Motorcycle Trips Diary

Ed has been riding off-road motorcycles since he was 12; and, even did some motocross racing while stationed in Japan.  After meeting Tom and Rex, he started riding street bikes and taking trips with them.  He had an XS1100 Yamaha, but had sold it after back surgery, thinking he would be done with motorcycling for good.  Then the bug bit him again, and he bought the 920 Virago.  Bev had been around dirt biking most of her life, and was able, with the use of her Honda 90, to pass the test and get motorcycle checked on her driver's license.

Taking rides around the area after they met; they decided to take the motorcycle (via van) to the Black Hills.  While there, they talked to a couple from Texas who had just picked up a new GoldWing and were in the process of touring the country.  This sounded like fun ... so with the aid of a GoldWing and a backrest, they became cyclists once again and ready for some big tours.

In the fall of 1997, Ed and Bev packed up the 1992 Yamaha 920 Virago     motorcycle into the van and headed for South Dakota.  They stayed at the Horsethief RV Resort.  Once they unloaded the motorcycle they took off on the motorcycle to visit the sites in the area, which included Mount Rushmore.  While in the parking lot, a Michigan couple on a Honda GoldWing noticed that the Yamaha did not have any saddlebags.  They asked if Bev & Ed had travelled all the way from Colorado that way.  Reluctantly, they admitted that the motorcycle had been transported in the van.  It did give Ed & Bev their first glimpse of the GoldWing and were able to talk to the couple about comfort, storage, etc. Custer State Park and the Needles Hwy were highlights of the trip:  pig-tail bridges, rock formations like the 'needle's eye', tunnels with views of Mt Rushmore at the end, buffalo roaming the area, and donkeys coming up to vehicles to say "hello."  They also traveled to Sturgis and Deadwood.  Sturgis becomes like a ghost town any other time of the year than Sturgis Week.  It was hard to believe the pictures showing the large crowds.  Deadwood still has its historic reference (like the "shooting of Wild Bill Hickok", but the main emphasis of the town is gambling).

After realizing that the Yamaha would not be a good touring motorcycle, Ed relented to purchasing a GoldWing (GL1200)when his friend Tom told him that his previously-owned Wing was again available for purchase.  One of the first trips that Ed and Bev took with it was to the top of Mt Evans in May, 1998.

Knowing now that the new Wing would add to their sense of adventure, Bev & Ed took a trip to Nebraska in July, 1998.  This would be their first overnight trip using the motorcycle only.  It was nice having the added storage.           While in Nebraska they stayed/visited the Pioneer Village.  This place definitely takes two days to see everything.  The weekend turned rainy, so they were able to try out their raingear.  On the way home they stopped in North Platte at Scout's Rest (Buffalo Bill Ranch) and Fort McPherson before heading back to Colorado.

After visiting Buffalo Bill's Ranch earlier in the year, the next day trip was in the Fall over the Peak-to-Peak to Idaho Springs and then back over Lookout Mountain to visit Buffalo Bill's Grave.

Bev & Ed's next out of state trip took them to Saratoga, Wy with their friends Tom and Trudi for the annual beer fest.  After arrival, they registered at a motel and walked to the festival.  The next day, they followed the Snowy Range route to Laramie before heading home.

Fall of 1999, the time had come for Bev & Ed to take their first week-long motorcycle trip together.  Everything was packed into their allocated spots.  The ride took them past Fort Washakie where Lewis & Clark's Indian Guide Sacajawea is buried.  From there they headed to the Grand Tetons.  It was stormy upon arrival and difficult to see.  They proceeded to Jackson Hole for the night.  Waking the next morning to 35 degree weather, Bev & Ed agreed it would be better to stay in Jackson for one more day and let the storm pass.  They proceeded to the Cowboy Bar so they could watch the Broncos. 

The next day while traveling through the Tetons, the clouds were gone and the view was beautiful.  They travelled on through Yellowstone, with a stop at Old Faithful Geyser, to West Yellowstone, Montana for the night.  Here they saw the IMAX Theatre presentation of the Yellowstone area.  Back into the park for another day of sightseeing and hiking.to see the Falls.  Then on to Rexburg, Idaho for the night and then on the Craters of the Moon National Monument.  A drive through the Sawtooth Range along the Salmon River to Sun Valley.  From there the journey turned south with a quick stop at Lava Hot Springs.  On past Bear Lake and Flaming Gorge to Steamboat Springs.

Being the consummate shopper that Ed is, in Spring, 2000 he found a brand new candy-apple-red 1998 GoldWing GL1500 on sale.  New being defined as "never being uncrated or test driven."   

Although most of the motorcycle trips were done with the GoldWing -- while camping, Ed and Bev also ventured out on their dirt bike.  This is May, 2000, and they are at the Sand Flats Campground in Moab.  Although most of the time Ed would rather ride his mountain bike in this area, this trip gave them the opportunity to explore some of the back country.  The camping trips also allowed them to bring along their golden retrievers Kodi and Bailey.

Summer, 2000 Ed's brother Bill came from Florida to stay with Ed's dad.  While here, he purchased a GoldWing so he could ride around the countryside with Ed and Bev.  Snowy Range was always a beautiful ride, and Encampment gave the inquisitive something to talk about (note the two-story outhouse!).  Ed and Bill also took rides with a Harley group from Laramie; showing them other areas of Wyoming and Colorado.

Sept, 2000, Ed and Bev took the Mt Evans Scenic Byway again; this time with their friends Tom and Trudi.  The initial weather was typical fall with the sun peaking out at times.  The ride up was clear.  Then, getting ready to head down, the weather started clouding over.  Bev & Trudi decided to don their rain gear; but, because other Harley riders had joined the group, Ed & Tom decided to "weather it out."  All the male riders were removing snow from their "laps" when they reached the bottom.

Another motorcycle trip with Tom & Trudi in October took them to Estes Park.  While returning via Glen Haven  they found a herd of elk grazing not too far off the road.

In June, 2001, Ed and Bev took off again on another two-week motorcycle journey.  This time they would be heading north and then east.  First stop was Ogallala, NE and then north to Valentine.  Here they stopped at a hot rod show before proceeding across the border into South Dakota.  Their next destination was to Ed's nephew Jim and Marcia's house in Miller, SD.  On the way they stopped at the Pioneer Auto Museum in Murdo.  Jim works the fields with a "huge" columbine -- so now every time they pass one on the road, they think of him.

They joined with the Missouri River at Mobridge, just below the North Dakota border.  Crossing into North Dakota they arrived at Fort Yates -- agency headquarters for the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. It is here that Sitting Bull is buried.  From here, they continued north to Mandan, home of Fort Abraham Lincoln.  Here is Custer's last home.   This is also the location of the On-A-Slant Indian Village.  The Mandan Indians made earth lodges on the bluff overlooking the River. 

Further up the river, Bev & Ed found Fort Mandan.  This is where Lewis & Clark wintered in 1804-1805 before heading to the Pacific.  It is also where they met Sacajawea (their Indian guide).  The fort was constructed with only four sides and was named after the Indian tribe that had befriended them.  Bev & Ed continued on to the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and followed the famous route through displays and pictures.

It was now time to head east across North Dakota.  The rain had been coming off and on all morning, but once they were on the road, it came harder.  They stopped in a small town along the route, and the cafe proprietor had offered to get them in touch with someone that rented rooms if they wanted to weather the storm.  They continued on, and thought they had had the worst of it, when they stopped for gas where the highways intersected.  The parking lot was full of potholes, and the potholes were full of water, so Bev offered to walk out to the road.  About that time a semi was turning into the parking area and was only paying attention to the potholes and didn't see Ed sitting there on the motorcycle.  Luckily, the truck driver looked up in time to notice Ed; however, the rear tire did clip the back end of the bike, and flipped Ed off to the side.  Once the driver realized what had happened, he jumped out of his cab and immediately helped Ed up and pulled the motorcycle into place.  Everyone was okay.

The wind continued to blow, so Ed & Bev decided to stay in Jamestown and visit the Frontier Village and National Buffalo Museum.  Jamestown is the home town of the author Louis L'Amour.  From here, they crossed into Minnesota between Fargo and Moorhead.  While traveling through the state, they saw Detroit Lakes, Sauk Centre (boyhood home of Sinclair Lewis), Walnut Grove (childhood home of Laura Ingalls), Amish farms, New Ulm (German glockenspiel in the center of town). and crossed the Minnesota River.

They next ventured into Iowa, passing by Clear Lake (where Buddy Holly was killed) and Forest City (home of Winnebago) before heading to Ames (home of Iowa State University).  The next day they took off for Madrid to meet May Anderson (Bev's distant cousin).   Madrid was founded by Bev's great-great-grandmother when she arrived from Sweden in 1846.  May graciously gave Bev & Ed a tour of the town and cemetery, and reveled them with stories of their ancestors. 

 When May offered to take them to lunch, she commented that she could walk to the downtown area.  Ed instead offered her a ride on the motorcycle.  Upon arrival at the cafe, she was showing everyone around "what she had ridden to town on."  After Bev & Ed left, May wrote an article for the newspaper with the headlines -- "Early settler's descendant visits Madrid on motorcycle."

After leaving Madrid, they headed south through Iowa and saw the covered bridges (of Madison County) and the birthplace of John Wayne before entering Missouri.  Their destination was Bethany, where Ed had spent several years of his childhood; and, where many of his relatives still reside.  They drove by the old homestead and Ed proved that the stories about "walking uphill to school both ways" were true.  They stopped and visited with Ed's cousin Don at his farm; and then had lunch in town with other cousins.  Before leaving Missouri, they also stopped to see Donald's cousin Deva.  Then it was back across the Missouri River and into Nebraska and then on home.

2001 gave Ed and Bev opportunities to take local trips within Colorado.  One included a poker run with friends Tom and Trudi.  Ed also lost his brother Bill this year to cancer, so his motorcycle went to Bill's son-in-law in Seattle.  Ed rode part of the way back with them; then branched off and visited the infamous "Hole in the Wall" where Butch Cassidy was to have stayed; and, then on the Steamboat to visit his daughter and grandson.

In August, 2001, Ed decided it was time to move up to a larger (motor-latest & greatest) motorcycle (GL1800).  The best deal he found was in Lincoln, Nebr, so they packed up the current motorcycle and headed out to make a trade.  Because it was August, most of the motorcycle traffic was headed west towards Sturgis.  They were able to take a tour of the University of Nebraska campus; and walked out-on-the-field at the football stadium. On the way home they stopped in Holdrege (where Bev's grandmother was raised).  While here they encountered their Honda salesman at the gas station.  He was on his way to Sturgis.

 Memorial Weekend, 2002, Bev & Ed met Tom & Trudi in Longmont and headed south for a 2-week motorcycle ride. Raingear was needed from the beginning as it snowed that weekend. After staying overnight in Buena Vista, they awoke to warmer weather. They travelled over Monarch Pass to Gunnison, then through the San Juan Skyway to Telluride for lunch. They joined up with their friends Pat and Rex in Utah. Rex had retired and they were travelling around the country on their GoldWing.

First stop the next morning was the car wash. Then on to Natural Bridges -- the first of several National Parks. It is advisable for anyone taking this trip to make certain that they have a National Parks Pass already in hand. On through Monument Valley, and then a ferry ride across Lake Powell. Next stop Capitol Reef; then the Escalente Grand Staircase. Bryce Canyon is home to the hoodoos. After staying in their own cabins in Hatch, their first stop that morning was at a laundromat. Then on to Zion National Park. From Zion, Pat and Rex split from the group and headed on the Las Vegas.

The remaining couples headed into Arizona and to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. This part of the park is only visited by 10% of the visitors. A fire had destroyed the original lodge, and it was rebuilt in 1937 (now an historic landmark). The couples shared a cabin; and, then the next morning took the Sunrise Tour for an awesome view of Bright Angel Fault as the sun began to rise.

The group now travelled back into Utah and stopped at Lee's Ferry along the Colorado River.  This is considered Mile Zero; and distances upstream to Glen Canyon and downstream to Grand Canyon are measured from here.  (Remember the snow when the trip began -- well now the temperature is in the 100s.) The couples returned to Page\Lake Powell area and left the motorcycles for a cruise to Antelope Canyon.  Keep in mind that the gals have been in Indian country for the past several days; and, with both gals collectors of Kokopelli knickknacks, it became necessary to ship a care package back home (motorcycles hold alot; but a Kachina was just too cumbersome).  They followed the route through the Four Corners (only place in the United States where you can stand in one spot and be touching four states); then on to Durango (short delay for the cattle drive on the highway); up over the Million Dollar Highway to Silverton; on to Glenwood Springs; then over Independence Pass from Aspen to Leadville before heading home.  Gone for nine days -- travelled 2,219 miles.

2003 and 2004 brought other short motorcycle rides for Bev & Ed. Trips were made over Cameron Pass and other areas within Colorado.

 In June 2004, the group decided to go to Lander, WY for the GWRRA District Rally. Bev & Ed left on Friday and stayed at the historic Virginian Hotel in Medicine Bow. They met Tom & Trudi & Dwight & Carroll in Lander. The rally consisted of bike shows, nightly lights parade, and various rides around the area. The group stopped at Fort Washaka and the cemetery to see Sacajawea grave (it's surprising how stops on many of these trips tie so closely together). Along with the district rally, Lander was also hosting a Brewfest. From Lander the group came back via Snowy Range. (Carroll thought she would try sitting on something other than a motorcycle.)

The three couples decided that it would be fun to take a trip to Sturgis in August, 2004.  Tom had been   to Sturgis previously and made arrangements to stay at the KOA near Hill City.  Because of a family emergency, Tom and Trudi weren't able to join them, so Dwight and Ed agreed to meet on I-25.  Before either had turned on their CBs to check in, when Ed & Bev were entering I-25 from the off-ramp, Dwight and Carroll pulled up along side.  (Now that's karma.)  They headed north, and got settled in at the campground.  Tom suggested that everyone ship their camping gear ahead of time, so that they didn't need to carry it on the motorcycle.  When the campground employee delivered the boxes to the campsite, he said they had startled him when they drove up because the motorcycles were so quiet.  (This trip would be the two GoldWings among the sea of Harleys.) 

The best way to describe this adventure is -- Bikes, Bikes and more Bikes.  One doesn't stop to think ahead of time as to where all the visitors will reside during Sturgis Week.  The area vendors also advertise -- that if you are offended by motorcycles, then Sturgis Week is not the time to visit the Black Hills.  Motorcycles are on the roads, and occupy all of the parking places within all of the small towns in the area.  Sturgis is headquarters -- where one can look at all the tricked out bikes that everyone has brought to the event.  Many participants bring their motorcycles on trailers; and vendors now offer a patch that reads -- I rode my motorcycle to Sturgis.  Ed's nephew Jim joined the group for a day and they visited the Hill Climb (which had originally started this whole event in 1938).  After the hill climb, it was on to Deadwood for some gambling (Kevin Costner has a casino here with memorabilia of his movies) and delicious fried oysters.  Who would have tho't that there would be a place called "Oyster Bay" in the middle of Deadwood.  Don't forget to visit Saloon #10 where Wild Bill Hickock was shot in 1876.

The 70 miles around the area has been named the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway.  This consists of three routes -- Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road, and Wildlife Loop Road.  These 70 miles include steep grades, sharp curves, tunnels, pigtail bridges, and wildlife (a biker's paradise).  Rock formations include the Needle's Eye and Cathedral Spires.  Custer State Park has the inquisitive donkeys that come directly up to the vehicles for inspection.  One can also see the State Game Lodge which was the Summer White House for President Calvin Coolidge.  The main attraction within the area is Mount Rushmore.  There is a walking tour that brings tourists up close and personal with the presidents. 

One can venture to the northwest corner of the Hills and put their footing into Wyoming long enough to see Devil's Tower.  When in South Dakota, one must not forget to check on the status of the Crazy Horse Monument.  Now remember those boxes that were delivered to the campground -- well, the final challenge of the trip was to try and repack everything into said boxes so they could be shipped back home.  For two Goldwingers, the couples felt they fit in fine with the many Harleys over the weekend adventure.

Between 2005-2010, most of the rides that Ed and Bev took were spent around Colorado and South Dakota with family and friends.  They did take their first Route 66 trip in 2007 (See 2007-Getting to\Eastern Portion of Route 66 blogs).  In 2008, they had their 5 week, 7,588 mile journey to and from Alaska (See 2008-Alaska blogs).   In 2005, the local Harley Davidson store created what is called "Thunder in the Rockies." They wanted to replicate the feel of Sturgis around the Loveland\Fort Collins area.  They had vendors, entertainment and rides throughout the area.  Ed returned in 2009 to particiate in some of the activities. 

Ed's nephew Jim (you met him previously) had access to a cabin outside of Sturgis every summer.  So when things had quieted down after Sturgis, Ed would join Jim and his brother Jeff for some rides around the Black Hills area.  This continued from 2007 until 2009.  Tom joined them in 2009.  In 2010, Jim and Jeff came to visit in Colorado and were treated to rides up  over Cameron Pass to Steamboat and back over Trail Ridge on the return; rides around the area, as well as, the Peak to Peak Highway to Georgetown, and then up Mt Evans.  For being Wyoming boys, they were mesmorized with the multitude of views around every corner.

Cameron Pass and Rocky Mountain National Park are always draws for any motorcycle ride.  Besides the beautiful scenery, there is always some type of wildlife along the roadside.  Mt. Evans was another draw, and Bev & Ed took other trips, including one with Dwight and Carroll.  Bev & Ed also joined Dwight and Carroll for a journey to south central Colorado, where they indulged in some gambling at Cripple Creek, until the weather turned stormy.    Tom & Trudi joined Ed & Bev for a ride to Estes Park over Labor Day, 2010.  There was more Kokopelli shopping and tying the items onto the bike with bungee cords to get them home.

In 2010, Bev & Ed also took a weekend trip to Steamboat.  On the way over Cameron Pass they spotted a moose alongside the road.  As long as they have been riding together, Ed has always asked Bev "to keep an eye out for moose."  This is the first one she saw before he did.  A musician friend (Jed Clampitt) of Ed's was going to be playing at the Glen Eden Resort in Clark, just north of Steamboat.  So they rented a cabin for the night and had Ed's daughter Debbie & grandson Eric stay with them.  Ed has known Jed for over 20 years -- although now living in Arkansas, he tours through this area.  (Ed's nephews were able to see him on their visit.)  Before heading home, Ed followed the road to the end of the pavement north (the dirt portion goes into Wyoming).  Here they found the town of Columbine, which was originally established in 1897.  The ride home was quite windy.

More trips are planned -- but where and when haven't been determined.  Stay tuned!!