Mellow's Ride Report

[mark]

Awesome, Guy! I'm looking forward to reading daily reports and enjoying your trip vicariously. I can't wait to do a cross-country trip myself!

--mark

[bonnevillebilly]

Guy

I am looking forward to following along on you journey.

Bill

[Speedblastr]

Guy

I am looking forward to following along on you journey.

Bill

+1

[mistermellow001]

Today was a short-mileage day, about 250 miles. I was on my way to Yellowstone when I had to turn back to the I-90. I'll explain, but first, here's my route, which leaves out a couple of scenic loops I took in the morning. Sorry about the larger photos; I forgot to resize them...




I started out the day by taking a few scenic loops. This one was to be a scenic back way to Yellowstone, starting at another historic mining town (I must have a thing for mining towns, or mining towns have a thing for Montana.). Here's Anaconda's pride and joy, an abandoned copper smelter stack, which the locals claim is taller than the Sears tower without the antennas. I doubt it, but here it is with current mining tailings...




The town was okay, but I didn't take any pictures except this one. I liked the name of the bar, and I think Art Deco buildings are cool...




From there I started my back-road trip to Yellowstone. Only a couple of pics along the way, until I had to turn back. This road is one of the worst paved roads in Montana, according to a local park ranger, and it lived up to it. It was a rut-dodging experience, but fun. Here's a stretch that made me feel like I was heading to nowhere...



At the junction of state route 43, I had by then experienced several engine cut-outs. It never quit entirely, but freaked me out enough that I didn't want to get stuck in cell-phone dead-zone until I figured out what it was. These cattle I encountered have it made in the shade...



By the time I got back to I-90, my Bonnie was cutting out briefly about every 15 minutes. I stopped to check connections, but everything was tight. I suspect it may be a coil. I'm hoping it lasts until I can get to a Triumph shop, or call and have one over-nighted to Minneapolis or somewhere.

Along I-90 I was really tacking into the wind. Never was the wind behind me, but it generously ventilated me unpredictably from both sides. It sounds weird, but I think it's kind of fun. However, in Butte I had to pull over into a rest stop during a VERY sudden wind storm. I had to move my bike into the wind at a rest stop/visitor center because the wind gusts were moving it almost off the side stand. The parking lot filled with trucks in no time. One trucker was hauling a large sailboat and said he was pretty white-knuckled about possibly losing his load. Here's a picture of my bike from the visitor center. You might not get a feeling for the wind, but it was a-blowin'...



Tomorrow I'm going to press out of Montana and try to make up for lost time. I still have plenty of time to be a tourist along the way, but I expected to be well into South Dakota by now. I felt okay about skipping Yellowstone. Just about the whole park burned a few years ago anyway, which makes Glacier National Park a more attractive destination next time I'm out this way. I hope my bike cutting out is just an altitude thing, because it happened more around the Continental Divide. But that's craziness. I'll check a few things tomorrow and press on.

[Whisperinsmith]

Guy, by the time you read this, my weather forecast for you will be too late. It seems you headed right into a weather front and today in eastern Wyoming it's supposed to be severe. I hope it's either behind you or ahead of you and that you don't run along inside the front. Take care and I hope you solve your bike's cutting out issues. That has to be disconcerting to say the least.

So far from your posts and pictures, it's certainly an adventure. I hope it's one that you are enjoying. And thanks so much for taking the time to post your story for us.

[Hedge]

Thx for the update Guy. I hope you resolve the cutting out issue without a team of Scientists getting involved. Keep the pictures and information flowing, I'm right along your side with this.
Thx - hedge

[Guy M]

Wonderful report Guy! I hope you're enjoying the journey and that you get those bike issues sorted out.

Guess we missed that coffee opportunity in Wenatchee. Doggone it!

Enjoy the trip! Regards, Guy

[bonnevillebilly]

Guy
I really hope you can find and fix what ever it is making your bike cut out.
I hope it is some thing simple like a loose connection or maybe the gas vent.
I will be looking forward to the next report and, I hope it is one with many trouble free
miles.

Bill

[bonnevillebilly]

What happened I just read today's report and now is gone ???????

Bill

[mistermellow001]

Bill, I yanked it because I made a big error in my mileage travelled yesterday. Re-posting now...

[mistermellow001]

[This is a re-post. I posted this morning that, yesterday, May 21, I had ridden to Cheyenne, Wyoming, over 500 miles, but it turns out that I was so punchy yesterday, I didn’t realize I was actually in Sheridan, a much shorter 272-mile trip.]

This a big-ass beautiful country, even when wet and cold. The bike performed flawlessly. Interesting that while it was acting up, my mileage dropped to 37 mpg, and today it was back up to 45 mpg. I never figured out what the problem was but it went away. Damn I’m good. Here's the route...




After stopping to let the storm pass (HA!!!) I woke up and rode into a beautiful light snow, in the mountains east of Bozeman. I was getting a little cold, though, so I stopped under a bridge to swap out my jacket and gloves for Gerbings. I was almost embarrassed for my luxury when I think of people roaming this area with nothing but animal skins. No Goretex, no Velcro. I pondered this under the bridge as I shivered between garments...




A balmy 40 degrees ambient the whole way…




At a good vantage point along another highway to the unknown I stopped to take a picture. This accidental exposure turned out to be my favorite. It’s kind of impressionistic, and looks very much like the world from inside my helmet all day…




Enough. I’m cold, wet and tired, so as soon as I entered Sheridan I stopped to check into another motel. On the way I spotted a KOA campground with little cabins. One more available so I took it, sight unseen. The women in the office were fun to banter with, and both had a ready laugh and a good sense of humor. I asked one of them to snap my photo so I could show people what a drowned RAT checking into a KOA looks like…




Pretty cute little cabins. A bunk and a heater, what more could a guy ask for…




Time to dry out the gear. Speaking of gear, I’m not going to listen to the “one suit does it all” claims from now on. My “rainproof” First Gear pants were soaked through to the fun bits. I’m going to stop for a rain suit even if it says Harley on it. Here’s a pic of my gear having a chat in front of the magic fire box…




I’m posting this on the morning of the 22nd, as the wireless connection wasn’t good last night. From my front porch it looks like more of the same, but wetter. From the looks of the National Weather Service forecast for the Rapid City, South Dakota area, I’m just traveling through a gauntlet of rain. My tourist expectations for this area have now turned into a future road trip instead. My best bet at this point may be to turn northeast into North Dakota. I’ll check the local maps for a good route, and re-check the weather forecast at lunch…

[Whisperinsmith]

Guy,
Wow, that's too bad about your "waterproof" riding gear. Just think how you'll feel once you're in sunshine! What a journey already. And that's a great picture of you and your positvie outlook in the midst of rain by the way. I loved the surreal picture too. Yep, that's about what it looks like from inside the helmet shield looking out during rain.

40 degrees! In the rain. You're one tough hombre.

We'll see you one week from tomorrow! Keep these reports and pictures coming. They are an inspiration to us all.

PS Your picture convinced me to ride with my reflective vest also.

PPS Your side bags look great. You are now the real deal. Good on ya!

[bonnevillebilly]

Guy
You have been giving me some thing to look forward to every day.
I am impressed to say the least I am in awe over your journey across country.
I am glad to hear your Bonnie fixed it self.
I was a little concerned when I didn’t see your report in the morning.
My guess is it was fuel related but, that would not explain lower gas mileage.
250+ miles in the rain must have really sucked, I am surprised you have not hunted down
another wind shield yet.

Pretty cute little cabins. A bunk and a heater, what more could a guy ask for…

The first thing that popped into my head was a beautiful naked woman.

I will be looking forward to reading you next report.
I can not wait to meet you and shake your hand.
You are giving our Bonne’s a good name.

Keep on rolling

Bill

[JEnfield]

I would imagine it had to do with the percentage of oxygen and methanol mixed with the gas I have that problem down here with certian brands of liquid gold. Guy your one bad dude in my book that takes balls to keep pushing on in that type of weather. Keep posting if you get the chance I really like keeping up with your ride.

Jimmy

[TonUp]

Rain gear!

Get some FROGG Toggs! They will keep you dry.


http://www.froggtoggs.com/


Tito


Ton Up!