2016 Ride to Glacier National Park

Montana August 2016

The 2016 NoWhereRide took us to Glacier National Park, Montana. This was the second attempt at going to Glacier.  During the first ride near Glacier we ended up following the Louis and Clark Trail into Oregon. That year we rode the entire Oregon Coast from north to south - what an awesome detour! This year we met in Missoula. We did some white water rafting, experienced the Testy Festy and took in the sites of the huge mountains of Montana. 

Tour Bus at Glacier Nat Park

Bill rode west from northern Virginia toward Missoula. Wanting to travel quickly I rode over the mountains of Cumberland and got into the toll road. That toll road stretched from Maryland, thru Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and into Illinois. The toll road was nice in that most of the travelers stayed to the right except to pass - the rule or etiquette that most drivers in northern Virginia do not follow. The toll way had petroleum stands and restaurants also known as “Oasis” which allowed me to stay on the toll way without taking exits for petro or food. I was rolling on the smooth surface of the toll road and feeling really good about the ride. I didn't stop for sites because I've been thru the area many times. 

Entering Glacier Nat Park 2016

When I arrived in Indiana, I paid another toll. This toll caught my attention because the amount due was $17.75. That was the birth year of our Marine Corps! I stopped at an Oasis to fuel the bike and stretch my legs.  I had been riding fairly fast on some of those long straight roads across Ohio. I drank a bottle of water and walked in a circle around the bike. I was amazed how the air-cooled motor performed at high speeds for hours and hours in the heat.  As I walked around the bike, I was looking for fluid leaks and noted all the bugs that will be tough to wash later.  My ride bell was still attached to the bike. I had that bell since 2001 on my Softail Deuce that was destroyed in a garage fire - I kept the bell thinking how lucky I've been riding over the years.  

Earlier that year, I had participated in a new motorcycle rider safety course that was being designed for the Marine Corps. I've taken MSF Courses every other year for the past 17 years and this new course was a blast! I learned so much about riding and gained some new techniques to control the motorcycle. My bike had just passed a state safety inspection just weeks before the bike trip. I felt like I was more prepared for this bike trip more than any other trip. Then as I continued to walk around my bike, I spotted it - the bald rear tire!  Brad will tell you that each year something always happens to my bike…maybe there is some truth to it.  I usually replace tires – not by choice but by necessity because the tires get slick quick!  My engine gaskets blew one year causing a few day delay for repairs. 

 

I've been known to ride until the tires are bald, seriously smooth, and then going just a little further before I get a new one. Not a good idea since the bike uses tread to stop, accelerate, turn and keep me alive. Brad and I were riding in the rain along some switchback roads near Maine one year.  I applied the brakes and slid thru a turn.  Fortunately the bike remained upright. It got my attention and pucker factor up. The next morning I got a new tire.

So, I continue to ride but not as fast as I have been earlier that day.  Now it is getting dark as I stop for gas in Chicago.  The bike appears to be sitting low in the back and higher in the front.  I am determining where to stop for a new tire.  I’ve experienced many Harley shops that require appointments and it really puts me off, especially when I ride to unfamiliar towns and need services such as a tire repair or blown seals.  I spent a few years living in Illinois so I was a little familiar with the motorcycle shop offerings. I knew just the shop that would accommodate my bike without an appointment, Tom Workman’s Harley Davidson.  Tom has a family operated Harley Davidson Dealership in Rock Falls, Illinois.  They have worked on my 2006 Street Glide many times. So I decided to ride about 3 hours further on this bald tire. 

Bill, How much further did you plan to GO?

I spent the night in Tampico, Illinois, birthplace of Ronald Reagan. I arrived at Workman Harley Davidson in Rock Falls just as they opened for business.  My customer information was still in their database.  The staff treated me like family.  Once the rear tire was off the bike, the mechanic brought it out to show me.  He didn't know how the tire was holding air!  The rubber was gone exposing the fabric woven threads.  I am lucky the tire didn't blow out in the middle of the night as I rolled down the I-92 toll-way with those cable type guardrails. So I got a new tire and brakes. Turns out my rear brake pads had no surface area left - perhaps no rear brakes kept me from hitting the brakes and rupturing the tire?  Glad I took that safety course that gave me confidence in using the front brake more forcefully! 

Fargo, North Dakota 2016

Fargo, North Dakota.  I could have rode thru Iowa and used a more direct route to Missoula but I enjoy the fact that I've rode in every state except Alaska and Hawaii.  I cannot remember much about North Dakota.  I know I rode to the state line during a Sturgis rally while playing the ABCs of Touring.  So this time I decided to detour north east thru Minnesota and across North Dakota.  I ended up in Fargo and took a selfie to show I was there.    

On the western end of North Dakota I entered Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Badlands of North Dakota.  They are a little greener than the Badlands of South Dakota.  I did not see as many prairie dogs as you’d see in South Dakota.  So while I snapped some photos.  I was walking along the cliffs overlooking the river to get a good photo.  As I walk back to the motorcycle I note the kids I saw playing in the parking lot were staring at me as I come walking thru the grassy area.  Then I notice the "Beware of Rattlesnakes" sign.  Thankfully I had on my leather boots!

MISSOULA, MONTANA

In Missoula, Brad arrive a day ahead of me. He discovered the downtown bars and Testy Festy.  We decided to spend some time around town, go see the festival and do some whitewater rafting.  The white water rafting was the highlight of our stay. 

We hired a guide from Montana River Tours.  We floated down the Alberton Gorge.  Our tour guide was awesome.  He told us some history of the river and described the river at different water levels during the year.  There was a family on the raft with us.  The family had two middle school aged boys. Brad told camping stories and talked about his culinary skills using a Dutch Oven.  

We were in a calm stretch of water and the dad and two boys jumped into the river for a swim.  Brad was telling the mom about his favorate Dutch oven recipes.  The dad had a GoPro on his helmet and Brad was interested in getting some photos from the helmet cam.  The discussion was interrupted as we had to pull the boys back into the raft as we preparing for more rapids.  During another calm on the river, the mom yells over at Brad, "Hey give me your email. I'll send you some photos and you can send me recipes!"  The dad was sitting in front of me on the raft.  He turned to look at Brad; the guys face was priceless- he immediately asked what had happened and what photos was his bride offering to send to her new friend?!?  We all got a good laugh out of that moment! 

Glacier National Park 

Flathead Lake, MT 2016

After the white water rafting trip down the Alberton Gorge we stopped in Missoula for dinner. As we ate, a group of about 14 bikers from Portland, Oregon came into the restaurant.  Turns out the group planned to ride thru Glacier National Park too.  They had the trip all planned out to where breakfast, dinner and hotels they were staying it.  Sounded like a trip that took months in the planning to make reservations and plan the route.  We were warned that there would be no hotels this time of year at Glacier.  It didn't bother Brad and I because part of the fun is finding a hotel.  Besides we had sleeping bags and are no strangers to sleeping under the stars. 

Whitefish, MT 2016

We departed Missoula and rode toward Glacier National Park.  We rode around Flathead Lake.  The water was a unique shade of blue that captures your attention.  We ended up at a small railroad town called Whitefish.  Whitefish had horse tie up parking areas along the Main Street.  Neat town.  We saw the old locomotives, had lunch and decided to stay the night and enter Glacier the next morning.  

Glacier Nat Park 2016

There was a hand full of hotels in the town.  Just as we signed for our room at the Pine Lodge, a large group of bikes rolled into the hotel parking.  It was the riders from Portland who we met in Missoula the day prior.  We lounged around the pool and went to dinner and drinks with the group.  The group was staying in Whitefish as few days. They planned to ride from the northeastern entrance of Glacier and back to the hotel.  Brad and I rode east and was not returning to Whitefish.  We passed the group the next day going opposite direction on the Going-To-The-Son-Road in the park. 

While in Whitefish we met a former Navy Sailor.  He was our bartender.  We told him our plans for riding thru Glacier. The sailor showed us some photos of a hidden lake.  The lake looked like a postcard.  He said it was a short hike and the site was worth every step.  I made a mental note of the trailhead location and when we arrived at the trailhead - Brad took some persuading but agreed to go for the hike.  So off we go hiking with our biker leather jackets and boots.  This hike was the highlight of visit to Glacier.  The sites were breathtaking. 

During the hike Brad’s stomach growled like a bear!  He must have been thinking of the huckleberry pie we were going to get later that day.  We walked past a large family who had stopped along the trail to eat sandwiches.  Brad stood next to the dad and warned him about the hungry bear in the area looking for a sandwich.  The man’s eyes widen at the thought of a bear.  He asked Brad is we had seen any bear.  Brad rubbed his stomach and told the guy he was hungry and was about to turn into a bear if he didn’t get a sandwich.  The guy immediately walked away leaving Brad hungry.  I guess the guy had too many kids to feed and didn’t want to share with some strange man hiking a trail wearing biker clothes. 

Further up the trail Brad strikes up a conversation with another gentlemen.  The conversation turned to food and how we were going to stop at the “Café” for the best huckleberry pie around.  The gentlemen asked Brad if he liked barbeque.  Brad told the man that he loved to eat but he does not like BBQ!  Turns out the gentlemen owned the Red Hot and Blue BBQ franchise.  He was familiar with where Bill lives and he still owned a house in the Washington DC area.  You never know who you’ll meet hiking in Montana!

Brad hiking to Hidden Lake 2016

My handy dandy camera stopped working during the hike.  My cell phone has a camera but it was turned off and buried at the bottom of my saddlebag on the bike.  Luckily Brad had his phone to take some photos on the hike. 

During the hike we saw some white mountain goats, rams, and something that looked like large squirrels.  The squirrels stole a loaf of bread from a family having a pic nic.  Yes, the whole loaf of bread!  The animal perched himself on an outcropping of rocks where we could see him handing out slices of bread to his animal family. 

HUCKLEBERRY  PIE!!!

Bill at Hidden Lake lookout 2016

After riding thru Glacier we had to stop at this house turned into "Park Cafe" which boasted the best Huckleberry pie around.  I ate my first bison burger and piece of huckleberry pie that day.  Both were really tasty!  We rode to the Canada boarder and then headed south toward the Louis and Clark National Forest. 

Top of the World 2016

We rode Bear Tooth Pass!  Elevation 10,947 feet!  The switchbacks and overlooks made for a white-knuckle motorcycle ride!  We stopped at the "Top of the World" gas station and general store.  Check out the photo of the gas pump.  The numbers roll instead of digital display. 

There was a brief decision point to choose between riding thru Yellow Stone or the Chief Joseph Scenic Bi-way.  We chose the scenic bi-way.  The scenic ride offered some amazing views.  Brad got to use his handy dandy air compressor and tire plug kit.  He helped a couple repair a flat tire on tier BMW bike and get back on the road.  

Brad can fix it! Chief Joseph ByWay 2016

Chief Joseph Scenic ByWay 2016

BearToothPass 2016

Brad and I plan no details of our trips.  We avoid chain restaurants and prefer the local diners.  Often we bring our paper road atlas into the diner and discuss where to go next.  This year we got some directions thru Wyoming from a gentleman who worked as a surveyor.  We rode east on the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway and ended up in Cody, Wyoming.  We spent the night there at a hotel with a friendly cockatiel; it tried to take the sunglasses off Bill’s head as we checked into the hotel. 

Cody, Wyoming 2016

From Cody, Wyoming we rode to Laramie, Wyoming where the idea of the annual bike ride to nowhere was conceived years before.  Laramie was the town where Bill and Brad rode to after being at a Sturgis Rally with a few other friends.  The rally was fun but Brad and I enjoyed riding thru the Black Hills, Custer, Devils Rock and aimlessly riding around much more than the organized rally.  So it was in Laramie where we had the idea to meet and ride aimlessly to nowhere instead of attending the organized motorcycle rallies. 

Brad getting ideas of where to ride. Wyoming 2016 

Heavens Peak 8,897 feet

That evening in Laramie, we walked around the town and heard a live band.  We go to watch a Colorado band called the Symbols perform.  I liked the performance so much that I ended up with an autographed CD from the band.  The band members and roadies provided some good conversations in the bar.  One woman and her boyfriend were hula hooping around the bar.  The hula-hoops were their means of transportation.

Our ride together came to an end.  Brad left Laramie riding west toward Utah and Bill rode east toward Virginia.  I had to stop due to a severe thunderstorm.  I was drafting behind a tractor-trailer truck because visibility was a few feet!  So I couldn’t see and the lighting across the Iowa sky spooked me so I took shelter at a car dealership and got back on the road when the rain lightened it.

Rain and lightning go away! Iowa 2017

2015 Ride: Tail of The Dragon, Shenandoah, Flight 93 Memorial, Que Creek Memorial, York Factory Tour

2015 Ride to the Tail of the Dragon, Smokey Mountains, Shenandoah Mountains, Flight 93 Memorial, Que Creek Mine Memorial, and York Factory Tour.

Our plan was to meet in Kentucky.  It was May 2015.  

This trip started on Memorial Day, the day after Rolling Thunder in Washington DC. I got about five miles from my house and started to see groups of bikes and their patriotic riders on the highway. I found myself riding up behind the groups and staying behind them for miles before they exited or I exited. For me it was a neat feeling to see all the men and women riding bikes and sharing the interest of riding. It was Memorial Day Weekend and I imagine most of us rode to show respect for the fallen servicemen and women. Memorial Day Weekend is truly a good day to ride and meet new people and share stories.

I rode route 3 to route 20 through the civil war battlefields in Virginia. It was early in the morning; the sun had just rose showing light rays through the trees. The battlefields were quiet and peaceful.  As I rode through Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, the HQ, a serene filled the air.  Along the ride I could see the freshly cut edges of the battlefield. I could smell the fresh cut grass from along the edges of the battlefields. I passed a few farm trucks pulling wagons of hay. Further south on route 15 I could see hayfields with the large round bails of hay scattered about the fields. The morning sun was shining through the trees. I could feel the temperature cool when I was riding under the shade of the many trees that lined the road. Along stretches of the road without trees, the sun shined down and gave noticeable warmth. I rode by many horse farms. These horse ranches were identified with the large white horse fences. One farm had a yellow fence. It was a relaxing sight and renewed my faith that people continue traditions to live with animals and work with the green space instead of develop it.

I crossed the West Virginia state line and followed the winding road along the New River. The trees were green and the sky clear and blue. Most of the towns along the river were in valleys. As I followed the river westward, I could see Charleston, the capital nestled in the valley. Those roads in West Virginia were fun to ride due to the pleasant landscape and twisty curves.

Once I crossed the Kentucky state line I noticed much of the road was carved or blasted through rock. Much of the roads had rock walls that were smooth and tall. It must have taken many years and lots of hard work to create the first roads through the area. There were many horse ranches in Kentucky too.

I finally met Brad at a small diner in Kentucky.  It began to rain just as we found a hotel. We put our bags away and sat in the lobby looking maps. The rain stopped long enough for us to walk down the street and get dinner.

The next morning we woke and was pleased that the rain had passed and our bikes were dry. We rode sound thru Kentucky and crossed into Tennessee on route 27.  It was a two lane rode with twisty rolling turns taking us through Somerset, Burnside, thru Daniel Boone National Forest.  After crossing the Tennessee state line we continued on route 27 toward Kingston then we went east.  I recall riding along Fort Louden Lake and Lake Chilhowee along route 129.  I have some faded memories swimming at Fort Louden and Lake Chilhowee while I was a child.  I lived near the area for a few years. 

Our ride through Tennessee was fortunate considering the weather.  We followed just behind the heavy rain. The road was wet and we were dry. We confirmed this as we stopped for gas and the gas station attendant stated it poured rain just minutes before we arrived. We were lucky to be behind the rain.  We did get wet from a brief downpour while heading south. It was our lucky day for staying dry despite the rain along the route.

We stopped in Maryville and then headed for the Tail of the Dragon.  This was my first time across the Tail of the Dragon.  It was a rush!  Awesome ride for both motorcycles and cars! 

 

Tail of the Dragon 2015

We stopped in Waynesville, North Carolina for the night. The Oak Park Inn was a nice quite motel whose staff welcomed us.  They even had extra towels labeled to wash off the bikes.  We were within walking distance to the small towns pubs and restaurants.  To our surprise the motel owner, who recommended the restaurant we chose, showed up and paid our dinner bill.  Brad and I are Veterans, as is the owner, so it was a neat experience.  After diner we walked to the other side of Main Street to a sports pub.  It was a good atmosphere.  I recall the Ranges were playing the Lightning and it was karaoke night which was a hit for the locals.  There is photo of the Oak Park Inn sign in Waynesville, North Carolina.  We highly recommend staying at the motel. 

Oak Park Inn Waynesville, NC

The next morning we got a foggy and damp start as we went up the Smokey Mountains.  There were spots and rays of sunlight shining thru the fog in the before noon part of the ride. I imagine the views from the mountains would have been breath taking without the fog.  It was pretty cool with the fog.

Some memories from the ride from North Carolina to Pennsylvania. 

- Stopped at a diner called “Mac and Bob’s” in Salem, Virginia for lunch.  It was hot outside and their ice tea was refreshing.  I recall the waitress fell and broke her thumb the evening before.  She was telling us about it.

- On route 77 we stopped for water at a gas station general store.  It was a ma and pa type store that was usually like to visit.  The clerk had a side arm properly displayed and was very friendly. We stood inside the entrance of the store and joked with the clerks and some customers. The entrance had a rocking chair and television adjacent to a cage full of cigarettes. The clerk would watch television in between customers.  The clerk pulled out a AR-15 to show us how they talk people out of trying to rob them.  Neat experience.

- We rode north through the Shenandoah Mountains. We stopped at the end of skyline drive and stayed in New Market. We ate at an old 50s style diner which had some tasty food. The diner was very quiet despite being full of customers. The special was all you can eat chicken wings. Brad ordered the wings. The waitress delivered a plate of full size chicken wings to our table. It was just as advertised, all you can eat chicken wings- the full size wings. I could not hold back my laughter when I saw the plate of large wings. Brad says the wings were good, although he expected the small wings.

- We stopped in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania to see a collection of old motorcycles and novelty items.  The collection was in Bill’s Old Bike Barn.  There are some photos of the collection here.

- We stopped in Punxsutawney to see Punxsutawney Phil and have some breakfast.  Photos shown. 

- We stopped to visit the Flight 93 Memorial.  The visitors center was being constructed.  Photos shown of the Memorial.

 

Flight 93 Memorial

Flight 93 Memorial

- Not far from the Flight 93 Memorial, there was a memorial for the Que Creek Mine and Rescue, July 28, 2002.  Photos shown.

Que Creek Mine Memorial

Brad's Bike at Que Creek Memorial

- We had to leave the area due to a string of bad luck we’ve witnessed.  Brad’s bike fell over in the gravel; we stopped at a Harley shop for a replacement mirror when a custom bike fell off the shop lift.  A car accident in the parking lot, we didn’t know what was going to happen next so we rode far far away from the area.  Brad headed west and I went east to visit the factory in York before heading home.

Bill and Brad Flight 93 Memorial

York Factory Tour

Many many miles in the rain!