---Riding the Remainder of the West ---
Trip Seven --- WI, MN, SD, ND, MT, WY, ID, AB, WA, OR ---
8 / 26 - 9 / 6 / 15 ---- WITH PAUL BEEBE
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BIKE MILES: 5009 GPS MILES: 5035 TOTAL YEAR: 31743
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Day : 1 Date : 8.26.15
Str Cty : Home Str Mls. : 16500 miles
End Cty : Watertown, SD End Mls : 16990
Dly Mls : 462 Tot Mls : 462 miles
Time : 7:45 Notes. :
Left at 8 in mid 50s temp and rode to LaCrosse, on to Rochester-Mankato. Then rode back roads and did a dozen miles on gravel thru park access roads #5. The ag theme for the first 400 was repeating corn and beans, but at the border of SD it turned to grass and cattle....And from farms to ranches.. Arrived at 5 for a swim at the Watertown HIx (for my 3rd stay this summer).
Day : 2 Date : 8. 27.15
Str Cty : Watertown, SD Str Mls. : 16990 miles
End Cty : Miles City, MT End Mls : 17483
Dly Mls : 493 Tot Mls : 955 miles
Time : 715 Notes. : 95 degrees
Left at 7:45 mountain time in 65 degrees on Hwy 20 to 45 and Ipswich -- 200 foot drop 50 miles out from lakes in rolling hills to flat grass to crops. At Roscoe we snacked at the baker, visited grandparents, saw a fox run X our path, said hi to Johnny Beyer and moved on. The Roscoe elevator is for bird seed company, not lawn seed. After the Missouri River we went into bluffs and buttes for 50 miles until we reach 3k' elevation and the high plains grassland then the land moved to crop hay and grazing. From the ND border to Miles City the temperature rose thru the 80s to 95 degrees and arrived at 3:00. Dinner at BBQ-Chops. Passed 27K miles for the summer.
Day : 3 Date : 8. 28.15
Str Cty : Miles City, MT Str Mls. : 17483
End Cty : West Yellowstone, MT End Mls : 17848
Dly Mls : 362 Tot Mls : 1317 miles
Time : 6:30 Notes : Beartooth & Yellowstone
Left in mid 60s temp on I 94 to 90. Last nite and this morning the sun was blood red and when we started riding in a smoke haze and odor. Beyond Billings we turned SW on 212 to Red Lodge and took a break before the mountains. Then the reason we rode 1100 miles to get here...Beartooth Pass with many switchbacks, snow, elevations above 10.9K and 55 degrees cold. At elevation we did not see any smoke and lots of blue skies. After going back and forth between MT and WY we entered Yellowstone National Park where we rode to 9k', saw buffalo and elk, and tried to get thru the medium traffic. We rode thru the middle of the park to West Yellowstone HI. Saw many Class B RVs. Pleasure Way, Roadtrek, and domestic cars. Had a very nice ride and will have ribeye and Moose Drool downtown at Madison restaurant . We passed the Continental Divide (about the 6-7th time this year) in Yellowstone Park, but it was not marked as such.
Day : 4 Date : 8. 29.15 Saturday
Str Cty : West Yellowstone Str Mls. : 17848
End Cty : Boise, ID End Mls : 18333
Dly Mls : 488 Tot Mls : 1805 miles
Time : 8:15 Notes : mountains, canyons and valleys
Best ride of the year... Left West Yellowstone on Hwy 20 after breakfast at McD's. The temp was 46 but quickly increased into the comfortable 70s. After 50 miles we dropped 1400 feet and came out of the forest onto the plains. At 100 miles in Rexburg we turned west on 33 to catch 28 NW and up the huge valley in the Sawtooth range on Sacajawea Byway where we went over 7100'. At Salmon we started the fun on 93 (Salmon River Byway) riding along the River and thru the canyons. At Challis we switched to Hwy 75 to Stanley (near Sun Valley ski area) and 21 (Ponderosa Pine Byway) going over 6K' several times. One could see the road cut ahead high above or far below where we were on a turn on Hwy 21 we wound thru the Sawtooth Range on switchback over several passes above 4k'. We then drove to 3200', past the Boise River reservoir, and into hot (90s) Boise. We got to the Candlewood Suites, had salad at Applebee's, got gas, and came back to watch preseason football. Terrific mpg-over 50 mpg, even in the mountains... Two days now the milage has been great, +55 mpg.
Day : 5 Date : 8.30.15 Sunday
Str Cty : Boise, ID Str Mls. : 18333
End Cty : Lewiston, ID End Mls : 18602
Dly Mls : 269 Tot Mls : 2074 miles
Time : 5 hrs Notes : mountains and dry plains
Pacific time zone... Left at 7 mountain time and arrived at 12:30 PTz. Temperatures never got out of the 60s and lightly rained upon the last 20 miles. Went thru the most beautiful and severe mountains with dramatic vertical, narrow canyons, and flowing Salmon and Peyette rivers. The Salmon River takes an interesting and circuitous route thru the mountains, some 150 miles have no roads within miles thereof. We never viewed the Snake River, but we were close at White Deer. Nice resort city in McCall at the end of Peyette Lake .. Should revisit off season. We passed close to a fire (but could not see) and irritating smoke from the Riggins Fire, having passed several temporary fire camps and heliports. Too cold and wet to take a jet boat ride on the Snake. The Salmon comes into the Snake at White Deer and the Clearwater River does as well at Clarkston, and 50 miles west the Snake empties into the Columbia coming from the north and turning west. 28500 miles so far this year.
Day : 6 Date : 8.31.15 Monday
Str Cty : Clarkston, ID Str Mls. : 18602
End Cty : Republic, WA End Mls : 19031
Dly Mls : 469 Tot Mls : 2534 miles
Time : 9 hrs Notes : rain last 5 hours in Canada.
Left at 7 rising 2k' to 2600' onto a wheat plain in 60 degree weather. Huge wheat fields all harvested and golden. Beautiful huge fields of over 600 acres. We went thru Moscow, to Coeur d'Alene, to Sandpoint, and over the border at Porthill. 15 miles north it began to rain, 40 miles further we caught the ferry at Kootenany Bay, and came back to land 30 minutes later near Nelson...still raining. Nelson was a very big and nice city/commericial center. The area surprised me with it's rugged beauty...A huge lake with small flat areas around the lake and mountains rising straight up, so the water to mountain transition was dramatic, particularly when on a boat in the middle of the lake. We then worked our way to Castlegar on hwy 3. We went over a 5k' pass in rain, fog, and 43 degrees on Hwy 3. We then re entered the U.S. and rode back roads of Hwy 20/21 to stay overnite in Republic, Washington. A deer hit Paul .. A glancing blow. No picture needed as u know what drizzling, cold rain looks like.
Day : 7 Date : 9.1.15 Tuesday
Str Cty : Republic Str Mls. : 19031
End Cty : Burlington, WA End Mls : 19276
Dly Mls : 245 Tot Mls : 2779 miles
Time : 5 hrs Notes. Mountains and rain..Burlington
Left at 7 in 45 degree temperature, rising to 55. We twice crested above 4100' and lost 13 degrees to 42 on Hwy 20. We ran into burned areas around Tunk Mountain just before going south on 97 where there was burn in the Okanogan valley. We returned to 20 with a lot of burn, including trees, on the way to Twisp and went over 4200' twice and lost 10 degrees. As we came down from the pass we saw forests where trees were the primary fire fuel, unlike most of the other fires being scrub and grass fires. We entered the Methow Valley, ate breakfast on Main Street Twisp, and moved on into the Cascade Mountains. In the Cascades we peaked at above 5400', followed by two passes above 4100'. At the tops it started to rain hard and continued all the way down to 100 feet in Burlington, and temperatures never got back to 55 for the remainder of the trip. Changed my reservation from Bellingham to Candlewood Burlington as we were soaked and cold, and saving 50 miles in riding. 29200 so far this year. Because of the terrible weather and our pain we did not go the extra 25 miles to Bellingham which would have increased our ride by 50 miles.... In the rv maybe. We did laundry.
The return:
Day : 8 Date : 9.2.15 Wednesday
Str Cty : Burlington, WA Str Mls. : 19276
End Cty : Sandpoint, ID End Mls : 19664
Dly Mls : 402 Tot Mls : 3181 miles
Time : 7:30 hrs Notes. Mountains and rain..
We anticipated rain so dressed for it... Left in fog and 55 degrees but lost temperature as we crossed the Cascades at 4800 and 40 deg and 5600 and 36 degrees with our icing warning on the dash blinking. We went high above the beautiful copper colored lakes and below the snow covered mtn tops. Deep in the mountains a bear crossed the road and guard rail in front of us. When arrived on the eastern slope the sun was out and temps got to mid 60s. We had brunch in Twisp and Marnie and I discussed the RV. After the stop we proceeded north in the Ontanogan Valley on 97 and recaught 20 east all the way to 395 and 2 into Sandpoint, ID at the HIx. On the eastern tour we passed over 4200 feet and big temp drops..going up and down - elevation and temperature in reverse sequence. We called to make an offer on the Wells RV. Ate at a Louie's restaurant next door. We kept dry but not always warm.
Day : 9 Date : 9.3.15 Thursday
Str Cty : Sandpoint, ID Str Mls. : 19664
End Cty : Helena, MT End Mls : 19962
Dly Mls : 300 Tot Mls : 3482 miles
Time : 5 hrs Notes. Mountains and rain..Burlington
Left at 7:30 in sun shine on Hwy Scenic 200 at 46 degrees - beautiful terrain, mountains, rivers and lakeside. I missed a great picture of the reflection of mountains in a perfectly calm Clark Fork River and never saw another opportunity all the way down 200. About 50 miles down the road it began to mist and spurt while the temperature never rose above 55 degrees until we got south of Missoula, and then it only went to 65. At 93 we headed for Missoula and I 90. We were at 2500' for the first 200 miles, then we rode to 4500' south of Missoula, and finally went to 6300 feet over the Continental Divide on highway 12 into Helena. It was suppose to be 93 deg in Helena, but it was only 64 when we arrived and it was just starting to sprinkle. Applebee's for dinner. Rest from 4 days cold and rain.
Day : 10 Date : 9.4.15 Friday
Str Cty : Helena Str Mls. : 19962
End Cty : Sheridan, WY End Mls : 20462
Dly Mls : 503 Tot Mls : 3985 miles
Time : 8:15hrs Notes. Out of the cold and rain!
Left in drizzle and 48 degrees on Hwy 12 thru the hinterland hills and passes...went over 5700' before settling for 4k' ranching. Saw huge herds of antelope. We finally got into the sun at 200 miles but still in 60s. Turned on 3 toward Billings at 300 miles and got gas. Then south on I 90 to Little Big Horn. Drove the circuit and could not figure what Custer had in mind...7000 Indians against 600 pony soldiers..fool..if only they could have gotten back to the road to escape!! We then rode South to Ranchester and 14 and over 14a. To ride over the BigHorn mountains like we did last year...dramatic climbs and descents. Climb on switchbacks, across the high flats above 8'k, then down thru switchbacks, pass everything on the hills, and then repeat. Over 8400' and 9400' passes with fast and tight switchbacks by the dozen losing and gaining 18 degrees in the passes, ending in the high seventies, thanks much. We passed a Pronghorn buck (or an antelope) along the side of the road..right next to us.. Then 15 miles on 90 to the HI in Sheridan.. Looks like home in 2 days, maybe ...
Day : 11 Date : 9.5.15 Saturday
Str Cty : Sheridan Str Mls. : 20462
End Cty : Watertown, SD End Mls : 21047
Dly Mls : 587 Tot Mls : 4572 miles
Time : 8:30 hrs Notes : devils Tower/ animals / rain 75-80mph
Awake at 4:30, breakfast at 6, on the road at 6:30 on 14 to Gillette in 45 degs. In the first 70 miles we saw thousand of mule deer (some with huge racks), hundreds of Antelope/pronghorns and turkeys, and several grouse/partridges along the road. Gassed in Gillette and drove to view Devils Tower on 14. In Belle Fourche we caught 212 and rode it all the way to Watertown at between 75 and 80 mph. Gassed in Faith where grandma Beebe taught 100 yrs ago then thru Gettysburg where I think her family lived. At the Missouri River the sky turned grey and it sprinkled on and off for the next 200+ miles and rained for good in Watertown. We gassed and got to the HIx without getting soaked and will eat next door. Posted on Facebook for 4 month anniversary....and milage on trip.
Day : 12 Date : 9.6.15 Sunday
Str Cty : Watertown Str Mls. : 21047
End Cty : Home End Mls : 21509
Dly Mls : 463 Tot Mls : 5035 miles
Time : 7 hrs Notes. Hot and home
Slept in til 7:30 by accident, but we needed the rest. Rode cross country to Clear Lake, Canby, north of Marshall, and into New Ulum where we caught Hwy 14. Gassed outside Rochester and raced on as we rode over 70 and 75 where possible to hustle home in 90+ degree heat. 31743 for the summer so far. Tired but a great trip...wishing we had stayed on the west coast and spent a day exploring northern Puget Sound area. 1553 miles in the last three days.
THE END ... For now !
