Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

[DK Custom Products]

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

PART 1 of the ride from Meridian, ID to Missoula, MT.

When we pulled into Meridian I noticed we had an oil leak. The next day I tracked it down. One of the oil filter lines was leaking.

Knowing this is a weakness, I have always carried extra line and hose clamps with me.

It was time for an oil change and filter cleaning anyway. So I spent a couple of hours changing out all the hoses, not just the one leaking. Changed the oil and cleaned the oil filter. Installed new spark plugs per the maintenance schedule.

We spent a couple of very nice day visiting Mary's mom and nephew. (also did laundry and since we were now in some warmer temps, picked up a couple of those neck towels that you snap and they get cold)

Here we are ready to leave after some good family time.

Mary and her mom.

Didn't take long to get out of the city and start climbing out of the high desert toward Boise National Forest (55 toward McCall).

This is a route we have traveled once before, so I knew we were in for a good day of riding!

That is a LOT of high desert....

and some really fun road!

We followed this river (Payette River) for quite a while. Sometimes it is calm....

and sometimes it is rapids. The road beside it is a great riding road, and there is very little traffic today.

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

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

We're out of the high desert, into the forest now. It's a bit cooler, road is still great!

Check out Mary's camera technique in the mirror!

Beautiful country!

Lots of curves!

Just a great day to be riding!

We are climbing this entire time, headed toward a huge valley that has several towns in it, the biggest being McCall.

Here we are passing thru the southernmost part of the high valley.

There is a small pass that we rode over to get to the rest of the valley.

Soon after we hit McCall, which is quite the tourist destination.

We make it thru the traffic of McCall and start climbing again, out of the valley, thru some nice woods on a great riding road!

I don't know how many hundreds of curves we have ridden already today...but it is only a warm-up for what is coming.

Will get PART 2 of this days ride up soon.

 

[2bs]

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

Looks absolutely awesome. We just went on a 4000 mile trip and I knew it was too short. We were up on some of those passes better than 10000 ft and one grade of 10 degrees most weren't that bad. Awesome views!

 

[Bushman4]

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

Thats an impressive ride. Enjoy!

 

[DK Custom Products]

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

Looks absolutely awesome. We just went on a 4000 mile trip and I knew it was too short. We were up on some of those passes better than 10000 ft and one grade of 10 degrees most weren't that bad. Awesome views!

Thank you, we had a great time and made a lot of memories.

Thats an impressive ride. Enjoy!

There are more pics coming.

 

[DK Custom Products]

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

I am sorry I have been so far behind in getting the rest of the ride pics up.

Been busy getting the Sporty ready for the Hot Bike Power Tour...and Custom work always seems to take more time than expected.

Heading out in the morning.

Starts in Little Rock, AR and ends up in Racine, WI. Will be 2000+ miles

I reckon there will be more than a few Trikes on the ride. Will get pics and post em up when I return.

Gonna be gone a week. This is what I'm riding.

Will have a bag on the sissy bar and a roll above the headlight.

This is the opposite end of the touring spectrum from the ride Mary and I just got back from on the Tri-Glide.

After I return I will get the rest of the Alaska trip pics up.

 

[slick rick]

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

ThumbUp.....nice scooter Kevin,,,,, good luck with the ride and don;t forget the MONKEY BUTT,,,,,:laugh::laugh:

 

[pcombe]

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

That wasn't the tetons my friend. Those were the Bighorns. The Tetons were about three hundred miles west of you around Jackson Hole, wyo.

 

[Brentwood Bob]

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

Hi Kevin. I followed your whole trip on the HD forum and just joined this site and saw your here as well. I'm looking into buying a trike and thought this was a great start for info. The more I saw your fun and with same body issues I think a trike is the way to go. Thanks again for the great ride.

 

[67riv]

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

awesome trip

 

[DK Custom Products]

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

ThumbUp.....nice scooter Kevin,,,,, good luck with the ride and don;t forget the MONKEY BUTT,,,,,:laugh::laugh:

Thank you! Had a great time.

That wasn't the tetons my friend. Those were the Bighorns. The Tetons were about three hundred miles west of you around Jackson Hole, wyo.

Ah, my mistake, saw them off in the distance and did not know there was another range between us and the tetons.

Hi Kevin. I followed your whole trip on the HD forum and just joined this site and saw your here as well. I'm looking into buying a trike and thought this was a great start for info. The more I saw your fun and with same body issues I think a trike is the way to go. Thanks again for the great ride.

No doubt the TG's are fun. HD nailed it on the handling side of things.

awesome trip

There's still more to come!

I got back from the Hot Bike Power Tour. Did up a little Ride Report on it...since it is not on 3 wheels figured it was not appropriate to post here, but for those interested you can see it HERE.

There's still quite a bit more of the Alaska trip report. I will resume posting pics tomorrow.

 

[DK Custom Products]

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

Ok, FINALLY am able to resume the Ride Report from Meridian to Missoula.

This was a great day of riding!

Mostly curves all day, but every now and then some straights to just kick back on.

Huge variety in scenery and temps too.

This was a pretty warm section...and we are close enough to a fire that is burning northwest of us that we can see lots of smoke and smell it.

I forget the name of this town, we have been thru it before when it was packed with folks fishing the Salmon river.

Gas stop and calling the shop to take care of business.

Back on the road, more smoke and heat. After today we are trading our leather for the mesh.

Idaho has some amazing roads and countryside.

Mary in the mirror!

That is a lot of road til we hit the forest again! Sure am happy we picked up the "Stay Cool" bandanas in Meridian.

Turning onto the 13...it is a short section of road, but pretty dramatic and fun to ride.

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

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

Hilarious name for a work-out center...but maybe not so good for business...no cars in parking lot.

Barely got this sign! We've gone about 200 miles so far...but the last 170 are an amazing section of road.

13 is short, but steep and full of turns and drop-offs. Mary did not get a lot of pics...I was riding pretty aggressive and she was holding on more than usual.

She used to be afraid of drop-offs, not so much anymore...great riding partner.

Fantastic scenery, very little traffic, and...

great roads!

We pulled off to the side of the road to have a little picnic down by the river.

A year ago I could not have made it down that embankment...Dr. Kiel really helped my foot out so that we could enjoy stuff like this.

We got under a shade tree, and had some lunch...looking to the left....

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

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

And to the right.

I had to test my boots again in the water...lol, and get the Stay Cool banadanas wet again.

Back on the road, we get to the 12.

This sign is not kidding. I had a blast! Although, I did run out of steam before the end of the 99 miles. Those of you that have ridden with me know that I like to hit corners hard...between the previous 250 miles of curves and this section...I actually took the last 30 miles or so pretty easy...was plumb tuckered out. Never before have I reached the end of the day when I wasn't ready for more curves. lol

Beautiful Country!

It was nice riding next to a river almost the entire day!

Mary takes some shots from some new angles.

There were short straight sections of road in between curves.

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

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

Stunning! Can't tell so well in the picture...but that is a super clear river right next to us.

Stopped for gas at one of the two stations in this 99 mile stretch.

There were only two pumps and this guy on the beemer had been sitting in front of one of them for over 10 minutes fiddling with his GPS. There were 4 bikes in line behind him. I finally went up and asked him how long he thought it would be before he moved. He stopped messing with his GPS, and took another few minutes getting all his gear on to pull away from the pump.

This couple from Canada had picked up a nail somewhere. Fortunately they saw the low tire when they stopped for gas.

Back on the road with some more creative shots and beautiful scenery.

A couple more fun shots.

After seeing so much blue water in Canada, the clear water down here gets Mary taking more shots of it than of clouds!

Could not ask for a better road, better scenery or day of riding!

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

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

Since our mesh is in Missoula, we are still wearing our leather jackets. This is Marys' answer to heat...a spray bottle keeps her comfortable.

Her stash pocket in my back rest. Spray bottle, water, sunscreen, chapstick and who knows what else.

It does not get better than riding roads like this.

Saw these guys kayaking and stopped to take a pic...they weren't making much progress...they would get a bit down stream, then the water would push them back to where they were.

One of them finally got thru, and we were back moving again.

If you like curves and ever have a chance to ride 12 in Idaho, I highly recommend it!

This little guy got stuck between my sunglasses forehead. I put it on cruise control and pulled him out to show Mary...she got a pretty good pic.

Getting closer to Montana!

Saw this mountain goat and Mary got a pic of it over her shoulder.

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

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

We hit the Montana border...not long before we will see our son and granddaughter!!!

The speed limit in Montana on this road is 75 mph. They also have a little white crosses on the side of the road where ever there has been a fatality. Some vehicles are going far faster than the 75 mph. I ride my ride...sometimes 75 or 80, but there are more than a few places that I am not comfortable at 75.

Also, the road has sand on it...not so much that there is any traction problem...but when a car/truck passes it does kick it up on us.

Still, it is some nice road and scenery!

We are in Missoula!

Will post a few pics from Missoula, we met up with Dualls and his girlfriend from the forum...had a meal and a little riding. Then we are off to Beartooth Pass and the Bone Daddy Rally.

 

[Deadeye]

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

Thank You,Thank You,Thank You!!! I have ridden from Ohio to Alaska 3 times(twice on 2 wheels and once on three) and I feel like I just had a 4th trip with you !!

 

[triketomcat]

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

Great photos, remind me of the two trips I made there but didn't have a rider to take great photos. Its a beautiful part of the country.

 

[cooltech]

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

That was absolutlely awesome! First I got to your thread! The pics, the scenery, all just wonderful.
On one of the pics Sep 5th it shows one of the foot rests left side. It looks like a bicycle peddle! Guess I do too much bicycling.
Tks. for the tour!
cooltech

 

[DK Custom Products]

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

Thank You,Thank You,Thank You!!! I have ridden from Ohio to Alaska 3 times(twice on 2 wheels and once on three) and I feel like I just had a 4th trip with you !!

Cool! Glad you're enjoying them.

Great photos, remind me of the two trips I made there but didn't have a rider to take great photos. Its a beautiful part of the country.

Thank you. Yeah, it's a whole different deal...I discovered that when trying to document the Power Tour. lol

That was absolutlely awesome! First I got to your thread! The pics, the scenery, all just wonderful.
On one of the pics Sep 5th it shows one of the foot rests left side. It looks like a bicycle peddle! Guess I do too much bicycling.
Tks. for the tour!
cooltech

Thank you!

Yes, those are our Triple Trap foot pegs which do start life as bicycle peddles. Amazing how comfortable they are.

DK Custom Foot Pegs - YouTube

 

[DK Custom Products]

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

Just a short update today.

We pulled into Missoula, MT and spent 3 days with Craig and Lydia.

I am not going to bore you with grand-baby pics (we have hundreds of them). lol

After this report I am going to try and knock out the rest of the trip within the next week.

Here's Lydia trying on grand-ma's sunglasses

And trying out grand-ma's camera!

Playing with grand-pa's hair.

We met up with Dualls and Marisha from the forum one evening. Went and had some good BBQ and good conversation.

Traded stories, talked bikes, and generally had a good time with these new friends. Looking forward to meeting up when we're in Missoula next, and doing some riding in the hills around Missoula.

Good people!

Next up is the ride to, and thru, Beartooth Pass.

 

[slick rick]

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

ThumbUpThumbUp,,,SWEEETTT,,,, don't have any grandchildren but waiting patiently and looking forward to it ,,,,,,ThumbUpThumbUp

 

[DK Custom Products]

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

ThumbUpThumbUp,,,SWEEETTT,,,, don't have any grandchildren but waiting patiently and looking forward to it ,,,,,,ThumbUpThumbUp

Cool!

I was a bit unprepared to be called gramps! lol, I still feel like a kid myself. But it is a blast!

 

[DK Custom Products]

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

Headed home...got a few more stops.

Packed up and ready to roll.

Leaving Missoula, always bittersweet. But we'll be back again soon.

On the 90. We've seen more than a few trikes this summer...far more than last.

Rolling down some nice road...nice to be back in the saddle.

Not a lot of traffic, good road, and we'll be in Red Lodge tonight, but before that, we'll be traveling thru part of Yellowstone and doing Beartooth pass...so just eating up these interstate miles to get there.

Look Mary! No hands!

There are a few fun sections of road between Missoula and Yellowstone.

Another Great Day to be riding!!!

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

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

I know there are a lot of complaints about various things with the newer HD's, and I have a few myself.

But with the roads we have traveled, and all the abuse this TG has seen on this trip, it is really quite amazing that it rolls down the road at 90+ mph with no complaints, smooth as can be.

Getting close to Yellowstone!

Mary was probably focused on the river, mountains and sky in this pic, while I was enjoying the road getting less straight. lol

Big arch into Yellowstone.

Earlier in this trip we passed thru this same corner of Yellowstone...just headed the opposite direction.

Last year we spent a few days in Yellowstone and would have liked to spend a few more...this year we are just passing thru this one corner as it is the fastest way between Beartooth and Missoula.

It is really an amazing place, and it is a bit hard to not spend more time here. But we have been gone from the shop far too long already.

The Northeast Entrance is where we will exit Yellowstone, and Cooke City is where the fun of Beartooth starts.

Our shadows almost touching him, he pays us no mind.

Other times we have been in Yellowstone we have seen a lot of buffalo. But we see FAR more this time thru...not sure if it was because we were later in the day...or just happenstance.

When they decide they way to cross...nothing to do but wait.

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

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

I believe we saw well over a thousand buffalo in this little time we were here today. Magnificent animals...

but always a bit un-nerving when they stop doing what they do and start paying attention to you. lol I have never seen one charge, but am told they can be very quick when they want to be.

Amazing place!

And more buffalo..

These guys were staying on the one side of the road, but we rolled thru slowly, taking in the view.

This one bull was huge, and all by himself, making his way down the side of the road.

Leaving Yellowstone at the Northeast Entrance...a few more miles to Beartooth Pass.

Here we are! This has to be one of the most amazing roads we have ever traveled...both the road being a fun one, and the sights so breath-taking.

Will post the ride thru Beartooth Pass in the next day or so...as time permits.

 

[slick rick]

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

ThumbUpThumbUp,,,,FANTASTIC,,,,,,ThumbUpThumbUp

 

[Blondie Gal]

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

ThumbUpThumbUp,,,,FANTASTIC,,,,,,ThumbUpThumbUp

Ditto! Loving every mile from my a/c and recliner!

 

[DK Custom Products]

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

We have been thru Beartooth Pass once already on this trip. This time we are going thru it much later in the day.

Also, just 40 days earlier almost everything was covered with snow, now there is hardly any snow.

Beautiful country!

Cooke City is right at the base of the pass. We stopped for gas and a little snack before heading on.

Being late in the day, some of the pics are not so great, and some are even more dramatic!

lol, I should have cleaned my windshield!

This is our first time thru without everything covered in snow...

and with all the lakes and ponds not frozen over.

The road is a blast to ride if you like winding, twisty roads...

with lots of elevation changes mixed into them.

We are happy we traveled thru later in the day!

Just amazing!

More in next post.