"Go West Young Man"

[rodeo1]

WYOMING

ain't that the place where God keeps the wind when no one else is using it ?

wyoming is a great state, not as nice as colorado, but a close second. it's also the only place on earth you can wear out the sides of your tires.

(but we do have some pretty good rodeos up there)

dennis

[WisconsinSteve]

I'm jealous, I want to do a trip like that again. A few tips from a fellow WI native. I took a trip last year to Yellowstone. Headed West on 90, (mostly) to Wyoming, then north through BEartooth Pass into MOntana, then back to WI on 94 through NOrth Dakota.

A few tips that I learned:
- NOrth Dakota is really boring. If you find an alternate route, good.
- South Dakota: I regret that I did not have time to tour the minuteman missle site there. Call way in advance if you want to schedule a tour.
- miles - 500 was about max for me in a day. It just wore me out.
- Heat: If you get really hot and find no relief, pour a bottle of water on yourself and get back on the bike and ride. It feels good.
- Beartooth Pass: Very cool. Just north of Yellowstone.
- Cody Wyoming: YOu could spend two days there. Check out the rodeo and museum.
- Thermopolis WY: Kind of cheesy, but they have spas and stuff heated by thermal springs.
- Jackson Hole: INteresting place to see. REALLY expensive. Wife and I went horseback riding between Jackson Hole and Yellowstone
- Yellowstone: Make a reservation to stay in The old log cabin lodge by Old Faithful.
- Souveners: wifey kept buying crap and shipping it home via the post office. I thought I'd save money on this trip by her not buying stuff, but she found a way around it. At least I didn't have to carry it all.

And finally, take lots of film.

Steve

PS: shoot me an e-mail if you ever want to tear around WI for some weekend riding. hajewski@earthlink.net

[MrBones]

You could make a whole trip just getting to the West Coast. One I would HIGHLY recomend is Going through Estes Park in Montana. They even have animals native only there. You can ride the roads and look straight down at where you came from or going to . Depends on which side your coming from. My overall favorite. Of course Alaska is close. Been there on both routes.

[Clark Kent]

Mr. Bones,  Estes Park is in Colorado.  It is at the end of "Big Thompson Canyon.  It's closed to Wyoming but about 500 miles from Montana.  

I know all Western states look alike, except Wyoming is the nicest, with Yellowstone and Teton National parks.  

Montana advertises they have Yellowstone,  They do, about 03% of it!  Idaho has about 02% and Wyoming has 95%.

Montana used to be a great state 50 years ago.  It has kind of gone down hill.  

Remember,   Wyoming "IS" what Montana used to be!

Later--CK

Bear tooth Pass is one great ride.......rode it once....detoured 2 times since it was still snowed in in early June and once in Sept.  I'ts only open 3 months a year.

[Clark Kent]

Digger,  Ready to eat your heart out??

I have offices in Cody, Wy. and Missoula, Montana.  I ride a my Valk or St1100 between the two many times each year.  I also have a plane that I fly between the two places.  You want to talk about beautiful!  

Try the road from Columbus, Montana to Redlodge, Montana.  You must go FROM Columbus to Redlodge, as you get to look at the Beartooth Mts. the whole trip.  My wife an I have seen several wolves in the past 5 years on that part of the drive to Cody from Missoula.

Most rides we go to Redlodge and then East to Belfry and then South to Cody.  It's just takes too long to go over the Beartooth each time, (AND) you can get 12" of snow in an hr. any time in the summer up on top.  Kind of slows the bikes down with that snow!  Have been caught several times in the snow, no fun!

Lots of beautiful rides in Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, and I think the most under rated state in the west IDAHO.  Idaho is really beautiful (in some places).

If you ride a Harly they let you into North Dakota FREE!
(increases the per cap family income of the average ND
household due to the empty beer cans they can return
for Cash!)
CK

[MrBones]

You mean they went and moved Estes on me ?? Haven't been there since '88 and at that time we were putting in about 40,000 a year touring. Its lucky to remember the names I guess. LOL.

[Clark Kent]

Mr. Bones,

Don't feel too bad.  It's probably not your fault.

The Great State of Montana has a bad habit of telling everyone going on vacation that all National Parks out west areall in the Great State of Montana!

Back in 1988 they You probably saw an ad in some magazine that Rocky Mountain National Park (where Estes Park is) was really in Montana, that the map makers got it wrong.

Yellowstone is in three states,  Wyoming 95%, Montana 03% and Idaho 02%, but to read Monana's ads you would think all of Yellowstone is in Montana.  Not True.

Montana is a beautiful state.  They do not have all the National parks in the west.  HOWEVER, they do have the biggest number of lying polticians and liberal greenie Weenies in the West!

Remember,  Wyoming IS what Montana used to be!

CK

[MrBones]

I know Wyoming is a great state. My son lives in Basin. And likes it quite well. He is a rider also. Not a Valk though his is a Yamaha I believe.

Jack

[Marc S]

Thanks to everyone for the long distance touring advice as well as destination suggestions.  The bike is loaded and ready, I just got home from work and will be leaving first thing in the morning.  I feel confident that I have all the gear to cover almost any situation I could encounter.  In fact, if I should decide not to come back and continue around the world I doubt I would have to stop for supplies!  I will take many pictures and share a few upon return.  Who knows, maybe I'll run into somebody from the list.  If you see a black standard with it's rider grinning ear to ear and enough luggage to outfit a small army, wave.

Marc

['KC']

Have a great trip; I don't know if you will see this until you get back tho. Just try not to over-do it, and you'll be fine.