Hi Everybody - great to see that so many folk are managing to keep track of us via the SPOT satellite tracker.
We arrived in Calgary on Wednesday 30th July and got the bikes safely delivered back to us via the Canadian customs department. Hooked the batteries back up and both bikes fired up first time. No damage caused in transit either so we were good to go. We spent the first night in calgary and set off for Glacier National Park the next morning. Had a great ride down and enjoyed the great weather and the wide open spaces.
Next morning we set off acroos the Going to the Sun Highway and over Logans Pass in the Park - what a road - saw Mountain Goats, Big Horn Sheep and various large birds of prey. headed on into Missoula that afternoon and marveled at the wide open spaces of Montana. Those roads just seem to go on forever with never ending view of the Rockies to enjoy on the way. Traffic was virtually non existent and we travelled under a clear blue sky into magnificent rolling countryside.
Missoula has some real characters and after eating a great dinner in The Depot we enjoyed several beverages with the locals in various bars. The HA were in town too so many bikes were thundering around the city.
Next day saw another tremendous ride through Montana down to Yellowstone. We had a great lunch in Jackson Hot Springs at a fantastic bar and Hotel which we must try and stay at sometime in the future.
Arrived at the Stagecoach Inn in Yellowstone in good time for a few brews and then met Keithincda for a good chin wag and a few more brews. Keith had travelled a long way to meet us and we really appreciated the effort he mad along with his friend gerry - here's to you Keith
We spent a full day the next day in Yellowstone doing all the tourist stuff - cuddling Bears, petting Buffalo, canoodling the Elks and bathing in Old Faithful. Yellowstone is a truly remarkable place and really needs a few more days to do it justice.
Following morning and we heade out of Yellowstone through the Park and up to Mammoth Springs. What a sight, it sure amazes you to think how much water and how long it must have taken to build those Travertine Hills to such a size. We then headed on along the Chief Joseph Highway and up over the much praised Beartooth Pass. 11,000 feet and very cold - we rode through snow at the side of the road and enjoyed the spectacular views and the sweeping curves of the road through. Well reccommended by you good folks on here and very enjoyable.
We arrived in Cody that night at Buffal Bills Irma Hotel and spent some time watching the Wild west Show before enjoying a slap up dinner and of course more Moose Drool and Fat Tire.
Wednesday we travelled the BIg Horn Mountains on route 14a - if you get a chance do it. Superb road with little or no traffic and a great place to stop in the middle for lunch called the Bear Resort Inn.
So that brings us up to date as we are now in Deadwood and enjoying Sturgis and all the surrounding countryside and sites. We are off on a 285 mile loop tomorrow to take in the Badlands and as much of the monuments and sites as possible.
We had a great dinner last night at The Elk Creek Steak House with Al and Janine and Pado along with his wife Phyllis. A shame the other people who said they were going to join us didn't show, but you all missed a great night - hopefully there will be another time for us to meet you.
SPOT looks to be working well - you are right Howie, only straight lines to join the dots as this is a satellite tracker and it does not follow any road map. I just need to hit the " I am here" button as often as possible to keep the route as true as is possible.
I currently have no cell phone network - i dont know why, but everything is on track for us to meet up with the rest of the CVO crew. See you soon Craig. I'll phone you from the Hotel if I stll have no network coverage.
Sorry I can't post any pictures from here - hopefully I'll get to do that at Talons when I see him on Sunday.
Thanks for all the good wishes - I'll keep you updated as and when I can.
For now.
Nige & Jan
Author
Topic: Nige & Jans USA Pick up Ride - 30th July to 7th Sept. 2008 (Read 62216 times)