Utah and ear's Ears

Utah and Bear's Ears

BEARS EARS & UTAH

9.6-12.17 - WI, IA, MO, CO, UT, & CO 

 with Brother Paul 

Trip 3093 / ‘17 Total 15967+ 3294 = 19260

Life 409738 + 3294 = 413032 

Day: 1 Date: Wednesday 9.6.17

Str Cty: Home Str Mls: 41449 / 41650

End Cty: Columbus, NE End Mls: 42140

Dly Mls: 486 Tot Mls: 486

Time: 7:45 Notes: We changed our trip from 9.26 to tomorrow because of too many conflicts, once Paul got permission from his boss to be off causing rushed organization and packing. Left at 8:30 in 48 degree sunshine. Rode to Dubuque and caught Hwy 20 until Fort Dodge where we dropped down to Hwy 30 to Columbus and the HIx.  70 was high after 2:00. The corn was more mature here than at home, maybe an earlier variety. The housing in the country were very upscale, but not in the towns. State roads were very good all day. It is amazing- the size of commercial grain storage facilities all along the way, but more amazing was the number of grainers on farms so farmers can store their own grain to avoid storage costs and better sell over time when the markets are better.

Day: 2 Date: Thursday 9.7.17

Str Cty: Columbus Str Mls: 42140

End Cty: La Junta, CO End Mls: 42630

Dly Mls: 489 Tot Mls: 97

Time: 7 hrs 47 min Notes: 90 degrees at checkin. We rode every variety of road from interstate to county trunks- left on Hwy 30 in 50 degree weather. Then to I80 before going to the hinterland of fed and state Hwy 383/40 roads, ending up on a county road into La Junta and the HIx. As we progressed on our route the towns deteriorated and the farm housing was poorer than yesterday. I am wondering how many Dreamers live around here. 

After getting to western NE and into Colorado one could not see a tree, crops, or houses around the horizon- desolate landscape except where irrigation was possible. Had a troubled checkin and a second floor room away from the elevator- wrote the priority club. We gained 2400 feet today from 2000’ last nite. We saw at least half a dozen trains lined up going east, most hauling coal.

Day: 3 Date: Friday 9.8.17

Str Cty: La Junta, CO Str Mls: 42630

End Cty: Cortez, CO End Mls: 43016

Mls: 388 Tot Mls: 1363Time: 7:15 Notes: into the mountains and on to Mesa Verde National Park. Left at 7:34 and rose 2000’ in first 50 miles in desert to 4k’. Then rose 3800’ more to go over the 9800 pass east of Alamosa in comfortable 50-75 temperatures. Alamosa was 135 miles from La Junta on a 6k’ plain. Then we rose quickly over the Continental Divide at 10800 before dropping 3k’+ in less than 10 miles to a 7500 feet plateau thru Pagosa Springs, past Bayfied (where Lynne  M lives), and Durango. 10 miles out of Cortez we turn to take the 46 mile side trip in Mesa Verde NP to see the cliff dewellings and the Fairview rooms where marnie and I stayed years ago and went over 8400’ to get there. Got to Cortez HIx at 4:30 and again they had not read my requests again. Ribeye for dinner next door. We saw an eagle and many antelope today, otherwise we have seen no wildlife. Sprinkled on twice for short distance from rouge clouds

Day: 4 Date: Saturday 9.9.17

Str Cty: Cortez  Str Mls: 43015 

End Cty: Moab, UT End Mls: 43363

Dly Mls: 349 Tot Mls: 1712

Time: 6 hrs 10 min Notes: Mexican Hat, Bear’s Ears, Natural Bridges, the canyons, the Colorado river, Hanksville, and on to Moab. Left at 8 am  and rode to Mexican Hat on 160-162-261. In 8 miles with Paul leading we went up a cliff of 1400 feet with no forward progress. Four miles south of Hwy 95 we got the goods on Bear’s  Ears and turned on to Hwy 95 Natural Bridges. We drove the loop and Paul walked to see them. We were at 6k’, hot, and exertion caused me  to be light headed. We then moved on to the Colorado River, the canyons I like, and stopped at Hanksville. Then we took Hwy 24 for 50 miles to I70, 30 miles on I70 to 191 south to Moab. Temperatures started at 60 in the morning and to 88 degrees in Hanksville. Dinner at the Moab Brewery where I've always eaten. 

Day: 5 Date: Sunday 9.10.17

Str Cty: Moab, UT Str Mls: 43363

End Cty: Walden, CO End Mls: 43718

Dly Mls: 350 Tot Mls: 2062

Time: 6 hrs 10 min Notes: 82/86/9600 

Left at 7:45 and took Hwy 128 along the Colorado River for 50 miles and connected to I70 to and through Grand Junction and rejoined the river. We followed it all the way til we turned off in 120 miles at Wolcott. We needed gas but there were none for 50 miles. We rose 8200 and 9600 feet before getting gas. Since we were off route we ended up going to Steamboat Springs. Then we went above 9600’ on Hwy 40 - the second Continental Divide crossing. Took Hwy 14 30 miles to Walden and we are staying at the North Park motel, parking right in front of our room.. ..120$. Dinner at the River Rock restaurant for ribeye.

Day: 6 Date: Monday  9.11.17

Str Cty: Moab, UT Str Mls: 43718

End Cty: Columbus, NE End Mls: 44265

Dly Mls: 551 Tot Mls: 2613

Time: hrs 8 min 30 Notes: 10300 on the second Continental Divide and went down 5000’ in the next 30 miles and 4000’ more to  get to Columbus at 1200’. 4000’ at Moab and 8200’ in Walden last nite..slept well drugged.  Saw deer and a moose family, probably a dozen and a baby. Temperature was a problem..started at 44 degrees and coming off the mountain of 10300 and dropped 5000’ with increased so the temp rose to high 50s. Breakfast at McDonalds in Fort Collins. After 100 miles on 14 to I76 temps rose to the 80s. When we hit I70 the temp rose to 88-94 (struggled on) and stayed there for 275 miles to Columbus at 5:30. It was so hot and close we rode in long sleeved shirts instead of jackets. Talked with Marn to catch up on Nook.

Day: 7 Date: Monday  911.17

Str Cty: Columbus  Str Mls: 44265

End Cty: Home End Mls: 44743

Dly Mls: 481 Tot Mls: 3093

Time: 7 hrs  25 min Notes: 50-80 degrees… 

mpg=45…average speed = 64 mph. On the road at 8:00 in 50+ weather on Hwy 30. After 120 miles we found our road was blocked so we had to take 2.8 miles on a gravel road and then hit Hwy 20 east. We got to Dubuque at 2:30 and home at 4:30. In the last week the green of corn and beans has turned to harvest yellow, especially in southern NE and IA.

Columbus… La Junta, Co… Cortez to Mexican Hat…Mexican Hat to Kane Gulch Ranger Station (4 miles S of 95) to Bear’s Ears…. BE to Hanksville … Hanks to Moab… Along the Colorado River to Walden and 14 in Colorado…. To Columbus NE.. 

Lifetime = 413032 miles

‘17 Summer = 19260 miles 

Cassiar and the Yukon

Cassiar Highway - Yukon  

June 30- July 13, 2017 with Paul

Trip 6207/6290+6207= 12497 year

WI, MN, SD, MT, ID, BC, YUKON, ND and BACK    

Day: 1 Date: Wednesday 6.28.17

Str Cty: Home Str Mls: 35116

End Cty: home End Mls: 35250

Dly Mls: 126 Tot Mls: 126

Time: hrs min Notes: Mischlers 

Got tires, and oil service… adjusted running lite.

Day: 2 Date: 6.30.17

Str Cty: Home Str Mls: 35250

End Cty: Watertown, SD End Mls: 35705

Dly Mls: 461 Tot Mls: 461

Time: 7 hrs 30 min Notes: chilly and windy

Across Minnesota… Left at 8 after 2 1/2 pots of coffee. 10 in LaCrosse and noon at Kasson for gas.  (14 to I90 to Rochester)… 14 thru Rochester, Mankato and  New Ulum to Sleepy Eye to Redwood 67-68-21… Head wind all day so it was exhausting but gained 500’.  The crops in WI and MN looked very good, having plenty of rain. At our first stop at HIx in Watertown at 4:30. Rained on one ten minute period - soaked us. Salads at Applebys.

Day: 3 Date: 7.1.17

Str Cty: Watertown, SD Str Mls: 35705

End Cty: Miles City, MT End Mls: 36196

Dly Mls: 493 Tot Mls: 954

Time: 7 hrs 10 min Notes: across South Dakota to the Yellowstone River. On Hwy 12..the Yellowstone Trail. Gained 1500 ft to Miles City at 3:30. We left Watertown at 7:45 on Hwy 20 to 45  into Ipswich with temperatures in the 60s. We stopped for pictures and moved on to Roscoe for more pictures. The new high school is almost complete. The Presbyterian church has been dissolved. Elfords house looks ok as does their grave. Crops in eastern SD looked usually good. However, once across the Missouri River the crops were stunted particularly corn due to lack of rain and  the pastures and once cut alfalfa ground in burnt brown color. The Saffron fields looked bright yellow and okay. Going into MT the terrain changed to desert  tumbleweed, hill and cliffs of rock, and only pastures. By noon the temperatures moved thru the 80s, peaking at 92.5 degrees for the last 3 hours. We had a strong head winds all day.. 38 mpg. Paul almost got hit by  a doe and her two fawns crossing the road. We saw  a few prong horn antelope. Cooled off at the MC motel and ribeye at the Chop House for dinner. Last year when we went the other way on this route everywhere was bright green and there were birds everywhere…not today.

Day: 4 Date: Sunday 7.2.17

Str Cty: Miles City Str Mls: 36196

End Cty: Helena, MT End Mls: 36545

Dly Mls: 351 Tot Mls: 1305

Time: 5 hrs 30 min Notes: across Montana to the Missouri River and the Continental Divide. Started at 7:15 in hi 60 temps on I90 for 46 miles to Hwy 12. 250 miles on nice roads across the Little Belt  mountains. The trees started to appear, first the Russian olive and poplar, then the pines as  we rose in elevation. The pine forests were thick in places. Temps stayed below 82 until the last 30 miles into Helena when temps soared to 89.5 in beating sun at 4000 feet. We went over 5800 twice and then descended. The primary industry is ranching cattle and irrigated-market alfalfa. The ranches were very sparsely located so they had max acreage with little vegetation and brown unless irrigated; those fields looked very healthy. Stopped after 75 miles in Imgomar…1/4 miles on gravel..a few inhabitants in broken down residences and  many abandoned buildings and unassuming animals .. several rabbits hanging out, a family of hen prairie chicken with 5 chicks, and 4 porcupines in the town confines.. several rvs plugged in …everything else was closed. Several non descript rest stops, except White Sulfur Springs. Saw several prairie chickens, a dead elk, and several antelope. Got to HIx in Helena at 2:00 89.5 degrees at 4000 feet. We went for a swam and rested, then rode to the Capitol and on to the Silver Star for favorite blue cheese-calmari salad dinner. 

Day: 5 Date: Monday 7.3.17

Str Cty: Helena Str Mls: 36545

End Cty: Sandpoint, ID End Mls: 36850

Dly Mls: 300 Tot Mls: 1605

Time: 4 hrs 45 min Notes: up into Idaho down Clark Fork River to Lake Pend Orielle and Sandpoint HIx. On the road at 7:45 in 60 degree temperatures. We crested the Continental Divide at MacDonald Pass at 6325’. 48 miles to I90 to Missoula and north 50 miles to state road 200- Road to the Buffalos - along the Clark Fork River which empties into the Lake Pend Orielle. Temperatures climbed to the low 80s in the afternoon and were very comfortable. The trees are primarily pine with a few pine and the route shows little agriculture. Gained an hour and had a short ride so we got to HIx at 12:30 for a long rest. Took our bikes for a shower to get the bugs off…planned our route for tomorrow from Marnie's log of last year. We washed our bikes with a hose from the motel. We had dinner at Lou's next door- 60/40 hamburger/bacon combination. Listening to news.

Day: 6 Date: Tuesday 7.4.17

Str Cty: Sandpoint, ID Str Mls: 36850

End Cty: Kamloops, BC End Mls: 37239

Dly Mls: 403 Tot Mls: 2008

Time: 8 hrs in 11 hours Notes: into Canada thru the Kootenany over to the Columbia River and beyond to Kamloops. First we drove  2—95-1-3 into Canada at 60 miles. Then we went into the peaky mountain lake country and 110 miles to  the ferry. The ferry was closing the gate as we drove up…they wouldn't let us on… we had to wait 1.5 hrs - pissed. We rode north thru in the narrow valleys with  steep forested sides with beautiful blooming flowers along roads. We arrived at the second ferry for the Columbia River and waited one hour..pissed again cuz it was just pulling out. Rode the next mountain road to Revelstoke at 250 and got gas. Then the temp went to the 90s on CA1 -…trans Canada highway - with heavy traffic. Heat and concentration took a toll from the scenery, except we noticed the mountains were more western with less height and trees. At Kamloops HIx. Marnie was partying… went to DQ for hot dogs and blizzards. We rode thru the town of Kamloops and it is very odd and disorganized but a commercial center on the Thompson River with the TR university. We crossed the source of the Columbia River. Good roads all day!

Day: 7 Date: Wednesday 7.5.17

Str Cty: Kamloops Str Mls: 37239

End Cty: Fraser Lake End Mls: 37671

Dly Mls: 447 Tot Mls: 2455

Time: 7 hrs 15 min Notes: went beyond Prince George cuz we were early. Left 8 after a good nites sleep. Went on north 1 and 97 north. We finally stopped at the 8th Tim Hortons we've seen and got a donut at 100 miles. We rode along Fraser River and spotted a huge eagle as it took off close to Paul. Paul has been required to drink. We made PG at 2:00 and stopped at the Harley dealer who helped me repair my bike 17 years ago and who I visited 10 years ago. We moved on to Fraser Lake to shorten tomorrow's ride to Stewart, BC. The terrain went from hill desert to fir forests with many rivers and Temperatures never rose above the mid 80s but felt hotter in 3 one-lane construction stops. We took a room from Indian owner (India) that is terrible but in the right place. Dinner at local Mexican restaurant. Bad nite….

Day: 8 Date: Thursday 7.6.17

Str Cty: Fraser Lake Str Mls: 37671

End Cty: Bell II End Mls: 38032

Dly Mls: 363 Tot Mls: 2818

Time: 7 hrs Notes: up to Bell II on the Cassiar

Frustrated by our decisions on where to stay last nite and woke at 5 to escape.  We decided to stay at Bell for two nites rather than taking another chance on a poor choice. We  shall return to Stewart tomorrow. The temperature on the road was 41. After 45 miles we stopped in Burns Lake for ugly breakfast at A&W, but the coffee was great. We made the 200 miles to the bottom of 37/Cassiar by noon when the temperatures broke the 70s. On the way we came across the carcass  of a cow moose with an adolescent fox exploring it. We stopped down the road and the fox came to us, not veering off until 20 feet away. His tail was black unlike his brown body and it was 2/3 the length of his body. On the Cassiar we rode the 150 miles north at 50 miles per hour looking for moose, bear and deer. We saw the deer and only the fecal remnants of the bear along the road. The berms were a blanket of wild daisies interspersed with yellow flowers, and Queen Ann’s Lace with Indian Paintbrushes. We stopped at an Indian village which had many totem poles. On up the road we frequently saw bear poop on the edge. We stopped at the  junction of Stewart and the Cassiar to take sustenance. We are in a suite in a chalet. And the place has a free laundry so doing clothes. Had terrible ribs and small salad made from roadside veggies.

Day: 9 Date: Friday  7.7.17

Str Cty: Bell II - Stewart  Str Mls: 38032

End Cty: Stewart - Bell II End Mls: 38229

Dly Mls: 202 Tot Mls: 3020

Time: 4 hrs 15 min Notes: up at 6:30 by accident. Ten years ago when I rode the Cassiar and at Bell II I was the only motorcycle to be seen was mine.. last nite there had to be more than a dozen bikes here and many on the road. We rode to Stewart early to avoid the rain and got back at 2:30 to the sounds  of thunder in temperatures seldom above 70. Bell II is the second bridge on the Bell River we have been riding beside. We rode straight to Stewart and thru to Hyder. Hyder is an abandoned disaster. We passed the harbor log setup area for Chinese ship loading. Stewart has icy redeeming  qualities and offered a nice Brunch at the toaster museum. On the way in we saw a two tone Woodchuck. On the way home we saw a small bear and stopped, but as we tried to take a picture a car started by and chased  into the woods. We were surrounded by high mountains of the Skeena Mountain range with snow and some glaciers on the way to Stewart. Bell II  is a heliski resort-area in the winter going by helicopter to the tops of the mountains with 5 skiers at a time. They pay $10000 for room, board, and skiing 10000 vertical feet in a week- Last Frontier. Late afternoon sandwich while we watched the rain. There were many high and hanging glaciers. We had dinner salad and hit the bed early for an early escape. Since Bell II has free laundry, every price of clothing has been freshly washed. Our plan is to go to Watson Lake on the Alaskan highway and head for Dawson Creek and the the Icefield road to Banff. There we shall make a decision..to Boise or across northern North Dakota. The helicopters at Bell II were taking supplies to powerline workers or in the mountains. 

Day: 10 Date: Saturday 7.8.17

Str Cty: Bell II Str Mls: 38229

End Cty: Fort Nelson End Mls: 38853

Dly Mls: 634 Tot Mls: 3654

Time: 11 hrs Notes: rain … beautiful  

Up at 6, breakfast at 7 and on the road at 7:20. Moved slowly thru the mountains and got gas at Dease Lake (25 mile long lake) with a stop at Jade City going over 4200 feet at one point. About 40 miles before the Yukon border the terrain flattened and we entered a 25 mile long area of burn within the last several years.  The burn was so big as to not be fightable. As we turned on to The Alaska Highway going east it began to rain. We stopped to see the Signs Park - substantial increase in signs from all over and posted than 2 previous trips. We forgot about gas and found it with less than 80 miles to go in the middle of nowhere.. luckily we found gas! At one point in the Rockies the mountains were  sheer rock with small valleys and with very few trees, prone to avalanches or severe runoff when the snow is melting. We encountered 10 Bears and a sow with 3 cubs, 2 deer, at least 50 bison, 2 prong horn antelope, 4 female caribou and one with a calf, and a Mountain Goat. We eventually went back to the mountains, the Rocky Mountains this time and we went over the divide at above 4220 feet. Morning temperatures were below 55 degrees until Watson Lake, then on to mid 60 later in the afternoon with a short peak of 71 degrees. It sprinkled on us 4 different times in the last 100 miles before our arrival at the Super 8 in Fort Nelson. Pizza at the Boston Pizza restaurant next door.

Day: 11 Date: Sunday  7.9.17

Str Cty: Fort Nelson, BC Str Mls: 38853

End Cty: Grande Cache, AB End Mls: 39329

Dly Mls: 480 Tot Mls: 4134

Time: 7 hrs 30min Notes: in Grande Cache

Up at 5:30 and left at 7:00 in 60 degree temperatures. Temp did not go above 62.5 until noon. A cow Moose crossed the road in front of us and her calf followed…typical of their shyness we did not get a concentrated view. We went thru Dawson Creek about noon. Sleepy riding on the road so several stops for liquid and peeing.  There was no agriculture until Grande Prairie and the first farms were beautiful. And at GP the oil and gas industry, coal mines-power stations, timber and heavy industry started. We were bushed by the time we got to Grande Cache and opted to bed down at the Alpine Motel. We had a great steak and salad followed by Cinnabon with ice cream at a local steak place. Smoke from the fires in BC could been seen but not smelled.

Day: 12 Date: Monday   7.10.17

Str Cty: Grande Cache Str Mls: 39329

End Cty: Lethbridge, AB End Mls: 39856

Dly Mls: 531 Tot Mls: 4665

Time: 9 hrs Notes: slept late..up at 7:30

We went to the A&W (a breakfast place in Canada) for breakfast and the guy who was nice to us last eve at dinner was there with his cronies giving us the devil..so we invited them to Missouri.  Rode nice hilly, curving roads 100 miles to Jasper. Paul saw 3 caribou and I saw an Elk. Then we entered the Park at no cost due to the Canada Birthday. Up til then we were in low 60s temps. It rose a bit on Hwy 43 in the park before it began raining and with each period of rain the temp dropped 18 degrees to 61. We went over 7000’ and 6400’ in the glacial areas and with each rise the temperature lowered. We stopped at Lake Louise for gas and to see the hotel and lake and then rolled on. 16 miles out to LL it rained like hell so we pulled under an animal overpass. When it started to hail cars stopped in the cover and blocked both lanes of traffic.  We got them moving again by yelling at them. We took off when it was only rain. As we passed Banff it started hailing again and was very painful on the hands. We were rained on at least 10 times between Banff-Calgary-Lethbridge. We were able to reservations at the Lethbridge HI and rolled in about 7:30. Dinner at the hotel and we learned that in Canada you can only get a hamburger well done (no medium rare)

Day: 13 Date: Tuesday   7.11.17

Str Cty: Lethbridge Str Mls: 39856

End Cty: Williston, ND End Mls: 40369

Dly Mls: 517 Tot Mls: 5182

Time: 7 hrs 30 min Notes: boom town..

Left at 7 to get gas and tire air. 60 miles to the border and 100 miles to Hwy 2 east at Shelby. Dry conditions and all the fields are brown except for winter and spring wheat and irrigation. The fields are so flat with unbelievable fallow fields, and the rest is wheat. The wheat is very short for the level of maturity. The number of elevators and grain bins is amazing..one place had 32 bins lined up. Early temps were in the low 60s, on Hwy it went to 70s and the last 2 hours were over 86 degrees and insufferable. I made the reservation at Williston HIx accidentally for last nite and they did not have room when we got there.  They referred us over to the Ramada Inn for 113$.  We are hoping for a refund from last nites expense. Williston is the Bakken boomtown and is much improved since I came thru 2 years ago. Most of the temporary housing is closed and unused or for sale and many new apartment buildings for rent or purchase. New roads are being built and the town looks renewed even outside the city boundaries with many franchises. We rode in view of the trees along the Missouri River for over 100 miles… we were just 25 miles from the junction of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers, where Lewis and Clark reunited.

Day: 14 Date: Wednesday   7.12.17

Str Cty: Williston Str Mls: 40369

End Cty: Bemidji, MN End Mls: 40815

Dly Mls: 442 Tot Mls: 5625

Time: 6 hrs 30 min Notes: miserable cold and rain.

Up at 6 and on the road at 7:30 to beat the heat….no heat. 61 degrees when we left and when we got in..went to 68 for 1/2 hr in Grand Forks. Misted all day but never total drenching rain. Hwy 2 is 4 lane thru ND and MN and a good road. ND was green and healthy looking. The fields were huge, 1000 acres of wheat and safflower plants. It looks like the Bakkan is in a bust cycle now - the temporary housing complexes are uninhabited or for sale and huge tankers are parked in several huge lots . The tanker fields are handled by Embridge, the pipeline people (DAPL). I lost the left lens of my glasses.

Day: 15 Date: Thursday   7.13.17

Str Cty: Bemidji Str Mls: 40815

End Cty: Home End Mls: 41323

Dly Mls: 512 Tot Mls: 6137 gps riding/6267 bike gps

Time: 8 hrs Notes: total distance odd= 6197

Ave speed = 58..61moving mph / mpg = 44 / left at 7:30 in the overcast mist and rode like madmen on Hwy 2 in 61 degree weather to Duluth-Superior for our first stop. We got gas and headed down Hwy 53 to 29 to Abottsford and on to Marshfield for gas and lunch break as the temperatures finally rose to 70 degrees. After the 130 miles to Madison it was in the mid 80s and I got home at 4:30. Good riding but a miserable day…

Day: 16 Date: Wednesday   7.19.17

Str Cty: Home-service Str Mls: 41323

End Cty: Service-home End Mls: 41449

Dly Mls: 126 Tot Mls: 6323

Notes: 42000 service again.

Cape Cod - East

5.15-22.17 - WI, IL, IN, OH, PA, NY, CT, RI, MA, and BACK 

Day: 1 Date: Monday  5.15.17

Str Cty: Home Str Mls: 72123 / 71837

End Cty: Werner's End Mls: 72418

Dly Mls: 284 Tot Mls: 284

Time: 5:30 Notes: left in 56 degree weather  and went to Janesville on Hwy 14. Stayed on 90 in the interstate to Chicago and took the bypass without stopping for tolls. Stopped and rested south of the city. 80-90 were messed up and signage for rerouting was terrible. Got gas at 222 miles and moved on the Indiana Turnpike to Middlebury, Indiana and the Werner's on Stone Lake. Had a good visit with John and Mike in a relaxed afternoon. John cooked hamburgers and Mike prepared et al for dinner and we had fruit/Kringle for breakfast.

Day: 2 Date: Tuesday 5.16.17

Str Cty: Werner's / Middlebury Str Mls: 72418

End Cty: Bloomsburg, PA End Mls: 72963

Dly Mls: 525 Tot Mls: 810

Time: 7:44 Notes: off by 8:30 on Hwys 120 and 20 to stay off the Indiana turnpike ..got on the Ohio toll road at the border and paid with I pass at the end of Ohio. Wound south of Pittsburgh and entered the Alleghenies .. over the eastern divide and  Chesapeake water shed at 2250 feet and then wandered down in the valleys as the mountain went from n-s to e-w... beautiful spring day. Tough ride cuz of awake at 4 am and not getting back to sleep, but stayed alert with frequent stops. Arrived at 5:08 as predicted 300 miles out. Trump has caused more shit! Thanked Mike and John.. salad for dinner and good sleep. 

Day: 3 Date: Wednesday   5.17.17

Str Cty: Bloomsburg, PA Str Mls: 72963

End Cty: Hyannis, MA End Mls: 73385

Dly Mls: 407 Tot Mls: 1216

Time: 6:30 Notes: hot/exhausted at arrival. Left at 7:45 by accident on I80 in mild weather and rode I80 to I81 to I84 east from Scranton. It was comfortable in the hills and trees, but after the Hudson River it heated up to the mid 80s and was uncomfortable. That problem increased when I went on slow 2 lane roads to stay in line with Providence. From there on it was an attempt to sustain movement in heat and traffic. 3:30 at the HI in Hyannis. The forest floor along this route has no Multa Flora Rose, so the forest floor is clean with small plants and mountain Laurel.. beautiful. Dinner at the Spankys Clam Shack...great! 

Day: 4 Date: Thursday   5.18.17

Str Cty: Hyannis Str Mls: 73385

End Cty: Hyannis End Mls: 73509

Dly Mls: 109 Tot Mls: 1325

Time: 4 hours Notes: surprisingly hot

Rode on the bay side thru towns on the way up to Provincetown. Very classic NEern houses I like and spread out businesses. Great flora and fauna along the narrow highway-6a. I skirted the beaches lined with very small rental cottages, like 1-2 rooms  and lots of nice small motels. I rode down the narrow streets of Provincetown and went to the harbor where we anchored in '90 and took a pic of the town from the wharf. Then I went to the national seashore with sandy dunes and wide  beaches. Coming back I went down more the sea side of the peninsula. I stopped to check my tires, got a parfait, and got gas for tomorrow. I've tried to replan my route out of the Cape to avoid the frustration of getting here.  Rode around town in late day and again got clam strips for dinner at Spankys Clam restaurant.   

Day: 5 Date: Friday  5.19.17

Str Cty: Hyannis, MA Str Mls: 73509

End Cty: Nook's End Mls: 74611

Dly Mls: 1057 miles Tot Mls: 2382

Time: 16 hours Notes: iron butt. 

Left at 6:08am after waking at 5 ... rode 6 to I195 to I95s to CT 9n to CT 66 to I691 to I84w to I81s to I80w to I76 to I71s to I670w to I70w to I465s to Indiana 37s ... arriving at 12:25am. Exhausted from 2 drenchings ..one on I71 60 miles north of Columbus and no rooms were available there or in all of Columbus due to a big Rock Concert. So, I attached to a truck and rode in its shadow all across OH-IN after it turned dark about 9:30. I had two bad slowdowns for construction. My bike ran fast and well. Turned 1000 miles in one day on beltline around Indy. Had 5Guys hamburgers/hot dog at 1am and a cold shower in the am to get back to neutral.

Saturday was a day of cleaning Nook's apt and my bike. Dinner at Chinese and Bruster's graham cracker ice cream for dessert. Rained several times today.

Day: 6 Date: Sunday    5.21.17

Str Cty: Nook's Str Mls: 74611

End Cty: Home End Mls: 75040

Dly Mls: 408 Tot Mls: 2790

Time: 5:45 riding time Notes: rain and cold 

Left at 8:00 and before Ellettsville I got drenched. I changed to rain clothes and moved on up 231 to Crawfordsville.. I started to rumble on I74 to Bloomington and then North on I 39... Caramel Cashew at Normal Culver's...rode fast and spanned 7 1/2 hours overall...