DK's Definitive Ride Report - Some of the Best Scenic Roads Out West - Tons of Photo'

[DK Custom Products]

Day 41 concluded-

The TG is running well, both drive-train, great handling and smooth ride. Leaving out early, we are warm, but not hot. The scenery is picture perfect, road is nice. In every aspect, this is a Great Riding Day!

We will definitely be revisiting this section of the 70...

...I would have never thought that interstate riding could be...

...so much fun and so scenic!

We could have gone further. But, we have gotten spoiled...

...it's not even 2 pm, but it is starting to get warmer. So we're stopping here and will get an early start tomorrow.

Super 8, home away from home. lol

After checking in, we went to the John Wesley Powell River History Museum, found a spot on the grass, by the river, in the shade and ate our lunch. Amazingly I have no photos of it. Was a nice lunch watching the animals along and in the river.

Tomorrow, early, we continue eastward, toward home!

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

I've had the same thoughts, many a time!

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 42-

We are up early this morning. We want to cover a lot of miles...600 or more...and get stopped before it is too hot.

The sun is just peaking out over the horizon...

...and we're already packed up. Yes, we started when it was still completely dark!

Leaving out from the Super 8. You can see in this pic that Green River is quite the metropolis! lol

A look back as we head toward I70-

These early mornings are still a novelty to me! haha

Lots of road to burn up today.

A look back...some amazing road we traveled yesterday!

It soon becomes apparent....

...that this morning is not going to be the same scenery as yesterday.

Entering Colorado!

At first I thought that was smoke ahead...turns out it was a dense layer of fog!

More of Day 42 in next post-

*

Kevin

 

[ol' school]

The scenery on that stretch of Interstate 70 was amazing for a highway!

 

[DK Custom Products]

The scenery on that stretch of Interstate 70 was amazing for a highway!

Yeah, really surprised us! We'll be back there.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 42 continued-

The long road to Grand Junction...

...Fruita! Almost to Grand Junction.

We thought about giving Alan a call...but we want to cover a lot of miles today, AND beat the heat, so we gas up in GJ and continue on our way!

Amazing views from the edge of Grand Junction...

...and more, as we head into...

...some curving road that...

...winds thru a canyon...

...along the Colorado River.

Rather than go over the rock, let's ride thru it!

This area, outside of Grand Junction, riding along the Colorado River, still well before noon....just a great riding experience!

Making our way toward Glenwood Springs...where we were a few weeks ago.

More on Day 42 as time allows.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Yeah. Felt bad about not stopping or calling...but we were booking it to get home and had a lot of miles. Plus the heat from coming into Vegas was still fresh in Marys' memory.

Kevin

 

[Ozarker]

Kevin, simply a fantastic presentation of your travels :clapping:

You have inspired me to put the I-70 on my bucket list! Thank you :clap:

Hope you don't mind, but I referred to you and Mary in a thread here as the "Famed Iron Butt Duo" :laugh:

 

[DK Custom Products]

Kevin, simply a fantastic presentation of your travels :clapping:

You have inspired me to put the I-70 on my bucket list! Thank you :clap:

Hope you don't mind, but I referred to you and Mary in a thread here as the "Famed Iron Butt Duo" :laugh:

Yes, that section of 70 is on our list to ride again too, taking more time next go around!

hahaha, Iron Butt Duo. For all our riding, well over 100K 2-up on a trike and another 100K+ on two wheelers, we've had a few times that we've done 1000 miles in 24 hours a few times, but never officially, and not in recent years.


Thanks man!

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 42 continued-

This is an amazing day riding...

...winding our way thru the mountains...

...and sometimes THROUGH the mountain!

We're making good time...

...as we head toward our last mountain passes of this trip.

100 miles of some steep and beautiful country before Denver!

There's a fair amount of traffic on the road, but the road is fun and the sights are great!

We're climbing pretty good now...

...toward Silverthorne. Stopped near Dillion Reservoir to change batteries in the camera and video camera.

Rolling thru Silverthorne now. Headed up more mountain toward Eisenhower Tunnel!

More in next post.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 42 continued-

It is hard to tell from these pics...but it is very steep as we ride beside...

...this classic automobile.* It was pulling the hill fine!

Eisenhower Tunnel...

...it's another world inside the mountain!

Out the other side, and the highest altitude we'll be at for close to another year!

A mini tunnel-

Coming into Denver-

No use posting any pics of the traffic and craziness of getting thru Denver. Here we are on the other side, still on the 70-

​​​​​​​

Day 42 concluded in next post.

Kevin

 

[bikerbillone]

Wow, all those miles, two up, no doubt you've learned lot about taking pics, sharing, how to pack, what to see, clothes to wear for weather changes, hydration, trip planning, what to eat, where to eat, budgeting, and where to stay the night. Very cool.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 42 concluded-

On the 70, the east side of Denver could not be more different than the west side.* It is flat, with the occasional hill, straight, with the occasional slight curve, and it just keeps going and going.* Today it is also Very Windy!

Lot's of farmland is an understatement.* I always am thankful for those who do all that hard work to get our stores stocked!

Stockyard-

After 3 hours of relatively straight, flat road, with increasing crosswind, we leave the State of Colorado...

...and enter Kansas.* It looks the same, but if anything the wind is stronger!

Mary in the mirror, and a fellow Triker heading west.

Soon after crossing into Kansas we decide to call it quits.* We wanted to get further today, but the crosswind for the last 3+ hours has gotten stronger and stronger, and beat us up pretty good.

Stopping at the Conoco, up on the right, we find out that there has been a wind advisory...wind has been coming out of the north and gusting up to 65 mph!!!!

So the Super 8, in Goodland, KS is our home for tonight!* We'll be sleeping well.* lol

​​​​​​​It's right about 1000 miles to home.* Tomorrow we should get to somewhere in Missouri, maybe even Arkansas!

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Wow, all those miles, two up, no doubt you've learned lot about taking pics, sharing, how to pack, what to see, clothes to wear for weather changes, hydration, trip planning, what to eat, where to eat, budgeting, and where to stay the night. Very cool.

Hey Bill!

You sum it up very well. It's been a long learning curve, but we've had fun every step of the way. I love to ride and Mary thoroughly enjoys her "queen" seat as a passenger.

Probably the biggest two changes in the last 10-15 years is Electric Jacket Liners for the cold (thank you Mary) and motel "camping" instead of tent camping. lol

Kevin

 

[Jack Klarich]

Kevin, do those tunnels have exhaust fans?

When I went out to Utah in 1970 we went thru some mountain tunnels that had huge exhaust fans,

 

[DK Custom Products]

Kevin, do those tunnels have exhaust fans?

When I went out to Utah in 1970 we went thru some mountain tunnels that had huge exhaust fans,

Yes, there is ventilation in the longer ones. The Eisenhower tunnel has some humongous exhaust vents on each side!

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 43-

Early morning...not sure what time it is, this area of Kansas has a weird thing going with their time zones...but it is just getting light as I look out the room to see if the Trike is still there. Yep, with a Vette parked next to it!

It's gonna be a warm one today, so we get packed up pretty quickly. Trunk and...

...Tour-Pak,ready to go.

Getting geared up...

...Mary's waiting on me!

And we're off...

...still getting used to...

...these early mornings.

We have a lot of miles to cover today.

It is 5:24 am and already 64 degrees, gonna be a warm one...

...but there is no significant wind so far, and the road stretches out as far as we can see. Gonna settle in and eat up some miles, enjoying the open road!

More of day 43 in next post-

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 43 continued-

Rolling along, cruise on 70 mph, couple of fingers on the left grip, and enjoying the ride!

Early morning shadow pic-

A look back...

...and a look ahead. Lots of food being grown, and no mountains in sight!

Mary taking a photo of herself at 70 mph, from above.

Some folks have asked about her helmet. She has an internal visor that comes about halfway down, then she's put black electrical tape across the bottom of her outside visor. Keeps the sun off her.

It's a lot of road! We chose to cross from the "west" to the "east" via the 70. The road is very smooth compared to crossing further south on the 40.

The land of hundreds (thousands?) of wind generators-

Coming down from a little plateau, lot more flat land ahead!

And a ways down the road, a look back!

It is starting to get warm. When we were stopped for gas Mary wanted some ice. I asked her why, it's only the low 90's. She said it worked so well when it was 114*, why not use it in the 90's to be cool. Ok!

More of Day 43 in next post-

*

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 43 continued-

Bit more traffic...

...as we get closer to some population centers.* Trees too!

And even more vehicles, and a lot of concrete!

Crossing into Missouri, getting close to Kansas City.

Traffic gets heavy, and close to a stop as the 70 goes thru downtown.

Just a bit more and we'll be clear-

Clear!* Passing Outlaw HD in Blue Springs, MO-

Day 43 concluded in next post.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 43 concluded-

Rolling thru a construction zone. Mary in the Mirror taking a photo of vehicles going the opposite direction separated by the concrete barriers. It seems a bit away in the photo, but with us going 60-70 and them doing the same, it feels pretty close with the 120-140 mph difference only a few feet away.

Back rolling normal now. There's a bit of traffic, but not bad...

...but there are some vehicles I want to get past. Wick it up to 90-95 mph and we're clear. At that speed I am fully focused, things can happen very quickly. Was not aware at the time, but Mary must have noticed the speed increase and decided to take a pic. You can see her in the mirror.

Mary's ice is getting low...

...and it's gone. All that's left are the plastic bags.

Cloud pic-

We're closing in on 600 miles for the day, decide to look for a Super 8...

Turns out there's one in Booneville...

Crazy thing...about 6-7 years ago we were at the end of a 50+ day trip and we stopped at a no-tell motel in Booneville. It was, to this day, the worst motel we've ever stayed in. I'll spare you the details, but will only say we slept on top of the bed, with all our clothes on!

This time we're staying in the Super 8 (which was not there last time we stopped in this city).

Tomorrow we're just shy of 500 miles to cover, and we'll be back home!

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 44-

Today we'll be back home! It's been a great ride, and we've taken our time, not rushing thru the scenic areas, really enjoying them.

Leaving out of the Super 8 a little after 6 am-

...rolling down the interstate, lot of these miles to cover today. It's not even 6:30 am and is 75*, gonna be another warm one!

Sun peaking over the trees as we cross the first of many rivers today...

...Mid-America HD in Columbia, MO not open yet!

Early morning shadow pic! I'm still not sure about these early mornings...always been a night owl, but Mary is digging it!

Not a place I like to be...between a guardrail, a semi and another in front....but the one in front is moving over and in a few seconds I am past both of them...

...and riding with a good buffer between me and all other vehicles.

Crossing the Missouri River-

After over 1,400 miles of riding eastward, we're turning south!

400 miles, mostly interstate, till we're back in our little nook in the world.

More of Day 44 in next post.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 44 continued-

Out of the traffic now and cruising....no hands!

I could not be more pleased with how well the TG has performed this trip. Power, comfortable, stable, great ride quality and no heat issues, even when running fully loaded in 100+ temps.

Big chunks of miles with....

...very little traffic, lots of trees and water...

...make for a nice relaxing last day riding on this trip. A look ahead....

...and a look back.

Getting close to Boomland!

For quite a few miles we are entertained by crop-dusters.

Before you know it we are at Boomland!

Every year or so we travel this section of 55 and always stop. They have a huge selection of hot sauces and Mary always stocks up on them for herself, and also picks some up for friends of ours that like their sauces in the hundreds of thousands, or even million+ Scovilles. I just buy it...don't touch it myself, lol

Back on the road....

...crossing into Arkansas. (today is a 4 State day- Missouri to Arkansas to Tennessee, then Mississippi)

Will finish up Day 44 as time allows.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 44 continued-

Mary wanted a photo of both of us in the mirror.* Our 44 day adventure is coming to an end.

Heading south on a familiar section of the 55...

...we're getting close to.....

...the long bridge that....

...crosses over the Mississippi River...

...into Tennessee.

After 25 minutes of* Tennessee interstate...

...we're back on the 55, crossing into Mississippi.

It feels good to be back in Mississippi.* Just a few miles on the interstate and we get on some back roads for a 40 mile putt the rest of the way home.

​​​​​​​Day 44 concluded in next post.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 44 concluded-

We're rolling now...

...on roads we've traveled...

...hundreds of times...

...but still thoroughly enjoy...

...appreciating the beauty and rural nature of Mississippi.

Last couple of turns....

...before arriving...

...Home!

Mary in her cool vest, happy to be back to all her animals and greenhouse!

Thanks for following along. We've had a blast. We took it easy and really spent time enjoying a lot of the places we've rushed thru previously.

The Tri-Glide performed flawlessly, and in our 60's we still love it out on the road!

We're already talking about some of the places we're going to visit next year!

Kevin

 

[Jack Klarich]

Thanks for taking us a long with you and Mary What A GREAT trip

Welcome Home

 

[ol' school]

Thanks for taking us a long with you and Mary What A GREAT trip

Welcome Home

+1 on that! I thoroughly enjoyed following along with your trip. You and Mary shared an amazing trip thru some truly beautiful countryside! Thanks for sharing your travels with us! Glad you are home safe and sound!

 

[LadyonaMission]

+1 on that! I thoroughly enjoyed following along with your trip. You and Mary shared an amazing trip thru some truly beautiful countryside! Thanks for sharing your travels with us! Glad you are home safe and sound!

:Agree::goodjob: