Glacier National Park
Monday, December 27, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
day 22
Moses Lake, Wa. to Blaine, Wa. and return 616 miles
It was a beautiful morning, clear skies and bright sunlight. Hard to get going though. Interstate all the way because we wanted to get the ride finished. It was a nice ride, heavy traffic heading east and heavier than I expected going west. Harvest of potatoes in the basin is in full swing and the apple harvest has started. Some fog in the Ellensburg area and going up the east side of the pass. Once on top the sun was out and blue skies which were to remain for the rest of the day. We found out too late to make alternative roads that at Everett, I-5 was cut down to one lane and so that caused about an hour delay. Once in Blaine, got fuel filled out the ride forms and ate at Big Dan,s diner an official tour stop. We also spent some time at the arch and peace park. Then home, arriving a little bit after dark to a nice meal and companionship of our spouses.
This will not be my last blog as I will write some on my thoughts and overall impressions of the trip.
There will be pictures, I had problems getting them off the card into the computer, but I think that the problem has been solved.
It was a beautiful morning, clear skies and bright sunlight. Hard to get going though. Interstate all the way because we wanted to get the ride finished. It was a nice ride, heavy traffic heading east and heavier than I expected going west. Harvest of potatoes in the basin is in full swing and the apple harvest has started. Some fog in the Ellensburg area and going up the east side of the pass. Once on top the sun was out and blue skies which were to remain for the rest of the day. We found out too late to make alternative roads that at Everett, I-5 was cut down to one lane and so that caused about an hour delay. Once in Blaine, got fuel filled out the ride forms and ate at Big Dan,s diner an official tour stop. We also spent some time at the arch and peace park. Then home, arriving a little bit after dark to a nice meal and companionship of our spouses.
This will not be my last blog as I will write some on my thoughts and overall impressions of the trip.
There will be pictures, I had problems getting them off the card into the computer, but I think that the problem has been solved.
Friday, September 24, 2010
day 21
Alturas, Ca. to Moses Lake, Wa. 548 miles
Home at last, but tomorrow we need to go up to Blaine, another 270 miles and back home to complete the final checkpoint. A very cool morning as the temperature was 34 when we first got up. But as the sun came up, it rapidly warmed up, but we did wear our jackets all day, the first time that was done since the first part of the ride. We saw more animals today than any other day, 10 deer on and on both sides of the road when we went to breakfast. Two more deer along the roadside, a field of about 25 sandhill cranes, a number of hawke, and a small herd of antelope. 395 through Oregon has a lot of contrasts, from desert to mountain to pasture and wheat country. We enjoyed the scenery very much. No metropolitan areas to slow us down, but the speed limits in Oregon must be the lowest in the west. We still made good time, getting home about 6:30. It was great to see our wives for the first time in 3 weeks, Francie and Kris had prepared a nice dinner for us and then a shower and off to bed to get ready for tomorrows ride.
Home at last, but tomorrow we need to go up to Blaine, another 270 miles and back home to complete the final checkpoint. A very cool morning as the temperature was 34 when we first got up. But as the sun came up, it rapidly warmed up, but we did wear our jackets all day, the first time that was done since the first part of the ride. We saw more animals today than any other day, 10 deer on and on both sides of the road when we went to breakfast. Two more deer along the roadside, a field of about 25 sandhill cranes, a number of hawke, and a small herd of antelope. 395 through Oregon has a lot of contrasts, from desert to mountain to pasture and wheat country. We enjoyed the scenery very much. No metropolitan areas to slow us down, but the speed limits in Oregon must be the lowest in the west. We still made good time, getting home about 6:30. It was great to see our wives for the first time in 3 weeks, Francie and Kris had prepared a nice dinner for us and then a shower and off to bed to get ready for tomorrows ride.
day 20
Relands, Ca to Alturas, Ca. 663 miles
Out of Redlands and out of the valley, to highway 395 and heading North towards home. The ride through the Mojave was its usual visual ride with many of rock formations, lava flows, and desert vegetation with Joshua trees and various types of cactus. A lot of traffic at times and a lot of motorcycles as people were going to Street Vibrations in Reno, the 4th largest motorcycling gathering in the world. We had lunch at Whiskey Jacks in Bishop, always a worthwhile stop. The area around Mono Lake and beyond, spectacular as usual. We hit Carson City and Reno at rush hour which put us begind, and we were traveling after dark from Susanville to Alturas, so did not get to see that part of the country well, but the full moon did help. We arrived tired, but with reservations that had been set up by Francie, and then a meal at a Basque restaraunt, were ready for our last nights sleep on the road. We awoke to frost on the bikes, and all the bugs from last night frozen to the windshields. Ah, the northwest.
Out of Redlands and out of the valley, to highway 395 and heading North towards home. The ride through the Mojave was its usual visual ride with many of rock formations, lava flows, and desert vegetation with Joshua trees and various types of cactus. A lot of traffic at times and a lot of motorcycles as people were going to Street Vibrations in Reno, the 4th largest motorcycling gathering in the world. We had lunch at Whiskey Jacks in Bishop, always a worthwhile stop. The area around Mono Lake and beyond, spectacular as usual. We hit Carson City and Reno at rush hour which put us begind, and we were traveling after dark from Susanville to Alturas, so did not get to see that part of the country well, but the full moon did help. We arrived tired, but with reservations that had been set up by Francie, and then a meal at a Basque restaraunt, were ready for our last nights sleep on the road. We awoke to frost on the bikes, and all the bugs from last night frozen to the windshields. Ah, the northwest.
day 19
Tuscon, Arizona to San Yisidro to Redlands, California 604 miles
We got up early to get through Tuscon before the rush hour then had breakfast, then freeway all the way to San Yisidro. We went through a lot of desert, a big sand dune area, and saw lots of desert vegetation and then the irrigated farm lands. We went through a large Suguaro cactus area. They are interesting and we really wonder how some of them are still standing. The weather was milder, no rain , and we actually had to wear our jackets some. It is good to be back in the west. San Yisidro was interesting, but we got our third checkpoint and only one more to go. We had to fight the traffic up to Redlands and missed one of our turns, but with Francie's help were able to get back on track and arrived in fairly decent time to see the Couperous family. It was good to see them again, a friendship that has lasted since active duty time in the Navy. We had a very relaxing evening and then a good sleep.
We got up early to get through Tuscon before the rush hour then had breakfast, then freeway all the way to San Yisidro. We went through a lot of desert, a big sand dune area, and saw lots of desert vegetation and then the irrigated farm lands. We went through a large Suguaro cactus area. They are interesting and we really wonder how some of them are still standing. The weather was milder, no rain , and we actually had to wear our jackets some. It is good to be back in the west. San Yisidro was interesting, but we got our third checkpoint and only one more to go. We had to fight the traffic up to Redlands and missed one of our turns, but with Francie's help were able to get back on track and arrived in fairly decent time to see the Couperous family. It was good to see them again, a friendship that has lasted since active duty time in the Navy. We had a very relaxing evening and then a good sleep.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
day 18
Ozona, Texas to Tuscon Arizona 691 miles
We gained an hour by going into the mountain time zone. Still a long, hard, hot day. The speed limits helped us make time, and the weather was not quite as hot until mid-afternoon, but drier. We moved from ranch and farm area to frank desert. A lot of foliage is beginning to look familiar to us desert dwellers. A lot of fantastic rock formations, and I had forgotten how many old volcanic cones were in this area. At a stop for fuel in Kent, Texas, we saw a pickup pulling a stock trailer with a bull, steer, and horse in the trailer. The two cowboys talking were both wearing spurs, not a common sight for us. We had some drizzle in the morning, but hardly had the pavement wet. In the afternoon, it was fun to watch the thunderheads gather, move, and disperse. A shower really felt good at the end of the day.
We gained an hour by going into the mountain time zone. Still a long, hard, hot day. The speed limits helped us make time, and the weather was not quite as hot until mid-afternoon, but drier. We moved from ranch and farm area to frank desert. A lot of foliage is beginning to look familiar to us desert dwellers. A lot of fantastic rock formations, and I had forgotten how many old volcanic cones were in this area. At a stop for fuel in Kent, Texas, we saw a pickup pulling a stock trailer with a bull, steer, and horse in the trailer. The two cowboys talking were both wearing spurs, not a common sight for us. We had some drizzle in the morning, but hardly had the pavement wet. In the afternoon, it was fun to watch the thunderheads gather, move, and disperse. A shower really felt good at the end of the day.
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