Ahead of our Plan but getting behind

Please note photo's added to yesterdays post and anyone can now post comments without logging on to Google.

Another great ride today of 568 miles, three miles short of 6,000 since I left North Carolina.

Left camp this morning and stopped 20 miles down the road for breakfast and to add layers. Headed up through the Canyon mountains (note snow on top in picture) and Lewis and Clark National Forrest on a beautiful drive climbing as we went. Another stop added fuel and another layer before we went over the crest at 7,493 ft before winding down through a great river gorge.

Saw many deer, a domestic Buffalo herd and four Eagles, including one huge Eagle that swept down after a bird right in front of me. Birds weren't finished as one crashed into Ron Jr's bike just after we crossed the border. A small white haired animal crossed just in front of me and just behind me my son said, never saw them although I saw some small deer along side the road.

Crossed the border and continued along the plains with the Canadian Rockies to our west. We actually covered about 150 miles further than our plan which had us hitting the Alaska-Canadian Highway (AL CAN Highway) in Dawson Creek tomorrow. We stopped just north of Calgary because we were pooped and a really ugly weather front was coming down on us. Like last night, a busy place with the Calgary Stampede just kicking off. Very lucky to get a room (last one) for an inflated Stampede price. What will put us behind is a front that is moving this way with a High temperature forecast tomorrow of 41 and rain!

We are considering heading out to Banff and taking secondary roads through the Rockies. Spot will let you know where we end up.

Hot and Cool

Started this morning in leathers, in the 50's as we ran along side the Rockies. Got pretty wet near Buffalo, Wyo after miles with verdigris and dark clouds. Hit Montana and temps went up near 100 and sunny. Stopped for the night after about 520 miles at Reeds Point, Mt, which is no where. Turns out there are about 1,000 people on the river here, a couple of them sober. Have a scenic ride tomorrow through national forests and ski areas. If the border crossing is OK, should be between Calgary and Lethbridge, Alberta tomorrow.

Made it to Wyoming

Made some changes to the Blog, comments can be left without logging in and added a link showing part two.

Short day, 474 miles, which was enough. Beautiful ride through the end of Texas (970 miles from Baytown), Oklahoma, Colorado and in to Wyoming. I Stopped at a Walmart and bought an inexpensive GPS so I could find things like gas and campgrounds. Suction Cup to windshield works great, and my subway sandwich bag water proofed it which was needed at Fort Collins Colorado. Great day with only the one shower. Stopped at a Campground for the night in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Headed North

Left the Houston area Wednesday and had to take the long way around due to accidents and a cement truck that flipped and dumped a load on the interstate. I had an Oil Cooler, new brakes, a mud flap to keep down the rocks up north and the fluids changed. The cooler works well, the brakes were definitely needed and the Red Line Transmission fluid has quieted the noisey transmission, especially 5th gear. KT's Cycle is a great place for service and to gain knowledge.

Thursday I had a long lunch with David Hobbick, a friend I had not seen since 1966 and dinner with my son, daughter in law and grand daughters, the oldest having her 16th Birthday.

This morning, we left about 7:40 and rode 11 1/2 hours through Texas hill Country and up into the high plains. Texas has had a bunch of rain and incredibly green, including light to heavy rain much of the 622 miles we covered today. One thing about Texas, miss a turn in the rain, and you can go along ways before you can regain your intended track. We added about 80 miles to our planned route today. A stop a a Walmart for a GPS should help. Good day today, cool weather and I stayed dry unlike my son who stripped rain gear this morning due to the heat. On to Colorado and hopefully camping in Wyoming tomorrow.

Maintenance Side Trip

I left Austin this morning and went down town for to take a photo of a mural I saw in a magazine of Don Patron Tequila. Rode through all the alleys in Austin and finally found the wall but the ad was painted over. So I headed to fifth ave to the Mean Eyed Cat Bar for a photo. The Mean Eyed Cat building is a neat old building and a memorial to Johnny Cash.

Austin is a great city for out door activities with running and water sports in the down town area. The city has a young feel about it with the University all the activities, with great restaurant's as well as great bars for Sunday rides. My son and daughter in law made an unplanned stop during a vacation and moved there a few months later.

After getting a photo, I headed to Baytown Texas, about 30 Miles east of Houston. I'm staying with Ken Turner and his family, who own KT's cycle while getting my bike ready for the next 10,000 mile leg of my trip. For a trip like this, it was worth a 500 mile side trip to let people I trust check out my bike. KT is awesome and has a great bunch of friends. I'm headed back to Austin tomorrow or Wednesday for my granddaughter Sara's 16Th birthday and a visit with one of my childhood neighbors.

Texas style 4th of July fun

Went to a neighborhood block party last night. Only in Texas would your neighbor have a Full sized Medieval Trebuchet! Interesting evening inspite of many rain showers. The owner provided information about the history and physics of the giant catapult. Fun evening.

Looking back - Lessons learned

Happy Birthday to my bride, 43 bdays together, even if I'm not there!

My old friend Async asked about lessons learned on part one of my journey. I think there are a few, most importantly, the 10 day ride that starts in Louisiana and hits 49 states is never going to be a trip for me! I now can understand what monkey butt power is for, although after the first day, I'm pretty comfortable in the saddle 8-10 hours.

The first day was all interstate and I ended up with 38 miles per gallon, Route 66 was small towns and 55 and I averaged 48 mpg and was much less worn out at the end of the day.

No GPS and poor maps are fine, it's the trip not the destination. My son and I will continue not using the most direct route to Alaska but a little more direct than my route here. I turned my 1520 mile trip into 3426 miles.

I'm off to lunch with my grand daughters now and to shop for a new helmet. My bike week cheap bungie net stretched and left my full helmet for the road crew to pick up in Ohio. Got to replace it as Canadian temps are in the low 60's for highs.

Headed to Baytown, about five hours away Monday evening to have new brakes, an oil cooler and the bike serviced at KT's Cycle. He is the most knowledgeable Harley guy you will ever meet and the brother of my friend Don or Flash as he is known in Texas. Still playing with my load, trying to figure the best way to load so each day I have to take minimal stuff off.

Last thought, I used the new Lithium batteries in spot. After eight days the voltage level is higher than new Alkaline batteries with spot transmitting every 10 minutes. Maybe they are worth the $2.30 each AAA costs.