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