Yellowstone, Glacier, Jasper and beyond 4,200 mile adventure

[2on2off]

Well day one of this epic ride, at least it is epic for me, has finally come. After many days reviewing maps and an attempted trip this past June, we are finally on our way.

It always seems to be so much work to get ready to leave. All the things I have been putting off now have to get done so I can leave not including all the prep for the trip itself.

Ray, Ed and I left Reedley this morning at 6:00 a.m. just before the sun came up and headed to Yosemite and Tioga Pass. I have ridden this pass more times in the past 24 months than in my life time prior to that.

We rode the very familiar roads to Lee Vining where we had to stop and get something to eat at Nicely's. Food is good and the service is friendly.

From there we headed north and east and rode around the north side of Mono Lake. We took the back roads to Hawthorne and Austin and eventually wound up at Interstate 80 in Battle Mountain.

I was a little nervous about gas availability on these roads so we stopped about every 140 miles just to be on the safe side.

I'm always impress with the desert. You would think it would be flat but there is hardly any flat land anywhere and there are mountains everywhere.

Checked off more roads on my list I had never ridden before. Apparently highway 50 is the old Pony Express Route. Saw an interesting tree on 50 west of Austin. If anyone knows the history of this "Shoe" Tree, post it up.

Ran into some rain but not enough to slow us down.

Tomorrow we ride 80 east and will then ride on the west and north side of the Great Salt Lake. Then ride through Logan with a destination of Jackson, Wy.

[2on2off]

We rode about 500 miles today. Here are some of todays pictures:

[eye.surgeon]

Hi Jim, I've been really looking forward to reading about your trip. Glad to see the game is on! Hopefully your early departure allowed you to avoid the construction delays through Yosemite, I rode through there yesterday and I spent about 30 minutes waiting for alternating traffic on 41. The nice part was I was at the front of the line and had the road to myself once it opened up .

This trip is what your RT was made for so it should be a joy to ride. I love this picture, even though I just racked up 430 miles riding Sonora and Tioga yesterday, it makes me want to get on and ride again...



Ride safe and keep posting...

[2on2off]

Originally Posted by eye.surgeon

Hi Jim, I've been really looking forward to reading about your trip. Glad to see the game is on! Hopefully your early departure allowed you to avoid the construction delays through Yosemite, I rode through there yesterday and I spent about 30 minutes waiting for alternating traffic on 41. The nice part was I was at the front of the line and had the road to myself once it opened up .

This trip is what your RT was made for so it should be a joy to ride. I love this picture, even though I just racked up 430 miles riding Sonora and Tioga yesterday, it makes me want to get on and ride again...



Ride safe and keep posting...

The delays through Yosemite weren't bad at all but there were road signs north of Lee Vining that read, "Expect 20 minute delays." We did wait about 5 minutes for traffic to clear but then quickly turned east off 395.

So far, so good. I'm looking forward to riding to Logan and Jackson. When we rode there last June it was some of the most scenic riding I have ever done.

I'll keep posting as long as I have decent WiFi connects at night.

[jimfix93675]

Wish I was riding with you guys..........
Jim

[Mando]

nice shoe tree. what's that all about?

[2on2off]

Originally Posted by Mando

nice shoe tree. what's that all about?

I have no idea what that tree is all about. It is actually very ugly in person but then again, I don't know the story behind the shoes in the tree. Maybe someone out there can enlighten all of us. I did catch my eye.

[Back2bikes]

Great pictures, I look forward to following your trip through your post. Thank for taking us all along.

[Loki]

Originally Posted by 2on2off

Apparently highway 50 is the old Pony Express Route. Saw an interesting tree on 50 west of Austin. If anyone knows the history of this "Shoe" Tree, post it up.

The story behind the shoe tree is that about 12 years ago a young married couple were arguing right by the tree. The woman started to storm off and said she would walk home. The man said "oh no you won't, not if you don't have any shoes on." Story goes he took her shoes and threw them in the tree. Locals and people passing through saw the shoes and heard the story and started throwing shoes in the tree.

[2on2off]

Day two was about 500 miles. We wound up staying at the same hotel we stayed at the last trip. What is it with Jackson? ? All the hotels seem to be sold out the only two times I have been here.

We decided to take a shorter route from Battle Mtn. which took us to Wells and then north to Twin Falls and then north east through some fun mountain passes to Jackson.

Once we got settled in our hotel, we jumped back on the bikes and rode north to the Grand Tetons and looped back past Teton Village which is the main ski area in Jackson Hole.

The downtown area of Jackson was packed with visitors so we found an out of the way place to eat where we got some great Mexican food.

Here is the routes for today: