Day 14: Sunday June 12, 2022

Today was going to be my final ride home so I woke early and wanted to be on the road by 6:00am.  Since I was less than 300 miles from home I wanted to get on the road as soon as possible as I have missed Myrna and the cozy home she has made for us. But when I went outside to load my bike I noticed the dark skies and a few sprinkles.  So out of an abundance of caution I put on my rain gear.  I rolled out of the hotel at 6:15am. As soon as I reached the interstate it started to rain, it continued to rain off and on until I got to Reno.  Once again the winds were strong coming from the northwest and I was riding right into them.  Riding through the canyons before reaching Sparks NV the winds were relentless.  So strong dust clouds covered the highway, which was weird because there was light rain in the area.  I stopped for gas in Sparks and changed gloves as the sky looked ominous toward the Sierras.  After leaving Reno the rain began falling harder and once I crossed into California the skies opened up.  For the next hour it poured rain.   It was so ridiculously heavy that there was nearly zero visibility at times.  Arriving at the summit the clouds were low and the rains were of biblical proportion.  At one time while riding in the middle lane of the freeway and passing an 18 wheeler,  he hit a puddle and splashed water toward me that felt like a fire hydrant was turned on me.  For a few seconds I could not see anything through the blast of water.  I couldn’t help but start laughing at the irony of the way my ride was ending based on the way it began. Rain, rain, rain.  However, any day on a motorcycle even in the rain, is better than a day at work.   Coming out of the sierras and into the foothills the rains were ending and by the time I was off interstate 80 and on the country road home to Lincoln everything was dry.  Due to the rain and winds I didn’t stop to take any pictures today.  I rolled into the garage to a big greeting from Myrna and Bodie.  The ride was amazing but it’s always great to be home.  

Todays ride was 290 miles for a total of 3,769 miles.  Dave’s total was 5,578 miles  

Dave, Rob and Eric; thank you for joining me and helping make this ride enjoyable, memorable and fun.  I love you guys!

Thank you everyone who read the blog and kept us in your prayers. We had no mechanical breakdowns and we all came home safe.  God is good!

2 Thessalonians 3:3  But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 

Day 13: Saturday June 11, 2022

Today was the antithesis of yesterday.  I left South Jordan and caught Interstate 80 at Salt Lake City and turned west.  Interstate 80 is not my preferred way to travel (because it’s so boring) but it is really the only way home.  I rode along the salt flats and into the mountains and then along the canyons and desert.  The winds today were ridiculous!  They gusts were extreme and beat me like a prize fighter.  The posted speed along I 80 is 80mph so that’s what I rode at but that wasn’t fast enough for some truckers as they passed me and other motorists. There was a phenomenon along the interstate. For miles the number 2 lane (slow lane) was a reddish color and there was a smell of fish or swamp water.  Then I started seeing little creatures crawling onto the freeway and getting squished by the vehicles.  I tried to slow down and ride on the shoulder to see what these creatures were and from what I could tell they looked like a grasshopper and scorpion.  When I checked into the hotel the clerk was asked what the creatures were and she said they’re a mormon cricket.  I found this news article:

Mormon crickets can travel about a mile each day. They do not fly but they do climb. They do not bite, carry disease or pose a threat to animals that eat them. They do present some public safety issues on roads though.

"They're cannibalistic, so if one gets squished, the others come and eat it and they get squished," Jeff Knight, State Entomologist for the NDA said. "There's been reports that that alone can make the roads slick but if that happens and then we have a thunder shower, then the roads can get really slick from the dead crickets."

The sight of the thousands of crickets was something out of a B Grade horror movie.

I rode 384 miles today and settled down in Winnemucca NV for the night.  Total miles ridden so far 3,479.

Joel 2:25  I will restore to you the years that the locusts have eaten  

Day 12: Friday June 10, 2022

Today was eventful. First off this is the day Dave and I separate while he rides south to Texas and I head west to California. But before we left a gentleman approached us from the hotel and was admiring the bikes.  He then said yesterday while driving here I noticed a motorcycle crashed and was on the side of the road and there were two truckers helping him out.  What is it about people that they have to share tragedies when trying to relate to you?  I did not receive what he was saying knowing that God is bigger than his negativity.  

After a tearful prayer we rode out together for the first 122 miles when we came to a literal fork in the road.  We stopped for gas in Shoshoni WY where highway 26 spilt.  We hugged goodbye and Dave went left while I turned right.  We started this ride out with four of us on the adventure and now it’s down to a solo ride.  After leaving Shoshoni, I rode through the prairie of Wyoming and then climbed to the 7550’ level of the mountains. I was the only vehicle on the road for miles and it was peaceful.  After coming out of the mountains the terrain turned desert/prairie and there are no signs of towns or civilization anywhere. The winds were crazy strong changing as the road changed, I would get blasted from the side causing a lean with the bike, then I would be riding into a head wind eating up gas.    I noticed my fuel level was getting below half a tank and I am one to fill my tank when it gets to half full, because you never know when the next gas station will be.  Being a bit concerned I noticed a car pulled over at a historical marker so I pulled up next to the passenger side.  Unbeknownst to me the female driver had her door open and was squatting down peeing.  The passenger reluctantly rolled down his window and I nonchalantly asked him where the nearest gas station was.  He said Kemmerer about 50 miles away.  I said thank you and rode off.  Fifty miles was no problem with the amount of fuel I had.  While after riding 35 miles the highway came to a tee.  I pulled over to figure out where Kemmerer is and the GPS said 61 miles. Now that “50 miles” just became 96 miles. I researched the nearest gas and that was it. So in an effort to save fuel I rode off at 55-60 mph in a posted 70mph highway.  There still weren’t many cars on the highway.  The fuel gauge kept falling even as I  crept along. The head winds and hills seemed unending as the fuel gauge continued to fall. I was praying out loud for a loaves and fishes moment, that Jesus would extend my fuel until I reached Kemmerer.  I was about 10 miles from town when my low fuel light came on but I made it to the gas station and filled 5.7 gallons of a 6.2 fuel tank. I had a half gallon of fuel left which would be about 16-17 miles with the trailer.  I rolled into the gas station and immediately gave thanks. 

I rolled into Salt Lake City to Friday rush hour traffic and 98 degree temps and settled for the night in South Jordan. Today I rode 470 miles for a total of 3095 miles for the trip.

Philippians 4:6   Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

Day 11: Thursday June 9, 2022

Today ended up being a day of relaxation. We were planning on riding to Bear Tooth Pass but the roads were still snowed in with areas of 10’ snow drifts. Needless to say we didn’t go. Instead we rode to downtown Cody and checked out a few of the old buildings and got pie for lunch. We were saving our appetites for a return to Cassie’s Roadhouse Supper Club for a steak dinner.  We ate at Cassie’s last night and loved the food, atmosphere and live country music that we had to return.  The restaurant and building are celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.   The service is as great as the food.  Last night we asked our server if we could pray for her while we ask a blessing on our food.  Without hesitation and with tears in her eyes she said yes, she said her mother is dealing with cancer and would appreciate the prayers. We lifted up her mom and her (I have forgotten there names while typing this) and prayed a blessing as well as for healing, peace and comfort.  It is so fun to pray for strangers.  Not every server we approached on this trip was receptive to being prayed for, and that’s ok. God knows.  

Romans 12:12.   Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 

Day 10: Wednesday June 8, 2022

Today was a new day. We had dry skies, albeit overcast but no rain!  Today we ride into Yellowstone. But first we need to get the Google maps to give us directions.  We got our route and away we went riding through the countryside passing by beautiful ranches and houses. The road was a fun twisty ride until it wasn’t.  The road which we thought was highway 89 (as indicated on the GPS) ended with a sign indicating the pavement ends ahead.  The paved road turned dirt and gravel.  Dave described the road as being shelled by heavy artillery. There were so many ruts and holes that a small child could be lost in some of the potholes. We rode it for a few miles then stopped a guy in a truck and asked him when the unpaved road ends and pavement begins. He said about 7 miles and this route was better than the alternative as the other route was worse, so we continued on.  Riding a 930 pound motorcycle made for the street along with pulling a trailer was a definite challenge of our riding skills.  The “7” miles turned into 17 miles but we eventually made it to pavement and the real highway 89. The bikes took a beating with the washboard, pot holed, rutted out road.  So too did our kidneys and spine 😂.  Dave made the comment that if we had any loose bolts on our bikes, they're lost now.  

We stopped in Gardiner MT (the north gate entrance to Yellowstone) for lunch.  We rode to Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces and hiked the 18 floors to the top. After that excursion we returned to our bikes and noticed elk within a few feet of us. After the photo op we continued on in the park. Passing by thermal pools and vents, as well as Bison and Elk. We climbed to over 8000’ and 50 degree temps and a thawing lake before making our way out of the park by way of the east entrance.  

We rode to Cody WY for the next two nights.  

Our journey today was  228 miles for a total of 2625 miles.  Gas prices today were $4.69  

Jeremiah 32:17. Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. 

                                             Notice the village below

                                             My poor filthy bike. 

Day 9: Tuesday June 7, 2022

Guess what?  Yep we once again woke to rain!  However watching the news it looked like the storm was circling north and east while we were headed south.  We took a leisurely time getting out hoping the rain would subside.  After getting gas for $4.66 a gallon ($2.20 less than I paid in California) we were on the road at 0930.  The rain was steady but not too heavy.  After about an hour the rain was a light mist and eventually we were riding on dry roads with beautiful blue skies and breathtaking cloud formations. We rode passed acres of farmland on highway 87 before riding into the mountains of Lewis & Clark National Forest where the temperature dropped to 48 degrees as we reached the snow line. No photos taken in the mountains as the road was narrow and no safe place to pull over.  We came out of the mountain and arrived in White Sulphur Springs.  We stopped at Jesse Pepper’s BBQ for lunch. This was the first BBQ place that Dave and I have eaten at on the ride (which was unusual based on our previous rides).  The food was outstanding, so much so we actually bought dinner and had it boxed up to go. The restaurant is a family owned business and we had an opportunity to talk to the owner before we left.  Her story is one of tragedy.  The owner Melinda (Mel) Peppers is a divorced woman who had a son that was working as a chef in Bozeman. Her son Jesse told his mom after her divorce that she and him should open a restaurant. She acknowledged Jesse but he said “mom not lip service… we need to make this a reality”.  With tears in her eyes Mel mentioned that her son Jesse was coming home one winter night from Bozeman when his girlfriend who was driving lost control of her car and crashed in a blizzard.  Jesse’s girlfriend survived the crash however Jesse did not.  Because she made a promise to Jesse to open a restaurant, on March 5, 2022 Mel and her children opened Jesse Peppers BBQ.  We were touched by her story and her emotion and asked her if we could pray for her.  She agreed so we held her and prayed for comfort, healing, family and success of her restaurant. She thanked us and we said goodbye.  

We rode out of town on highway 87.  What a fantastic, beautiful, fun, peaceful, scenic country road.  Here I was able to stop and take photos from the middle of the highway as there wasn’t any other vehicles on the road.  There really isn’t much else I can say about the ride so I’ll let the photos speak for themself. 

BTW you can click on the photos and you can see them in full size.  Also, the photos are not retouched or edited with filters.  They were taken with an iPhone 13.

We rode 302 miles today for a total of  2,397.  Dave’s total 4,037.

We are down for the night in Bozeman MT  Tomorrow we will see Yellowstone  

John 16:22  So with you:  Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 

                                                      Acres of farmland along highway 89