DK's Definitive Ride Report - Some of the Best Scenic Roads Out West - Tons of Photo'

[DK Custom Products]

Day 43 continued-

Rolling along, cruise on 70 mph, couple of fingers on the left grip, and enjoying the ride!

Early morning shadow pic-

A look back...

...and a look ahead. Lots of food being grown, and no mountains in sight!

Mary taking a photo of herself at 70 mph, from above.

Some folks have asked about her helmet. She has an internal visor that comes about halfway down, then she's put black electrical tape across the bottom of her outside visor. Keeps the sun off her.

It's a lot of road! We chose to cross from the "west" to the "east" via the 70. The road is very smooth compared to crossing further south on the 40.

The land of hundreds (thousands?) of wind generators-

Coming down from a little plateau, lot more flat land ahead!

And a ways down the road, a look back!

It is starting to get warm. When we were stopped for gas Mary wanted some ice. I asked her why, it's only the low 90's. She said it worked so well when it was 114*, why not use it in the 90's to be cool. Ok!

More of Day 43 in next post-

*

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 43 continued-

Bit more traffic...

...as we get closer to some population centers.* Trees too!

And even more vehicles, and a lot of concrete!

Crossing into Missouri, getting close to Kansas City.

Traffic gets heavy, and close to a stop as the 70 goes thru downtown.

Just a bit more and we'll be clear-

Clear!* Passing Outlaw HD in Blue Springs, MO-

Day 43 concluded in next post.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 43 concluded-

Rolling thru a construction zone. Mary in the Mirror taking a photo of vehicles going the opposite direction separated by the concrete barriers. It seems a bit away in the photo, but with us going 60-70 and them doing the same, it feels pretty close with the 120-140 mph difference only a few feet away.

Back rolling normal now. There's a bit of traffic, but not bad...

...but there are some vehicles I want to get past. Wick it up to 90-95 mph and we're clear. At that speed I am fully focused, things can happen very quickly. Was not aware at the time, but Mary must have noticed the speed increase and decided to take a pic. You can see her in the mirror.

Mary's ice is getting low...

...and it's gone. All that's left are the plastic bags.

Cloud pic-

We're closing in on 600 miles for the day, decide to look for a Super 8...

Turns out there's one in Booneville...

Crazy thing...about 6-7 years ago we were at the end of a 50+ day trip and we stopped at a no-tell motel in Booneville. It was, to this day, the worst motel we've ever stayed in. I'll spare you the details, but will only say we slept on top of the bed, with all our clothes on!

This time we're staying in the Super 8 (which was not there last time we stopped in this city).

Tomorrow we're just shy of 500 miles to cover, and we'll be back home!

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 44-

Today we'll be back home! It's been a great ride, and we've taken our time, not rushing thru the scenic areas, really enjoying them.

Leaving out of the Super 8 a little after 6 am-

...rolling down the interstate, lot of these miles to cover today. It's not even 6:30 am and is 75*, gonna be another warm one!

Sun peaking over the trees as we cross the first of many rivers today...

...Mid-America HD in Columbia, MO not open yet!

Early morning shadow pic! I'm still not sure about these early mornings...always been a night owl, but Mary is digging it!

Not a place I like to be...between a guardrail, a semi and another in front....but the one in front is moving over and in a few seconds I am past both of them...

...and riding with a good buffer between me and all other vehicles.

Crossing the Missouri River-

After over 1,400 miles of riding eastward, we're turning south!

400 miles, mostly interstate, till we're back in our little nook in the world.

More of Day 44 in next post.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 44 continued-

Out of the traffic now and cruising....no hands!

I could not be more pleased with how well the TG has performed this trip. Power, comfortable, stable, great ride quality and no heat issues, even when running fully loaded in 100+ temps.

Big chunks of miles with....

...very little traffic, lots of trees and water...

...make for a nice relaxing last day riding on this trip. A look ahead....

...and a look back.

Getting close to Boomland!

For quite a few miles we are entertained by crop-dusters.

Before you know it we are at Boomland!

Every year or so we travel this section of 55 and always stop. They have a huge selection of hot sauces and Mary always stocks up on them for herself, and also picks some up for friends of ours that like their sauces in the hundreds of thousands, or even million+ Scovilles. I just buy it...don't touch it myself, lol

Back on the road....

...crossing into Arkansas. (today is a 4 State day- Missouri to Arkansas to Tennessee, then Mississippi)

Will finish up Day 44 as time allows.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 44 continued-

Mary wanted a photo of both of us in the mirror.* Our 44 day adventure is coming to an end.

Heading south on a familiar section of the 55...

...we're getting close to.....

...the long bridge that....

...crosses over the Mississippi River...

...into Tennessee.

After 25 minutes of* Tennessee interstate...

...we're back on the 55, crossing into Mississippi.

It feels good to be back in Mississippi.* Just a few miles on the interstate and we get on some back roads for a 40 mile putt the rest of the way home.

​​​​​​​Day 44 concluded in next post.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 44 concluded-

We're rolling now...

...on roads we've traveled...

...hundreds of times...

...but still thoroughly enjoy...

...appreciating the beauty and rural nature of Mississippi.

Last couple of turns....

...before arriving...

...Home!

Mary in her cool vest, happy to be back to all her animals and greenhouse!

Thanks for following along. We've had a blast. We took it easy and really spent time enjoying a lot of the places we've rushed thru previously.

The Tri-Glide performed flawlessly, and in our 60's we still love it out on the road!

We're already talking about some of the places we're going to visit next year!

Kevin

 

[Jack Klarich]

Thanks for taking us a long with you and Mary What A GREAT trip

Welcome Home

 

[ol' school]

Thanks for taking us a long with you and Mary What A GREAT trip

Welcome Home

+1 on that! I thoroughly enjoyed following along with your trip. You and Mary shared an amazing trip thru some truly beautiful countryside! Thanks for sharing your travels with us! Glad you are home safe and sound!

 

[LadyonaMission]

+1 on that! I thoroughly enjoyed following along with your trip. You and Mary shared an amazing trip thru some truly beautiful countryside! Thanks for sharing your travels with us! Glad you are home safe and sound!

:Agree::goodjob:

 

[Gorilla]

Thank you thank you thank you a great trip report

 

[Fearless]

All I can say is thank you for a great trip safe and sound ride safe Fred

 

[flyswatter]

Originally Posted by ol' school

+1 on that! I thoroughly enjoyed following along with your trip. You and Mary shared an amazing trip thru some truly beautiful countryside! Thanks for sharing your travels with us! Glad you are home safe and sound!

Agree with above post...Tks for the journey...

​

 

[Zammy]

Thanks for a wonderful and entertaining ride report Kevin and Mary. The places you traveled through were really enjoyed by Jo Ann and I, just breathtaking scenery. You and Mary could have been travel writers in another life, awesome report !!! I think all of us appreciate the time and effort for doing these Kevin, thanks again.

 

[Gray Biker]

Thanks for the pics and the story that went with them. I just retired in July and traded off my Ultra Classic for a Triglide when we got back from Sturgis. We're hoping to ride some of the same roads as you took, over the next few years. We did Yellowstone and Bear Tooth this year on the Ultra. Your pics have gotten her thinking more about my Idea of taking the bike more. We have a 4X4 truck with a slide in camper and a Wrangler so its going to be hard to figure out what to take.

 

[Cainam]

Thank you Kevin and Mary... excellent adventure and stories to go along with the fantastic pictures. I can only dream of having the time to take a trip like that. Hopefully one day I will be able to get out there with my wife and see some of the amazing images you captured for myself! Until then, I look forward to reading and seeing your next Ride Report!

 

[Marc H]

Thank you for taking us all on vacation with you.That was a very enjoyable trip even if we were following the pics and really there.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Thanks for taking us a long with you and Mary What A GREAT trip

Welcome Home

+1 on that! I thoroughly enjoyed following along with your trip. You and Mary shared an amazing trip thru some truly beautiful countryside! Thanks for sharing your travels with us! Glad you are home safe and sound!

:Agree::goodjob:

Thank you thank you thank you a great trip report

All I can say is thank you for a great trip safe and sound ride safe Fred

Glad you all enjoyed. We had a great time, starting out with the TT get together in the Ozarks!

We are already talking about ideas for next year, but it'll be after Jan. 1st when we start getting serious about the plans.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Originally Posted by ol' school

+1 on that! I thoroughly enjoyed following along with your trip. You and Mary shared an amazing trip thru some truly beautiful countryside! Thanks for sharing your travels with us! Glad you are home safe and sound!

Agree with above post...Tks for the journey...

​

Thanks for a wonderful and entertaining ride report Kevin and Mary. The places you traveled through were really enjoyed by Jo Ann and I, just breathtaking scenery. You and Mary could have been travel writers in another life, awesome report !!! I think all of us appreciate the time and effort for doing these Kevin, thanks again.

Thanks for the pics and the story that went with them. I just retired in July and traded off my Ultra Classic for a Triglide when we got back from Sturgis. We're hoping to ride some of the same roads as you took, over the next few years. We did Yellowstone and Bear Tooth this year on the Ultra. Your pics have gotten her thinking more about my Idea of taking the bike more. We have a 4X4 truck with a slide in camper and a Wrangler so its going to be hard to figure out what to take.

Thank you Kevin and Mary... excellent adventure and stories to go along with the fantastic pictures. I can only dream of having the time to take a trip like that. Hopefully one day I will be able to get out there with my wife and see some of the amazing images you captured for myself! Until then, I look forward to reading and seeing your next Ride Report!

Thank you for taking us all on vacation with you.That was a very enjoyable trip even if we were following the pics and really there.

Glad y'all enjoyed. We had a really good time, it was nice to slow down and really spend more time exploring.

Kevin

 

[Trent]

Hey Kevin... If you come this way again next year, which I bet that you do, To see Mom.. You need to think about the San Juan Islands, Mt Saint Helens, Hwy 21 over the top of Washington.... Leavinworth in Central Washington.. Great ridin' country. We did 1700 miles through that area last month. Great job documenting your awesome trip!! Later.. T & M..