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Day 18 – July 2, 2019

CA to QC

Almost back to our house in Magog, QC. Two more hotel nights, then back to the land of croissants and quiche!

Am I glad we made this trek? Absolutely!!!

What were the most memorable moments of the trip?

Of course, my son Parker graduating from CSUMB, then marrying Megan in a beautiful setting.

The history we learned in more depth of the treatment of the Native Americans by the U.S. government and individuals pushing west.

Beautiful scenery in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the north-eastern Sierra’s, Sawtooth Mountains, Grand Tetons and Yellowstone.

Visiting with family and friends….making new friends.

We will have ridden over 9000 miles by the time we return to Magog. I am a much better, and more confident rider. I do look forward to some “day trips” where the motorcycle is not loaded down with gear; and riding roads with little traffic.

Conducting an extended trip like this is more difficult on a motorcycle than driving a car.

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One is constantly evaluating whether a location is a good one to park a motorcycle. Mostly level ground is a must.

We have bypassed numerous vista points due to poor parking conditions, or having to cross traffic where we considered it an unsafe situation.

With Art now living with vertigo, there are numerous routes we have had to bypass due to the road passing through high vistas. If we had been in a car, I would have driven those sections and he would have been the passenger if we had been traveling via car.

Route planning and awareness of gas station availability is necessary on motorcycles… especially when passing through rural areas or National and Provencal Parks. Our tanks allow us about 250 miles before running out of fuel. Our car has a range of 350 – 400 miles.

Road conditions and what is happening around you must be paid attention to. A lot of road construction is going on…and where there is construction there are slow downs, stopped traffic, gravel…and pavement which is not in optimum condition. Riding two wheels is not the time to be inattentive to ones surroundings, there is much less room for error and corresponding negative feedback!

When one is riding you are much more in tune to weather and the elements. You feel when temperatures fluctuations occur. You notice when the sun goes behind a cloud. You really feel and see the effects when you ride through a swarm of bugs – and are glad you’re wearing a helmet!

And at the end of the day – I am happy to have completed the miles on a motorcycle….

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Day 11 – CA to QC

June 22, 2019

One of the joys of traveling is meeting new people, engaging in conversation, and developing new friendships.

Due to cold weather and snow, (the mantra continues: “We never have weather like this at this time of year!”) we have stayed in Felt, ID in an Airbnb for about a week.

Our hosts, Jim and Debbie are fabulous! Jim and Art share similar professional backgrounds and have engaged in engineering conversations. Jim and Debbie are avid travelers and it has been fun to share stories and experiences. They departed to Sweden while we were here waiting for a warmer weather window – and no snow falling in the passes.

We look forward to meeting up with Jim and Debbie in the future.

Staying at Jim & Debbie’s Airbnb in Felt, ID has provided easy access to The Grand Tetons and Yellowstone, without breaking the bank.

Having the opportunity to see elk, antelope, bison, and moose in their natural surroundings has been an incredible experience.

The mountains…awesome! Spectacular peaks with beautiful green meadows, canyons, and moonscapes of trees and earth charred by steam. The variety of differing landscapes within one general area is amazing. Roads leading into and out of the parks – not for the faint hearted…

In the morning we turn the BMW’s north.

Destination – Bozeman, Montana. Friends have told us that it is a cool city…so we have to check it out! Already have restaurant recommendations in hand …

Day 6 – CA to QB

June 16, 2019

A short ride from Idaho Falls to Felt, ID. Staying in an Airbnb for several days so we can tour the Grand Tetons, Jackson Hole, and Yellowstone. We will rent a car to do this.

Why rent a car, you ask?

It becomes a pain to stop and park motorcycles repeatedly to view sites and take pictures. You have to check and verify the chosen parking spot is level enough to park the motos. Then gear has to be removed (and put back on) to take pictures.

And going for an extended walk/hike?

Moto gear is very heavy, bulky, and hot. It, along with the boots (my boots have a 3″ platform sole so I can plant my feet on the ground), need to be removed, secured to the bikes…and other shoes put on.

Time consuming and a bother. Much easier to park the motorcycles for excursions such as this.

Our opinion…

Cassie

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Day 5 – CA to QC

Craters Of The Moon…WOW!

What an unexpectedly, beautiful, interesting National Park!!

Stark lava beds with snowy peaks in the background; spring flowers blooming in dark beds, trees and shrubs growing and rebirthing where nature had previously scorched the landscape.

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We are fortunate to visit before summer has hit this area. The lava beds can reach temperatures of 150F!

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Today we rode from Boise, ID to Idaho Falls. Tomorrow see ride to Wyoming and the Grand Tetons!

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Day 2 – CA to QC

Fabulous ride on Hwy 395 from Susanville, CA to Burns, OR.

The views encompassed Ponderosa Pines, cattle ranches tucked away in fertile valleys, high desert, alkaline lakes… and sweeping turns; with no traffic.

After having an enjoyable lunch with some of the local population at the Dinner Bell Cafe, in Lakeview, OR we rode for over two hours before we encountered traffic in our lane of travel; and only a few vehicles traveling in the opposite direction. Nice!

About 45 minutes outside of Burns we played tag with some thunderstorms. Luckily, every time we thought we were going to ride into the thick of the storms, the road dodged out of the way.

The rain hit us as we unloaded our motos at the hotel.

Tomorrow our target is Boise, ID; after we back track a bit and see some wild mustangs and burros at the nearby BLM Wild Horse Corral’s. Growing up in the west, I’m thrilled at the opportunity to see real wild horses!

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Tuesday, June 10 we start our ride back to Magog, QC from Colfax, CA.

We enjoyed watching Parker graduate from CSUMB, marry Megan, and spending time with family and friends.

A big thank you to Joanna for allowing us to stay at her house for several days before Parker’s wedding, and again for a couple of days as we get organized, and ship some things back East.

We started watching the weather a week ago. So far, looking good up through Saturday. We will be checking a couple times a day so we can divert, or stay put for a few days.. if necessary.

Our current plan is to head East on 49, across the Sierra’s to 395. Then north on 395 into Oregon. Will then nhead East to Boise, ID…and spend some time exploring the Sawtooth Mountains. Neither of us have traveled to this particular area…so we are excited about visiting it.

We wish to lighten up the weight we have been carrying on the motos. We will figure out what we are going to box up and ship in the morning. It is sooooo much more enjoyable riding the motos when they are not loaded down!

Today we rode from Lodi, CA to Colfax, CA visa Hwy’s 88, 40, & 80 without hardly any of the gear we have been carrying…the fun was back in the actual riding. Nice scenery, interesting riding with both wide and tight twisties, no extra weight… beautiful!

We will be happy to get away from CA traffic. Every year that I return for a visit, it feels like the traffic keeps increasing everywhere.

Onward!

Cj

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May 12, 2019- Day 15 QC to CA ride

It is what it is…

We will arrive as scheduled in Santa Monica to visit our friends Steve Behal and Jeannie Catchpole; then, Monterey for Parker’s graduation.

That is good, as the leg of our x-country trip TO California has been total improvising and flexibility due to the weather we encountered.

We are already looking at revising our itinerary for the return trip…due to cold temps and snow remaining in the Sierra’s…and the fact that we still wish to visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and the Utah border.

Now we look at the Hoover Dam.

What is amazing is the Hoover Dam was built UNDER budget, UNDER time…and 70 percent OVERBUILT according to current construction standards.

Wow!!! That is amazing for ANY construction project…let alone one of this magnitude.

We are really glad that we laid over for a day and visited this magnificent structure. Definitely worth the visit.

Thursday, May 9, 2019 – Day 12 of QC to CA ride.

To be back in the land of big skies.

Hello Western U.S.!!!

I was an avid reader of Western historical fiction, Western TV shows, and Western movies. Every time I’m in the Sierra’s, or rural areas of Arizona and Santa Fe, my imagination goes into high gear.

I always wonder about the different individuals who chose to make the trek westward for a better life, or just the plain adventure. I think about the native Americans and the changes forced upon them.

As I ride across the plains and desert, I think about the places Indians could have laid in wait for the wagon train making it’s way slowly across the rutted trail; or the large herds of cattle, and the accompanying cowboys hoping the next water hole is still in existence…the sound of cows bawling and whips in the air.

The light is different in the west. The sky is big and clouds race across with their shadows running across the landscape. The colors of the earth, rocks, landscape….not lush, but colorful and bold.

Today we rode across New Mexico on Hwy 40 – flirting a bit with Historical Route 66.

Tomorrow we ride Arizona. What direction? To be determined by the weather (and our interpretation of the forecast) in the morning.

Weather routing used for sail racing and offshore passages proving useful…again.

We elected to lay over in Lawton, OK as we reviewed how the weather was developing west of us.

Good thing, as our target destination has been under severe weather and tornado warning. We are under tornado watch here until 11:00 pm – but don’t feel that the likely hood is high.

The staff here at the Apache Casino and Hotel have been the friendliest we have met at any hotel. They just allowed us to move the motos under the entry cover, so we don’t receive hail damage. There is a threat of receiving 1″ hail here tonight!

Thank you Apache Casino and Hotel staff!!

Hoping we have a window to leave in the morning to get west beyond the next set of cells.