New here and thought I would brag about my summer trip! - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

researchjeep · 10-01-2006, 10:13 PM

As the title says I am new here and thought I would brag a little about the bike trip my brother and I took this summer.

My brother lives in Denver so we started there. He rides an 05 R1 and I ride an 06 GSX-R1000. We rode up the western slope of Colorado and up into Wyoming. We met our wives and kids in Jackson Hole and stayed there for a day and went rafting. From there we rode up into Yellowstone and spent three days with the wives and kids in the park (they were in a van).

We then Left West Yellowstone (Wives and kids headed back to Denver) and rode through the park up over Beartooth Pass into Montana. We then went west through Montana and down through Idaho. On the advise of a bunch of bikers we rode a cool road that winds in and out of Yellowstone heading south. Low and behold 12 hours later we ended up back in West Yellowstone (not planned).

The next day we continued and made it west of Salt Lake City (not sure of the name of the town). Our Goal was to make it to Estes Park Colorado to my dads that day. The road through eastern Utah was a speed freaks dream. Two lanes fairly straight with some hills and No side roads. At the crest of every hill you were presented with about 10-15 miles of open road that you could see forever. To say that the pace quickened was an understatement. I couldnt believe the lack of traffic. The only almost deadly experience was when a Golden Eagle(think 10ft wingspan) swooped down to get some roadkill right in front of me. Normally this wouldnt have been a big deal but I was travelling well into the triple digits. I saw it for only a millisecond before it gained just enough altitude to clear my helmet. I think it scared my brother more than me because he was following and saw it coming.

We then entered Colorado and went through Steamboat Springs. and on to Grand lake were we stopped for gas. While we were gassing up the clouds started to build. I started to put my rain liners in and my brother started giving me a hard time. I told him that within the next few turns it was going to start to rain. Lo and behold I was right! As we were on the side of the road so he could put his liners on the temp was dropping fast. As we approached Rocky Mountain National Park it began to HAIL!!! The park ranger looked at us like we were nuts and asked us if we really needed to go over Trail Ridge Road? We told him we had to make it to my dads just on the other side. He told us that we could expect the weather to get much worse and to be careful. We made it as far as the Alpine Visitors Center which is at appox. 12000ft above sea level before we just had to stop and clear our head. The temp was about 38degrees the wind was ripping and the rain would not let up, not to mention the lightening. We actually had some kids come up to us in the restroom and ask us if we had parachuted in, because of all our gear.

After trying in vain to warm up and dry out we grudgingly got back on the bikes and had a white knucke ride down the eastern side. We finally made it to my dads and stripped down butt naked and jumped in his hot tub! It sounded like a good Idea but when your body core is frozen and it hits the 105 degree water it feels like your skin is going to come off.

Our whole family came out and looked at us in amazement and said and I quote "Do you boys have any Idea what the weather is up on Trail Ridge". All we could do is look at each other and laugh our asses off.

Needless to say it was a great trip. We covered 2400miles in 6 days on some of the most awsome roads in the country. We are already planning our summer of 07 ride.

Attached is a couple of pics One of the bikes and one of the types of roads we rode. Of all of those miles very few of them were on interstates. most were two lane mountain rodes.

Sorry for the length but it was a great trip.

**Clint** · 10-01-2006, 10:25 PM

Welcome! I saw some of the same areas on my trip. What a great ride, eh?

Atlas68 · 10-01-2006, 11:19 PM

researchjeep. Great story. Enjoy the forum.

And Clint..you put together a nice summary of your trip. Thanks for sharing.

jbrough7 · 10-02-2006, 05:06 AM

Welcome! sounds like a great trip! You know, for some reason, I don't remember the beautiful, perfect, sunny-weather trips. Just the terrible weather, fight off the cold, shivering right down to the bone ones. I guess that's life.

Good on ya!

jim

**Louis** · 10-02-2006, 06:58 AM

Sounds like a great trip!

10-01-2006, 10:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
researchjeep Newbie Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 10	New here and thought I would brag about my summer trip! As the title says I am new here and thought I would brag a little about the bike trip my brother and I took this summer. My brother lives in Denver so we started there. He rides an 05 R1 and I ride an 06 GSX-R1000. We rode up the western slope of Colorado and up into Wyoming. We met our wives and kids in Jackson Hole and stayed there for a day and went rafting. From there we rode up into Yellowstone and spent three days with the wives and kids in the park (they were in a van). We then Left West Yellowstone (Wives and kids headed back to Denver) and rode through the park up over Beartooth Pass into Montana. We then went west through Montana and down through Idaho. On the advise of a bunch of bikers we rode a cool road that winds in and out of Yellowstone heading south. Low and behold 12 hours later we ended up back in West Yellowstone (not planned). The next day we continued and made it west of Salt Lake City (not sure of the name of the town). Our Goal was to make it to Estes Park Colorado to my dads that day. The road through eastern Utah was a speed freaks dream. Two lanes fairly straight with some hills and No side roads. At the crest of every hill you were presented with about 10-15 miles of open road that you could see forever. To say that the pace quickened was an understatement. I couldnt believe the lack of traffic. The only almost deadly experience was when a Golden Eagle(think 10ft wingspan) swooped down to get some roadkill right in front of me. Normally this wouldnt have been a big deal but I was travelling well into the triple digits. I saw it for only a millisecond before it gained just enough altitude to clear my helmet. I think it scared my brother more than me because he was following and saw it coming. We then entered Colorado and went through Steamboat Springs. and on to Grand lake were we stopped for gas. While we were gassing up the clouds started to build. I started to put my rain liners in and my brother started giving me a hard time. I told him that within the next few turns it was going to start to rain. Lo and behold I was right! As we were on the side of the road so he could put his liners on the temp was dropping fast. As we approached Rocky Mountain National Park it began to HAIL!!! The park ranger looked at us like we were nuts and asked us if we really needed to go over Trail Ridge Road? We told him we had to make it to my dads just on the other side. He told us that we could expect the weather to get much worse and to be careful. We made it as far as the Alpine Visitors Center which is at appox. 12000ft above sea level before we just had to stop and clear our head. The temp was about 38degrees the wind was ripping and the rain would not let up, not to mention the lightening. We actually had some kids come up to us in the restroom and ask us if we had parachuted in, because of all our gear. After trying in vain to warm up and dry out we grudgingly got back on the bikes and had a white knucke ride down the eastern side. We finally made it to my dads and stripped down butt naked and jumped in his hot tub! It sounded like a good Idea but when your body core is frozen and it hits the 105 degree water it feels like your skin is going to come off. Our whole family came out and looked at us in amazement and said and I quote "Do you boys have any Idea what the weather is up on Trail Ridge". All we could do is look at each other and laugh our asses off. Needless to say it was a great trip. We covered 2400miles in 6 days on some of the most awsome roads in the country. We are already planning our summer of 07 ride. Attached is a couple of pics One of the bikes and one of the types of roads we rode. Of all of those miles very few of them were on interstates. most were two lane mountain rodes. Sorry for the length but it was a great trip. Attached Thumbnails

10-01-2006, 11:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
Atlas68 Sit speling cheker Joined: Jan 2006 Bike: 2006 Blue M50 SOLD '05 Anniversary Edition VMax Location: Vancouver B.C. Canada Posts: 1,684	researchjeep. Great story. Enjoy the forum. And Clint..you put together a nice summary of your trip. Thanks for sharing. __________________ Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength. Cobra Slashcuts Fender Hugger Wire Rack ISO Grips w/ Throttle Boss Billet Sissybar Carbon Tank Bra Mini Floorboards Heel Toe Shifter

10-02-2006, 06:58 AM	#5 (permalink)
Louis Administrator Joined: Sep 2003 Bike: SV650S '05 (Blue) Location: Gatineau, QC, Canada Posts: 10,652	Sounds like a great trip! __________________ Louis

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10-02-2006, 05:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
jbrough7 Kickstand Operator Joined: Dec 2005 Bike: 2006 Bandit 650S Location: Strathroy, ON, Canada Posts: 293	Welcome! sounds like a great trip! You know, for some reason, I don't remember the beautiful, perfect, sunny-weather trips. Just the terrible weather, fight off the cold, shivering right down to the bone ones. I guess that's life. Good on ya! jim

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