Road Trip

[crvalley]

Hello Everyone,

Between May 24th and June 10th, I rode my '98 K1200RS 6200 miles around various parts of the northwest and midwest reaching as far east as Memphis, Tennessee.

The trip included traveling secondary highways and byways beginning in San Mateo, California; then, heading through Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, and back to California...Accomodations included everything from a couple nights in a five-star hotel (The Peabody in Memphis) to a cabin in Dubois, Wyoming, to camping in national forests and KOA's...lots of fun...

The following posts are some pictures from that trip...

Hope you enjoy them...

Looking forward to my next trip...soon.

[crvalley]

Here is yours truly (now you know) on day one after I had set up camp in Wendover, NV...I was having fun with the self-timer on my new digital camera...

[crvalley]

Still on day one...the ride to Wendover also included a lunch / refuel stop in Middlgate, NV...Neat place frozen in time with rattlesnake skins hanging from the ceiling joists and locals who say please and thank you...great BLT's, also...

[crvalley]

Here is a nice scenery pic of my loyal ride just east of Jensen, Utah along Hwy 40 just before I entered Colorado...

[crvalley]

While in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, I hooked up with my old high school buddy Kelly (author is on right). This pic was taken during a ten mile hike we did just outside of Steamboat...I strongly recommend the Strawberry Hot Springs just outside of Steamboat if you ever get to the area...

[crvalley]

From the deserts of Nevada to the snowy mountains of Colorado, I experience all road and weather conditions...fortunately I came prepared for anything Mother Nature chose to throw my way...

[crvalley]

I met up with another high school buddy in Boulder and we rode from there to Memphis over a 3-day period...Here we are taking a break from the 30-40 mph gusty sidewinds in Kansas...

[crvalley]

You can't ride to Memphis without traveling at least a little bit on Route 66...This picture was taken just outside of Joplin, Missouri.

Hwy 76 into Branson, Missouri is the next best thing to a rollercoaster on wheels...a very memorable stretch of asphalt peppered with dead armadillos. Hwy 7 south of Branson through the Ozark National Forest in Arkansas is another must drive experience, again peppered with assorted roadkill...

[crvalley]

No trip to Memphis is complete without the "Platinum Tour" of Graceland. Here is yours truly with Elvis' AMF-era Harley Davidson collection...

Beale Street was a lot of fun also with great live blues music, and the Rock and Soul Museum in the Gibson Guitar Factory is a must see, as well...

[crvalley]

I had to include this tastefully setup BMW that I found in Northfield, Minnesota...my home town where I went to high school...

[crvalley]

The nice thing about traveling the midwest is that it gets you away from the rat race that becomes our lives on a daily basis. Sometimes you just have to stop and enjoy the scenery...and take another picture of you and your bike...

[crvalley]

I hadn't been to this area since I was about 8 years old (30-years ago)...you do the math...

[crvalley]

After I paid my $8.00 to actually step foot in Mt. Rushmore, I found this scenic overlook that was far more interesting and made for a better shot of our first president and my mode of transportation for this trip...

[crvalley]

I would have to say some of the more memorable riding was through western Wyoming...just watch out for large four-legged animals that jump infront of vehicles...

[crvalley]

Bored yet? I wasn't...

[crvalley]

Between two nights of camping, I treated myself to this cool little cabin in Dubois, WY...Dubois is a great little functioning old west town with great bars and restaurants and people who are interested in other things beside themselves...

[crvalley]

To think I have to go back to work tomorrow is enough to make me want to quit my job and just head out and do this all over again...

[crvalley]

I can't describe Atomic City other than to say it is in the middle of no where just west of Idaho Falls off of Hwy 26...This picture is of THE restaurant in that thriving metropolis better known for housing people under witness protection programs...The one time I go to Atomic City for lunch, the owner of the only restaurant in town is no where to be found. So, it was just me and the beer delivery guy waiting in his white pickup...

[crvalley]

Craters of the Moon in central Idaho off Hwy 20 on my way to Boise National Forest for my last night on the road before heading back to San Mateo, California...

[crvalley]

All along my trip I ate at cafes such as this one in Juntura, Oregon...You get to meet interesting people when you take the time to sit and enjoy a meal other than fast food while on the road...I new my trip was a success when I was offered pie after lunch once while in Utah...no one EVER offers you pie anymore after a meal and that made my trip...

Anyway...hope you enjoyed my journey...there will be more...

Take care!

[Voni]

Wonderful fun!
Great Shots.
Thanks for sharing!

Voni
smiling
:clap

[MarkF]

Originally posted by crvalley
Between two nights of camping, I treated myself to this cool little cabin in Dubois, WY...Dubois is a great little functioning old west town with great bars and restaurants and people who are interested in other things beside themselves...

I could live there. At least there is off the road parking for my bike.

Nice pics, thanks.

MarkF

[BMWBeauty]

Fabulous Pics.....Fantastic Report....Thanks for Sharing....:clap

[kbasa]

This is just outstanding.

Is there anything better than a couple weeks on the road to empty your head of the clutter of day to day living?

[ian408]

Outstanding little trip you took!

Seeing that log cabin brought back some childhood
memories for me.

Thanks for the pictures and report!

Ian

[Kenny2]

Great pictures!!

and thanks for the write up....

"Honey can I do a little road trip?":boldpurpl

[Cliffy777]

thanks for a good report and great photos. (I love the hills in Missouri, too - excuse me - the Ozark Mountains.)