June 30, 2021 - Little Rock, AR

Not a lot to report tonight and zero pictures.  Ted and I rode about 550 miles in temps ranging from the mid 70s to mid 90s. It was hot by the time we called it a day.  Tomorrow we plan about the same distance which will get us just past Atlanta.

June 29, 2021 - Salina, KS

Something is happening in little Salina, Kansas.  We are staying at a beautiful, one year old Homewood Suites hotel in the little downtown area about 5 miles from I-70. It really does not fit in the community. Also, we rode up the elevator with 3 guys who said they were from San Francisco hunting for run down hotels to turn into apartments.  Something is going in.  Could be oil, wind, solar, natural gas. Very curious.

Today was a big day and it turned out wel.  Last night when riding to see Savannah for dinner an error message came on my motorcycle indicating a computer issue and it said I could ride it to a service center. So we were at the impressive Denver BMW motorcycle shop right after their 9am opening. Two hours later were back on the road after a thorough checkout which found a disconnected wire to the radiator cooling fan.  No big deal.

After about 450 miles we landed in Salina, KS.  Tomorrow we will keep heading towards Florida. 

The Denver BMW motorcycle shop

The showroom

Our $165 per night room in Salina

June 28, 2021 - Denver, CO

It was a beautiful ride heading south from Rapid City towards Denver.  The morning was cool and the sun was out. The speed limit was 80 mph so we obliged.  Rolling hills with what look like large mounds mixed in at random. Then we would roll over a hill and look down on miles of straight 2-laned road.

I miss my regular riding partner Susie who acts as navigator and photographer while riding "pillion" on the back seat.  That's why I don't have any nice landscape shots while riding.  I could stop and take a few shots but I would never catch up with Ted.

The traffic coming into Denver was bad. Very crowded and fast. We are going to have dinner tonight with Ted's daughter. 

Ted making his new full-sized BMW motorcycle look like a mini-bike

We waited at least 15 minutes for this train to pass.  It was so long it had 2 engines in the middle of the line to keep things moving. 

Me, Savannah and Ted mug shot - celebrating Savannah's 24th birthday

June 27, 2021 - Rapid City, SD

Ted and I had an early start heading towards Mt. Rushmore. Temps weee very comfortable and it wasn't as windy as yesterday. We got there around 1:00pm and hit a major downpour on the way up to the mountain. There were crowds but not as bad as I was expecting. Lots of families.  

Tomorrow we're heading down to Denver to visit Ted's daughter. 

Mt. Rushmore

Ted lost in thought or just lost

Proof I was there

Riding in the rain

June 26, 2021 - Hardin, MT

I am sitting on the back deck of the Fort Custer Golf Course in Hardin, MT as I write this.  The temperature is in the 70s, sun is low and there is a light breeze.  We decided to leave Great Falls a day early and head towards Rapid City.  We are going to check out Mt Rushmore and then head to Denver to see Ted's daughter Savannah. 

Montana Big Sky

A real golf cart at the Fort Custer Golf Course

June 25, 2021 - Great Falls, MT

Today was a day of rest. Ted and I slept in, had a nice breakfast and then went to the rally. The rally was good but we were both a little disappointed. There weren't as many vendors or maybe it's because we have been to several of them and they are starting to look the same.  We talked to some folks and Ted washed his bike. We then went to a shop to look around and then to lunch. 

We are staying another night here. We're planning on visiting the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. 

The floor of the BMW Rally

Ted waiting in line to buy some merch

Action photo of Ted washing his bike

June 24, 2021 - Great Falls, MT

Dave, Clyde and I left Cody around 7:30am and headed towards the Beartooth Pass Highway.  It was a beautiful ride of hairpin turns rising up to just under 11,000 feet.  We were riding with snow all around us.  Temps got down to 51 degrees at the highest altitude and near 90 when we wound our way down the mountain.  

I went to the BMW rally site as soon as I got to Great Falls.  I registered and arranged to get a new rear tire installed because the current one is showing a lot of wear.

I also met my brother Ted and will be spending time with him as we eventually start heading back to Florida.  We are scheduled to spend 3 nights here which is good because I'm a little tired. 

The route I took today

Along the Beartooth Highway

Me stretching my arms at high altitude in my hi viz jacket

My brother Ted in Great Falls with his new motorcycle he bought in LA

June 23, 2021 - Cody, WY

My new friends Dave and Clyde and I rode from Murdo, SD to Cody today. The temps ranged from upper 60's to 97. Skies were mostly clear and sunny.  Long sections of I-90 had a speed limit of 80 mph. Plus it was windy at times. It was really beautiful especially in the morning. Rolling hills of grassland for miles and miles. I think sections we rode through are called the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands.

Wyoming was similar for awhile with base elevation of 4,000-4,500 feet above sea level. We then began to rise when we left I-90 and took Hwy 14 with elevations topping out at just under 8,000 feet.  

I changed my plans to meet my brother Ted in Great Falls, MT tomorrow, one day earlier than my original plans.  It will be fun to see him. He flew to LA, bought a used 2016 BMW K1300 S and started riding up the California Coastal Highway. He will be in Great Falls tomorrow. 

Below are pictures from my site seeing yesterday. Hopefully the wifi is better in this hotel.

Entrance to the SPAM Museum in Austin, SD

My SPAM friend and I watching the  SPAMalot video. My son Sam and I also saw the Broadway show in NYC several years ago

An amazing selection of SPAM

The Dignity Statue in ND

This shot gives you a better idea of the scale

My bike fully loaded

Looking west from the Dignity Statue at the Missouri River

Action photo of Dave and Clyde trying to figure out how to pair their Bluetooth intercom systems on their helmets

Street sign outside our hotel in Cody, WY

June 22, 2021 - Murdo, SD

This will be a short post with no pictures.  I have no cell service and the wifi at this hotel is extremely weak.  

It was a 500 mile day with 2 very different but both fun and interesting tourist stops.  The first was a visit to the SPAM Museum in Austin, MN.  What a blast!  I really got a kick out of it.  True Americana.  

The second stop was at a South Dakota tourist information center with an impressive aluminium statue of a Native American woman overlooking the Missouri River.  The location was a site once visited by the Lewis and Clark expedition. 

Tonight I met up with 2 guys from the Raider riding group and we will be riding to Cody, WY tomorrow. 

June 21, 2021 - La Crosse, WI

It was a 10 minute ride from my hotel to the loading dock for the S.S. Badger. Temps were in the upper 50's, very windy and overcast.  Motorcycles were the last to board.  While waiting outside I met and chatted with some Harley riders and a couple of fellow BMW riders who were also going to the rally in Montana.  We were the only passengers who drove on board. All other vehicles were driven on board by port staff. Once we tied down the bikes I walked around the outside deck and then went to the lounge area.

I sat with one of the other BMW riders and then we started chatting with a couple from Tucson. The husband had 7 Triumph motorcycles and rode a lot.  

That's when Bingo started.  The guy calling the numbers told one corny dad joke after another. It was fun even though I didn't win anything. 

After disembaking in Mantowac, WI I rode about 30 minutes,  got chilled and stopped to put on warmer gear. After reading about the major heat wave hitting the western states I almost didn't bring any cold weather gear but I'm glad I did.  I brought a jacket liner and electric heated vest. I just used the lineer but I may use the vest tomorrow morning.

I saw an Amish horse drawn buggy today. I couldn't get a photo.

Tomorrow I have about a 500 mile straight shot to Murdo, SD.  I'll be meeting a couple of guys from the Raiders riding group out of Ohio. Sooz and I rode with them a couple of years ago in Ohio.  They are also going to the rally.

Fellow riders waiting to board

Boarding the S.S. Badger

S.S. Badger

Leaving Ludington, MI

Leaving Ludington

June 20, 2021 - Ludington, MI

Another high mileage day, over 600 miles.  Temperature ranged from upper 60's this morning to upper 80's this afternoon with very minor rain.  I am happy to say I saw no traffic jams!  Below I posted the map showing how much I rode the last 2 days. 

I can really tell I'm back in Michigan where I grew up.  Everyone sounds like me with a nasal accent!

When I made a pit stop today the convenience store/gas station had the Cubbies vs. Marlins game on. That's pure midwest ambiance.  Also, lots of people driving below the speed limit in the left lane. This is where they come from before they move to Florida.

I had dinner at the Kuntry Kubbard within walking distance of my hotel.  Very good dinner including homemade fresh strawberry pie for under $15.  Can't beat that.

Tomorrow I have to be at the ferry terminal at 8am for the 4 hour trip across Lake Michigan.  After I disembark I have a couple hour ride to La Crosse, WI. 

Two days of travel

Fresh strawberry pie at the Kuntry Kubbard in Ludington

June 19, 2021 - Williamsburg, KY

Today was all about getting from Point A to Point B.  I left Gainesville at 6:30am and arrived in Williamsburg around 6pm after 620 miles.  I had rain off and on for several hours but the temperature was pleasant, temps in the 70s and 80s.  The worst part of the day was the traffic in and around Atlanta.  It was bad, fully stopped at times and very slow on and off for well over an hour.  They were no accidents or construction sites, just too many cars.  I sure wish all states in the U.S. allowed lane splitting for motorcycles like they do in Europe.  

The low beam on my headlight is not working so I stopped in at the BMW shop in Atlanta to see if they had a replacement but they didn't have one so off I went.  It was a nice shop and they had a nice selection of bikes especially compared to shops in Florida.  

Tomorrow I ride to Ludington, MI. It's about 620 miles, similar to today and it looks like I might hit some rain as I head north.  Monday I'll take the ferry across Lake Michigan to Wisconsin. 

Wooly's BMW shop in Atlanta

Wooly's BMW shop in Atlanta

 

 

 

BMW Rally Montana 2021

I leave Saturday, June 19, 2021 for the 2021 BMW Rally in Great Falls, Montana.  I am flying solo on this trip, Sooz is not able to join me.  However, she is very supportive of me going, almost too much. 😀  I think she wants to have some alone time with just Bandit in the house.  I will be riding our 2018 BMW 1200GS Rallye motorcycle. 

If you are really bored and want to see some of our other trip blogs click HERE.

My overall itinerary has me riding to Michigan and taking the S.S. Badger Ferry across Lake Michigan from Ludington, MI to Manitowoc, WI.  From there I start heading west meeting up with some riders with the Raiders Sport Touring group.  Sooz and I rode with them in Ohio a couple of years ago.  They are very good riders and enjoy themselves.  We are meeting up in Murdo, SD, riding to Cody, WY.  From Cody we will ride the Beartooth Highway to Red Lodge, MT.  They will continue to the rally in Great Falls and I will stay that night in Red Lodge to enjoy the scenery and play tourist.  The next day I ride to Great Falls for the rally and stay 2 nights.  After that I don't have any plans other than to head to Colorado and ride some passes and maybe visit my niece Savannah in Denver and head home.

I am using two tracking systems to test them out on this trip.  They use the same tracking data, they just use different software to map and display the locations.  You can use either link below or use both.

• Spot Tracker - Click HERE 

• Spotwalla Tracker - Click HERE