Southwest Fall Tour

Southwest Tour Fall 2000

ready, set, go
and yes, I still have the red cooler

Entering Yellowstone

Calamity Lake

Mountain color near Provo

Near Flagstaff, AZ

Sedona

Me above Palm Springs

Pebble beach

Ave. of the Redwoods

Mt. St. Helens

Puget Sound

Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, California, Idaho

The Quest for Twisty Roads and Fall Colors

DAY 1 Thu 9/28/00 -- Billings, MT to Bozeman, MT

Spent most of the morning trying to locate a rear tire. Serviced the bike and set out figuring to get a new tire enroute. Got to Bozeman just as the small independent shop was closing. They didn't have one but a guy stayed awhile after closing and called the local honda dealer and I made arrangements to get one in the morning. Rode over to Belgrade, got a room, some Mexican food and a beer and turned in.

DAY 2 map Fri 9/29/00 --- Belgrade, MT to Calamity Lake, WY
Spent most of the morning at the Honda Shop in Bozeman. I was told that some bushings in my rear wheel need replacing. Hope it will last the trip. Pretty ride up Gallatin River Valley, Yellowstone National Park, Tetons, Hwy 22 into Jackson, WY is a particularly good motorcycle ride. The backside of the Tetons is not the familiar view but just as impressive. Calamity Lake Reservoir is nearly dry

DAY 3 map Sat 9/30/00 --to Nephi, UT -- 295.4 miles

Leisurely ride today.The best Fall color I was to see this trip surprisingly was near Provo. I think I was a little early although seemed to run into plenty of cool weather. Not much choice. Lots of road construction on 89. Got to Nephi after dark.

DAY 4 -- Sun 10/1/00 --Nephi, UT to Williams, AZ -- 539.5 miles
Left about 5am this morning. Couldn't sleep .It didn't get light for what seemed like a long time. Crawled along looking for deer. Great road, took Hwy 89 most of the way. Went through Marble Canyon. Knocked the bike over today in Kanaub, UT. I was closing the hard back an had it parked on a slope. Lesson learned. It was tripped over by the previous owner so I just added to the mayhem on the right side. Broke the mirror housing and the scuff guard but really not to bad except the right hard bag has some pretty deep scratches that is not the painted part. Saw the Grand Canyon, rode Oak Creek and Sterling Canyon south of Sedona both directions. Fantastic ride except way too much traffic. But this is Sunday and everybody and their brothers dog is up here camping from Phoenix.

DAY 5 map Mon 10/2/00 -- Williams, AZ to San Juan Capistrano 511.4 miles
One of the best motorcycle roads in the USA is Hwy 74 from Palm Springs to San Juan Cap but a close second is From Prescott, AZ to the desert floor on 89 south until you start across the desert. I rode both toady. I met hundreds of sportbike making the loops. It was 107degrees in the desert and I didn't stop except for gas once I was on the straight roads. Got to San Juan Capistrano after dark, when I called Bill Happy, secured the invite for dinner and overnight hospitality and great conversation.

DAY 6 map - Tue 10/3/00 San Juan Capistrano to Greenfield, CA

Stopped at Hermosa Beach and did the laundry at the Laundromat across from the "150" (my brothers old place). Mist along the coast forced me inland and I ended up in Greenfield. At at a Mexican food restaurant figuring it would be good because of the large percentage of Mexican folks here. Wrongo. Only anglo I saw was a Baptist church group of about 20 at the restaurant. The owner served them while I struggled ordering in Spanish with his daughter who didn't speak much English. It was fun.

DAY 7 map - Wed 10/4/00 Greenfield to Petaluma
Taking the back road over to Salinas-Monterry area. Petty Arroyo area. Looks like Mexico around here. Isolated and hardly any traffic.There was alot of Firefighter battling a blaze near. Ate at a general store in a little town that I can't even find on the map now. San Fransisco was a cool 55°and cloudy. Willow Creek Bigfoot Golf Club for Dinner. Did my laundry, called my wife. Pretty from Eureka to Willow Creek as the sun was setting. Oceano, CA depot.

Day 8 map - Thu 10/5/00- 261.9 Petaluma to Willow Creek

Phillipsburg in the Redwoods was 72 degrees, Perfect. Good pavement no holes My right headlight burned out so I got one at Monterry Power Sports. "The guy" was really nice. Changed my oil too, after calling another customer to see if he could keep his bike another day. Rode down to Pebble Beach and found the lighthouse that is really hard to get close.

Day 9 map Fri 10/6/00 -- Willow Creek, CA to Portland, OR 335.7

Just a nice no traffic ride in the twistys for miles and miles along the Klamath River and over the Klamath Bridge

Day 10 - Portland to Port Townsend, WA

Woke up this morning still undecided of my route today. I would like to go to Mt. St. Helens but wonder if I should take the time. As I was leaving the motel parking lot two BMW riders passed head up the mountain. I followed and am really glad I did. It is amazing. Like the Grand Canyon it is impossible to describe of capture on film. The amount of destruction is amazing. Looking across Spirit Lake (in the first picture left) you can see what appears to be a beach on the other side of the lake. Not so, it is thousands of trees still floating in the water. As I rode up there it is the normal wooded drive when suddenly you round a corner to tree ripped in half with all the branches missing.. Leaving in the direction of the blast to the northwest, I continued to see evidence of the blast 50-80 miles away!

Went through the town of Morton and this sad old Depot.

Day 10 map - Sat--Port Townsend most of the Day to Everett, WA 87.9

Spent the day in Port Townsend at the Festival. Had lots of fun with an old friend Bryan and his family. His son Jake and I hit it off pretty well. I was included in the Port Towsend Family portrait that was taken that day from the boom of a Firetruck. Later in the afternoon we went sailing on Bryan's big sailboat. A sad little lighthouse/house was built here and never occupied. The owners wife died before they moved into it.

Caught the last Ferry from Port Townsend to Keystone Ferry Landing. I was headed for Mike Iiams place in Everett but the Mulkilteo ferry was closed so I had to go around to get to Everett. Arriving pretty late but Mike was very accommodating usual.

Day 11 - Sun

Everett-Leavenworth-Everett

Mike and I take a drive in his car to a resort town of Leavenworth, WA. on US Hwy 2. This town was dying until the folks there saved it by remodleing everything to look Bavarian! It worked and it is full of nice restaurants and shops. There was a Mopar Muscle Car show there this day.

Day 12 map - Mon -Everett, Wa-Moses Lake, WA 199.7 miles

A soggy day, I made just about 200 miles, cold and wet I holed up at Motel 6 in Moses Lake after finally out running the rain.

Day 13 map - Tue - Moses Lake to Billings 682.9 miles

The rain caught me during the night but I saddle up early anyway and head out hoping to outrun it again. Mostly I-90, I make really good time. Lunch in Wallace where the is a cool Musem / Depot. I thought I might have to spend another night on the road, but a pickup in front of me (clearing the deer, I hope) lets me follow her into Billings after dark. Got home about 10pm


		Southwest Tour Fall 2000
	ready, set, go and yes, I still have the red cooler Entering Yellowstone Calamity Lake Mountain color near Provo Near Flagstaff, AZ Sedona Me above Palm Springs Pebble beach Ave. of the Redwoods Mt. St. Helens Puget Sound	Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, California, Idaho The Quest for Twisty Roads and Fall Colors DAY 1 Thu 9/28/00 -- Billings, MT to Bozeman, MT Spent most of the morning trying to locate a rear tire. Serviced the bike and set out figuring to get a new tire enroute. Got to Bozeman just as the small independent shop was closing. They didn't have one but a guy stayed awhile after closing and called the local honda dealer and I made arrangements to get one in the morning. Rode over to Belgrade, got a room, some Mexican food and a beer and turned in. DAY 2 map Fri 9/29/00 --- Belgrade, MT to Calamity Lake, WY Spent most of the morning at the Honda Shop in Bozeman. I was told that some bushings in my rear wheel need replacing. Hope it will last the trip. Pretty ride up Gallatin River Valley, Yellowstone National Park, Tetons, Hwy 22 into Jackson, WY is a particularly good motorcycle ride. The backside of the Tetons is not the familiar view but just as impressive. Calamity Lake Reservoir is nearly dry DAY 3 map Sat 9/30/00 --to Nephi, UT -- 295.4 miles Leisurely ride today.The best Fall color I was to see this trip surprisingly was near Provo. I think I was a little early although seemed to run into plenty of cool weather. Not much choice. Lots of road construction on 89. Got to Nephi after dark. DAY 4 -- Sun 10/1/00 --Nephi, UT to Williams, AZ -- 539.5 miles Left about 5am this morning. Couldn't sleep .It didn't get light for what seemed like a long time. Crawled along looking for deer. Great road, took Hwy 89 most of the way. Went through Marble Canyon. Knocked the bike over today in Kanaub, UT. I was closing the hard back an had it parked on a slope. Lesson learned. It was tripped over by the previous owner so I just added to the mayhem on the right side. Broke the mirror housing and the scuff guard but really not to bad except the right hard bag has some pretty deep scratches that is not the painted part. Saw the Grand Canyon, rode Oak Creek and Sterling Canyon south of Sedona both directions. Fantastic ride except way too much traffic. But this is Sunday and everybody and their brothers dog is up here camping from Phoenix. DAY 5 map Mon 10/2/00 -- Williams, AZ to San Juan Capistrano 511.4 miles One of the best motorcycle roads in the USA is Hwy 74 from Palm Springs to San Juan Cap but a close second is From Prescott, AZ to the desert floor on 89 south until you start across the desert. I rode both toady. I met hundreds of sportbike making the loops. It was 107degrees in the desert and I didn't stop except for gas once I was on the straight roads. Got to San Juan Capistrano after dark, when I called Bill Happy, secured the invite for dinner and overnight hospitality and great conversation. DAY 6 map - Tue 10/3/00 San Juan Capistrano to Greenfield, CA Stopped at Hermosa Beach and did the laundry at the Laundromat across from the "150" (my brothers old place). Mist along the coast forced me inland and I ended up in Greenfield. At at a Mexican food restaurant figuring it would be good because of the large percentage of Mexican folks here. Wrongo. Only anglo I saw was a Baptist church group of about 20 at the restaurant. The owner served them while I struggled ordering in Spanish with his daughter who didn't speak much English. It was fun. DAY 7 map - Wed 10/4/00 Greenfield to Petaluma Taking the back road over to Salinas-Monterry area. Petty Arroyo area. Looks like Mexico around here. Isolated and hardly any traffic.There was alot of Firefighter battling a blaze near. Ate at a general store in a little town that I can't even find on the map now. San Fransisco was a cool 55°and cloudy. Willow Creek Bigfoot Golf Club for Dinner. Did my laundry, called my wife. Pretty from Eureka to Willow Creek as the sun was setting. Oceano, CA depot. Day 8 map - Thu 10/5/00- 261.9 Petaluma to Willow Creek Phillipsburg in the Redwoods was 72 degrees, Perfect. Good pavement no holes My right headlight burned out so I got one at Monterry Power Sports. "The guy" was really nice. Changed my oil too, after calling another customer to see if he could keep his bike another day. Rode down to Pebble Beach and found the lighthouse that is really hard to get close. Day 9 map Fri 10/6/00 -- Willow Creek, CA to Portland, OR 335.7 Just a nice no traffic ride in the twistys for miles and miles along the Klamath River and over the Klamath Bridge Day 10 - Portland to Port Townsend, WA Woke up this morning still undecided of my route today. I would like to go to Mt. St. Helens but wonder if I should take the time. As I was leaving the motel parking lot two BMW riders passed head up the mountain. I followed and am really glad I did. It is amazing. Like the Grand Canyon it is impossible to describe of capture on film. The amount of destruction is amazing. Looking across Spirit Lake (in the first picture left) you can see what appears to be a beach on the other side of the lake. Not so, it is thousands of trees still floating in the water. As I rode up there it is the normal wooded drive when suddenly you round a corner to tree ripped in half with all the branches missing.. Leaving in the direction of the blast to the northwest, I continued to see evidence of the blast 50-80 miles away! Went through the town of Morton and this sad old Depot. Day 10 map - Sat--Port Townsend most of the Day to Everett, WA 87.9 Spent the day in Port Townsend at the Festival. Had lots of fun with an old friend Bryan and his family. His son Jake and I hit it off pretty well. I was included in the Port Towsend Family portrait that was taken that day from the boom of a Firetruck. Later in the afternoon we went sailing on Bryan's big sailboat. A sad little lighthouse/house was built here and never occupied. The owners wife died before they moved into it. Caught the last Ferry from Port Townsend to Keystone Ferry Landing. I was headed for Mike Iiams place in Everett but the Mulkilteo ferry was closed so I had to go around to get to Everett. Arriving pretty late but Mike was very accommodating usual. Day 11 - Sun Everett-Leavenworth-Everett Mike and I take a drive in his car to a resort town of Leavenworth, WA. on US Hwy 2. This town was dying until the folks there saved it by remodleing everything to look Bavarian! It worked and it is full of nice restaurants and shops. There was a Mopar Muscle Car show there this day. Day 12 map - Mon -Everett, Wa-Moses Lake, WA 199.7 miles A soggy day, I made just about 200 miles, cold and wet I holed up at Motel 6 in Moses Lake after finally out running the rain. Day 13 map - Tue - Moses Lake to Billings 682.9 miles The rain caught me during the night but I saddle up early anyway and head out hoping to outrun it again. Mostly I-90, I make really good time. Lunch in Wallace where the is a cool Musem / Depot. I thought I might have to spend another night on the road, but a pickup in front of me (clearing the deer, I hope) lets me follow her into Billings after dark. Got home about 10pm