Forth and back-TOR '16

[RBMann]

Day 19-West to Boysen State Park near Shoshoni, WY 427 miles

Woke up in the morning and everything inside the tent was soaked. Humidity must have been 110%. The condensation was amazing. The dripping water is why I was awake and the whole top of the sleeping bag was wet too. The scene was pretty though with the campground at the base of a dam. The ranger had told me not to camp near the outflow as it smelled like sulfur-





The Ferrari brand seems to be sliding downhill a little-



After over a week in the mid-west, today would the last corn viewing for awhile-



Along the North Platte River, Chimney Rock is one of the landmarks travelers have always used-

[RBMann]

Day 19- continued...

Ralf-"Go ahead, show them the stuff you kept from me..."



Here is the back story. Two weeks earlier Ralf and I had stayed in Scotts Bluff. In the morning we drove by the cliffs but didn't stop. Today I saw there was a visitors center and a display of covered wagons. I have given up stopping to read about places since a day later I don't remember a thing so again I drove by the cliffs. On the edge of the monument I stopped to take a picture and noticed a road with tunnels going up the rock. The road was opened in 1937. I did a little hiking at the top and must say I probably enjoyed my time here more than Mt. Rushmore. Cool place, sorry Ralf-











One last shot of humidity as I headed into WY and things began to dry out-



I had driven by this campground on the way home from TOR a number of year ago. Very pretty and if it had a shower it would be even better. The sunset was striking-

[RBMann]

Day 20-Still going west to Big Elk Creek near Alpine, WY 269 miles

If you set up your tent just right the sun will hit it in the morning to warm it, dry it and wake you up. Mission accomplished, only had to unzip the door and could take this photo while still in bed-



Warm morning to run around and shoot some pics-





Ralf and I talked about this and camping vs. a motel room is like a motorcycle vs. a car. Camping and motorcycles help immerse you in your surroundings for a complete experience.

Moving on, no more roads through flat corn fields-



Hwy. 26 near Dubois, WY-



Maybe instead of an African Twin I should get one of these to ride-



Dee Jones has been over Union Pass a number of time and last year when Ralf and I tried we were rained out. This year there was a fire and I had to do a 10 mile detour on a really small dirt road to reach the Pass road. Beautiful lakes at the top-





If Ralf were here I know which direction we would be going-



Must be in 'Where the deer and antelope roam' country-

[RBMann]

Day 21-NW to Salmon, ID 298 miles

Almost every camp site this year was great. Another clear warm start to the day-



Hello?-



Hwy. 26 near Swan Valley, ID-



Heading up Little Lost River Hwy. from Howe, ID after leaving a 'Thank You' note on the house of a man that gave me a gallon of gas four years ago-



These are the kind roads that would feel safer if the beekeeper was still riding along, Pass Creek Road-



15 minutes later where the batteries failed in my SPOT satellite device-



West end of Pass Creek Road-



The first time I saw this road south of Chalice, ID I thought it was so cool looking, going straight through the mountain-



I had planned the go across the southern part of Idaho but fires and road closures changed my route. Stayed at my favorite unremarkable campground in Salmon, ID w/o Ralf Wilkowski. Received a 15% discount for stay #6-

[signit98]

Kinky Creek.... what could possibly be bad about it??? Next year...

[RBMann]

Day 22-Going to Dixie, WA again 419 miles

I know, I know, another sunrise or sunset. I just happen to love those times of day and the colorful skies. The fires in Idaho add an extra layer today-



The new art form I am seeing while traveling is welded metal-



Okay until the bear attacks-



Another fire near Hamilton, ID. Human source and some homes destroyed-



Lolo Pass again, westbound, such a hardship that this is a default route after other road closures. Really sad that a little store in Lowell, ID closed. It was my favorite rest stop between Lolo and Lewiston-



Back on the farm again and OGD another sunset-

[RBMann]

Day 23-Heading for the home 305 miles

Ready to pack up the camping gear for the last time this trip-



Rolling Palouse country wheat-



Came over a hill and thought I had made a wrong turn. Back in Kansas? No Othello, WA-



Columbia River gorge near Vantage, WA-





In another life I might have liked being a cowboy and riding the range Ellensburg,WA-

[RBMann]

Longest TOR loop so far at 6349 total miles. 2947 going forth and 3261 coming back.

Four week old rear tire down to the wear bars at 6500 miles. Third trip to TOR for the front with scalloping, vibration and lots of buzzing at 18000.





The only real fails were a cracked GPS screen in WY and a blown seam in the air pillow from too much daytime heat in the tent at TOR.

My other trusty companion for the whole trip-



If you are still following thanks for coming along on the ride.

[wswartzwel]

Thanks for sharing your ride with us.

[ckcarr]

Photography was excellent this year!

Great report. Makes me want to run away...

[signit98]

As always, Rick... pleasure sharing part of that with you! Looking forward to next year's reversed adventure!

[SergioK]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

Photography was excellent this year!

Great report. Makes me want to run away...

Yes, x3.

[Moybin]

Thanks for Swan Yalley ID shot, old stomping grounds long not visited.

[JonyRR]

Hey RB;
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I've been to most of those places, most of the time before digital cameras, GPS, etc. Lolo pass still one of my all time faves (Pierce, Weippe, Dwarshak lake old stomping grounds). Does a cripple's heart good to relive it vicariously in pictures.

[John Lyon]

The Columbia and other rivers are great to see. Think they could spare some water?

[PFFOG]

Thanks for taking us along, aside from Ralf's Calvin Kline audition portfolio, pictures were great.

[RBMann]

Thanks everyone for the kind words. For me, doing the report is sort of like getting to do the trip a second time. Sometimes the photos and correlating the locations bring back good memories and other details. I have been thinking about heading out again ever since I got home. Overall a very good time was had with and without Ralf.

Good luck to you JonyRR. Surgeries six years ago let me walk again and freed me of back pain. I feel like I got a second chance at life. I appreciate it and try to live it as fully a possible.

[flatbutt]

So much envy!

[SergioK]

Originally Posted by RBMann

Thanks everyone for the kind words. For me, doing the report is sort of like getting to do the trip a second time. Sometimes the photos and correlating the locations bring back good memories and other details.

With a trip this long how do you keep track of which photo was taken where, etc? Old school pen an paper/notebook? I've found the advent of geotagged photos greatly helps post ride memories. I also admire your daily mileage tracking. I forget to clear the trip odo when first heading out let alone daily readings.

[RBMann]

Originally Posted by SergioK

With a trip this long how do you keep track of which photo was taken where, etc? Old school pen an paper/notebook? I've found the advent of geotagged photos greatly helps post ride memories. I also admire your daily mileage tracking. I forget to clear the trip odo when first heading out let alone daily readings.

Photo location is pretty much in my brain. When I snap the shutter it records a picture on the camera memory card but also seem to lock that moment in my brain. The time stamps help too. I have a note pad for gas mileage, fill up location, daily mileage, where I spend the night and for some reason the low overnight temperature. If I can't remember the location then the time difference between pics will usually get me there.