of a truck doing the rounds of the USA. I was hooked. I changed my itinerary just so that I could meet up with the "Tater Truck" just before leaving San Francisco.

I planned 250 to 300 miles a day so that I had plenty of time to explore - also this was a holiday not an Iron Butt. Day 1 included paperwork/uncrating my bike/stuck in traffic in Denver/ride to Salida.

Nemo · Sep 1, 2019

Day 2 & 3

Salida was OK but I was too tired to enjoy it. My bad back had caused me a few problems while unpacking the bike in 30degC plus so I crashed out, but was much better the next day. Not quite what could be said of breakfast at "Boogies" it looked pre-chewed but was OK. The fact that the young waitress was gorgeous had nothing to do with my ordering it! Headed off via a ski resort (Wolf Creek) still with snow and snow-melt putting gravel over most of the corners.

Nemo · Sep 1, 2019

Durango to Ouray

Next step was the Million Dollar Highway and I had driven it in rain and thick cloud. WOW! this was ace in the sunshine. Stopped at Silverton where the narrow-gauge steam train goes to and then on wards. If you dont like steep (vertical!) drop-offs and hairpins then this is not the road for you. Plus the local roads people had just sealed large patches of the road and dumped gravel on top. I'm sorry if this is a bit lacking in photos but I was enjoying myself so much I didn't want to stop for photos. Also - if every time I say an amazing view I had stopped I'd still be there now!

Nemo · Sep 1, 2019

Ouray to Moab

I was up early on day 3 and it was freezing! Really was! So I headed off as the sun came up. An oncoming car alerted me to a dead Elk in the road - it was huge, if i'd hit that there would have been no more holiday. Eventually I stopped at Roosters in Naturita. The roads had been ace and these guys were just opening up. Tristan ran the place and if you need an excuse to go there his breakfast crepes are awesome! Slightly creepy were the 3 crosses in a field in the middle of no-where. I took a picture and headed off quickly before the guys in white sheets arrived! There was a bit of a theme opening up about the roads. There would be a long straight that slowly descended in to a valley and then the road would rapidly climb out via switchbacks. I was loving it.

Nemo · Sep 1, 2019

Canyonlands

I've been to North Canyonlands (Island in the Sky) so this time I went to South Canyonlands on the way to Moab. A dull road lead across a dull landscape and then - it just got awesome. Sheer cliffs, amazing scenery and in the photo with lots of sky - you can see Island in the Sky, and those cliffs are 1900 feet high. It was 33degC and by the time I got to Moab I was ready for beer and bed!

Nemo · Sep 1, 2019

Out of the canyons

If you go to Moab you have to ride the Red River Canyon. I was up early and caught the sun on the rocks. My photos don't do it justice.

Nemo · Sep 1, 2019

On to Cody

Day 4 and 5 were to take me to Cody in Wyoming via other pieces of Roadside Americana. Over the Douglas pass where I was chased by a guy on a Harley who looked like he would die on every bend. I upped the pace and he faded but I met up with him later at a Gas stn and it turned out he just wanted to see my number plate as he'd never seen one from Alaska before :blast

. The town of Dinosaur showed a distict lack of realisation about Dinosaurs, evolution and Bible classes. It also seemed to have a very good Dinosaur dentist as the gnashers on this thing looked very well done.

Tractors are go · Sep 1, 2019

Thank you for posting.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

Nemo · Sep 1, 2019

Pink Dino

I knew there was a pink dinosaur outside Vernal, but I was surprised at just how big and how pink! Now a big disappointment - I knew there was a wide 4 lane highway after Vernal that wound its way up through the hills vis 10 (I think) sweeping switchbacks. I was looking forward to it. As I arrived at the bottom of the hill my sense of smell alerted me to pig-sh*t all over the road. Ahead of me and snaking up the hill were several USA sized lorries carrying pigs and at each corner they were sloshing manure everywhere. Plus their tyres were turning it in to a nice (?) mist of crap. Whatever! I managed to get past the last lorry just after the last hairpin but it wasn't the sort of fun I had hoped for

. At last to Cody wher I planned to stay for 2 nights.

Nemo · Sep 1, 2019

Thanks Tractors are Go

Old Codger · Sep 1, 2019

Thanks for that did you manage to get your bike insured out there ?

Nemo · Sep 1, 2019

Cody

3 reasons I wanted to be in Cody. One - I like it here. Two - the Cody museum of the Wect and firearms exhibit is ace. Three - I can go to a range and scare the crap out of some targets. I arrived at the museum and art gallery in time for the guided tour only to be told it was cancelled, so I played the "I'm a Brit who has come a long way to see you Maam" and all of a sudden I got an individual guided tour. What nice people. I love the art exhibits even though they are badly lit, and their collection of firearms is excellent. May seem strange to some people but I love chewing the fact about Colt Walkers, Spencers, Springfields etc and how their use in the US Civil War affected how the UK developed larger bore single shot rifles (Martini-Henry etc) to supress the Empire. Then off to the range where, after emptying my wallet, I came away happy after trying a Colt 45 1873, a Colt 1911 and a M1 Garand 30-06. Yee Harr

Nemo · Sep 1, 2019

To Yellowstone & on

After Cody I headed up in to Yellowstone. My photos and my words cannot express how incredible this place is. Also the roads (mostly) are ace. As I went higher in to the mountains I caught up with a car who did not want to let me past so he got faster and faster. I slowed down because I could see what was about to happen. On a narrow blind bend he went on to the wrong side of the road and then over corrected and fishtailed down the road, narrowly missing a cliff on one side and a drop-off on the other. He slowed down and waved me past! after summiting and see the temp gauge hit -1degC I started down in to the park proper. The road was fantastic and then..........4 mile of road works where the road had been dug up and left as mud. Freezing mud. OK, no choice, press on. But this wasn't helped by having people stop in the middle of the road to photograph the buffalo. I did not want to stop beside them. They are enormous and my skills on slippery surfaces are limited. Made it through OK without sliding too much and on to the road south that runs past the Teton Mountains to Jackson.

GSchaser · Sep 1, 2019

Great write up and photos thanks for sharing

Nutty · Sep 1, 2019

Nemo · Sep 1, 2019

First potato

Approaching Jackson I got caught in Roadworks and as filtering is illegal I ended up riding alongside a Brit from Leicester (?) on another BMW.. Good to have a chat. After Jackson the road was fantastic but the weather turned very windy and very gusty. It was not pleasant so I slowed down and made my way to Blackfoot Idaho and the potato museum. I learned that the original large model potato that had been on a truck was now an AirB&B, but it was too far away. I contented myself with the museum. I now knew more about potatoes than I thought possible and my Irish roots were very happy :aidan

Nemo · Sep 1, 2019

mollies

After so much potato based excitement I headed south and, ignoring my GPS, I went across country on smaller roads. Eventually I ended up in Mollies eatery where the all day breakfast probably had enough calories to last several days. I liked this place. The young cowboy at the counter was trying to chat up the waitress and was really proud that the last time he got kicked by a bull he didn't break any ribs - just bruised them. The guy behind me was boasting that he managed to punch 43 holes in his trailer before his hand gave way. And the family that arrived in 2 massive pick-ups were making sure that they has sufficient extra side orders because they didn't want to go hungry. I actually felt very relaxed here.

Nemo · Sep 1, 2019

Close call

Heading further south on my way to West Wendover a vague feeling of unease came upon me. I stopped and watched a B-ONE bomber line up for the nearby ranges, and realised that I had about 30 seconds to prevent "an embarrassment". I was through the fence and behind the dead tree in a flash and, without caring for passing traffic, I managed to rapidly lose a lot of weight. I only post this because if you are going touring then at some stage it may happen to you too. A few minutes and a couple of Dia-calm tablets later I was on my way. Happy days!!

Nemo · Sep 1, 2019

West Wendover

To the nort of West Wendover is Wendover Will who welcomes those who come to gamble in the casinos that are built as close to the Utah border as possible. This is so that the good people of Salt Lake City can quadruple the population of the town every weekend as they come to lose their money. Like most places there are other stories. This was the biggest bomber crew training centre for the USAAF in WW2 and the hangar where they prepared the Enola-Gay is still in existence. And of course, there are the Bonnieville Salt Flats. Apart from the fact that in June they were flooded, 1 foot deep for miles and miles. But making a spctacular sight. The roads here weren't exactly inspiring but the experience of riding on them was so different to the UK that it was still an experience to be appreciated.

Nemo · Sep 1, 2019

Latest map

From Cody to West Wendover. Cody to Swan Valley = excellent. After that a bit meh!

Denver to San Fran via 2 Potatoes

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