| Author | Message | ||
     Crusty |
Montrose, CO One of the things that I really wanted to check out on this trip was the ride from Colorado Springs to Westcliffe. Back in the ‘70s, I remember the ride as being fairly mellow. We rode along through a canyon that was not very extraordinary for a while; then we crested a hill and had an absolutely stunning view of the Sangre De Christo mountains. The sight was so spectacular that both Sue and I let go of our throttles and rolled to a stop. Later, (six months or a year) we took some friends down that road, and it had the same effect on them. When Terri and I came out to Colorado in 2005, we took the same route; but this time the ride was very different. The canyon was incredible but the view of the mountains was nothing special. Pretty and scenic, yes; but it wasn’t spectacular. In talking with Sue on the phone, I learned that she had the same memory as I had from the ‘70s so I really wanted to ride that route once more and see for myself just what the reality was. So Thursday morning I headed south from Colorado Springs on Route 115 to Wetmore where I picked up route 96 towards Westcliffe. The Canyon was every bit as magnificent as I remember from the trip in 2005. (It’s easy to run out of words like incredible, spectacular, magnificent, etc when trying to describe Colorado) However, as I came out of the canyon and up a gentle rise, I came around one hill and saw a stunning view of the Sangre De Christos. It wasn’t enough to make me let go of my throttle, but it really was amazing. Why it wasn’t so spectacular when Terri and I were there in ’05, I can’t say. Maybe the sun was in the wrong part of the sky; or maybe it’s because this time the mountains were snow covered from about the 10,000 foot line and that made them more distinct; I really don’t know. But if you’re ever going to Colorado and want an interesting route to ride, I’ll be happy to plot one out for you that you’ll love; whether or not one view isn’t so attention grabbing. I also covered a few hundred miles of road I’d never been on before. I was completely immersed in the fact that I was out West when I started seeing sagebrush, assorted types of cacti, yucca plants, sagebrush and tumbleweeds. Seeing several Prairie Dogs also contributed to that fact (as well as the large rattlesnake that was coiled up in a figure eight in the middle of the road). The roads are really great for riding out here; good smooth pavement, light traffic, LOTS of curves and scenery that will astound you. At times, it’s so astounding that you’ll find it hard to concentrate on either very well. Some roads you should really ride twice. Once for the road itself and once to putt along and gawk at the scenery. I’ve said it many times and I still believe that God loves Motorcyclists so much that He created Colorado to give them a taste of what Heaven is going to be like. One of the not so nice parts of growing into eventual senility is the fact that sometimes I get a little mixed up. When I went into Walsenburg for dinner the other night, I saw a Carl Jr.s Burger joint. For some silly reason, I had it mixed up in my mind with In-N-Out Burgers which are supposed to be the best of the Burger Chains. So, I had a Carl Jr Original burger for dinner. It was OK, but it was nothing to get fired up about. The part that bothered me the most is that they didn’t offer free Wi-Fi. What a revolution’ development. Oh well. One really neat thing I saw at the Carl’s was a group of guys sitting and talking wearing Open Carry sidearms. It’s cool to see that in some places freedom hasn’t been legislated out of existence by nannies who think that disarming citizens will somehow make them safer. Sue is going to take me out to her favorite Mexican restaurant for dinner tonight. I’m really looking forward to it. This is the part of the country to get good Mexican food. That’s it for now. ************************************************** ***************************** I wrote the above on Saturday morning. It’s now Monday morning and I’ve been busy. Sue doesn’t have Internet access, and I haven’t been anywhere that has free Wi-Fi so I couldn’t send it out. I have a bunch of errands to do today, so I’ll stop at MacBarful’s and e-mail this. However, I'm getting into areas where getting online, or even getting cell phone service can be pretty spotty; so if you don't hear from me for a few days, don't worry. You know, the biggest problem I’m having describing things in Colorado is that I keep running out of superlatives to describe it all. If you’ve never been here, you really owe it to yourself check it out. Saturday Afternoon, Sue took me to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Parkin her car. It’s one of those National Parks that really isn’t very well known; but boy, is it magnificent! I’ve ridden along side of it a few times in the past on Route 92 and thought it was impressive to look at from the scenic overlooks, but I’d never been in the park itself. All I’ll say is that it impressed the living bejeezus out of me. I didn’t say anything to Sue about it, but I know in my heart that BilI was there with us. I could hear his voice describing the various strata in the canyon walls. He loved Geology (he was, after all, a Geologist). My ankle was giving me fits on Saturday, and I didn’t bring my cane, so we didn’t do a lot of walking, but we did do some. The views were just amazing. We drove down to the bottom of the canyon which is pretty deep. According to a sign in the park, the Empire State Building would almost reach halfway to the top if it were on the bottom. the Gunnison River flows through the canyon, and there were several people Fly Fishing there. I’ve seen Rainbow Trout that were over two feet long that were caught in the Black Canyon, and I’m told that’s not unusual. I’m allergic to seafood, so I don’t fish; a Fly Fisherman would be in Paradise, though. We decided that instead of doing Mexican on Saturday, we'd have it on Sunday after riding to Ridgway, Ouray and Silverton. Yesterday, after an easy start to the day with a wonderful breakfast of home made waffles, Canadian Bacon and Maple syrup, we climbed on our bikes and rode down to Silverton and back over the Million Dollar Highway (US Rt. 550 between Ouray and Silverton). What an Awesome ride! If you ride any kind of street Motorcycle, you owe it to yourself to ride over this road. It rises to over 11,000 feet, but the scenery is breathtaking, if you just want to cruise. And the road is full of 10 and 15 MPH (posted) hairpin turns as well as faster curves, and the pavement is good enough that it puts many race tracks to shame, if you want to push it a bit. The Million Dollar Highway would be incredible even if you went over it in a 1958 Cadillac with loose steering and clapped out shocks, but on a motorcycle, it’s very nearly an orgasmic experience. We got caught by a rain shower while coming through Ridgway on the way home, and my pants got pretty wet. However, 25 miles later they were completely dry. There’s something to be said for low humidity. Last night, Sue took me to her favorite Mexican Restaurant for dinner. I love good Mexican food, and I had a superb Enchilada combination plate. It was absolutely wonderful. Oh, I’ve discovered a movie that I can only describe as Strange. it’s called Pleasantville, and it stars Toby Magure, Reese Witherspoon and, of all people, Don Knotts. It’s really weird, but I liked it. If you’ve never seen it (especially if you’re a, um, mature citizen who remembers TV from the ‘50s) I suggest you check it out. That’s it for today. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Nice report Crusty, good to hear it's going well for you. | ||
| Azxb9r |
While up in the mountains, atmospheric conditions and the position of the sun have a major affect on the view. Trying to describe some of the roads/scenery in Colorado can be difficult, and pictures dont really seem to help much because the just dont convey the grandeur. | ||
| Bking |
I grew up in Colorado and been riding out here for 50 years. All the Rocky Mountain states have wonderful riding, but I think Colorado has the best overall mountain roads. I'm spoiled as I can be riding the foothills 5 minutes from my house. I did the 80 mile Squaw Pass Loop this last Sunday afternoon. Nice.   | ||
| Strokizator |
As you continue west be sure to get over to Hwy 12 in Utah. Completely different from the roads in CO but equally impressive. Or if you find yourself in eastern AZ, the Coronado Trail (Hwy 191) is another great ride. For that matter, just about any direction you go is going to be good. | ||
| Pwnzor |
<----- is drooling over that map | ||
| Crusty |
I’m a Pea Greener Yesterday, Sue played Tour Guide again and I got to see some more new parts of western Colorado. Much of the route was over smaller roads that weren’t even state highways, but the ride was both eye opening and fun. We set out from Montrose and headed to Pea Green. It’s a farming community that has a “Center” consisting of a couple of buildings at a four way Intersection. In front of one of the buildings is a rearing green horse with a grey and dappled pink rump right in front of a green 1954 or so flat bed GMC truck. Across the intersection from that noteworthy establishment is a Community Hall where an Annual Bluegrass Festival is held. I guess all the Locals get involved and supply all kinds of delicacies for both the musicians and audience to enjoy. The buildings and horse were enough to occupy my attention for a few minutes while we shared a drink of water, then it was time to move along. However, my stop earned me a button that says, “I’m a Pea Greener”. I think I’ll pin it on my saddlebags. As we travelled over backroads, we went past a junkyard that really caught my eye. I saw numerous cars from the early 50s that were in remarkably good shape. I saw Hudsons, Packards, Fords, Chevys and who knows what else, but they all looked fairly complete. Everything was pretty neatly organized, as well. Considering the low humidity of the area, I can understand why they looked so good. I’d love to just stop and walk through there some day and check out the different vehicles. However, we just rolled on past and just explored more of the backroads. We were up near Delta, when Sue turned off and led me down County Road “I”. It let to a scene from an alien planet. There were huge mounds of adobe that were more like BIG hills or even small mountains. The soil was cracked and even though there was a bit of wind, there was no blowing dust. There was quite a bit of white streaking from alkali or salt, and the plants were small and sparse and they were a grayish shade of green. The earth was a tan color at the bottom of the mounds which morphed into a more yellowish tint at the crests. It reminded me of the Badlands in South Dakota a little bit, but it was even more alien. It really was an amazing sight for many miles and I felt like I was in an old episode of The Twilight Zone. I don’t think I would have been very surprised to hear Rod Serling’s voice start to narrate; it was that otherworldly. After riding through that barren but spectacular country for a while, We pulled up at Faye’s Cafe in Austin for a cold drink. It’s an old building that’s been around for probably close to a century. It has a stamped tin ceiling inside and feels like something from the Old West. Not in a tourist trap sense, but in reality. We just got a couple of large sodas, but the proprietor was neat to talk to. He rides a Sportster which was parked out front, and we discussed the virtues of Sportsters and riding around the area. I was strongly tempted to get the lunch special, but Sue had already made plans for our lunch stop. Next time I’m in the area, though I want to go back there. After our break, we continued to Hotchkiss and stopped at Zack’s BBQ for lunch. Zack’s is locally famous as a great BBQ joint. I got a shredded beef brisket sandwich with a side of beans, and it was superb. The beans were really tasty and the BBQ beef just made my taste buds sing. I told the cashier that I’m very picky when it comes to BBQ, and theirs was first rate. If you’re ever near Hotchkiss, CO, stop at Zacks. You won’t regret it. Stuffed from lunch, we climbed back on our bikes and headed toward McClure Pass. Along the way, we went through the Coal Mining town of Somerset. Seeing the mine head and various conveyors of the mine really woke up strong feelings in me of mining. I got out of it in 1997 when my ankle got crushed, but the attraction is still there. The funny part is that I always swore that I’d never work in a Coal Mine since black lung, and the high rate of injury were things I don’t want to experience. Yet, I really felt the pull of working Underground. I’m retired, and I’m physically unable to to do the job, but I guess it’s still ingrained in my soul. When I first started working in Mining, there was an old guy on our crew who had to be in his 70s; all he wanted to do was work underground. I think I now understand why. Anyhow, when we got to the base of McClure Pass, there was a flagman holding a STOP sign. It was going to be a 20 minute wait while a construction crew scaled boulders from the hill side of the road, then they would let the traffic from the other direction through, then the traffic from our side. We decided to forego the ride up the pass since it would mean another long delay on our way back and turned around and rode back to Montrose. All in all we did about 200 miles on some really sweet backroads and I got to see some truly amazing things. Today was a low key maintenance day, but tomorrow, we’re heading for Telluride. | ||
| Etennuly |
Awesome Crusty! So glad you are doing this trip.....and telling us about it! | ||
| 86129squids |
No better man to go to... "Tell ur Ride"!  I'm curious, Crusty- you spent a fair amount of time, thought and money on getting that Sportster set up for a LD ride- how"s your seat doing? I'd actually REALLY like to know- I'm at the front end of a "journey" myself, looking at becoming a marketing agent for an aftermarket MC seat company. Comments from an obviously thoughtful and well-spoken guy like you would be greatly appreciated. | ||
| Daddio |
Again, Crusty, a nice write-up, good, vivid imagery... | ||
| Crusty |
Panguitch, Utah It’s been a busy and eventful past few days.On Thursday, Sue and I rode to the town of Telluride, Colorado. The scenery is breathtaking, and the town is in the middle of some magnificent mountains, but it’s a overly high priced tourist trap. Just to camp in the City Park costs almost thirty bucks and the showers cost three bucks for five minutes. The gas stations also charge a buck a gallon more than gas stations less than 40 miles away. So we enjoyed the scenery and left without spending any money. I left Montrose the next morning. The Weather Channel was calling for a 60% chance of rain. It was mostly cloudy with mild temps when I rode out. By the time I got to Ouray, I had to put on a sweatshirt. By the time I reached the summit of Red Mountain Pass (11,000 Ft.) I had to put on my rain gear. The temps felt like they were in the 30s, and I was expecting the rain to turn to snow; but it didn’t, fortunately. I went over another 11,000 Ft. pass whose name I’ve forgotten, and one more that wasn’t quite as high, like 10,500 or something like that. I was cold and wet and questioning my sanity. However, the rain did get a little warmer by the time I got to Cortez, where I stopped for lunch. After I got back on the bike, the rain got serious. It was a freakin’ deluge! I rode past Mesa Verde National Park and I could barely make out the shapes of the rock formations through the rain. I finally turned onto Rt. 160 and headed towards the Four Corners Monument and the rain eased up and finally stopped altogether. When I got to the monument, it was windy but dry. The monument is run by the Navaho Indians, and it costs five bucks to get in. I did the obligatory stand on four states at once; my right foot was in Colorado and New Mexico and my left foot was in Utah and Arizona. After that, I got back on the Sportster and set out for Monument Valley. The weather just got nicer as I rolled along, and it finally became a beautiful sunny day. I had some pretty high expectations about what to expect in Monument Valley, but boy was I off! It exceeded my expectations by a large order of magnitude. For once, the reality made Hollywood look pale. The Monuments, (formations, structures, etc.) were breathtaking. I felt overwhelmed by both the beauty and magnitude of what I saw. There’s no way I can adequately describe how I felt; but I’ll strongly urge you to ride US Route 163 at least once in your life. Once I got through the Valley and into Arizona, I rode to the Navaho National Monument and set up my tent in one of the campgrounds there. I found a good tent site and set up my tent. It is the prettiest tent site I’ve used on this trip, so far. Red dirt with a few Juniper Bushes and some sagebrush and cactus. However, mother Nature was about to have some fun with me. After I got everything set up, the dark clouds started moving in and the wind got very strong and gusty. I retired to my tent, and just laid in my sleeping bag listening to the wind and watched the tent shaking from the gusts. I eventually fell asleep while worrying that the wind was going to blow hard enough to damage the tent. I was awakened soon after by a flash of lightening and a loud rumble of thunder. That was the signal for the sound of rain hitting my tent. Big, heavy drops of rain. Just a few at first; but soon a heavy downpour that lasted for probably 20 minutes. I fell back asleep and l was awakened again by a repeat performance. This continued al night long. Once it started getting light, I broke camp and packed everything on the bike. Everything was soaked, and covered with nice red mud. I could see the edge of the storm to the west, with blue sky beyond, so I rode at a reasonable rate of speed toward fair weather. Mother Nature wasn’t done with me, though. I’ve been getting hit by thunderstorms all day. The only thing that makes me more nervous than laying in a tent and seeing a flash of lightning is riding my bike in a downpour and seeing lighting hitting the ground ahead of me. I got to experience that frequently today. I saw the Little Colorado River from the Navaho Bridge, and I’ve seen the Vermillion Cliffs, I stopped at the Glen Canyon Power Station and checked out the dam which created Lake Powell while dodging a Thunderstorm. I’ve covered hundreds of miles today and my feet have been cold and wet since about two miles after I broke camp. (my boots are just a little less water resistant than a sponge). Finally, after riding past Bryce Canyon in the rain, I decided to spend the money and get a motel room. That’s where I’m typing this. While I’ve been here, another thunderstorm has passed through. I hope they’re all gone by tomorrow. I always thought that the desert was supposed to be hot and dry. Today has been just the opposite. I bet some yahoo will claim it’s Global Warming. I think it’s Mother Nature screwing with me. Well, I’m tired and that hot shower really felt good, so I think I’ll kick back. | ||
| Pwnzor |
As I sit here with intense pain in my wrist that has made me decide NOT to go riding today, I'm at once joyful and envious in reading your report. God speed, sir. | ||
| Crusty |
Sensory Overload I just rode up US Rt. 89 and I’m now feeling completely overwhelmed by incredible scenery. I know I’m missing a lot of really neat stuff (like Utah Rt. 12), but there’s only so much I can take in at one time.Huge cliffs with multi colored strata are becoming common; boulders bigger than houses that obviously rolled down from the overhanging cliff are just barely noteworthy. I see this happening to me, and I don’t want to accept it but there’s no way I can take it all in at once. I guess what I need to do is come back at a later date. Just give myself a little time to absorb what I’ve seen, then come back for more. One thing that really has caught my eye is the green earth I’ve seen. I first noticed it next to some red earth in Arizona, and thought it was just an effect of the contrast between the two colors or maybe because of my helmet’s sun shade. However, there are entire monstrous hills of it here in Utah. Looking at it with my unfiltered vision, shows it to really be green dirt. I don’t know why I find it so striking, but I do. It really looks neat when it’s layered with red, orange and yellow dirt. I haven’t mentioned it in any of my Snippets lately, but I really feel like Bill is riding with me. I found myself talking to him as I was riding toward the Four Corners; and I was carrying on a running dialog as I rode through Monument Valley. I don’t think it was coincidence that the rain stopped just before I got to the Four Corners and the sun was shining on the entire ride through Monument Valley. Those were parts of the planned trip that Bill and I never got to take, and I think he was influencing the weather. Maybe it’s all just my imagination, or maybe I’m just a little bit cracked, but I really feel and believe it. Now, I’m heading North towards Idaho and Montana. I’ll add to this later. ************************************************** ************ Provo, Utania I rolled into Provo around 3:30 this afternoon. I had looked on the cheap campgrounds site and misread the fees for camping at the Utah Lake State Park. Instead of costing the $9.00 that I expected, it cost me $30.00. However, I paid it because I saw thunderstorms in the distance and figured that it was a better idea to spend the money and get my camp set up than to go searching for someplace cheaper and getting caught in the rain in the process. It turned out to be a good thing, too. All my gear was soaking wet. I laid out everything on the grass, and the low humidity combined with the sun dried everything pretty quickly. I took a rag and wet it at the faucet at my campsite and washed a lot of the red dirt away from the other night’s downpours. I also took everything out of my saddlebags and let them all dry in the sun. This morning, I stopped at a little place in Marysvale for breakfast. It was a tiny place, and the cook made one breakfast at a time. Since a large group had just come in ahead of me, it took about an hour for me to get my Sausage and eggs. When I did get it though, it was worth the wait. The sausage patty was home made sausage and it must have weighed a quarter pound. Since I’m in no hurry at all, I just sat and listened to the various people who were there and enjoyed it. If you’re passing through Marysvale, Utah and have the time, I heartily recommend the Marysvale diner. Good food and friendly people. I went out for dinner to a local Subway (I only eat at the finest establishments), and on the way back, I cruised over to the Provo Airport. Back in 1977 and 78, I worked for Rocky Mountain Helicopters. Although my employment with them terminated with a lot of anger and resentment on both sides, working for them was one of my more interesting jobs. After nearly 37 years, I figured I’d go check out their operation on a Sunday evening when nobody would be there. However, I couldn’t find any trace of them. Not only couldn’t I find Rocky Mountain, there weren’t any helicopters to be seen at the airport at all. I guess they bit the dust. Oh well; it couldn’t have happened to a better company. Tomorrow, I’m hoping to get well into Idaho. I’m going to ride up State Route 28 and see if I can recognize the place where I rode through that cattle drive. Then it’s on towards Salmon. I wonder if the Owl Club is still there? I’ve got stories about a few times I got drunk in the Owl Club; including the one where I threw up on the cop’s shoes (and didn’t get arrested!!!). Remind me to tell you some time. Ps. Rush Hour through Salt Lake City sucks. | ||
| Oldfartnbuell |
Crusty, My "NAVAJO" lady is happy you like her homeland! It is fantastic country. I never get enough of it. Tonto | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Ps. Rush Hour through Salt Lake City sucks. Oh yes it does. | ||
| Crusty |
Where the Hell is Hamilton? I used to have a T-shirt that had that question on the front. On the back it said, Who the Hell Cares?. I’m sitting in a MacDonalds in Hamilton eating a Sausage MacMuffin that cost double what it costs at any other MacDonald’s I’ve eaten one in. It’s usually a buck, but here it was $1.99. The coffee, however was only .75. Go figure. The last time I was here in the Bitterroot Valley was in 1981 with Ron and Melia. There have been a lot of changes. I couldn’t spot exactly which house was the one Ron bought way back when. I think I saw it, but it’s been so long and my memory is weak enough that I’m not sure. 34 years play hell with my memory. Riding over Lost Trail Pass from Salmon was a real eye opener. It’s pretty obvious that a Forest fire came through the area within the past few years. Lots of bare hills with leafless sticks sticking out from the Pass to above Sula. It’s sad. Riding north through the Valley, My senses were overwhelmed with the odors that I hadn’t smelled in decades and had forgotten about. The smells of Evergreens and other Forest smells combined with the River smells really brought back a lot of the memories and reasons that I loved this place so much. I don’t know if I’d want to live here now, though. It’s built up a bit and the atmosphere is different. I remember the first morning I woke up in Hamilton, back in 1978; my first thought was, “I like this place!” I’m not getting that now. The town has grown a lot and it has kind of a California feel to it. Deffy’s Motel where I lived while in Hamilton is still there; which was a pleasant surprise, but the Buffalo Saloon and Buffalo Cafe are gone which saddens me. I’ve made my plans for the next couple of days. Today, I’m going to ride up to Priest River and hopefully stay at a Corps of Engineers campground. Tomorrow, I’ll ride up to Priest Lake, then go back to Priest River and I’ll do my Laundry. Thursday, I’ll head for Glacier National Park and ride the Going-To-The-Sun Road to St. Mary, MT. From there, I’m going to ride south on US Rt.89. After that, Who knows? Gotta go. | ||
| Crusty |
Riley Creek I spent the last two nights at the Army Corps of Engineers Riley Creek Campground. It’s a beautiful campground on the Pend Oreille (pronounced Ponderay) River and it was part of the Albeni Dam project (The sign says so). I had a very nice site for the tent that was reasonably close to the showers/ bathrooms. The campsite was nice, but what sweetened the deal was that having the America the Beautiful card saved me 50% of the fee. So instead of having to pay $25.00/night, it was only $12.50. The card paid for itself the first time I used it, and it’s already started saving me money. There are some advantages to being an Old Fart. Of course, there are some disadvantages as well. This damned crick in my back that just refuses to go away is one. It is getting better; I think; it hasn’t completely gone away yet, though. Anyhow, I rode up to Priest Lake, yesterday. Even in a place as remote as the northern Idaho Panhandle, 34 years show some changes. There’s a grass air strip across the road from the Ranger Station on Rt. 57 and it even had a small fixed wing plane parked there. The store at Nordman has grown to more that twice the size it was and there are a lot of houses above Nordman that weren’t there when I was working up in the area. I tried to find the Roosevelt Grove of Ancient Cedars, bur either I didn’t go far enough on the road after it turned to dirt, or the sign for them is gone. Anyway, the road was rougher than the suspension on a touring Sportster was happy with, and getting rougher, so I turned around after about 7 or 8 miles. The Cedars (a very memorable bar!) is gone. in its place is a yuppie-ish looking joint called Millies. The Lamb Creek Inn is now a church, There are more businesses by the road than there were as well. Hills Resort is still there, though. I was wishing that I had gotten directions from Melia when I talked to her the other night, I would have stopped in and visited her folks; I actually was in the mood to talk to people. Most of the time, I prefer to be alone, but every so often, I enjoy socializing. Yesterday was one of those times. Oh well; another lost opportunity. Anyway, I rode back down to Priest River; then, on a whim, I turned right on Rt. 2 and rode over to Newport, Washington just to say that I’d been in Washington. I saw the Albeni Dam along the way which was pretty neat even if it isn’t a tenth the size of the Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona. I then rode back to Laclede and had dinner in a little bar/restaurant near the campground. I had the special of the house which was a Burger that would make my Cardiologist have a heart attack. Two 1/4 pound patties, one with american cheese, one with swiss cheese; two slices of bacon, fried onions, fried mushrooms, lettuce, tomato and pickles. I drew the line when they wanted to put Mayonnaise on it, however. Mayo is for chicken salad, not a masterpiece of a burger. I slathered it with ketchup and it came with a pile of fresh cut Idaho french fries. I washed it down with a few glasses of Pepsi. I loved it. There’s a lot of wildlife here, as you might expect. Riding up route 200 on my way here, I had two Bighorn sheep run across the road in front of me, then yesterday, while still in Priest River on Rt. 57, a wild Turkey did a fast trot across the road causing me to grab my front brakes hard, then this morning, after I left the campground on my way to Sandpoint, a deer ran across the road. I have to keep sharp when I’m on the bike. Of course, I think I’d rather be looking at Bighorns or Turkeys than overweight soccer moms yakking on cellphones while driving their oversized 4x4 Bulgemobiles, but all of the above could ruin a good trip if I don’t stay alert. One more noteworthy observation; the eagles here build these huge nests on top of High Voltage Power Line Towers. I saw one this morning; a nest about 3 or 4 feet in diameter and the eagle was standing there looking proud, then (s)he spread his(her) wings and flew away. Just magnificent! OK, I’m done for now. I’m about to head for Glacier National Park to ride the Going-To-The-Sun Road. | ||
| Buellish |
Crusty.I'm really enjoying your travel reports.I'm sorry I didn't get to meet you when I went up to Newburyport to pick up my S3T. | ||
| 86129squids |
Good stuff, RoadCrust! I admire and covet your tenacity in making this journey... maybe one day I'll get my chance. Keep the rubber side down and your knees in the breeze, friend! | ||
| Crusty |
Glacier National Park In the movie, The Hunt For Red October, there’s a scene where a Russian officer is dying, and he tells the Captain (Sean Connery), “I wanted to see Montana.” He must have seen pictures of the roads I was on yesterday. I rode US route 2 from Laclede, ID to West Glacier. I made a couple of stops for scenery; both of them dams. One was just outside Bonners Ferry and the other was the Hungry Horse dam. The Hungry Horse dam was another of those “Classic” 500 foot dams creating a huge lake behind it like Glen Canyon or the Hoover Dam. Construction started in the late 40s and the dam was completed in 1952. I had to ride a four mile long very twisty road with smooth pavement through the mountains to reach it. It was really impressive; especially considering that it’s a dam that few people have ever heard of. The really beautiful part is that it's built in the middle of a bunch of mountains. The area is just sensational. After I left Hungry Horse, I continued to Glacier National Park and entered the Park at West Glacier. My Old Fart’s Card got me into the Park for free, which saved me more money (I’m really developing an affinity for that card!). The Ranger at the entrance told me that the Going-To-The-Sun Road was open only to the top of Logan Pass and I’d have to turn around and come back the way I came, but the ride would be worth it. He wasn’t lying! What a Magnificent Road!!! I was restricted to going the speed limit by the other vehicles around me and I didn’t mind a bit. The scenery, the mountains, the views can’t really be described, but they are worth experiencing. I was completely enthralled with the road and the ride. The capper was when I got to the Visitor Center at the top of Logan Pass (there are gates across the road there to prevent anyone going further) there were about half a dozen Big Horn sheep walking through the Parking Lot. I’m not sure of the exact number as they kept leaving and coming back. It was 34 miles from the Park entrance to the top of Logan Pass, and it took about an hour to get there; so, of course, it took about an hour to ride back. By then, it was getting kind of late in the day, so I decided to camp in the park. I pulled into a campground near the west entrance and found a nice site and set up my tent. Then, I went to pay my fee and my Old Fart Card got me the site for 50% off. Instead of $20.00, it only cost me $10.00. (That endeared that card to me even more!) This morning, I passed some free National Forest Campgrounds as I travelled east on Route 2 outside the park, but I don’t begrudge the $10.00 fee I have to say that even though I didn’t get to ride the Going-T0-The-Sun in its entirety, it’s one of the most amazing motorcycle roads that I’ve ever been on. If you’ve ever considered checking it out even slightly, make it one of your priorities. I give you my word that you won’t regret it. So far, on this trip, it’s the most striking experience I’ve had. Trying to compare the different parks is like trying to compare fruits to vegetables to meat; all are pretty impressive, but they’re all different. To compare Glacier, The Black Canyon or the Lexington Battle Green would be both futile and stupid. Dusty Boots, one of the forum members on Moto Campers posted that those eagle nests I commented on are actually Osprey nests. An Osprey is a kind of Fish Predatory Eagle. It’s a beautiful bird and pretty big, as well. I had to ride almost 200 miles this morning to find a Mac Donald’s and free Wi-Fi. Even my phone had no service when I tried to use it in the Park last night. Verizon, At&T and T-Mobile’s claims notwithstanding. I’ve been in the “White Zone” since yesterday and expect to be in it again as my travels continue. Now, I’m heading toward Yellowstone and Old Faithful. | ||
| Crusty |
Jellystone Park Well, I’m in Wyoming. Yellowstone was an interesting place to visit, for reasons both good and bad. First the good. I left the KOA in Livingstone (I presume) this morning around 7:00. It was a pleasant ride south under a cloudless sky into Yellowstone. My oldfarts card got me free admission (saving me $30.00) and I rode into the park . I stopped when I got to Mammoth Hot Springs and walked around looking at an amazing tableau of varicolored terraces with steam rising. I was smart enough to break out my cane, so I didn’t completely trash my ankle while walking an estimated couple of miles, total. Still, I was happy to get back on the bike after an hour and a half or so. When I was at Mammoth Hot Springs, I saw a herd (pack, troop, congress, what ever it’s called) of eight elk on a hillside. I was so focused on the Springs that I wouldn’t have even noticed, but some guy was pointing them out loudly to his wife (who acted like she couldn’t care less). There are a lot of amazing views and things to see in Yellowstone, and I stopped and gawked at my share. I got to see a buffalo up real close at one point. The Idiot driver from Texas who was in front of me decided to stop and take a picture just when I was right beside the Buffalo, who was standing on the side of the road. Fortunately, the Buffalo was not annoyed by me or the Sportster. Still, being stuck beside an animal whose head is the size of my torso and who weighs literally a tom does not give me warm fuzzy feelings towards Idiot Drivers from Texas. I spent a bit of time over the next few miles trying to decide if I’d rather be stuck behind an old fart from Texas or an old fart from Florida. I decided that it’s a draw. I got down to Old Faithful a bit after Noon. With my usual good timing, I arrived about three minutes after an eruption. I decided that I’d wait, then discovered about half an hour later that it only erupts every 90 minutes or so. I thought it erupted every 58 minutes , or something like that, but I guess it’s been slowing down for a few years now. Also, there’s a + or - time of 10 minutes, as well. Still, I waited and saw it go off then I walked back to my bike to head out of the park. Now, the bad. When I was at Mammoth Hot Springs there was a family that embodied everything negative about modern child rearing. The kids would do what they wanted; running around without regard for people around them, yelling and screaming at the top of their lungs. The parents would tell the kids to stop, or come back and the kids just ignored them. They were loud, obnoxious and rude. There was a similar family who were near me at Old Faithful. It’s hard to catch a proper mood for viewing one of Nature’s spectacles when little Influenza is screaming because daddy won’t let him play with the parent’s cell phone. And Mommy dearest is telling Rubella to come back and sit down, so Rubella just keeps walking away. I found it to be very lame parenting. Also, there’s the price gouging that goes on because it’s a world famous attraction. I don’t know why gas has to be .60/gallon more just because it’s in a National Park. I’m staying in a campground outside Yellowstone, intentionally. It isn’t doing me any good. As soon as you leave Yellowstone at the South entrance, you’re in Grand Teton National Park. The gouging continues. It cost me $20.00 to camp which is half the regular price (Thanks Old farts card!) With all the bear propaganda that’s posted everywhere, I figured I’d go over to the restaurant and buy dinner. I haven’t eaten all day, so I figured I’d treat myself a little bit. When I saw the prices in the menu, I just had a $3.00 cup of coffee and left. A cup of soup was $6.00 and a Hamburger was $14.00! (cheese, or any other items were $1.50 more each) I didn’t even look at any of the dinner items. So I went into the gas station Convenience store and bought a small bag of BBQ chips and a 20 oz. bottle of Gatorade. That cost me almost four bucks. Yellowstone was the first National Park, and it embodies all the the good and all of the bad points of National Parks. As much as I try to focus on the positive, I keep being caught up in the negative. There’s a lot of beauty here, but still is far from my favorite park. Of the parks I’ve visited,Glacier is still my favorite and the one I really want to go back to. | ||
| 86129squids |
Nice post, Crusty. My GF and her best buddy routinely go over the mountain to Cherokee to "gamble"- there are always some idiot tourist looky-loo's stopped to see an elk or a "bar" or whatever- they jam up traffic, and guaranteed they get too close... there have been some scary bear incidents lately, all because humans are idiots. My GF and her buddy thought up a fix: Anyone caught outside their cars trying to photo a bear or elk would be fined $500. The Smokies have no user/hiker/camping fees to speak of, and they're the MOST visited park in the USA. A fee like that would help many things, a LOT. | ||
| Desert_uly |
Thanks Crusty for all of your ride reports,your writing style keeps them interesting and you have almost motivated me to plan my own trip. I took a similar trip from Southern Calif. to Yellowstone and then to Telluride area in 1978 on my R75/7, always looking for the bargain campsites and enjoying top-ramen dinners. Traveling alone, you pick the route, daily activities, eat when you want, side trips that you choose...one of my favorite vacations I've taken. Enjoy your ride and hope to hear more soon. | ||
| Crusty |
A Laid Back Day I just set up my tent in Red Canyon Campground. It’s a National Forest campground just outside Bryce Canyon National Park. There’s no Cell phone and no Internet access, so I won’t be sending this out for a day or two. Red Canyon is stunningly beautiful. there are a lot of near red sandstone sculptures, and the shape of the canyon walls is very surreal. I like this campsite already and I’ve been here less than an hour. I didn’t cover a lot of mileage today. First, I farted around the Motel 6 where I stayed last night until almost 9:00 this morning. Then, I had a long lunch stop at the Marysvale Diner where I had the best burger I’ve eaten in a long while. It wasn’t a fancy burger; just a cheeseburger with fried onions and fried mushrooms with a side of beer battered French Fries. As I said, it wasn’t fancy, but it was a case of everything being cooked to perfection. When I was paying my check, I told the cook how much I enjoyed it and the look on his face said that I’d made his day. It’s nice to deal with someone who takes obvious pride in his work. Once again, if you happen to be passing through Marysvale, Utah, stop at the Diner and eat. you won’t regret it one bit. Also, I don’t want to start into Bryce then have to scramble to find a campsite. I got here a little quicker than I anticipated, so I’m just going to kick back for the rest of today. I got caught in a brief downpour as I was coming down Rt.89, but 20 minutes after the rain stopped, I was completely dry. There are a lot of positive things to be said about low humidity. I’ve talked enough about US Route 89 in previous snippets, but I really recommend it as a very scenic road with mostly good pavement and beautiful sweeping turns and light traffic. I especially enjoyed the stretch from I-70 to Panguitch today. I keep having a running dialogue with Bill as I’m traveling. I look at the various types of rock and the assorted colors and I can’t help but think about what he might say about them I can also see him doing some of the things he used to do while riding to break the monotony. I keep wanting to pull up close to him and hitting his kill switch. Kathryn said it beautifully; this ride is important enough that Bill has to be riding with me. Well, my computer’s battery is down to 75%, so I’d better stop for now. ************************************************** ****************************** Monticello, UT Well; today I saw two National Parks and a lot of incredible Road. I left Red Canyon fairly early and went straight to Bryce Canyon. Bryce Canyon is an indescribable collection of rock (mostly red sandstone, but there are a lot of other colored types of rock layered in there as well. There are sculptures called Hoodoos that were shaped by wind and water that stand for hundreds of feet, and in the cliff faces are giant Grottos caused by water filtering through the cap rock and eroding the sandstone beneath. I first went to the aptly named Inspiration Point, then went and saw other views. I was glad I got there early because I beat most of the crowds. However, they began to show up about an hour later, so I decided to move on. One of the “Must Ride” roads I was advised to take was Utah Rt. 12. I took it to the turnoff to Bryce, then continued on it when I left the Park. The advice I’d gotten wasn’t good advice; it was GREAT advice. I rode Rt. 12 to Rt. 24 and Turned off and checked out Capitol Reef National Park. It was amazing! It was incredible! It was Colossal! It was … I’ve run out of words. I saw Canyons, Buttes, Mounds, sheer walls rising for hundreds of feet, Monuments (they’re not all in Monument Valley), I saw boulders bigger than a house perched precariously on boulders the size of a Volkswagen. I was on roads that twisted, turned rose and fell. Saw every earth tone imaginable; From jet black to blood red, maroon, bright red, orange, brown, tan, white grey and green. Plus some I haven’t mentioned. I stopped and checked out some of the green rock that fascinates me. I don’t know for certain, but I think the green is oxidized copper. Anyway, these colors were not only in stratified Layers, they were in streaks and swirls and sometimes there would be wide expanses of the same color. It really looked like an alien landscape. That point was driven home when I passed through the town of Luna Mesa. It actually looked like the surface of the moon. There were monstrous piles of grey soil that looked like they were part of a Giant’s Gravel Pit interspersed with pale tan hills of soil. It really was an eerie sight. Of course, all the reds and yellows and tans look like the surface of Mars, so that adds to it. Lots of wildlife out here, as well. A deer hunter would be ready to have a heart attack. This morning, I saw a total of eight does and five fawns; all mule deer in a span of about three minutes. Then This afternoon, five deer crossed the road (In the Crosswalk!) in Capitol Reef Park. Ten minutes later, another deer ran across the road in front of me. I new a guy who jacked a deer in the summer when I lived in Colorado. It was the best tasting venison I’ve ever had. Whatever they eat in summer sure does the flavor of the meat a lot of good! But I digress. Anyway, I have to wrap this up. The sun is setting. Tomorrow is another day. ************************************************** ************************** Moab, UT I found a MacDonalds; and not only does it have free Wi-Fi, it has an outlet so I can charge my computer battery. Whoopie! I got a good look at the night sky last night. In-freakin’-credible! I’ve been in cities for way too long. I forgot just how magnificent the night sky can be. I woke up at 2:00 AM to pee, and when I looked up, I was enthralled. There was no moon, and I was far enough out of town that light pollution wasn’t really severe. I even forgot about my stiff back for a while, I was so absorbed. If you haven’t seen the night sky on a moonless night far from civilization for a while, I really think you should. Today, I’m heading back towards Montrose, Colorado. I need to pull some maintenance on the bike, I need to clean up my tent and sleeping gear, and my poor Sportster is filthy. I need a shower, and I need to do laundry and I could use a couple of days to let my back take a break. I’ve already talked with Sue, and she knows I’m coming and doesn’t mind; so that’s my plan for now. I’ve got a lot of ideas about what to write about while I’m there, like Sensory Burnout and Trailering bikes (something I have decidedly strong opinions on) and why I ride a motorcycle when I could be traveling in a van. Anyhow, it’s getting hot out, and I should be out there putting on miles. | ||
| Prior |
Crusty, It's been a long time since we've had a proper ride report on here. Your words about Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon brought me back to my RANE ride of 2004. I wasn't able to see Moab, but did ride through Zion. It's absolutely breathtaking out there! Thanks for the snippet of life on the road during my lunch break and can't wait to get out there again. Ride, Crusty, Ride!!! | ||
| Reepicheep |
Very cool stories... thanks for sharing! | ||
| Strokizator |
Chalk up one more fan for Utah, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I've done those roads forwards and backwards on motorcycles and autos. It's an awesome state (not to take anything away from CO). Don't forget to order "fry sauce" with your french fries. It's nothing special but it's apparently a local thing. | ||
| Leftcoastal |
Crusty - You're Killin' ME! EVERY one of your entries here is causing this intense longing to pack up and hit the road! I've 'rode by' but typically missed, just about every place you have reported on in such an illustrious manner, as I was usually "going somewhere" and staying on some blasphemous interstate highway. Well, I guess I got where I was going, but what's the point when just a few miles east or west or whatever direction lie probably the most beautiful, description-defying places our planet has to offer. Though, you've managed to do a mighty good job of telling us about those places in just a few words on this thread. Keep posting, we'll keep reading and wishing we were there. Bill is one lucky spirit - He can see it all from your shoulder, first hand. If it gets too hot and you're in central Utah, stop in at the Red Barn just south of Santaquin on the 15. They have a big orchard shop with a cold storage room for the fruit that you can walk into and select apples, peaches, etc. and it's kept in the high 30's in there. Cool ya right down quick! Al | ||
| Crusty |
Stuck Inside of Montrose With the… My bike is clean and shining, my tent and ground tarp have been hosed out and my saddlebag stiffeners have been trimmed so that they fit the bags better. I went to Walmart and bought a pair of 38 X29 Wranglers and they fit (Yay! I dropped down a size!) My back isn’t nearly as sore as it was and my laundry is done. This layover is doing me a lot of good. My plan is to stay here a few more days, then get back on the road. Tomorrow night, the band that Susan is in (Thin Air) is playing at a restaurant/club here in Montrose and I want to go and listen to them. (I’m going to be their Roadie!). Then, on Sunday, Sue wants to go check out a part of the area that’s supposed to be really beautiful. On Monday, there’s a Loonie Noonie here in town that I want to go to, so I guess I’ll hit the road on Tuesday. It’s time to be heading in a more Easterly direction. I haven’t seen all the National Parks that I wanted to, but I think I need a break to absorb all the intensely spectacular things that I’ve seen in just a few weeks. First, I want to get lunch at Shooter’s Cafe in Rifle, Colorado. All of the staff are trained and carry firearms. there is a sign posted at the entrance that states guns are welcome there. It has to be the safest place to get a burger that I’ve ever eaten in. Who would try to rob them? It sure is nice to know that freedom hasn’t been entirely eliminated in all parts of the country yet. Then, I’ll go east, visit with some friends, see a couple of Miles, spend some time with my brother David and my sister Grace, then ease back on up to the Northeast. I still haven’t ridden on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel on a Motorcycle, and I really would like to. I also want to see my daughter and son in law. I have two appointments with Doctors on the 28th of July, and I also miss my friends in Massachusetts and I want to see them and catch up with what’s happening. I’m pretty sure that I have a place to stay for a few days when I get back to Mass, so I’ll have time to get a few things sorted out that I need to take care of. I have a few ideas about where to go after that, but I don’t want to over plan things. One thing I’ve especially noticed is the different people you meet when traveling. A lot of people are envious when I tell them I’m just wandering. Some people want to give advice, which is fine. One guy was adamant that I HAVE to go to California and ride the PCH all the way along the coast (California and I don’t really get along. The first time I went there, I was jumped from behind and my head was hit with a wine bottle twice. I spent the night in a hospital and left the next day. The last time I was there, I was working there. First, my motorcycle was stolen; then, a week later, my dog was stolen.) I met a fellow traveler at the campground in Red Canyon. He was riding a Kawasaki Concours based out of Phoenix, and he was heading north. He said he was thinking about going up to Glacier National ParkI to ride the Going-To-The-Sun Road. I gave him a heartfelt endorsement , and we went off in our different directions. I met another Concours rider as I was wandering along Utah Rt. 12 named Bob. I had stopped in a rest area/scenic overlook, and he pulled n. Bob is an older gentleman (he’s 70) and was taking an easy ride to Cortez, CO for the COG National Rally. He turned me on to a neat place for lunch in Torrey, UT and left me with an offer of a free place to camp and the use of a workshop if my bike needed work, should I get up his way in Washington. He was a really good guy, and it was a pleasure meeting him. Then there was the KTM rider in Monticello, UT. I pulled into a gas station, and I saw a knobby tired KTM Adventurer. The rider wouldn’t even acknowledge me at all, even after I said hello. He obviously decided that I was one of those Harley riding scumbags, and he wanted nothing to do with me. If four wheel drive cars are called SUVs, then shouldn’t “Adventure Bikes” be called SUCs (Sport Utility Cycles)? When did a friendly wave to other bike riders become this silly peace sign pointed down at a 45 degree angle? It’s the new “Cool” way to wave. Personally, I think that a straight armed flat palm gesture (like the Nazis used in WW2) would be just as appropriate. Think of it; I can just picture two fairly large groups of identically dressed formations of rugged individualists (or gay pirates) on their cookie cutter Harleys passing each other with their left arms outstretched as they travel in opposite directions. It would really look appropriate. Naw, I think I’ll just continue to wave like I’ve been doing for the past 46 years. I camped in Devil’s Canyon the other night. It’s a National Forest campground, and it was nice, and it didn’t cost much. It was $5.00 after my 50% discount for having a Senior pass card. Anyway, while there, I saw someone who had a plain Dodge van that he was living out of. I had considered doing something similar last winter when I was planning this intentional homelessness. There’s a lot to recommend living out of a van. I could set up a comfortable bed, I could get a decent stove and cook meals; I do get sick of cheap fast food. I wouldn’t have to worry about getting wet if it rained. I wouldn’t have to spend nearly as much on campground fees; half the time, I could just park in a Walmart parking lot for free; If I did decide to camp in a National Forest of National Park campground, the price would be the same as I pay for my motorcycle and tent. As I said, I gave it a bit of thought. However; I wouldn’t be riding. I’m one of those nut cases who has to ride a motorcycle. I’ve gone through many winters in Massachusetts without a car. Every time it’s come down to a choice between having just a car or having just a motorcycle, I’ve always chosen the motorcycle. I know it’s not the sanest choice I could be making, but it’s the way I am. Maybe one of these days, I’ll decide the discomfort of living on a motorcycle is worse than the discomfort of not riding, and I’ll look for a cheap van that I can set up to live out of. Those days aren’t here yet, though. I wonder if Walmart would let me set up a tent in their parking lot? Probably not. But maybe I could just put down my sleeping pad and sleeping bag and head out early without getting rousted. That’s something to consider. That’s it for now. I hope I like the burger at Shooter’s Cafe when I go there next Tuesday. | ||
| Ourdee |
Color me jealous. Stealth Camper: Think larger and in plain sight concealed. Why not use a box van? UPS style truck. Garage door on the back. Crusty graphics package so that it blends in when parked in the industrial section of towns. Room for a bike and a bed inside. Possible wood burner for cheap heat from discarded pallet wood. May be even a used armored car for security. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
If I was going the stealth camper route, I'd get an old pickup & a 5th wheel horse trailer. It comes with a ramp built in and the flexibility to drop the trailer & drive just the truck. I get what you're saying about riding the bike, but I've spent so much time behind the wheel it's second nature to me. Add the fact that I hate camping I may well convert a horse trailer when I get too creaky for long distance riding & slip a couple of bikes in the back. A do it all like a DR or KLR 650 & a jewel like a V7 Café maybe. Probably just lob the old M2 in there though. | ||
| Crusty |
Guess What Day It Is Today is Father’s Day. It’s also the Summer Solstice which means that it’s the first day of Summer! Woo Hoo! Summer is my favorite season. This year, it’s proving to be a fascinating season and it hasn’t even gotten started yet. I’ve seen a bunch of National Parks and the incredible beauty they have on display, but now it’s time to turn eastward and see a bit more of Middle America. I have two Miles to see in July, but the first isn’t for a couple of weeks so that gives me lots of time to ride wherever I feel like. Hell; I could cover the country from west coast to east coast and back in two weeks, so I’ve got lots of options. I’ve already stated that I want to have lunch at Shooter’s Cafe in Rifle, CO. After that, I think I’ll head to North Dakota and see the Geographic Center of North America. (Not to be confused with the Geographic Center of the 48 Conterminous United States which is near Lebanon, KS) Then again, I wanted to go to Albuquerque and get Mexican Food for dinner, and I haven’t done that yet… Naw; I’ll get to that later on this summer. Maybe after I go to Mark’s (Wolfridgerider) West Virginia rally in August. I’m really looking forward to that. I’ve wanted to go for a few years now and each year there was a reason I couldn’t make it. Hopefully, this year will be the end of that streak. I’m still mentally juggling how I’m going to get to Buffalo to see Don (Oz) and eat at the Dinosaur there. It just occurred to me that I haven’t been eating much BBQ this year. I’m going to have to make some changes in my diet here. Maybe after I see the center of N. America, I should head south towards Kansas City and try some of their variety. It’s supposed to be pretty good. I’ll be back in the Carolinas before I head up to New England, so I definitely will have to try some of their variety. Then again, when I get back to Massachusetts, I’m going to have to eat at Redbones, which is one of my personal favorite BBQ joints. And then, there’s the entire South. People from the Deep South are very proud of their BBQ, as are people from Texas. I’ve had some pretty good Texas style BBQ, but I’ve never eaten BBQ in Texas. I had some kick ass BBQ in Louisville, Kentucky, but that was something like 35 years ago. Of course, If I go toward Louisiana, I’d have to eat Cajun cooking. A little Boudin sausage or some chicken gumbo; I don’t know if I would even look for BBQ. I’m drooling just typing about all the neat stuff I could eat. Another thing I want to mention is French Fries. In Utah, they serve you a Dipping sauce for Fries that’s kind of like a 1,000 Island dressing that has a bit of Horseradish in it. It’s not bad, but it’s different. I’d never heard of it before, but I guess it’s pretty common in the area. In Maine and up in the eastern Provinces of Canada, they like to put vinegar on their Fries. That tastes good to me, but only occasionally. Every so often, I really enjoy French Fries smothered in Brown Gravy. I’ve only seen that in the Northeast, but it may be popular in other places. In Canada, there’s a dish that’s called poutine; it’s french fries in a sea of gravy baked with cheese on top. It’s a meal in itself; or at least the one time I had it, it was. I enjoyed it, but I’d rather have my fries as a side dish. While I like the variations on occasion, I generally prefer Heinz Ketchup over all the alternatives. With all this mention of food, it almost seems impossible that I’m losing weight, but it’s still true. I’ve found a method of weight loss that seems to be working for me. It’s slow, but steady and it allows me to enjoy the dishes that I love. I don’t have to resort to eating cardboard substitutes for bread, or any other flavorless alternatives for real food. And I will never use a chemical substitute for sugar. If I want a Pepsi, it won’t have aspartame or whatever bullshit they replace the sugar with. It will be a real Pepsi. The trick is to not have it too often or in too large a quantity. I believe in the equation: Energy in should be < Energy out. If you have a diet that works for you that’s different from mine, I’m happy for you. This is what’s working for me. To get back to traveling, I’d like to see the Cadillac Ranch and Carhenge and the world’s largest ball of string. I’ve seen quite a few Jet fighters on pedestals. An F-80, F-84, F-86, F-105 as well as a few I couldn’t identify. There’s one here in Montrose that I want to go check out. I’m not quite sure what it is. Hopefully, there’ll be some sort of plaque or stenciled paint on the plane to identify it. Otherwise, it’ll just have to fall into that category of interesting but unidentifiable jets. There are a few in there already, but I really don’t want the number to grow. Well, enough babbling for now. I probably won’t send this out until tomorrow, so I hope all you Fathers had a Great day. And I hope the rest of you had a Great day as well. Me; I’m having a Great day. I talked with my Daughter Megan, there isn’t a cloud in the sky, the probability of rain is at 0% and the current temperature is 92 F at High Noon with 21% humidity. It just doesn’t get much better than this. | ||
| Daddio |
Crusty-- while on the way to the Geographical Center of North America, you could stop by the Geographical Center of the United States, just a little north and east of Belle Fourche, So. Dak. | ||
| Crusty |
Daddio; I stopped there on my way west last month. I even said a brief prayer in the chapel there. |
