The day started with a nice cool ride south on US 95 in Idaho. The road was sparsely traveled, with just us, a few cars, and some logging trucks. The morning ride was pleasant.
A couple of hours into the ride, we turned onto Idaho SR 60 with the intent on following state highways into Yakima, WA. As luck would have it, we (OK, I) missed the turn that would take us directly to WA SR 26. We stayed on WA SR 27 way too long and ended up having to find an alternate route to WA SR 26. The ride was beautiful, but it got really hot as the day progressed.
We had a great lunch in Colfax, WA, at a cute little coffee shop called Fonk's. The latte's were perfect and the sandwich was wonderful.
We picked up WA SR 26 in Colfax and headed west. That's when the temperature started climbing. By the time we stopped for a rest when we crossed US 395, someone at the Rest Area told us that the temperature was around 103°. Wonderful. We rode to the Pacific Northwest this year to avoid the <bleep>ing heat.
The haze in the air was more visible today. At times, Donna said she could smell the smoke in the air. We found a little relief as we rode WA SR 24 into Yakima. The farmers were watering a bunch of crops, so the air temperature seemed to drop accordingly. For a while, it was almost pleasant -- then we rode back into the virtual desert that is eastern Washington state. After a hot and nasty afternoon ride, we finally reached our hotel in Yakima around 6:30-ish.
A few things surprised me about Washington agriculture. First, I didn't realize that so much grain is grown in the state. We passed acre after acre after acre of wheat fields along WA SR 27. As we got closer to Yakima, we saw apple orchards galore. (Made us want an apple.) We also saw grape vineyards, corn fields, and some other kind of fruit that was supported on a vertical trellis.
Unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures today. It was too hot to want to stop much. I did get some video on the GoPro today, but I seem to be having problems getting the video to upload. I'll keep trying.
When we stopped in Yakima, we read the tragic news about Robin Williams. He was much loved and the world is a sadder place without his comedic genius.
Mileage today: 296.6
Jae's trip total: 2138.4
Donna's trip total: 2139.6
Monday, August 11, 2014
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Day 9: A Change in Plans
Last night we planned our route from Butte, MT, to Coeur d'Alene, ID. We planned to ride the Interstate to Missoula and turn north on US 93, then turn west onto MT 200.
Well, I opened my T-Bag to grab a change of clothes this morning and discovered that the rain fly is water resistant, not waterproof. All the clothes that I had washed and dried on Thursday were still wet from the baptism my bike got on Friday morning. <sigh>
We decided to hightail it to Coeur d'Alene on the Interstate instead of taking the scenic route. Pretty much everything I brought is in the hotel washer right now.
Anyway, today's ride was good, despite taking the highway. The haze from the fires in Washington kept us from seeing the mountains until we were climbing into them. We had virtually no wind, but the trucks were a little thick in places. We stopped at the 50,000 Silver Dollar gift shop on the Montana/Idaho border. We found a couple of new friends while we were there.
We are getting tired of the Interstate and are ready for a change of scenery. Tomorrow we plan to get off the Interstate around Spokane, WA, and take US-195 into Yakima, WA. I wonder if the haze will get worse the further into Washington we get. We were ready for a change of scenery today, but thought it more important to make sure my clothes weren't ruined.
Mileage today: 301.8
Jae's trip total: 1841.8
Donna's trip total: 1845.4
Well, I opened my T-Bag to grab a change of clothes this morning and discovered that the rain fly is water resistant, not waterproof. All the clothes that I had washed and dried on Thursday were still wet from the baptism my bike got on Friday morning. <sigh>
We decided to hightail it to Coeur d'Alene on the Interstate instead of taking the scenic route. Pretty much everything I brought is in the hotel washer right now.
Anyway, today's ride was good, despite taking the highway. The haze from the fires in Washington kept us from seeing the mountains until we were climbing into them. We had virtually no wind, but the trucks were a little thick in places. We stopped at the 50,000 Silver Dollar gift shop on the Montana/Idaho border. We found a couple of new friends while we were there.
A few miles later, we stopped at a Historical Marker just inside the Idaho state line to stretch our legs and take a few pictures.
Mileage today: 301.8
Jae's trip total: 1841.8
Donna's trip total: 1845.4
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Day 8: Figure the Odds
We managed to get a fairly (for us) early start today. We were fed, gassed up, and on the highway by 10:00 AM. The weather was a bit iffy at first. We had to stop a couple of times to add clothing. It might have a good thing we stopped when we did, because I think we managed to miss a pretty good downpour (judging by the amount of water that was on the road a few miles ahead of us).
Three hours or so after we left Sheridan, we turned west on I-90. Shortly after I-90 and I-94 split, I heard a car beeping and turned to see our friend Sharon (from North Dakota) waving at me. What a surprise! We knew she was heading to Portland, OR this week, but never dreamed we would find her on the road.
Sharon watched our backs until we jumped off the highway in Bozeman with the intent of getting a hotel room. Well, today was the day we decided to "play it by ear" and not call ahead for a room -- we could not find a room in Bozeman. So we called ahead to Butte and got a room a bit further up the road than we had originally planned.
The ride from Bozeman to Butte wasn't as bad as we thought it would be. I guess a lot of the traffic up to that point stopped in Bozeman. Yay us.
Mileage today: 374.0
Jae's trip total: 1540.0
Donna's trip total: 1546.1
Three hours or so after we left Sheridan, we turned west on I-90. Shortly after I-90 and I-94 split, I heard a car beeping and turned to see our friend Sharon (from North Dakota) waving at me. What a surprise! We knew she was heading to Portland, OR this week, but never dreamed we would find her on the road.
Sharon watched our backs until we jumped off the highway in Bozeman with the intent of getting a hotel room. Well, today was the day we decided to "play it by ear" and not call ahead for a room -- we could not find a room in Bozeman. So we called ahead to Butte and got a room a bit further up the road than we had originally planned.
The ride from Bozeman to Butte wasn't as bad as we thought it would be. I guess a lot of the traffic up to that point stopped in Bozeman. Yay us.
Mileage today: 374.0
Jae's trip total: 1540.0
Donna's trip total: 1546.1
Friday, August 8, 2014
Day 7: We Head West
Today started relatively early. We were up and packing before 8:00 AM (almost unheard of!). About an hour into the packing, we heard raindrops hit the top of the camper. Uh-oh.
Lin was head of us in packing her bike for the long ride home (no surprise there). She had her bike pretty much loaded by the time I finished folding the laundry that I had started the day before. Lin headed out about 10 to 15 minutes before the rain got serious.
I packed my T-Bag, stuffed my sleeping bag, and somehow managed to get them loaded on my bike and covered by the rain fly just in time for the sky to open up and dump about 3 inches of water on me and Donna in about an hour. We sat in the camper while the lightning and thunder boomed around us. At one point, we heard the bolt hit the ground with a sizzle, a pop, and a flash -- followed immediately by a loud CRACK!
That's my sleeping bag and T-Bag getting soaked on the red bike. :-\ The rain fly kept out some, but not all, of the rain.
We waited for a lull in the storm, then hurriedly packed the bikes and made our break. According to my weather app, it looked like we would be able to drive out of the storm. Sure enough, by the time we reached the Interstate, the rain had stopped and the only drops hitting us were the ones flying off the wet bikes.
We kept our rain gear on until we were sure we wouldn't run into any more rain -- in Sundance, WY. We had a nice lunch in Sundance, and hit the road once again.
I had made reservations at the KOA in Sheridan, WY, earlier in the day, and we arrived at our destination about 6:30 this evening. The ride was windy at times, but mostly the wind was at our backs pushing us along.
We want to give a great big thank you to Vieve and her family for putting up with us for the week. We really enjoyed staying with you and the kids. Thanks also to Sam for putting up with our intrusion. We will see you all again next year.
Mileage today: 277.0
Jae's trip total: 1166.0
Donna's trip total: 1175.1
Lin was head of us in packing her bike for the long ride home (no surprise there). She had her bike pretty much loaded by the time I finished folding the laundry that I had started the day before. Lin headed out about 10 to 15 minutes before the rain got serious.
I packed my T-Bag, stuffed my sleeping bag, and somehow managed to get them loaded on my bike and covered by the rain fly just in time for the sky to open up and dump about 3 inches of water on me and Donna in about an hour. We sat in the camper while the lightning and thunder boomed around us. At one point, we heard the bolt hit the ground with a sizzle, a pop, and a flash -- followed immediately by a loud CRACK!
That's my sleeping bag and T-Bag getting soaked on the red bike. :-\ The rain fly kept out some, but not all, of the rain.
We waited for a lull in the storm, then hurriedly packed the bikes and made our break. According to my weather app, it looked like we would be able to drive out of the storm. Sure enough, by the time we reached the Interstate, the rain had stopped and the only drops hitting us were the ones flying off the wet bikes.
We kept our rain gear on until we were sure we wouldn't run into any more rain -- in Sundance, WY. We had a nice lunch in Sundance, and hit the road once again.
I had made reservations at the KOA in Sheridan, WY, earlier in the day, and we arrived at our destination about 6:30 this evening. The ride was windy at times, but mostly the wind was at our backs pushing us along.
We want to give a great big thank you to Vieve and her family for putting up with us for the week. We really enjoyed staying with you and the kids. Thanks also to Sam for putting up with our intrusion. We will see you all again next year.
Mileage today: 277.0
Jae's trip total: 1166.0
Donna's trip total: 1175.1
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Day 6: Taking a Gamble
The weather was nice enough this morning that we decided to take a gamble and took a nice long ride today. We decided to ride Spearfish Canyon, then meet our friends Kristi and Ray in Deadwood.
Spearfish Canyon was a great ride, as usual. We stopped at Bridal Veil Falls for pictures. I used the GoPro as we rode the canyon, but still need to download and edit the video.
When we arrived in Deadwood, we talked to a group of folks from New Zealand. It was their first time at the Rally and they were enjoying the event. They were on a four-week holiday and making their way across the US.
We gambled a little while we waited for Kristi and Ray. I didn't do so well, I was down about $30 by the time we got the page for dinner. The machines insisted on eating my money.
After a wonderful dinner and great conversation at the Gem Casino with Kristi and Ray, we rode through Boulder Canyon into Sturgis then took the highway back "home". We arrived well after dark, and got to say hello to another almost-family member -- Chris (Genevieve's brother). It was good to see him.
So after almost a week in the Black Hills, we leave for the Pacific Northwest tomorrow. It should be an interesting ride. Hopefully we'll get out of here before the crack of noon, but somehow I doubt that will happen. <sigh>
Here's hoping for good weather in the days ahead.
Mileage today: 168.1
Jae's trip total: 889.0
Donna's trip total: 900.6
Spearfish Canyon was a great ride, as usual. We stopped at Bridal Veil Falls for pictures. I used the GoPro as we rode the canyon, but still need to download and edit the video.
When we arrived in Deadwood, we talked to a group of folks from New Zealand. It was their first time at the Rally and they were enjoying the event. They were on a four-week holiday and making their way across the US.
We gambled a little while we waited for Kristi and Ray. I didn't do so well, I was down about $30 by the time we got the page for dinner. The machines insisted on eating my money.
After a wonderful dinner and great conversation at the Gem Casino with Kristi and Ray, we rode through Boulder Canyon into Sturgis then took the highway back "home". We arrived well after dark, and got to say hello to another almost-family member -- Chris (Genevieve's brother). It was good to see him.
So after almost a week in the Black Hills, we leave for the Pacific Northwest tomorrow. It should be an interesting ride. Hopefully we'll get out of here before the crack of noon, but somehow I doubt that will happen. <sigh>
Here's hoping for good weather in the days ahead.
Mileage today: 168.1
Jae's trip total: 889.0
Donna's trip total: 900.6
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Day 5: Quiet Day
We didn't do much today. The weather was still kind of yucky until around sunset. We took off late this morning and my boots and chaps were still damp. We managed to get back down to the Harley dealership to pick up my sunglasses and a few other odds and ends that we had forgotten before.
The threat of rain kept us close to the campsite. Staying in gave me a chance to play with the GoPro Studio software. I think I just about have it figured out. Now I am just waiting on the computer to process the clips that I prepared. With luck, I will have a clip for you in tomorrow's blog. This laptop is a bit slow to process.
Mileage today: 42.6
Jae's trip total: 720.9
Donna's trip total: 734.2
The threat of rain kept us close to the campsite. Staying in gave me a chance to play with the GoPro Studio software. I think I just about have it figured out. Now I am just waiting on the computer to process the clips that I prepared. With luck, I will have a clip for you in tomorrow's blog. This laptop is a bit slow to process.
Mileage today: 42.6
Jae's trip total: 720.9
Donna's trip total: 734.2
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Day 4: Wet and Wild Ride
The plan for the day was to meet our friends Sharon and Vickie in Sturgis, do a little shopping and catching up, then ride Boulder Canyon from Sturgis to Deadwood. Well, Mother Nature derailed that plan.
The rain started around 2:30-ish. At 3:00, we all checked the weather on our phones and saw that the storms were just getting started. We decided to beat feet to our respective campsites -- Sharon and Vickie to Deadwood, and us back to Caputa.
We were well ahead of the storm when we arrived in Rapid City, so we decided to stop for dinner. All was well, until I thought I needed dessert. At that point, the bullseye of the storm hit Rapid City -- and decided to track slowly to the South and East, exactly along the road we needed to take to get to our camp.
A ride that should have taken about 15 minutes, took almost an hour because we rode much slower than normal. We made it back to camp safe, but very, very wet.
Lesson learned, next time check the weather before you order dessert, Jae!
Mileage today: 95.4
Total trip: 678.3
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