Day 11 – Missoula, MT – Babb, MT

Day 11 – Missoula, MT – Babb, MT      08/31/10     Mileage:  210 

The hotel had a free breakfast consisting of fatty muffins and skinny coffee and I wished it were the other way around…but free is free and we both ate our fill. We rode out of Missoula at 9am heading north towards Glacier National Park.   

Rest stop on the way to Polson, MT...

Paul on the road to Polson, MT...

Bikes resting above Flathead Lake...

First stop would be the town of Polson, MT for gas a bite to eat. On the way we passed the Miracle of America Museum…and we couldn’t pass on this thin slice of roadside Americana. For the paltry sum of $5, we got to look at 50+ rare motorcycles, helicopters, jets, a washing machine collection, vintage cars, war memorabilia, farm equipment, vintage snowmobiles and snow cats, a tug boat and a million other things that defy classification. I’ll let the pictures do the talking…   

The Miracle of America Museum

A WWII era army half track...

Taking it all in...

Electric torture device or hair curler..I'll let you be the judge...

The predecessor to Paul’s R1150GS…and old BMW boxer powered side car…

Some old Harley's...

Yet another old Harley...

An old Excelsior...cool!

A three seat Indian three wheeler...ya...

An Ariel "Square Four"

Ready for tak-off....

Stick and rudder baby, nothing to it...

The Huey cockpit...

Paul has a go...

Bell Huey

Paul and I in the "MASH" chopper...

Even big kids like fire trucks...

Don't ask what it is, because I don't know...

Glacier National Park snow plow truck...

Glacier National Park snow plow truck...

At the helm...

After spending 2 hours crawling in, on and over random bits of Americana….we were famished and looking to fill the void…and did so with an all you can eat Chinese buffet. After stuffing ourselves with moo goo gai pan, we rolled up the east shore of Flathead Lake towards West Glacier and the entrance to Glacier National Park. We procured some provisions in hopes of camping in the park and then started up the Going to the Sun Road which traverses the park.   

Entering Glacier National Park

Heading up the Going to the Sun Road...

Getting higher up the pass...

Paul heading up the Going to the Sun Road

The overcast weather was turning quickly to rain as we climbed up into the higher elevations. Near the top of the pass, the rain turned to sleet as the temperature dipped into the 30’s. On top of that the road was under construction in spots so we had to wait in the sleet and rain for the road to reopen….then make our way up the pass. Once on the other side of the pass the weather was even worse and camping was not looking too appealing. This also explains the lack of pictures!   

A look back into Glacier Park from the east side...

After shopping around for suitable accommodations, we settled on the Duck Lake Lodge in the booming metropolis of Babb, MT.

Day 10 – Yellowstone – Missoula, MT

Day 10 – Yellowstone – Missoula, MT     08/30/10     Mileage:   329 

Morning came at 6am…or more specifically some jackasses car alarm in the next campsite. The temperature was in the 30’s and it was starting to rain. There was no avoiding the inevitable, so we packed the bikes and got on the road. We rode around 10 miles when and were stopped at a construction road block…and to boot it started to rain in earnest. Cold, wet, no way forward, and no way back…ummm this officially sucks. Once the road block lifted, we started to head up a small mountain pass only to be greeted by sleet, freezing rain and a gravel mud road. The consitions were dicey at best, but we pressed on. My only consolation is that with every mile I am slowly earning the ADV (Adventure Rider) sticker on my side bag. There are not many pictures from today, because if we stopped we might not have the will to get back on the bikes!    

Elk! OK, that was pretty cool to be so close...

Yellowstone Park north entrance arch...

We were in and out of rain all day up into Montana ending up in Missoula where we tracked down a new rear tire for Paul’s 1150GS at Big Sky Cycles.   

Big Sky Cycles, Missoula, MT

After finding a hotel and a bite to eat, it was off to get some rest. Tomorrow we hope to cross Glacier National Park and on into Canada…

Day 9 – Landers, WY – Yellowstone National Park

Gasing up in Dubois, WYxDowntown Dubois, WY

We had our first “taste” of adventure when we came upon several miles of road construction. Now, normally “road construction” implies there is an actual road that is currently under construction. Not so in this case as the pavement completed ended giving way to a rocky morass of mud and dirt. The KLR fared well as it is an off-road bike at heart and has semi off-road tires. Paul had a harder time on the big Beemer shod with half bald street tires. He did a hell of a job just keeping the bike upright. We would have stopped for a picture, but we both had our hands full keeping the bikes upright and moving forward. Thankfully the mud gave way to pavement after a few miles and we were able to let the bikes run once again. The scenery was improving with each mile we rode, but the grand finale came when we crested a pass to see before us the full grandeur of the Teton Mountains and Grand Teton.    

Grand Teton

 No amount of words or pictures can fully describe the scale and beauty that lay before us.    

Teton National Park

Paul and I and the Teton's

Taton's and bikes...

After the requisite photo’s, it was onward to Grand Teton National Park which led us into Yellowstone.    

Fellow NJ travelers!

Paul and the Grand Teton...

Grand Teton...

Teton National Park

The Teton's across Jackson Lake...

Crossing the Continental Divide...

We had a packed lunch overlooking Jackson Lake, and then it was on to Old Faithful. We went in to check out the Old Faithful Inn which was very cool and has been there since the late 1800’s!    

Old Faithful Inn

Old Faithful Inn

Inside the Old Faithful Inn...

Inside the Old Faithful Inn...

Inside the Old Faithful Inn

They had a nice deck overlooking Old Faithful where we procured a few beers and settled into our ring side seats for the geyser show.    

Chillin with an Old Faithful beer on the Old Faithful Inn deck!

Paul on the Old Faithful Inn deck...

Living the life...

 Though it was 12 minutes “late”, Old Faithful did not disappoint.    

Old Faithful in action!

Old Faithful Inn bus...cool!

When we got back to the bikes, some folks had left a note on Paul’s bike informing us that the ravens had taken a liking to his riding gloves and the Velcro fasteners on my tank bag.    

The "Raven Note"...

Damn ravens!

After procuring some provisions and fuel, it was onward to seek out a campground for the night.    

Oh give me a home, where the buffalo roam...

 Once at the campground, a park ranger told us about a nightly presentation about the parks history.    

Camping in Yellostone National Park

 So, after setting up camp we went over to the presentation.    

History of Yellowstone...kind of...

 In short, Paul liked it…but after 10 minutes I wanted to blow my brains out! Perhaps it was the impatient part time NY’er in me…but the only thing keeping me there were the 10 people blocking my retreat! Afterwards, it was back to the tents for some much needed rest.

Day 8 – Golden, CO – Landers, WY

Day 8 – Golden, CO – Landers, WY     08/28/10     Mileage: 389 

After getting home from Kristi and Dave’s at 4am, an early start was just not in the cards!  

Hung over in helmets...

So, at the crack of 10am, Paul and I set off down Coal Creek Canyon heading for I-70 west and Winter Park to visit an old high school friend. After loading a spare tire onto the back of my bike, it now handles like a piano. The high altitude and extra weight means I have to push the KLR hard to get over the mountain passes. Once in Winter Park, I met up with Patty who is an old friend from high school….it was great to see her after all these years!  

Patty and I...

After a quick visit with Patty, it was due north to Wyoming.  

Welcome to Wyoming...

Yee haww....Wyoming!

Steel horses....

On the road in Wyoming...

Once out of the mountains of Colorado and onto the rolling desolate plains of central Wyoming, the wind came on with a furry. What made this so bad was it was hitting us broadside making it a struggle to keep the bikes upright and on the road! This went on for over 100 miles across the most deserted and desolate terrain I have ever crossed. In nearly 130 miles, we passed exactly 1 gas station, 10 deserted buildings and 12 cows…who cleary must have been lost. The next town was Lander’s, WY and was a welcome sight. Given the lack of sleep and the fatigue of battling the cross winds on the open plains, we quickly decided on a hotel room…a two bedroom deluxe suite to be exact, because that’s what a roughneck Wyoming cowboy would do….not.

Day 6 and 7, Golden, CO

Thursday Paul and I went to Wolfman Motorcycle Luggage in Longmont, CO to pick up a new tank bag for the bike. On the way we had lunch in Nederland and then we were off to pick up the R1150GS Paul would be riding and bring it back to the house. Once back at the house, we commenced the buffalo wing and beer consumption which greatly explains the lack of pictures! Friday it was packing and preparing the bikes for the run up to Banff, Canada. After that was complete, it was off to lunch then to his son Lance’s football game.   

Paul and Kim

Go Lance!

Lance at wide receiver

 After the game it was on to the Southern Sun in Boulder, CO for some beer and black bean nachos!   

Southern Sun, Boulder, CO

Paul and Lance...

Kim and Leigh

Leigh and I

 Paul and Kim’s friends Kristi and Dave joined us…what a fun couple!   

Kristi and Dave...

 After the Southern Sun it was back to Kristi and Dave’s house for…ummm…best as I recall…Jagger Bomb’s, Car Bomb’s, beer and other assorted libations culminating in an epic and very late night!