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[VTreX]

SMALL STATES TO THE EAST,------- BIG STATES TO THE WEST!!!!!!!!!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
didn't ride the x last week but did 8 states when we went to the wing ding  (BIG-A)

[pepsX]

Harley is as Harley does

[RocknRoll]

Man, all these kind and wonderful comments makes be feel so loved!!!!!

Well, I’m back.  Only been a short 5,000 miles.  Didn’t take many pictures but saw a ton of rain and hail.  The last one left not only welts but a few bloody spots too.  I can’t tell how much damage to the bike, if any, because there are too many squished bugs.  After that storm, I decided not to try to wash the bike again.  That seemed to work since I only got rained on one more time the whole trip.  As RD, Kenny and Tom will confirm, it rained and hailed every day.

I headed north from Denver on Monday.  The storm just north of Casper had hail that was more like icebergs.  Just as I started to think that this Titanic may not make it, a huge polar bear jumped off one of the hailstones and sauntered over the ridge headed back north.  I though I saw Nanook in pursuit but that may have been a hallucination. 

Of course, all the rain caused a flash flood.  I had pulled to the shoulder near a large culvert to hunker over the bike and try to avoid dents to the bike and me.  One second the gully is dry, then a roar with a 6 foot wall of water hitting the culvert carrying a kinds of stuff including small animals.  Instantly the gully is running 8 to 9 feet of water.  Within 20 minutes, the gully is dry again although the hailstones are drifted to about 18 inches in some places.

Continuing on, I started to notice dozens and dozens of greasy spots, each with a number of patches of fur scattered in all directions.  No bones, heads, legs or bodies any where.  I thought that perhaps Wyoming had begun to wire its animals to explode on impact.  Then I saw a couple of deceased antelope that were mostly intact but I just thought they were just duds.  After a few miles I just had to stop to see if I could see what device was being used to so completely destroy the road kill.  As I got off the bike, two rabbits jumped from a weed no bigger than my fist.  Mystery solved.  It also explained why the coyotes I had seen were so big and why so many owls and hawks were sitting around.  Rabbit Buffet.

Anyway, I eventually got to ride the Big Horn/Medicine Wheel highway. (US 14A)  From there I rode the Chief Joseph Highway, (Hwy 296) and the Beartooth Pass. (US 212)  The Chief Joseph and the Beartooth Pass were absolutely the very best riding roads I have EVER been on.  There are some good ones in Colorado, but these two are GREAT to the third power.  Now I can’t wait to figure out how to do the “Ride to the Sun” in Glacier National Park in northern Montana.

Averaged 500 miles a day for 10 days.  Actually, most of the miles came on three runs.  700 with RD, Kenny and Tom on June 29 from Kenny’s house to Raton.  Coming back I did 900 from Billings, MT to Hays, KS this past Thursday and 775 from Hays to Kingwood on Friday.  Butt – What butt!!

Glad to be home.  Even finished moving my daughter to Lake Charles on Saturday and took my wife to dinner and a movie on Sunday.  Told the Harley that she was consigned to garage whore duty for a few weeks.

All is right with the world here.  Had a blast.

[ConnRadd]

Glad you had a great and safe time.
Ready to go riding this weekend? 

[TAZ]

Glad you made it home ok Pete.

[RD]

Glad you made it home in one piece, Pete. What a ride!! We were wondering how you were doing. I know what you mean about the Rabbit fur. I thought that was the Highway Departments way of getting back at PETA, by giving the highway a "fur coat".

[bIgPrO]

whoo.. hooooo...

glad u made it home safe. Now make your plans for the Lonestar Rally 

[VT-XS]

I've heard a lot of people mention Glacier National Park over the years. I believe that Brock said it was the highlight of his Alaska trip. When you are ready to "ride to the sun", lemme know. I got some airline miles. I'll fly to Billings, rent a bike and meet ya there.  775 mile days???....900 mile days???.....luv ya Pete....and luv riding....but phuque that.

[VTreX]

PETE glad all is well and hope to see you on Aug. the 12th in Temple!!!! Sit safe man!!!

[TomVTX]

Good to hear you made it home safe.  We had a great time too.  We left Chama NM Friday morning, drove all night and I arrived in Blanco Saturday Morning  23 hours 20 minutes, 1008 miles.  There is no seat available that feels good after that many miles.

[vernjoe]

Welcome back and glad you had a safe trip!!!!!!

[txgaboy]

  Wow Pete!! You the man!!  I sure am envious! Glad you made it safe...