Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

[DK Custom Products]

Stunning! Can't tell so well in the picture...but that is a super clear river right next to us.



Stopped for gas at one of the two stations in this 99 mile stretch.

There were only two pumps and this guy on the beemer had been sitting in front of one of them for over 10 minutes fiddling with his GPS. There were 4 bikes in line behind him. I finally went up and asked him how long he thought it would be before he moved. He stopped messing with his GPS, and took another few minutes getting all his gear on to pull away from the pump.



This couple from Canada had picked up a nail somewhere. Fortunately they saw the low tire when they stopped for gas.





Back on the road with some more creative shots and beautiful scenery.



A couple more fun shots.





After seeing so much blue water in Canada, the clear water down here gets Mary taking more shots of it than of clouds!



Could not ask for a better road, better scenery or day of riding!






More in next post.

[DK Custom Products]

Since our mesh is in Missoula, we are still wearing our leather jackets. This is Marys' answer to heat...a spray bottle keeps her comfortable.



Her stash pocket in my back rest. Spray bottle, water, sunscreen, chapstick and who knows what else.



It does not get better than riding roads like this.



Saw these guys kayaking and stopped to take a pic...they weren't making much progress...they would get a bit down stream, then the water would push them back to where they were.



One of them finally got thru, and we were back moving again.



If you like curves and ever have a chance to ride 12 in Idaho, I highly recommend it!





This little guy got stuck between my sunglasses forehead. I put it on cruise control and pulled him out to show Mary...she got a pretty good pic.



Getting closer to Montana!



Saw this mountain goat and Mary got a pic of it over her shoulder.



More in next post.

[DK Custom Products]

We hit the Montana border...not long before we will see our son and granddaughter!!!



The speed limit in Montana on this road is 75 mph. They also have a little white crosses on the side of the road where ever there has been a fatality. Some vehicles are going far faster than the 75 mph. I ride my ride...sometimes 75 or 80, but there are more than a few places that I am not comfortable at 75.

Also, the road has sand on it...not so much that there is any traction problem...but when a car/truck passes it does kick it up on us.



Still, it is some nice road and scenery!





We are in Missoula!




Will post a few pics from Missoula, we met up with Dualls and his girlfriend from the forum...had a meal and a little riding. Then we are off to Beartooth Pass and the Bone Daddy Rally.

[Deadeye]

Thank You,Thank You,Thank You!!! I have ridden from Ohio to Alaska 3 times(twice on 2 wheels and once on three) and I feel like I just had a 4th trip with you !!

[triketomcat]

Great photos, remind me of the two trips I made there but didn't have a rider to take great photos. Its a beautiful part of the country.

[cooltech]

That was absolutlely awesome! First I got to your thread! The pics, the scenery, all just wonderful.
On one of the pics Sep 5th it shows one of the foot rests left side. It looks like a bicycle peddle! Guess I do too much bicycling.
Tks. for the tour!
cooltech

[DK Custom Products]

Thank You,Thank You,Thank You!!! I have ridden from Ohio to Alaska 3 times(twice on 2 wheels and once on three) and I feel like I just had a 4th trip with you !!

Cool! Glad you're enjoying them.

Great photos, remind me of the two trips I made there but didn't have a rider to take great photos. Its a beautiful part of the country.

Thank you. Yeah, it's a whole different deal...I discovered that when trying to document the Power Tour. lol

That was absolutlely awesome! First I got to your thread! The pics, the scenery, all just wonderful.
On one of the pics Sep 5th it shows one of the foot rests left side. It looks like a bicycle peddle! Guess I do too much bicycling.
Tks. for the tour!
cooltech

Thank you!

Yes, those are our Triple Trap foot pegs which do start life as bicycle peddles. Amazing how comfortable they are.

DK Custom Foot Pegs - YouTube

[DK Custom Products]

Just a short update today.

We pulled into Missoula, MT and spent 3 days with Craig and Lydia.

I am not going to bore you with grand-baby pics (we have hundreds of them). lol

After this report I am going to try and knock out the rest of the trip within the next week.

Here's Lydia trying on grand-ma's sunglasses




And trying out grand-ma's camera!



Playing with grand-pa's hair.




We met up with Dualls and Marisha from the forum one evening. Went and had some good BBQ and good conversation.






Traded stories, talked bikes, and generally had a good time with these new friends. Looking forward to meeting up when we're in Missoula next, and doing some riding in the hills around Missoula.

Good people!



Next up is the ride to, and thru, Beartooth Pass.

[slick rick]

,,,SWEEETTT,,,, don't have any grandchildren but waiting patiently and looking forward to it ,,,,,,

[DK Custom Products]

,,,SWEEETTT,,,, don't have any grandchildren but waiting patiently and looking forward to it ,,,,,,

Cool!

I was a bit unprepared to be called gramps! lol, I still feel like a kid myself. But it is a blast!

[DK Custom Products]

Headed home...got a few more stops.

Packed up and ready to roll.




Leaving Missoula, always bittersweet. But we'll be back again soon.






On the 90. We've seen more than a few trikes this summer...far more than last.



Rolling down some nice road...nice to be back in the saddle.




Not a lot of traffic, good road, and we'll be in Red Lodge tonight, but before that, we'll be traveling thru part of Yellowstone and doing Beartooth pass...so just eating up these interstate miles to get there.



Look Mary! No hands!




There are a few fun sections of road between Missoula and Yellowstone.





Another Great Day to be riding!!!



More in next post.

[DK Custom Products]

I know there are a lot of complaints about various things with the newer HD's, and I have a few myself.

But with the roads we have traveled, and all the abuse this TG has seen on this trip, it is really quite amazing that it rolls down the road at 90+ mph with no complaints, smooth as can be.



Getting close to Yellowstone!



Mary was probably focused on the river, mountains and sky in this pic, while I was enjoying the road getting less straight. lol



Big arch into Yellowstone.




Earlier in this trip we passed thru this same corner of Yellowstone...just headed the opposite direction.



Last year we spent a few days in Yellowstone and would have liked to spend a few more...this year we are just passing thru this one corner as it is the fastest way between Beartooth and Missoula.

It is really an amazing place, and it is a bit hard to not spend more time here. But we have been gone from the shop far too long already.



The Northeast Entrance is where we will exit Yellowstone, and Cooke City is where the fun of Beartooth starts.



Our shadows almost touching him, he pays us no mind.



Other times we have been in Yellowstone we have seen a lot of buffalo. But we see FAR more this time thru...not sure if it was because we were later in the day...or just happenstance.



When they decide they way to cross...nothing to do but wait.



More in next post.

[DK Custom Products]

I believe we saw well over a thousand buffalo in this little time we were here today. Magnificent animals...



but always a bit un-nerving when they stop doing what they do and start paying attention to you. lol I have never seen one charge, but am told they can be very quick when they want to be.



Amazing place!



And more buffalo..



These guys were staying on the one side of the road, but we rolled thru slowly, taking in the view.




This one bull was huge, and all by himself, making his way down the side of the road.



Leaving Yellowstone at the Northeast Entrance...a few more miles to Beartooth Pass.



Here we are! This has to be one of the most amazing roads we have ever traveled...both the road being a fun one, and the sights so breath-taking.



Will post the ride thru Beartooth Pass in the next day or so...as time permits.

[slick rick]

,,,,FANTASTIC,,,,,,

[Blondie Gal]

,,,,FANTASTIC,,,,,,

Ditto! Loving every mile from my a/c and recliner!

[DK Custom Products]

We have been thru Beartooth Pass once already on this trip. This time we are going thru it much later in the day.

Also, just 40 days earlier almost everything was covered with snow, now there is hardly any snow.

Beautiful country!




Cooke City is right at the base of the pass. We stopped for gas and a little snack before heading on.




Being late in the day, some of the pics are not so great, and some are even more dramatic!




lol, I should have cleaned my windshield!




This is our first time thru without everything covered in snow...




and with all the lakes and ponds not frozen over.




The road is a blast to ride if you like winding, twisty roads...





with lots of elevation changes mixed into them.




We are happy we traveled thru later in the day!



Just amazing!




More in next post.

[DK Custom Products]

I must have missed this.




Hey Mary, what did that sign say?





The pictures don't really do this justice...it was pretty dadgum amazing.




The road too!







I am fully recovered from the 99 miles of non-stop curves in Idaho and fully enjoying them at a good clip here. lol







There is almost no traffic, we saw less than 10 cars in over 50 miles of some of the best road in the USA.




More in next post.

[DK Custom Products]

We stopped at this same look-out where Mary fed the chipmunks a month ago. We stayed for awhile and watched the sun disappear behind the mountains.

Panoramic shot-




It was a bit chilly and we were wearing our mesh, but we had the gerbing jacket liners on below, so all was good.




Another shot from the same look-out.




Back on our way...headed to Red Lodge, MT for the night.




The camera did not take such good pics in low light, but some of them turned out pretty cool looking.




Super fun road!!! The TG does just fine going down the interstate, but it loves the winding roads.




Last pic of the day. We will be in Red Lodge, MT tonight. We did not plan it, but tomorrow is the beginning of The Beartooth Rally, hosted by BoneDaddy. We will have some pics of that next before heading out to Spearfish.

[slick rick]

,,,,more amazing pictures ,,,,the one where the rays seem to be shooting through the top of the clouds over the mountains is fantastic ,as are the others that one just stood out for me . I remember riding the Trace and my wife was flipping out over a deer running beside us ,,,doggone what would she do with a buffalo .

[427dave]

Still love your pictures and narration. Nice color your trike has.