Topic: Summer Road Trip! Washington to Colorado and Back

[Travis]

Well, June 20th was the last day of my five year enlistment in the U.S. Navy. Since last summer I've been planning on doing a big motorcycle trip as a celebration of my new-found freedom. Now the time has finally come to Set off on my trip! A big thanks to Flybox for helping me get my CB550 ready for the road. Sunday I'll be leaving Snohomish, WA heading for Fort Collins, CO to visit family and friends.

Here's the bike:


Here's a map of my route:


If you have any suggestions on things to do, people to see, stuff to pack, please share! I still haven't decide on a return route, so I'm open to suggestions there as well.

[mrbreeze]

Hmmmmmm..................Washington to Colorado............hmmmmmm......WTF is going thru my head??
Just kiddin' dude!! Hey congrats on your service. I only did 2 years back in the 70's (got out early due to a bout with appendecitis).
You deserve this kind of adventure. I say tear it up and have a great time....take lots of pics and just take your time and enjoy. It might be awhile before you can go back and do it again. There are lots of people here that make long trips on this forum. I always like reading about their adventures. Make sure and check with some of these people regarding what to and not to take along.

[ofreen]

Your map makes it appear that you are sticking to the interstates which is a terrible way to see any of the country along the way. But if you are in a hurry, that is definitely the quickest. As far as elevation goes, if you are in reasonable physical condition and your bike's intake is reasonably close to stock, you will have no trouble. You won't be riding across the surface of the moon. Although there are a few places that might resemble it.

[Deltarider]

Your map makes it appear that you are sticking to the interstates which is a terrible way to see any of the country along the way.

I fully agree with that. In Europe and Africa I've always used Michelin roadmaps. Michelin indicates scenic routes with a green line. Michelin never disappointed me. Where the map showed this green line, routes without exception were stunningly beautiful and wherever the green line ended, routes instantly became boring.

[EricHa]

Looks like you're going to see some magnificent scenery! Yellowstone is great, but the Tetons are even better. Try to get a hike in if you have time. I've wanted to ride through the west since I was 14. 35 years later and I'm still dreaming.... It's great to see guys getting out there and rolling off the miles!

Just a heads up. I think there is possibly a 110 mile stretch of no gas stations between Rock Springs and Rawlins in Wyoming on I-80. Not positive though.

[Travis]

Your map makes it appear that you are sticking to the interstates which is a terrible way to see any of the country along the way.

I fully agree with that. In Europe and Africa I've always used Michelin roadmaps. Michelin indicates scenic routes with a green line. Michelin never disappointed me. Where the map showed this green line, routes without exception were stunningly beautiful and wherever the green line ended, routes instantly became boring.

I'm hoping to make it there in 3-4 days, hence the interstates. Plus I've seen all of Eastern WA, so I don't mind taking I-90 right through it. When I leave Jackson, WY the route is still up in the air; kinda depends on how I'm doing with time. The ride back is when I plan on taking a bit more time to enjoy the roads and scenery.

[Travis]

Hmmmmmm..................Washington to Colorado............hmmmmmm......WTF is going thru my head??
Just kiddin' dude!! Hey congrats on your service. I only did 2 years back in the 70's (got out early due to a bout with appendecitis).
You deserve this kind of adventure. I say tear it up and have a great time....take lots of pics and just take your time and enjoy. It might be awhile before you can go back and do it again. There are lots of people here that make long trips on this forum. I always like reading about their adventures. Make sure and check with some of these people regarding what to and not to take along.

I think both states recently legalized something...  I had appendicitis last October, it sucks. Got two weeks off though!

I definitely plan on keeping you all updated with pictures and whatnot.

[flybox1]

Have a safe trip, Travis.
I'm finally back up and running, so drop me a line when you're back in town.
Rob

[juliorice]

Hello Travis and others.  I don't usually post to this board, but thought I would chime in here.  I actually rode a lot of the same route 2 years ago on a trip from New Mexico to Portland.  From your point H in Wyoming to Spokane was basically the same.  Stayed a night in the referenced small town of Gardiner, Montana.  The night life there was spectacular.  For being such a small town the collection of beautiful women was astounding.  I think it might have been a fluke.  Not sure, you should go find out for me.  Apparently they do quite the river rafting business there in the summer months and I think that's what does it. 

I agree about staying off interstates.  If time is of the essence it's understandable and sometimes can't be avoided.  But I'm a big believer in 2 lanes.  When I was in Missoula I was faced with the option of interstate to Coeur d'Alene or a slightly out of the way highway 200.  I chose the the 200 route(you will see it on the map) and consider it one of the best decisions of my life.  I can't even begin to explain how much fun I had on that road.  Holy #$%*!  Funny thing about Montana was that the speed limit was 75 on most of the 2 lane roads.  So in truth you really don't get slowed down all that much. 

One last thing I learned on that trip was coasting with my engine off.  There were times in Yellowstone when the traffic would get backed up because everyone literally stops in the middle of the road to look at a bear or a moose or an elk.  One of these times happened to be at the top of a hill(mountain).  Traffic comes to a stop and there's nothing to do but wait till it goes.  I shut the bike off and waited.  When traffic would go I just let off the brake and coasted down the hill.  Now I do it every chance I get.   If I'm on some windy mountain road heading downhill that I really can't get up over 30 or 40 mph anyways I just shut it down.  I'll slip it into neutral between 4th and 5th and hit the kill switch.  The peace and quiet and fun is like nothing else.  When I get to the bottom or have to get going I'll jam it into gear, pop the clutch and off I go.  Some of the funnest #$%* I've ever done. 

That's enough out of me.  Have fun, be careful and take it easy.  Any trip on 2 wheels is good.  Grab your #$%* and go.  Julio     Dang it!  I can't figure out how to post a pic.   

Ok, I kind of got the pic.
 



 

[EricHa]

+1 on Gardiner and especially Beartooth Pass. Just a stunning road to travel.

[keithg78]

When you get to Colorado, check out Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park, CO (not far from Fort Collins).  The ride through the park is great and you hit altitudes of over 14,000 feet.  Really great winding roads and scenery.  Estes Park is a nice little town too and I recommend visiting the Stanley Hotel (It's the hotel that inspired Stephen King to write The Shining and was used in the filming of the TV mini-series). 

I did a cross country ride two years ago with a friend of mine and it was amazing.  We were on Harleys (I rode a Sportster Iron 883 and my buddy had a Crossbones) but wish I had my '75 CB550 at the time because I would have much rather taken it.  We went all the way down the East Coast, down along the Southern Border and then up through Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado to South Dakota and Wyoming.  Then I rode back to CT on the Historic Lincoln Highway which is a small two lane road that spans coast to coast.  We covered over 6,000 miles and traveled through some great parts of the country and visited many of the National Parks.  I recommend staying off highways as much as you can and instead using state roads and back roads which have better scenery and take you through small towns.  Also, bring earplugs for the ride because the wind noise will wear you out after awhile when covering hundreds of miles each day.  Enjoy the trip!

[HondaMan]

I suggest using D8EA (NGK) or X24ES-U (ND) sparkplugs when on long Interstate rides with the 550. It will cool it off a bit and make it smoother.