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The Snake's 2016 Western Adventure

8K views 100 replies 20 participants last post by  duglaura 
#1 ·
The wait is almost over. After months of planning, I am just a few days away from what may be one of my last big trips on two wheels. I leave Thursday to fly out to Denver for a 10-day, 3,200-mile solo trip through 10 states to honor a friend who was supposed to make the trip with me.

I'll be picking up my rental bike outside of Denver, and will make a big, counter-clockwise loop. My planned itinerary:

Day 1: Denver, CO to Alliance, NE (travel day)
Day 2: Alliance, NE to Rapid City, SD, through the Badlands N.P.
Day 3: Ride the Black Hills, including Needles Hwy, Mt. Rushmore, and out to Devi's Tower.
Day 4: Rapid City, SD to Forsyth, MT, traveling through ND (travel day)
Day 5: Forsyth, MT to Gardiner, MT, via the Beartooth Highway
Day 6: Gardiner, MT to Jackson Hole, WY, through Yellowstone N.P.
Day 7: Jackson Hole, WY to Nephi, UT, through ID (travel day)
Day 8: Nephi, UT to Page, AZ, stopping at Bryce Canyon N.P.
Day 9: Page, AZ to Farmington, NM through Monument Valley and Gallup, NM to have dinner with a high school friend
Day 10: Farmington, NM to Denver, CO, via the Million Dollar Highway

Weather will vary from 40's-50's over Beartooth Pass to over 100* traveling through AZ, So I'll be packing everything from winter gear to a cooling vest.

I'll try to post daily updates and pics as my connectivity allows. I'll probably also post, to a lesser extent, on Facebook as well.
 
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#17 ·
Due to the flight(s), You can't pack Colonel Colt along for the adventure.
May the Good Lord protect You, and keep all harm far away, throughout this trip.
 
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#19 ·
Day 1 is in the books. 250 miles of long, straight, flat roads in eastern CO and NE. I took it for what it is...a travel day. Speed limits on state roads were 65 with no real breakdown lanes to speak of, so I only got one pic. Not that I wanted to take pics of endless fields of grass, corn, and wheat. Cross winds were fairly strong too.

Early start tomorrow heading to the Badlands, and on to Rapid City.
 

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#20 ·
Just met a group of riders out in the Parking lot who will be taking virtually the same route as me tomorrow. One guy on a 650 Burgman with no shield riding 2up, a guy on a Nomad towing a trailer, and a guy on an old 650 GS, with a green pillion. Very nice folks, but I think I'll ride alone tomorrow. Thinking they might slow me down! :biglaugh:
 
#24 ·
Crossed over into South Dakota about a 1/2 hour ago - go Ken go!!!
 
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#27 ·
Doug - I rented a BMW, same model as mine.

Just checked in the motel in Rapid City. Big thunderstorm just rolled in. The Badlands were amazing. Got rained on before and after going through the park. The good thing is you can see it coming from miles away. Will post some pics later tonight.
 
#29 ·
Ride safe my friend
 
#32 ·
Go Ken, go.... Today I washed the truck, cut the grass, picked up my daughter from the airport and now cooking dinner! Bet you wish you were here doing all this. Don't cha!

Safe ride! You are in my prayers.
 
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