Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

[Bushman4]

Now that's a ride. If only more time.

[Marge]

You need to just let the company run itself and travel full time (posting here every day of course!). Fantastic story and pictures!

[skuuter]

You need to just let the company run itself and travel full time (posting here every day of course!). Fantastic story and pictures!

That's what I want Marge...a "run itself company", and I guarantee I'll take Your advice on the "Travel-n-Post Here" Thingie......

[Calgary]

I want one of those 'run itself companies' as well. Sounds like the perfect thing to get just before retirement!

[roadrageisfun]

It was great to see your travels documented so well. I just went to Sturgis for bike week for the first time and will say that I loved every mile of the trip. I have never seen so much corn in my life as I did traveling through Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Beautiful country.

[DK Custom Products]

Now that's a ride. If only more time.

Thank you! Still more to come. I'm going to post Part I of the ride from Meridian to Missoula in a couple of hours.

You need to just let the company run itself and travel full time (posting here every day of course!). Fantastic story and pictures!

Yeah, if I could figure that out...that is what I would do!!!!

That's what I want Marge...a "run itself company", and I guarantee I'll take Your advice on the "Travel-n-Post Here" Thingie......

I want one of those 'run itself companies' as well. Sounds like the perfect thing to get just before retirement!

It was great to see your travels documented so well. I just went to Sturgis for bike week for the first time and will say that I loved every mile of the trip. I have never seen so much corn in my life as I did traveling through Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Beautiful country.

Thank you!

Yeah, lots of flat straight riding thru those States. Seeing all the work they do in farming made me thankful they do it so we can buy food at the store.

[DK Custom Products]

PART 1 of the ride from Meridian, ID to Missoula, MT.

When we pulled into Meridian I noticed we had an oil leak. The next day I tracked it down. One of the oil filter lines was leaking.

Knowing this is a weakness, I have always carried extra line and hose clamps with me.

It was time for an oil change and filter cleaning anyway. So I spent a couple of hours changing out all the hoses, not just the one leaking. Changed the oil and cleaned the oil filter. Installed new spark plugs per the maintenance schedule.

We spent a couple of very nice day visiting Mary's mom and nephew. (also did laundry and since we were now in some warmer temps, picked up a couple of those neck towels that you snap and they get cold)

Here we are ready to leave after some good family time.



Mary and her mom.



Didn't take long to get out of the city and start climbing out of the high desert toward Boise National Forest (55 toward McCall).



This is a route we have traveled once before, so I knew we were in for a good day of riding!



That is a LOT of high desert....



and some really fun road!



We followed this river (Payette River) for quite a while. Sometimes it is calm....



and sometimes it is rapids. The road beside it is a great riding road, and there is very little traffic today.



More in next post.

[DK Custom Products]

We're out of the high desert, into the forest now. It's a bit cooler, road is still great!

Check out Mary's camera technique in the mirror!



Beautiful country!



Lots of curves!



Just a great day to be riding!



We are climbing this entire time, headed toward a huge valley that has several towns in it, the biggest being McCall.



Here we are passing thru the southernmost part of the high valley.



There is a small pass that we rode over to get to the rest of the valley.



Soon after we hit McCall, which is quite the tourist destination.



We make it thru the traffic of McCall and start climbing again, out of the valley, thru some nice woods on a great riding road!



I don't know how many hundreds of curves we have ridden already today...but it is only a warm-up for what is coming.

Will get PART 2 of this days ride up soon.

[2bs]

Looks absolutely awesome. We just went on a 4000 mile trip and I knew it was too short. We were up on some of those passes better than 10000 ft and one grade of 10 degrees most weren't that bad. Awesome views!

[Bushman4]

Thats an impressive ride. Enjoy!

[DK Custom Products]

Looks absolutely awesome. We just went on a 4000 mile trip and I knew it was too short. We were up on some of those passes better than 10000 ft and one grade of 10 degrees most weren't that bad. Awesome views!

Thank you, we had a great time and made a lot of memories.

Thats an impressive ride. Enjoy!

There are more pics coming.

[DK Custom Products]

I am sorry I have been so far behind in getting the rest of the ride pics up.

Been busy getting the Sporty ready for the Hot Bike Power Tour...and Custom work always seems to take more time than expected.

Heading out in the morning.

Starts in Little Rock, AR and ends up in Racine, WI. Will be 2000+ miles

I reckon there will be more than a few Trikes on the ride. Will get pics and post em up when I return.

Gonna be gone a week. This is what I'm riding.



Will have a bag on the sissy bar and a roll above the headlight.

This is the opposite end of the touring spectrum from the ride Mary and I just got back from on the Tri-Glide.

After I return I will get the rest of the Alaska trip pics up.

[slick rick]

.....nice scooter Kevin,,,,, good luck with the ride and don;t forget the MONKEY BUTT,,,,,

[pcombe]

That wasn't the tetons my friend. Those were the Bighorns. The Tetons were about three hundred miles west of you around Jackson Hole, wyo.

[Brentwood Bob]

Hi Kevin. I followed your whole trip on the HD forum and just joined this site and saw your here as well. I'm looking into buying a trike and thought this was a great start for info. The more I saw your fun and with same body issues I think a trike is the way to go. Thanks again for the great ride.

[67riv]

awesome trip

[DK Custom Products]

.....nice scooter Kevin,,,,, good luck with the ride and don;t forget the MONKEY BUTT,,,,,

Thank you! Had a great time.

That wasn't the tetons my friend. Those were the Bighorns. The Tetons were about three hundred miles west of you around Jackson Hole, wyo.

Ah, my mistake, saw them off in the distance and did not know there was another range between us and the tetons.

Hi Kevin. I followed your whole trip on the HD forum and just joined this site and saw your here as well. I'm looking into buying a trike and thought this was a great start for info. The more I saw your fun and with same body issues I think a trike is the way to go. Thanks again for the great ride.

No doubt the TG's are fun. HD nailed it on the handling side of things.

awesome trip

There's still more to come!

I got back from the Hot Bike Power Tour. Did up a little Ride Report on it...since it is not on 3 wheels figured it was not appropriate to post here, but for those interested you can see it HERE.

There's still quite a bit more of the Alaska trip report. I will resume posting pics tomorrow.

[DK Custom Products]

Ok, FINALLY am able to resume the Ride Report from Meridian to Missoula.

This was a great day of riding!



Mostly curves all day, but every now and then some straights to just kick back on.



Huge variety in scenery and temps too.



This was a pretty warm section...and we are close enough to a fire that is burning northwest of us that we can see lots of smoke and smell it.



I forget the name of this town, we have been thru it before when it was packed with folks fishing the Salmon river.

Gas stop and calling the shop to take care of business.



Back on the road, more smoke and heat. After today we are trading our leather for the mesh.



Idaho has some amazing roads and countryside.



Mary in the mirror!



That is a lot of road til we hit the forest again! Sure am happy we picked up the "Stay Cool" bandanas in Meridian.



Turning onto the 13...it is a short section of road, but pretty dramatic and fun to ride.



More in next post.

[DK Custom Products]

Hilarious name for a work-out center...but maybe not so good for business...no cars in parking lot.



Barely got this sign! We've gone about 200 miles so far...but the last 170 are an amazing section of road.




13 is short, but steep and full of turns and drop-offs. Mary did not get a lot of pics...I was riding pretty aggressive and she was holding on more than usual.



She used to be afraid of drop-offs, not so much anymore...great riding partner.





Fantastic scenery, very little traffic, and...



great roads!



We pulled off to the side of the road to have a little picnic down by the river.



A year ago I could not have made it down that embankment...Dr. Kiel really helped my foot out so that we could enjoy stuff like this.



We got under a shade tree, and had some lunch...looking to the left....



More in next post.

[DK Custom Products]

And to the right.



I had to test my boots again in the water...lol, and get the Stay Cool banadanas wet again.




Back on the road, we get to the 12.



This sign is not kidding. I had a blast! Although, I did run out of steam before the end of the 99 miles. Those of you that have ridden with me know that I like to hit corners hard...between the previous 250 miles of curves and this section...I actually took the last 30 miles or so pretty easy...was plumb tuckered out. Never before have I reached the end of the day when I wasn't ready for more curves. lol



Beautiful Country!



It was nice riding next to a river almost the entire day!



Mary takes some shots from some new angles.





There were short straight sections of road in between curves.



More in next post.