Heading out for Yellowstone in the morning

[Sagebrush]

The wife and I are leaving on a twenty day western odyssey in the morning. The plan is to ride to Denver where our two grand daughters (aged 16 and 12) are flying to from Baltimore then take them on a 8 day ride through Rocky Mt NP, Dinosaur NM, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Beartooth Pass, Little Big Horn, Independence Rock and back to Denver where they'll fly home and we'll continue riding home. Figured out four adults with all the riding gear and other modern necessities wouldn't fit comfortably in one trailer so we borrowed a friends Piggy Backer, plenty of room now. If you meet a rig like ours on the way give a wave, we'll wave back . I'm including our itinerary if you happen to be close to where were staying for the evening maybe we can meet up for dinner or just conversation. My cell is (nine one nine)nine nine five-0803, leave a message. We're taking the laptop so I'll update this thread from time to time but the big picture show probably won't come until after we get home. Hope we can get a chance to meet one or two of you while were out there.

Itinerary:



Ready to ride

[rogue1000]

Watch out for those mama bears!! Have a good trip, Dean. Your bike, as usual, looks flawless...

[CYBORG]

save trip, and god speed

[Whiskerfish]

Just need 4 or 5 naked bikes out front and behind and that would look like a parade

[Brant]

What a treat for those girls. Looking forward to the trip report, and seeing you in Ogallala. be safe.

[postrucks]

Dean, if you are going to be in Vernal, Utah a must see is Flaming Gorge. Not sure of your route but the road from Green River Wyoming to Manila to Vernal is a fun road to ride.

[starket]

Well he should be in Denver today. Only about 100 degrees today.

[Sagebrush]

Arrived in Denver early this afternoon. Yesterday through southern Kansas was the worst. I hope I never have to ride through Kansas again.



We eventually rode through some 104 degree temperatures before arriving in Dodge City around 3pm. We've been getting on the road around 5am and in the hotel between 3 and 4pm in order to avoid the worst of the heat. But its all good. Tomorrow we pick up the girls and head for the high (real high) country where the scenery has to be better than this:



I can't imagine why Dorothy wanted to get back to Kansas, Oz was so much prettier...





Oh and postrucks we'll be riding through Flaming Gorge on our way from Vernal to Yellowstone. Thanks for the tip!

An interesting contrast, this is the White River in Arkansas



and this is the Chiskaskia River in Kansas



Our second day out we came across Rugby, TN totally unexpected. Its an entire Victorian village that is on the national historic places list. You can read what it is all about here: http://www.historicrugby.org/

Even though it was raining lightly I managed to get some decent picture of some of the places there.









We found that some guys just should never have been taught how to weld. Or at least not have access to scrap sheet metal. Even though it was hot as Hades when we came upon this Sunday we had to stop and take a picture or two. This was about 30 miles east of Dodge City.

[Oldewing]

Great stuff,



Wishing we where ALL there..........

[Whiskerfish]

NOT ME!!! I sweat when it hits 85 I hate high temps like that. Be safe and keep Hydrated

[Brant]

Oh yeah it's been a hot one here on the plains. Thanks for the pics, Dean.

[Dangeruss]

Ron and I rode past this on our way to Arkansas in June. Entertaining for sure.

My rides through Kansas has always been at a 45 degree angle because of the dang blasted wind!

[Sagebrush]

Well we made it home, quite a trip. Over 6000 miles total. The wife and I are wiped out and will probably need a couple of days to recover. Pics and narration will follow but not just quite yet. Good to meet Brant in Ogallala, NE. The time to go west in definitely not high summer. We've taken three western trips before but always in the spring or fall to avoid the high temps. Since the grand kids were involved this time we had to go in July, never again. I don't think we've ever been this wiped out and I'm sure its because of the heat day after day.

[Whiskerfish]

Glad to hear you are home safe. I am sure some relaxation is well over due!!

[Rat]

Safe home is good.

Get busy recovering ...... not long til we're comin at ya.

Gord