I rode out west to attend the Dutchman’s Par-Tay on the island. I used the opportunity to visit with a few friends and revisit a few familiar haunts in the Canadian Rockies. Continue reading Gallery for the 2015 Par-Tay Trip
Category Archives: Road Tales
In a fast-paced world where most long journeys are viewed from 20,000+ feet in a jet airliner, we miss out on the detail afforded by the low viewing angle of a motorcycle saddle. In this category I have stored a collection of interesting experiences gleaned from years of motorcycle touring. Each tale may describe a multi-week trip, a single day, or one sublime instant. Some tales even have photographic evidence. While I post these tales largely for my own amusement, I have been told they have inspired some to try motorcycle touring. If so, then that seems like a useful purpose. May they help you realize that the universe still holds many thoughts to consider, humor to be enjoyed, and wonders to behold.
An Eventful Day in Idaho
The plan was simple: get a 9-10am start and ride the remote ID28 route up to Salmon, ID and up US93 to Lolo and then west on US12 through Lolo Pass and on to Orofino, ID. If I had known everything that was going to happen today, I may have stayed in bed. Continue reading An Eventful Day in Idaho
Crossing Wyoming and Airmail History
I awoke after a good night’s sleep at the Round Up Motel in Cheyenne, WY to find that everything that had been soaked during the previous evening’s thunderstorm had dried. I went about the business of pulling myself together for a crossing of Wyoming to visit friends in Blackfoot, ID. This day wouldn’t need to be the 798mi (1284 km) marathon that I rode yesterday but rather a relatively full 500+ mile (800+ km) day. Continue reading Crossing Wyoming and Airmail History
A long day with a underused rainsuit
I woke up fairly well rested and with no vestiges of the sinus headache that had plagued me the previous day. This was a good thing because I had 1300 miles (2092 km) to ride over the next two days. I also didn’t want to ride too late the night of the second day since I was going to be staying with friends and wanted to arrive early enough to be social. Continue reading A long day with a underused rainsuit
Home from one party and out for another
As is so often the case Karen and I were faced with multiple parties on consecutive weekends on opposite side of the country. Continue reading Home from one party and out for another
Turnpike alternatives and traffic stops
One of the annual Netscum gatherings that I attend is the annual MAMMARY run. (No, it has very little to do with female breasts; search this blog for MAMMARY label for a definition.) Since the gathering is centered in the Chesapeake Bay area southeast of Washington DC, which isn’t that great a distance from the home garage in Michigan, I tend to minimize the vacation days expended to get there. That means the route to/from MAMMARY usually consists the necessary evil of turnpikes. Continue reading Turnpike alternatives and traffic stops
2013 SNIFF Run – Map and Summary
My friend Yo Adrian and I took a little ride over to Redbeard’s place for a party. Never mind that he lived on the other side of the continent.
Route
Here’s a map of the route we took. Click the points for day number, start/end information, and daily miles ridden.
Statistics
Distance
- Total travel days: 13
- Total distance traveled: 5,296 mi / 8,523 km
- Average distance/day: 407 mi / 655 km
- Longest day: 680 mi / 1094 km (Des Moines, IA to Denver, CO)
- Shortest day: 92 mi / 148 km (South Lake Tahoe, CA to Jackson, CA)
Fuel
- Total fuel consumption: 152 gal / 575 l
- Average fuel cost: $3.896/gal or $1.03/l
- Average distance per fill: 118 mi / 190 km
- Average fuel mileage: 34.9 mi/gal
- Best fuel mileage: 39.77 mi/gal (Vail, CO to Fort Morgan, CO)
- Worst fuel mileage: 29.18 mi/gal (Omaha, NE to Grand Island, NE)
MITM 2012 Photos and Video
The 2012 trip to Butch and Pam’s farm (formerly known as MITM or Meet in the Middle) is long over so it’s about time to post some photos from the event. After the gallery thumbnails is a video of the start of the traditional bonfire and a photo map showing where each photo was taken.
Continue reading MITM 2012 Photos and Video
MITM 2012 Summary and Map
The 2012 run to Butch and Pam’s farm (known as MITM, Meet in the Middle) is over (actually, almost a month ago), and I’m finally getting around to posting photos of the trip.
Continue reading MITM 2012 Summary and Map
MAMMARY 2012 Final Map
Sure, this year’s MAMMARY run was just over a month ago, but here’s one last post with a full map for the run.
Continue reading MAMMARY 2012 Final Map