RIDE REPORT During Covid, 13 States & Some Spectacular Riding

[DK Custom Products]

We did not think we were going to get any Big Trips (or any trips for that matter) in this year with everything going on with the lockdowns.

Well, we decided to take off on September 4th, 2020 for a little over a month of riding in some of the most spectacular areas of the USA.

Our plans were foiled from the get-go. I hurt my back a week before we were due to leave, so we were not able to leave until the afternoon of the 7th....and take it easy.

We had to cancel our plans to go to Yellowstone.

We set out from Mississippi, crossing thru Tennessee, Arkansas and into Missouri the first day.

We stopped at Boomland toward the end of the day. They have a huge selection of hot sauces there, and we usually stop there once a year.



We are traveling across all the long boring (they were interesting the first 50 times) interstate miles with our Toy Hauler. We want to RIDE in the mountains and twistys.

During these times it is especially nice to not stay in motel beds or be eating out.

See the Report on why we are enjoying our Motorcycle Riding even More the last two years HERE.

Screen capture from video footage for a Youtube video along the road-



After crossing thru Iowa into Nebraska....over a thousand miles of this separates us from our house and where we want to ride...



...crossing into Wyoming we are surprised to see snow. Turns out if we had left on the 4th, when planned, we would have been traveling this road during a snowstorm...



Even after the storm, while we were traveling this road, it was 36* F. Stopped in Laramie for the night. Snow piled up in the parking lot, lows in the 20's tonight.

Quite a difference between when we left and it was 95* F.



...we made it to the Grand Tetons!



Put the drone up and got some good video of the sunset, here are a couple of screen caps.





We did not get to ride in the Grand Tetons, back is still pretty bad, and I can't even swing my leg over the seat.

We did drive thru, and later in this report we'll do a flashback to some of the photo's we got along the way.

After passing thru the corner of Colorado, then thru Utah, we are in Idaho to visit family.

We stopped at Shoshone Falls...



...for the afternoon, before heading on to Meridian.



My back is getting better, and we should be able to ride soon.

More to come soon.

Kevin

[Jack Klarich]

Nice trip, sorry to hear about your back. That can be a real bummer trying to ride like that. Been there done that. Looking forward to your posts. Travel safe

[ultrafxr]

Nice report and photos. Glad you're getting better . . . and ready for E AZ next week!

[ol' school]

Sorry to hear about your back Kevin. I know what that is all about... Glad to see you and Mary are on the road! Look forward to following the trip! Ride safe!!!

[BILLIJAK]

Sorry to hear about your health issues...getting older - like 'stock bikes' suck!

Glad you were able to get on the road and visit family in the west. Hope you have safe travels to E Arizona on your way back...it sounds like a great little get together.

I had plans and hotel room lined up for next week ... I was going to bring my Freewheeler down and leave for the winter. Already to leave next week...really looking forward to meeting everybody. Very disappointed I can't make it for the Oct. camp and ride.

But, very, very happy as well...our son called over the weekend........and he and his girl friend are getting married!! Yea!! They've been together quite awhile. Date of wedding? October 2nd. So, of course family takes priority.

Hope to see you on the road again, sometime.

Bill

[BILLIJAK]

I had room reservations in Springerville for Sept 30th thru Oct 3rd. Really looking forward to meeting everybody at the Eastern Arizona mini get together. Very disappointed I had to cancel my hotel and change my travel plans.

But, very, very happy as well! Our son called to tell us he and his longtime girlfriend are getting married!

Date of the wedding? October 2nd! So, no way to make the ride to AZ....but totally worth it!

I hope everyone has a great time next week, beautiful part of the state....please say hi to Kevin and Mary for me, and looking forward to the annual AZ ride in 2021?

Bill

@@@ meant this to go in Eastern Arizona Thread @@@ Sorry

[PosseRider]

Good to hear you are feeling better. We took Lola to Shoshone Falls last year on our trip West to all the Natl Parks. Your getting better & I am getting worse., We will trailer out to Az ,this will be my last riding this year.I think it is the rotator cuff. Have an appt shortly after we get home. Gettin old is a B@tch Cya soon. Bill & Janiene

[DK Custom Products]

Nice trip, sorry to hear about your back. That can be a real bummer trying to ride like that. Been there done that. Looking forward to your posts. Travel safe

Hey Jack,

Back is about 90% now and we've been riding. Some in Idaho, then the Million Dollar Highway and in some of the national parks in Utah. Taking lots of video and photos. Will be posting them us as time allows.

Nice report and photos. Glad you're getting better . . . and ready for E AZ next week!

Hi Jerry, guess you'll be hitting the road soon. See you in Arizona.

Sorry to hear about your back Kevin. I know what that is all about... Glad to see you and Mary are on the road! Look forward to following the trip! Ride safe!!!

Yes, we're making up for lost time riding. lol No time to post any photo's recently. Soon!

Sorry to hear about your health issues...getting older - like 'stock bikes' suck!

Glad you were able to get on the road and visit family in the west. Hope you have safe travels to E Arizona on your way back...it sounds like a great little get together.

I had plans and hotel room lined up for next week ... I was going to bring my Freewheeler down and leave for the winter. Already to leave next week...really looking forward to meeting everybody. Very disappointed I can't make it for the Oct. camp and ride.

But, very, very happy as well...our son called over the weekend........and he and his girl friend are getting married!! Yea!! They've been together quite awhile. Date of wedding? October 2nd. So, of course family takes priority.

Hope to see you on the road again, sometime.

Bill

Hi Bill,

Great news about your son. Gonna miss you in AZ. Congrats on the growing family.

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

Good to hear you are feeling better. We took Lola to Shoshone Falls last year on our trip West to all the Natl Parks. Your getting better & I am getting worse., We will trailer out to Az ,this will be my last riding this year.I think it is the rotator cuff. Have an appt shortly after we get home. Gettin old is a B@tch Cya soon. Bill & Janiene

Thanks.

Yeah, but it is better than the alternative!!!

Hope you have a good trip out, and we'll see you in AZ.

Kevin

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Great pictures ... and I love the "larger" toy hauler.

[DK Custom Products]

Short Flashback....

...Got a few more photos of the Grand Teton National Park.

Another sunset photo, showing our traveling home on the road...

*



...next morning. What a view, no matter how many times we're here, this place is amazing.



Mary and I at Jackson Lake



Leaving Shoshone falls we are crossing the Snake River and see these crazy guys climbing over the rails to jump down...



...into the canyon. Parachutes, helmets and a GoPro......and some folks say riding a motorcycle is dangerous. hahahaha

They jumped out of view-



We made it to Meridian, Idaho. Spent a few days visiting family. My back is better enough that we got a bit of riding in.



Next we're headed off to see Alan (FuzzyWuzHe) in Grand Junction. We stopped at this gas station in Green River. Yes, this is a gas station, but the dust storm is so strong you can't see the pumps.



Made it to Grand Junction....Kevin, FBG and Alan...



...and KIRA...



...Kira Action Photo.



Next we're off to Ouray, Box Canyon, Million Dollar Highway, Molas Pass and more...finally, we'll be doing a lot of riding.

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

We are staying 15 miles outside of Ouray, and my back is much better.

Today we're riding the Million Dollar Highway...



...aka 550. Mary in the Mirror as we head out...



...on the 550 now...



...getting closer. Yes, that is smoke, fog, snow and glaciers in this pic...about 10 miles outside of Ouray.



The stream beside the road, that is beginning to get curvy...almost there!



As we get closer to Ouray, the canyon walls get closer to the road.



The town of Ouray is a bit of a tourist trap, but there are some good eats here also. Because of CoVid were not stopping....the main street is maybe a mile long...



...then you are on the fun part....between Ouray and Durango, the Million Dollar Highway.



Barely outside of Ouray, looking back at it-



More in next post.

*

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

I don't know how many times we've ridden the Million Dollar Highway (it's one of our favorites), but in the dozen or so times, we've never stopped at the Box Canyon Falls.* Today we are stopping.

*



Only a couple times I've run across this sign.



Parking for the short walk to the falls...



Sure nuff, that sign was right. I count 4 chipmunks and 1 bird in this pic-



Walking toward the falls, we are about halfway down...



...looking up you can see the walkway at the top of the canyon.



Still about halfway down, you can see the water thru the cracks in the canyon wall...



Down at the bottom...



More in next post.

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

This water flows out into a stream that runs a bit behind Main Street of Ouray...



Mary getting one last pic before we head back up.



The way out of the parking lot for Box Canyon Falls led us back down into the back streets of Ouray. Someone has a good sense of humor. What a fantastic view!



Back on the MDH, just coming out of a tunnel...



...the views are spectacular, and we have not even really started yet.



Pulled over at the first scenic outlook, there is a waterfall to Mary's right, and across the canyon...



...wow, we have never seen this waterfall flowing so little water.



Yes, that is a construction zone just a bit past the bridge, the road is narrowed down to a single lane.

While here some other bikers stopped off to look. One of them was from the Northeast and saw our plate. Turns out he is a Customer of DK Custom. We chatted for a bit.

That's all for now. Will post more as time allows.

*

Kevin

[hogcowboy]

14mph, not 15mph. That sure looks like a speed-trap to me.

[DK Custom Products]

14mph, not 15mph. That sure looks like a speed-trap to me.

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

Another photo of the waterfall...this one showing the pool at the bottom.



Photo of Mary at the waterfall. The ceramic coating on the TG is holding up well, makes it pop. It has not been washed or wiped down in thousands of miles.



Instead of dealing with the traffic that is piled up from the construction today, we decide to explore more around Ouray. This is a little section of the MDH between the falls and Ouray.

Roads like this are why we ride. Love seeing those "fun ahead" signs!



Mary wants to see the "Baby Bathtubs"...



Let's park and go for a little hike...



...there are hundreds of these, and they're all dry. We'll have to come back earlier in the year, when there is more snow melt.



Back on the TG, we climb up the side of the canyon wall outside of Ouray...



...the asphalt road dead ends at a campground. We turn around and have a great view of the town of Ouray on the way done.



Back on the 550, aka MDH, aka Million Dollar Highway. This road is in our top ten to ride...both because of the views and it is just a road that begs to be ridden with all the curves.



Will post more as time allows.

*

Kevin

[ol' school]

Awesome pics as usual Mary! Ride safe you two!

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Back on the 550, aka MDH, aka Million Dollar Highway. This road is in our top ten to ride...both because of the views and it is just a road that begs to be ridden with all the curves.



Kevin

Roads like these convince me that God invented motorcycles ....

[DK Custom Products]

Awesome pics as usual Mary! Ride safe you two!

I passed on your compliment to her. Yep, best yet to come.

Roads like these convince me that God invented motorcycles ....

Yep!

Kevin