Back tracking.

Wed. Sept. 16th 2009
Was on the road y 8am today. That's a personal best! It was incredible to ride like that. From dawn till dusk! Seeing and feeling the ride through the entire day like that is not something I'll soon forget. Very temped to get up early tomorrow and try the same thing.....
But, I might also stay at this KOA for another day and rest. I have an awesome view of the tower from my camp site. I'm not in a rush, I've got some business to do, and it's super nice here.... Can't decide tonight, and i don't really care.
About today. Took 14a. It was a mindblowingly beautiful ride. Across a huge dry vally, then up a gient mountian nearly 6,000 foot climb of steep grade(6%) over Baldmountian(not kidding) down on the most awesome twisties! What views coming down over the other side.
Also, the road was red. Sort of pink...but mostly a deep earthy red. Very strange. But I didn't care too much, as it was smooth and wonderfull to ride on!
Met a Lawer at a gas station who was riding a Harley "Road King". Since he didn't pick on my bike, I took his praise of the RK seriously.
Turns out Buells are manufactured in East Troy, that's sort of on the way home! I want to show them how cool thier bike is, and maybe get a tour of the plant! That would be so cool.
Sleep now. Think tomorrow.

The Beartooth!

Tuesday, Sept.15th 2009
5:45pm, someplace starting with an L Montana.
Beartooth pass beat me up today. Beautiful ride through Yellowstone, even if there were a lot of people. Also tons of elk and bison. Ug.
At this moment, I am the literal manifestation of 'not in a rush'.
After the Beartooth(BT), I stoped at a cafe for food. It had tons of motorcycles out front, so it was the obvious choice of culinary establishments. Ate lone wolf styles, but it was nice to be in like company just the same:) Tried to order the crocodile chicken fingers, but they were out.
After I got back on the bike, it was early yet, only noon or so.
There was several discussions on the road about the best way to get back to NY, if I was not going to go down to Utah and ride the 'once in a life time rides there".
Take 212 east through South Dekota, or take 312 south to catch ALT14.
In the end, I just did what I normally do when in doupt. Follow the bikers. They all went 14a. Problem solved. Anyway. I'm camping for the night. Super tired tonight. Pushed it kind of hard. 12 hours or so of riding. It's early, but it would have been stupid to ride anymore today.

Headwind.

Mon. Sept.14th 2009
9:00pm Eagle Creek National Forrest Campground(just outside yellowstone, which was full)
Road to the Sun. Eh. Too many people for my tastes. It was fun to be riding around with so many other bikers though. I was one of few with a full face helmet, and the only one wearing full protective riding gear. You had to wait all the time because there was tons of construction. But that was alright. I called them micro picnicks! It was an awesome excuse to stop the bike and look around for 5-20min. Don't think everybody else was having as much fun.
A few times other bikers wanted to talk, but I didn't want to take my earplugs out, so we resorted to yelling and hand gestures:)
The ride through Montana was stunning! As beautiful as anything I've seen so far! If you ever have the chance, take 89 south from Glacier to Yellowstone. Big long stretches of nothing. No cops. Huge fun sweepers. It's a dream riding out there.
Had a headwind all day. Actually since leaving Seattle. The buell blast is pretty underpowered for it's class I'm coming to realize. The bike THUMPS under a headwind. For days and days now, if there is a head wind, it's basically guaranteed I'm not riding faster than 60mph.
When I get east, I wonder how I'm going to be able to get on the interstates. The map makes it look like taking county and state routes is going to be a pain(there are soooo many of them!).
Also camping in the wind is a big drag. This evening the wind ramped up to about 40mph. I had to use every tiedown and stake to keep my poor little tent from flying away. Can't imagine what it's going to be like crossing Nabraska and Wyoming! Camping will be tricky:)

Something painful.

Sun. Sept.13th 2009

So there is one thing I hate about traveling. It's something that I've been aware of, and know I'm going to have to deal with every time I leave the house on any sort of adventure.
You make these super quick crazy friendships on the road. People you meet at gas stations, in museums, on trains etc. Fellow travelers, locals...all sorts of folks. Just as quickly as you make a new friend, you are ripped apart forever.
As I was taking advantage of a new campsite here in Glacier yesterday, my friend Ted from last night, who gave me a beer and firewood fired up his bike and roared away. Then I realized he had broken down camp already....that he was leaving...from where I was he would not see my new camp site....of any evidence that I was still there. Sure enough, he gave a glance and headed out of the camp.
It was crazy. Who was this guy? Why should I care? We had swapped stories of riding, drank a beer and sat around a fire. He was a stranger. Yet, as with all my quick friends, it was sad parting. I never thanked him for the wood, or the company, or the drink.
Till the day I die, it will break my heart a little every time I have to say good bye.
Spent the day hiking around glacier. Tomorrow I'll head off into the sunrise!

Come as you are, pay as you go.

Sat. Sept.12th 2009
8:00am @ Glacier National Park.
Super short ride yesterday. 220mi or so...if that:)
Pulled into Glacier Nation Park around 2:30 in the afternoon. My experience at NPs before has taught me to get there early. Most the camp sites go by noon.
Place threw me for a loop! Had a gate, and they charged $35 smackers to get in! To my amusement, motorcycles are only $12. Ha! I win again!
At the moment, I'm hanging around the campgrounds waiting to see if anybody leaves. When I pulled into the camp grounds last night there turned out to be two spots left, and a long line of cars behind me! So I took the first one I saw. Right next to the bath room. Ug.
Glacier is heartstopingly beautiful. I had only intended to camp here and keep on moving....but I can't imagine not spending a few days here! This choice was made at the expense of canceling my own coming home/birthday party. That's how awesome this place it.
Met another motorcyclist last night. Ted. He's riding a Softtail. Told me about another 'Must Ride' road. Beartooth pass...it's on the NE corner of Yellowstone or something. Damnit. I really kind of want to get home. Damn all these bikers and suggesting all these awesome motorcycling roads!
Tomorrow I'm bouncing Glacier via the "Journey to the Sun" road which is supposedly pretty spectacular. Judging by the rest of Glacier I've seen to far, I can't imagine anything less.