Random observations and other stuff

• It seems like 50% of the service workers in West Yellowstone are from Russia or Bulgaria 
• In Wyoming, they have drive-through beer / liquor stores. I was getting gas at the adjacent store and observed a fellow buying a 24-pack of PBR and a half gallon of vodka, via the drive through window, at 7:45 am
• Watched a Japanese guy try to dispose of trash in a bear-proof receptacle. This could have been an awesome candid camera scene. You can't just lift up the lid, you need to reach under a welded handle and push a large button to open. Guy tried everything, walked around the back, etc. I went over and helped him. Then we had to do the bow and exchange business cards. Being unemployed, I think I gave him an expired AAA card
• Next time, I will take 50% less clothes. Talking to a guy at dinner, I said "I won't ever see you again, so I'm wearing this same outfit tomorrow"
• In Wyoming, high-speed internet, means you can connect to the wireless network - but that is it, no actual access to the internet
• I'm waiting for my steak in Cody,WY and the waitress walks by and what I think she says is: "Sir (are you) Paul?". Can't resist, so I say "no I'm the walrus". She doesn't even break stride and says "well here is another clue for you"
• I meet this guy from Indiana who moved out west and is training to be a lineman. He and I talk about the Wild West and people literally walking across the continent in hope of their ancestors becoming software engineers at Cisco. He tells me about replacing poles which were set in the 1800's. Cut somewhere else, floated down rivers, pulled by horses, and set by hand. He says " when I am tired at the end of the day and feeling down, I think about these people and how hard they must have worked"
• A tour bus in Yellowstone tried to run me down because I evidently was going to park in "it's space". Missed my left handlebar by no more than 6 inches. After I reported the asswipe to the ranger (there were several witnesses), I waited a few minutes, pulled out my leatherman, and proceeded to carve asswipe onto the entry door of the bus while mr asswipe was being detained by the rangers 
• In Great Falls, I went to the store to get a sandwich for dinner. After leaving the hotel, I did not secure one of my saddle bags. Pulling out of the Subway, the bag fell off in the turn lane. I immediately turned around at the next intersection and started back to retrieve the bag. A van stopped, some 400 pound woman got out, grabbed my bag and high-fived the driver and started to drive off. I rode through the red light and pulled in front of them as they tried to make a left turn. "You have my bag". "What bag?" "Do not fuck with me, you have part of Bert and you will die painfully within 30 seconds" "oh this bag, we were going to bring it to you.." 

Always check the obvious

I'm in Ft. Collins, CO. I will provide recap of previous rides shortly. Preview of the scenery:

This was taken on the way up to the summit of a ride through Bighorn National Forest (Granite Pass). As I was climbing, Bert was rattling like he had a can of rocks in his stomach. Once I arrived in Sheridan, Wy, he was making rattling noises when at a stop sign or in first gear. Not overheating, no oil temp light on, etc. I was worried because these were new sounds and I didn't like them.

Arrive at the hotel, check in is a total cluster, I'm starting to melt down, have to go back to front desk three times before my keys will open the door. Throw all my stuff in room and walk to a place for dinner. Thinking this will be the last supper, I order a filet and another softball sized baked potato. 

Return it my room and spend the next 2 hours on the internet researching "BMW 1150 rattle". There are dozens of pages and forums related to this symptom. 

• It is chain tensioner 
• Remove your starter and check ...
• Bad gas causing the ping
• You are in too high a gear, downshift and it will go away
• My bike has sounded like this for 50,000 miles
• Buy a Harley and the exhaust noise will drown out everything else
• Don't ride it another mile; you can safely ride it home (1500 miles)
• Starter is defective
• Clutch is defective
• And 50 more causes 

I'm now really worried, leave messages at three dealers (two in Denver area, one in SD). Don't sleep well.

Get up in the morning and remember that the dealer in Seattle said my oil level was low. I assumed they had toped it off... Poured 1/2 a quart of oil into the crankcase. Fired Bert up, rattle is gone. We cruise from Sheridan, WY to Ft. Collins, CO at a steady 85mph. Life is good.

West Yellowstone to Red Lodge to Cody, WY via Beartooth Highway Pass -part 2

Ok, I admit, this route gave me the heart punch. In a car, maybe not so impressive, but on a bike, stunning. People who have not seen this stuff can't understand the beauty, the majestic views, the OMG how to describe it. Can't show this in a picture, need to see it, go slow, and ignore the people who are riding your ass to get to the next landmark.

Oh no, have to ride down this road ;()

West Yellowstone to Red Lodge to Cody, WY via Beartooth Highway / Pass

Last night I arrived in West Yellowstone, found my hotel, and then walked around for awhile. Asked a couple of locals where to eat and I ended up at this place that served me the biggest Prime Rib dinner of my life. The side was a baked potato the size of a slow-pitch softball.  Waddled out of the place and went to the post office to pay a few bills which I don't have set up on-line.

Met a Harley rider who had plates from Florida. Asked him what part of Florida he was from. He frowned and said he was from Spain. Ended up that he rented the bike in San Francisco. Speaking of Harley's, there are thousands of them - evidently the HOG rally in Sturgis, SD is going on and many riders are heading west towards Yellowstone, Tetons, etc. Will be hard to get a hotel room for a few days.

Again, rose very early to get on the road before traffic. Went to the park entrance, paid fee and headed for the northern route through the park. The family did Yellowstone many years ago, but focused on the tourist stuff like old faithful, waterfall, hot springs, etc. I was not that impressed with the park, plus there had been recent fires, so many of the mountains were bald. However, the north route completely changed my thinking about the park.

The Beartooth highway has been called the most beautiful drive in America. The highway climbs up to the Beartooth pass which is close to 11,000 feet. No trailers, trucks, motor homes allowed :) :)! Just amazing scenery. The route starts out in the valley and goes through varied topography. As I started out I kept smelling something. It smelled like Tommy Boy after he has eaten 4 burritos. Fowl is the only way to describe the oder. I kept seeing steam escaping from the ground. I was sure that Tommy Boy was laying on his stomach, letting out the fowl gas and then running through the woods to the next corner I would arrive at.

Then Gord said "I saw Buffalo"

 Climbing higher, thinking of Jackie Wilson.

 Then  Bert needed as selfie ( which is hard for him to do by himself :)

Then it was head-snap every 10 seconds, and I wasn't in Miami beach . Stay tuned to part 2.

Great Falls to Bozeman to Big Sky to West Yellowstone

I know I'm behind on posts, lots of riding, lots of back roads, lots of saddle sores.

Nice, peaceful ride today south to West Yellowstone. Route went through a number of National Parks; Lewis & Brad Clark, Helena, and Gallatin (where Blue Sky is located). Some badlands, but a lot of tree covered mountains. When I think of Montana and Wyoming, a single word comes to mind: space. Everything is big; mountains, valleys, canyons, the sky, the endless flatlands, etc. I keep thinking about people crossing these lands on horseback, covered wagon or walking. Amazing. Also realize what volcanos, ice, mega rivers and no water can do to the earth.

Today was also a riding day, many easy roads, lots of straights to crank it up. Unfortunately, it was in the mid 90s so very hot with my gear on. Kept having to stop to put contact solution in my eyes.

Stopped for late breakfast in the middle of nowhere. Four Harley's parked in lot. Walk in towards only open table. Say to the nearest guy, "I believe I tipped over your bike by mistake". His friend says " don't worry, your bike will be disassembled by the time you finish breakfast". I say "no way, you will need German tools". Guy says "oh don't worry, I have a mini sawzall in my saddle bag".

A few Picts of the ride:

Kalispell to Great Falls via the Going to the Sun road, with a stop to see a Grizzly Bear - Part 2

The traffic was heavy, but we never came to a standstill. One reason is that the road is limited to cars, no motor homes or large trailers allowed.

I rode the route west to east. I think next time I will start at eastern entrance. Took Hwy 89 (which is a scenic byway road) towards Great Falls, MT.  The scenery was totally different. Mostly barren of trees, but rolling country with buttes, hidden canyons, and just a lot of space. I forgot how big Montana was.

Not many people on the road, mostly local ranchers. I'm cruising along at at steady 70 mph, when I notice a strange car in my mirror. I can't figure out what it is. It appeared to have a Cadillac grill, but the car was too high off the ground. I slowed down to let it pass. F-me, it was indeed a Cadillac body welded on to a large heavy duty Dually truck frame ( 4 wheels on the rear). To top it off, the bubba had bull horns mounted on his hood. I figured this would be the most bizarre thing I would see. Little did I know what was about to happen. I came to a fork in the road. The road was not shown on my paper map so I opened google maps and saw that it was a twisty road following a river. I turned right and was on my way. It was indeed a twisty road going through pine forest. I come around a blind curve and OMG there is a grizzly bear on the road. Looked like a young adult. He was just finishing up a dump and was crossing the road.  I slowed down as I got near him and he calmly wandered into the woods. I decided not to follow him and try to take his picture :)

Kalispell to Great Falls via the Going to the Sun road, with a stop to see a Grizzly Bear

Where to start. I was wired at 4:00 am to get on the road. Decided to be more aerodynamic for the ride, so I shaved my head

Now I was ready to go. Wanted to be on the road before the traffic at Glacier Park became heavy. A truly special ride today, while Glacier Park's glaciers are a shadow of what they used to be, the scenery is still fantastic. The Going to the Sun Road is a twisty road, much of which is on the side of the mountain. Difficult to stop and take pictures. Maybe the best way is to take one of the old park taxis, they get to stop lots of places:

Every curve provided another beautiful view. More Picts in part 2.