Chief Joseph Highway & Beartooth Pass

Wow!  We're talking "bucket list" rides here.  Incredible vistas with lots of curves.  It doesn't get much better than this.  You have to see and experience it first hand. Of the almost 100 photos that I took, it was tough picking just a few for the blog...

Beginning of Chief Joseph Highway
(click photos to enlarge)

Top of Chief Joseph Highway

Switchbacks going down the mountain

Beartooth Pass

Rapid City, SD To Cody, WY

The diesel engine in my truck got a workout today as I crossed the mountains west of Buffalo, WY - I averaged 4.5 mpg climbing up the mountain!  At ~9700 feet the temperature dropped to 56 degrees and there were snow capped peaks in the distance.

Although my routing software directed me to take Highway 14 out of Sheridan, everyone I talked to recommended Highway 16 from Buffalo for anyone driving/towing a big rig.  It was not only an easy drive but a very scenic one, particularly, the descent through a huge canyon.  Unfortunately, photos do not do the experience justice.

Arrived safe and sound in Cody, WY to sunny skies and mid-80s temperature.

Back To Custer State Park

Yesterday, I visited Custer State Park again but this time I rode in the opposite direction of the first trip.  It's almost a different ride considering how things look going the other way.

Panoramic View of Iron Mountain Highway
(click on photo to enlarge)

Geographic Center Of The U.S.

Having been to the geographic center of North America (Rugby, ND), I rode up to the geographic center of the U.S. (Belle Fourche, SD) just so I could say "been there, done that".

S. Canyon / Nemo Road (C234) to Vanacker Canyon Road (3) is a nice ride from Rapid City to Sturgis.  It is somewhat like Spearfish Canyon without the 35 mph speed limit.

"Kool Deadwood Nights"

Some friends from the campground and I drove up to Deadwood for the classsic car show...

Mike, Barb, & Tom

Downtown Deadwood Concert

Devil's Tower

The Devil's Tower in Wyoming is huge!  1,267 feet tall and 1,000 feet in diameter.  I recommend hiking the Tower Trail (1.3 miles) around the base to see the many facets of the rock up close.  It is definitely worth a "Close Encounter of the Third Kind".

Climber (click on photo to enlarge)

The Badlands, Wall Drug, & Minuteman Missiles

The Badlands National Park encompasses 244,000 acres of some of the most barren, rugged landscape in the country.  It is the process of erosion run amok.

Panoramic View of The Badlands

Panoramic View of The Badlands

The Badlands

Wall Drug is the quintessential tourist spot out west.

Wall Drug

During the Cold War, South Dakota had hundreds of Minuteman Missile Silos.  Most have been shut down but a few have been turned over to the National Park Service.  I took the guided tour of Launch Control Facility Delta-01 but the elevator was broken and I did not get to go down into the missile silo (which I think would have been the most interesting part).  Here are some photos of the Launch Facility Delta-09.

Top of missile silo enclosed in glass

Camaraderie

A significant part of the camping experience are the people you meet.  This past week I have enjoyed the company of a number of experienced full time RVers and have gotten some great ideas as to where to go and what to do in the future.

Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer, & Hot Springs

I took the back roads down to Crazy Horse, Custer, & Hot Springs and then came back via Custer State Park.  All in all a pleasant ride through the scenic Black Hills of South Dakota.

Crazy Horse Memorial
(those are bulldozers in the lower right portion of the photo)

And just when I think it cannot get any better...

World's Largest Log Chair

Sturgis, Deadwood, & Spearfish Canyon

As you might expect the week after the rally, downtown Sturgis was pretty much deserted so I rode out to the Full Throttle Saloon (world's largest biker bar) and the Buffalo Chip (campground).  They were empty also but you could see the potential for some serious partying with a couple thousand of your closest friends.

Gambling has taken over Deadwood.  Almost every store I saw had slot machines.

Spearfish Canyon is another great motorcycle road with winding turns, sheer rock cliffs, and a white water stream running along the highway.

As I exited the canyon, the temperature dropped to 55 degrees.  Just a reminder of how quickly the weather can change here.

Mount Rushmore & Custer State Park

I visited Mount Rushmore early this morning to avoid the crowds. It is an impressive work of art and a national treasure.

From Mount Rushmore I rode through Custer State Park via the Iron Mountain Road, the Wildlife Loop, and the Needles Highway.  All are "must rides" for bikers.

Iron Mountain "Piglet"

One of several single lane tunnels
(that is Mount Rushmore at the far end of the tunnel)

Buffalo Traffic Jam

After waiting almost an hour for the buffalo to get off the road, I had the last laugh... I had a buffalo burger for lunch.

The Needles

Climber on a vertical column of rock

"The Road Less Traveled"

Full Time RVer

After a number of delays, I have finally begun my adventure as a full time RVer.  My home for the next couple of years will be a Keystone Fuzion 322 "toyhauler".  For tax reasons I have established residency in South Dakota and will start out by exploring the area around Rapid City.

Glympse

Glympse is another free app for your smartphone that allows you to share your location with whomever you choose and for how long.  If you are meeting someone, they can see your speed and arrival time.

GasBuddy App For Smartphone

With the price of diesel keeping pace with the price of gold, I am using the GasBuddy App on my Droid X to find the cheapest prices for fuel.  Unfortunately, prices change so quickly now days, anything more than one hour old may be out of date.

"Cool It" DVD

For a very practical, common sense approach to global warming and climate change, I recommend viewing the DVD "Cool It".  In my opinion, it should be required reading for all politicians.

Favorite Quote Regarding Government Shutdown

"Here's the real reason that professional politicians should do whatever they can to avoid a shutdown: After a few days of living without government, many Americans might just decide they don't really miss it and could live with a lot less of it."

TireRack.com

Last Tuesday I ordered a Kumho run flat tire from TireRack.com in the morning.  They shipped it that afternoon.  It arrived the next morning.  I had it installed that afternoon.  If only the rest of life would go that well.

Impressive Riding Skills

Here's another one of those "I can't believe someone can do that" videos...



www.Fuelly.com

Fuelly.com is a site that lets you track, share, and compare your gas mileage. Simply sign up, add a car or motorcycle, and begin tracking your mileage. To date, 41,143 Fuelly users have tracked 1,084,297 fuel-ups in 55,439 vehicles over 305,756,822 miles of driving. There is even a mobile application that allows you to use your smart phone at the pump to update your account.

Weird Science

This is a pretty cool experience and definitely one of the mysteries as to how the human brain works.  There are no loud noises or things that jump out at you.  It is completely legit. 

1. Click on the link below (do not follow this link if you're subject to seizures or vertigo)
2. Then "click me to get trippy" on the page the link brings up,
3. Look at the center of the screen for at least 30 seconds (no cheating), and then
4. Look at your hand holding the mouse, without moving it away from the mouse.

http://www.neave.com/strobe/

If you are like me, you will be surprised at what you see.  I am told it is called "cenesthetic hallucination".

Liquid Assets

I am considering a new retirement portfolio...

• If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in Delta Airlines one year ago, you would have $49.00 today. 
• If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in AIG one year ago, you would have $33.00 today.
• If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in Lehman Brothers one year ago, you would have $0.00 today.
• But, if you had purchased $1,000 worth of beer one year ago, drank all the beer, then turned in the aluminum cans for a recycling refund, you would have received $214.00.
• Based on the above, the best current investment plan is to drink heavily & recycle. It is called the 401-Keg.
• A recent study found that the average American walks about 900 miles a year.
• Another study found that Americans drink, on average, 22 gallons of alcohol a year.
• That means that, on average, Americans get about 41 miles to the gallon!

Makes you proud to be an American!

PC Remote Access Software

There are times when I am on the road with my laptop that I would like to access my desktop at home.  TeamViewer software solves the problem by giving me complete control of a remote PC via the Internet - it's like sitting in front of your computer at home.  There is even a feature that allows you to collaborate with others.  Best of all, it's free for non-commercial users!

South Texas Roadkill

As if deer were not bad enough, imagine running into one of these "bad boys"...

Luckenbach, TX

I visited Luckenbach, Texas today and was surprised to see that it is basically a one store/business out in the middle of nowhere...

Okefenokee Swamp

For you real dare devils, Okefenokee Adventures offers a three day canoe/kayak trip across the Okefenokee including two nights camping in the swamp.  Unfortunately, I am allergic to rattle mouth cotton vipers and therefore unable to make the trip...