Over the river and thru the woods... to Keystone, Seattle and Alaska

[ossvalk]

Well it is looking like the family has to be in Seattle at the end of June (the 29th in the afternoon thru Sat nite the 30th) for family gathering at Bonnies sister house

The Keystone ride in will be the week before   I would LOVE to go there (alone as usual)

HMMMMMMM  

Perhaps I will ride the Valkyrie to Keystone and see all my friends then mosey on over to Seattle.

But wait....Bonnie wants to take the Alaska cruise from Seattle on the 30th for a week/  and I have that on my bucket list since I was a kid

What to do?  I cant take a whole month off  just cant do it. and I might not even leave for keystone till the 18th or later  just sorta mapping it out in my mind for now  I can keep in contact with my office and pay other attorneys to cover my cases, just means I net zero but my clients will be covered.

I am thinking since I am not retired that I will ship the bike home from Seattle and fly home with Bonnie.  That seems to cost less than the cost of riding and motels , What would you do?

But that leaves what route to take to Keystone and what route to Seattle

I have a cousin in Portland so would like to stop there if its not too much out of the way Thur nite  the 28th of June then scoot up 5 to Seattle

Any suggestions?   Anyone coming from the west coast?  anyone want to ride with me from the east?

I figure no guts no glory and I aint gettin any younger  2012 may be the year for Oss' big journey.

[alph]

well, maybe you should stop in Eau Claire and stay the night, then head out with NITRO and I!!  with a little persuading, we might be able to get a guy named VIC to come along, we'd make it a foursome!!  believe it or not, my wife is actually thinking about going out west with us next year!!  although she'll be driving a van while i ride the cycle.....

[Valker]

Oss, riding out to Keystone then on to Seattle sounds great. The cruise to Alaska is not to be missed! Flying back together should be a nice time also.
I can't wait to get to see you again. That week off will cost me also, but I'm not missing this year.

[Challenger]

Sounds like a fantastic trip you have planned there Oss! Hope to see you and all the others in Keystone! Might even be able to hook up with some of you on the way out. 

[NITRO]

Al is right, you should swing through Eau Claire on your way out. We could make the ride to Keystone in a day from there. Steph and I have room for you if needed!

[MP]

OSS's GREAT ADVENTURE!  Has a nice ring to it.  Sounds great.  DO IT!

I have come to realize that all our time's are running out to be on a bike.  Maybe tomorrow, maybe 20 or 30 years down the road.  But, it is coming.  Enjoy while you can.

Much better to be in the nursing home, remembering those great times, than to be sitting there wishing you had done them!

If I can be of any help, will be glad to.

MP

[JetDriver]

Much better to be in the nursing home, remembering those great times, than to be sitting there wishing you had done them!

Thumbs up to that, MP.  AND, I'm hoping my rememberer still works when I'm in the nursing home!

[MP]

Much better to be in the nursing home, remembering those great times, than to be sitting there wishing you had done them!

Thumbs up to that, MP.  AND, I'm hoping my rememberer still works when I'm in the nursing home!

 


If it doesn't, will you know it?  

MP

[TAZ]

Oss be sure to pack a little fridge and stuff it with bagels....onion and garlic ones!  I just might join ya then...hehehe oh and some cream cheese too...I hate dry bagels...oh now we need a toaster....not a problem.

[TrickyD]

Sounds like the trip of a lifetime. Hope to see you in Keystone, my friend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ossvalk]

well I have been playing with google maps and mapquest

It seems like there is some small roads that I can take to pick up Beartooth Pass
and that the end of the first day should be somewhere around Cooke CIty

what do you think of this

Loop east and north to 90W to Ranchester then 14 14A to 310 to 296 to Coke city (looks smaller than Cody and maybe less expensive for a motel than Cody but I could be wrong That is just under 500 miles which leave lots of time for picture taking and walking around  Mapquest says 8 hrs so I will take 10 moseying around

next morning and take 296 to 212 Beartooth Highway clear up Laurel and then pick up 90W to Missoula which is just at the start of LOLO PASS  7 hrs but if I do a down and back and down again on the beartooth that will be 10 hrs easy  

Those (any) of you who have been out there do these seem reasonable day distance  I must be at my stopping point before twilight as I just dont see well and dont want to hit any elk or deer

From Missoula its about 570 miles to Portland which if I hit good weather is a full day  I would leave by 6am so as to arrive before dinnertime  Mapquest says 10.5 hours but I think a 2 hr cushion for taking pics is about right.

Would LOVE To have some company on the trip out. Do we have any west coast riders?  

[Valker]

Oss, that would be a great ride...sorry, GREAT RIDE! One word of warning though, 296 is a VERY twisty road. Google Maps determines driving time based on speed limits. I think it is also called Chief Joseph Highway. Beartooth into Yellowstone NP on to Mammoth and out is not usually heavily trafficked compared to the other Yellowstone roads. I'state over to Missoula area is still a pretty highway. Highway 12 (Lolo Pass) is a road you'll love.
I haven't been that route in a number of years. I can't commit yet because of the money, but I may just accompany you as far as Kooskia.

Oh, and while going the Ranchester route is good, don't summarily discount going through Ten Sleep. It is a beautiful route also.

[TrickyD]

I always like the Buffalo to Ten Sleep route through the Bighorn Mountains.