Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Ok, today we are going to Sioux City, IA. 490 miles of fairly flat & straight interstate.

Leaving out of Spearfish....there is a sculpture of a speared fish on the main drag.

Getting on the 90 to start our trek.

The 90 between Spearfish and Sturgis...the very little bit of road we traveled where there were any trees.

Leaving Sturgis and the Black Hills behind...headed for the Badlands.

We contemplated hitting Wall Drug for a look around...but we spent a few hours there last year and really wanted to beat feet to SC.

So we passed up Wall Drug and the scenic route thru the Badlands....

For some long fairly flat and straight miles....

Lots and lots of those miles.

At this point we have about 220 miles done for the day...about 270 to go. We are happy that it is not as hot as it can be...it's about 85*, but we have traveled this road when it was 100*+

More in next post.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Between the last picture and this we traveled 73 miles of nothing that would look any different than the pics already posted for the first 220 miles.

Whenever I get up to 90 or more MPH, Mary likes to take a pic of the speedo.... yeah, I think she might have gotten tired of looking at the hay & corn fields too.

Oh, she must have really gotten bored...here's one with the cruise set at 82 mph.

btw, the lower left gauge is an oil temp showing 210*. I have been very happy with the adjustments I made to get the engine temp down.

I have no idea how far she had to lean out to get this shot. lol

Mary in the mirror.

If you gotta eat up some interstate miles, there is no doubt the Tri-Glide is a comfortable way to do it. 90 mph, CD playing and a couple of fingers on the right side handlebar to keep it going straight.

At Sioux Falls, SD we turn south on 29 to head toward Sioux City, IA

Almost there....

Yep, I'm waving at our shadow for Mary to get a pic of it. lol

Mary got some nice cloud pics right about the time we were getting to Sioux City.

Classic...there was a cornfield right next to the motel.

Next report will be to Boonville, MO

Kevin

 

[Uturn]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

New to the forum, new to your trip, which was undoubtly fantastic.
How did you guys pack for such a long trip? I haven't seen a trailer, so did you camp, hotel, or . . ?
My longest covered a little over 3K miles, had a z-bag, tent, many changes of underclothes. but I was alone. How'd you do it?
Uturn

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

New to the forum, new to your trip, which was undoubtly fantastic.
How did you guys pack for such a long trip? I haven't seen a trailer, so did you camp, hotel, or . . ?
My longest covered a little over 3K miles, had a z-bag, tent, many changes of underclothes. but I was alone. How'd you do it?
Uturn

We do have a cargo trailer, and a pop-up tent trailer. We opted not to take either of those and stay in motels along the way.

Post #148 on page 13 has a pretty detailed list of what we took, how it was organized and how we fit it all in.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Headed out of Sioux City toward Boonville, MO. We only have a few more States and we'll be back home.

Could definitely make it home today...would be a long day, but we are a bit melancholy about the trip coming to an end and are not rushing.

Packed up and ready to roll...lol, I'm not a morning person.

Today is a combination of farmland and cities...

...and construction. That is one long overpass!

Some sort of modern art.

The weather is nice today...not hot, not cold....and LOTS of farmland. There is no doubt that I am thankful for the farmers that grow food so we don't need to grow all our own, but it is not great riding scenery.

This crop-duster made for some interesting viewing. His first pass we saw was right over our heads, QUITE A BIT lower than in this pic!

Decided to empty the gas can...from here on out there is no way we will need it, so it is nice to get that weight off the TP lid.

lol, Mary has some strong opinions that she does not mind sharing with anyone.

More in next post.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Entering into Missouri, we will be in this State the rest of the day, plus a good part of tomorrow. Then all that is left is some in Arkansas, clip the corner of Tennessee, and then 45 minutes into Mississippi and we are home.

Mary's stash pocket...amazing how much she fits in there.

Traffic, and lots of road choices...we're not in the Yukon anymore.

Made it thru the city and back in the farmland.

Someones getting a pool! Wonder what the turbulence would be like behind that thing. Yep, I'm bored. lol

We're getting into a bit of hill country in MO now.

This is the cafe right next to the motel we stayed in.

Next report is the final one of us getting back home!

Kevin

 

[dano309]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

WOW...just amazing.....what an adventure you guys have done........I am getting my trike in febuary of 2014....hope to take a few trips as well....but nothing like you guys just did.....I've followed ya'll the whole way.......all I can say is "WHAT A RIDE".....LOL
glad you all have had a safe trip.....

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

WOW...just amazing.....what an adventure you guys have done........I am getting my trike in febuary of 2014....hope to take a few trips as well....but nothing like you guys just did.....I've followed ya'll the whole way.......all I can say is "WHAT A RIDE".....LOL
glad you all have had a safe trip.....

Thanks! It was an amazing trip, later today or tomorrow I will post the last leg.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Today is the last day of our trip.

Today we will be back home after 55 days on the road.

This is the longest we have been away on a trip, and the sights we have seen, the adventures, the people we have met...all mind boggling.

Mary and I look at each other regularly, and say "We went to Alaska!" It is still amazing, and it has been a lot of fun sharing it in this Ride Report.


Here are a couple of pics of the motel we stayed in, in Boonville, MO. Why we stayed here I don't know. lol It was the only bad place we stayed on the entire trip. Room smelled like mothballs, probably because there were 3 different mothballs on the floor that we found...and relocated them outside.

Also, the floor was was so rotten is some areas that when we stepped on them it felt like it was going to break and give way. We quickly learned not to step in those areas.

Does not look so bad from the outside, but inside is was so bad it was funny.

Headed down the road, another great day for riding!

Enjoying the road as Mary snaps pics.

Saw a sign for this place...normally we probably would not have stopped...but it is on both our minds that this is our last day...so we definitely wanted to stretch it out, and this was a good way to do it.

It was a fun place to look around.

A Panoramic of the place.

Making our way down the road. Missouri, in the summer, is usually very hot and humid. Today was an exception. Probably in the high 70's and not bad humid at all.

We live right outside of Memphis...we are getting close...and have mixed feelings.

More in next post.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Saw this V-8 Trike while making a gas stop.

Looks like it has a big trunk!

Many places in MO the rock has been blasted away to make room for the interstate.

After 55 days on the road, sitting right here is still a blast!

Mary took some pics today that I have no idea how she got them. This pic is not cropped...somehow she reached way out and around the rear fender to get this shot at 80+ mph.

Long arms I guess...

Mary in the mirror.

In Missouri there are 3 Boomland stores. Huge selection of fireworks, tourist nick-nacks and...

Hot Sauce...lots of it. We usually make it to at least one of the Boomland stores each year and Mary stocks up on a variety of hot stuff. I am a boring eater...don't even like table pepper, but she puts hot sauce in and on most everything she eats.

More in next post.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Look ma, no hands!

I think Mary is bored...lots of straight interstate, completely different than the majority of the trip in the mountains of Idaho, Montana, Canada etc.

We are now in Arkansas, farmland in every direction as far as the eye can see.

Just outside of West Memphis, Arkansas we are at our last gas stop for the trip.

If work didn't need to be done, and if Mary did not need to get back home to tend to her animals, garden and such, I could have kept going indefinitely, traveling more roads in North America.

Crossing the Great Mississippi river from Arkansas....

...into Tennessee

In Mississippi now, on Highway 78 as the sun is setting...we are 15 miles from home.

More in next post.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

The view from our driveway, a few minutes after the sun has set.

Before even going into the house, we go check out the rabbits...one of the mama's had 8 babies while we were gone. Mary's pretty excited to see them.

We get a picture of ourselves before heading into the house.

Pulling into the bike room...first time the TG has been out of the weather in almost 2 months.

There's a note from Dawn, welcoming us back. The Team at DK Custom has done a great job while we were gone. And Devin, my partner (the "D" in DK) has been very patient.

When we first started planning this trip, we thought we would be gone about 30 days. Then when we actually mapped it out, that was amended to 43 days. We ended up being 55 days!

That's a lot of mailed piled up...and that was only about half of it.

Everything back to normal in the bike room....well, the Sporty, which can barely be seen in the corner, is in pieces. Had to get it back together in less than 3 weeks for the Hot Bike Power Tour.

We're not sure where next summers trip will take us, but it will for sure include seeing Lydia and Craig!

Thanks for riding along with us!

Kevin

 

[arnie]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Thanks for taking the time to share with us.Very good job of putting us there with you!

 

[bikerbillone]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Outstanding trip. Gonna miss those road pics and the posts. How cool.....That last one about the motel, now that was funny.

 

[Doug D.]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

I can't thank you enough for sharing this with all of us. It's the kind of adventure most of us will only get to dream about. But hey, maybe someday, right?

Thanks again! :wave4:

 

[427dave]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Thanks for the great naration and pictures. We just went over the same bridge at Memphis headed to Ocean Springs to visit friends and then on home to Florida. We were in the car with the injured trike on the trailer. 2 days before we left northern Wisconsin we hit a deer and injured the trike $3600 worth. We were glad to have been on our trike as we were not injured. The deer is deceased however.

 

[87Trike1200]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Thank you so much for sharing the ride. Truly, a great adventure. ThumbUp

Welcome home...

 

[cooltech]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

DK, Just a wonderful photo tour you've given us. Thankyou so much. Not sure if I dare a trip that long. Ahh, 1.5 yrs 'till full retirement..We'll see where it leads Sugar Bear and me.
cooltech

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Thanks for taking the time to share with us.Very good job of putting us there with you!

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.

Outstanding trip. Gonna miss those road pics and the posts. How cool.....That last one about the motel, now that was funny.

Thank you. Yeah it was really bad, but the sheets were clean, and it was the last night on the road. We just rolled with it. lol

I can't thank you enough for sharing this with all of us. It's the kind of adventure most of us will only get to dream about. But hey, maybe someday, right?

Thanks again! :wave4:

Your welcome. Here's hoping you get to do all the trips you ever dream of!

Thanks for the great naration and pictures. We just went over the same bridge at Memphis headed to Ocean Springs to visit friends and then on home to Florida. We were in the car with the injured trike on the trailer. 2 days before we left northern Wisconsin we hit a deer and injured the trike $3600 worth. We were glad to have been on our trike as we were not injured. The deer is deceased however.

Man, glad you guys are ok after the unexpected meeting with the deer!

Thank you so much for sharing the ride. Truly, a great adventure. ThumbUp

Welcome home...

Thank you!

DK, Just a wonderful photo tour you've given us. Thankyou so much. Not sure if I dare a trip that long. Ahh, 1.5 yrs 'till full retirement..We'll see where it leads Sugar Bear and me.
cooltech

A bike, retirement, health, and lots of good roads...great combination...how cool is that!!!

Kevin

 

[Nana]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Kevin and Mary, "traveling" along with you has been a real treat. Thank you both!

 

[StorminNormin]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

I don't believe that I have ever been able to enjoy any reading as much as I have been able to enjoy this trip with you guys. It brings back memories of bygone trips that I have made, none as phenomenal as yours, and I can't really add any more thanks or appreciation than has already been conveyed to you for your sharing then has already been done. Sharing with you the emotions of the nearing end of this fantastic trip and then the excitement of planning for the next trip. WOW!!!! Thank you again.

 

[Lucky]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Thanks for the great ride report.One of the best I have ever seen.Hope ya'll have a lot more trips like that to take.RIDE SAFE

 

[tbear]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

I felt like the wiffee and me took a vacation without leaving the house. Great pics and I am so glad things went fairly well for you guys. One thing to ask: what improvements did you do to your bike (if any) that made it seem to run so good!?cams?Stage 1? etc....

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Kevin and Mary, "traveling" along with you has been a real treat. Thank you both!

Thank you! Glad I finally got it all posted and you enjoyed it.

I don't believe that I have ever been able to enjoy any reading as much as I have been able to enjoy this trip with you guys. It brings back memories of bygone trips that I have made, none as phenomenal as yours, and I can't really add any more thanks or appreciation than has already been conveyed to you for your sharing then has already been done. Sharing with you the emotions of the nearing end of this fantastic trip and then the excitement of planning for the next trip. WOW!!!!

Thank you again.

Thank you sir.

Thanks for the great ride report.One of the best I have ever seen.Hope ya'll have a lot more trips like that to take.RIDE SAFE

Thank you!

I felt like the wiffee and me took a vacation without leaving the house.

Great pics and I am so glad things went fairly well for you guys. One thing to ask: what improvements did you do to your bike (if any) that made it seem to run so good!?cams?Stage 1? etc....

Wow! Thank you!

I posted all that I have done to the TG in this thread-

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/harley-trikes/18643.htm

It is a bit long...the short of it is a good Stage 1 with quite a few little things that all add up to a TG that runs Much stronger and Much cooler than it did when I bought it new.

Kevin

 

[Papa Zook]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

I am re-reading this thread with the new forum software.... and the large hi-resolution pictures make it a whole new experience! Thanks again Kevin, GREAT thread!

 

[Phill Griggs]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Great pictures. We have done the Bear tooth 2 times. The last time in 6 inch of snow. That was fun on our Venture 2 up pulling a Kwik Kamp.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

I am re-reading this thread with the new forum software.... and the large hi-resolution pictures make it a whole new experience!

Thanks again Kevin, GREAT thread!

Thanks man! I like the new forum format too!

Great pictures. We have done the Bear tooth 2 times. The last time in 6 inch of snow. That was fun on our Venture 2 up pulling a Kwik Kamp.

Thank you!

We have been there when it was snowing...but it wasn't sticking...just snow here and there on the road.

That must have been an adventure in the snow and pulling the trailer!

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

We've started working out our Spring-Summer-Fall schedule. I think we'll be able to spend about a week in BC this summer...re-visiting some of the highlights from last year, and seeing some spots we did not make.



Kevin

 

[bikerbillone]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

​You guys do it so well, and the amazing pics.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

​You guys do it so well, and the amazing pics.

Thank you. I think it's the incredible country we've ridden in, and Mary taking hundreds of pics a day. :laugh:

Here's a video she just finished today-



Other vids of the trip can be seen at this link- http://www.triketalk.com/forum/threa...laska-and-back

Kevin