We took a 9-day trip from Grand Junction up to Yellowstone, stayed there 5 days, and back to Grand Junction from 6/13/09 through 6/21/09. Here's a map of the overall route:

We started at the bottom, went north on the left side, and returned coming south on the right side. I'll get some pictures uploaded over the next few days. We spent 5 days up at the top, taking the various routes through the park, and had some interesting times.

Here are a couple of noteworthy roads that we rode. This one is on the Beartooth Highway east of the northeast corner of the park:

and here's another cool stretch of road east of that:

Some of these corners were a bit tight for the big 14...

The most fun (riding) that we had inside the park was south of Tower Junction:

Pictures to follow... -bg

* Last updated by: bgordon on 6/26/2009 @ 1:40 PM *

Yer BACK!!Glad yer safe and sound Bro!!Great pics there so far-I haven't been able to get down there yet,but I will(GOD allowing).Looks just awesome-fast sweepers in there and tight stuff!What was your average speed?(if ya don't mind me askin).My average speed on stuff like that is normally around 120 or so-but only with NO traffic.(bursts of 140 or so).MORE PICS!!!!!Normally cruise the limit however,or at 80ish.(let me reiterate-I NEVER go by ANYONE doin' 140!).And only on roads I've ridden many times.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 6/26/2009 @ 8:29 PM *

blue:

We did most of our cruising at around 90 or so.

There was one amazing stretch of road that went on for several miles that had BIG sweeping turns and good vision ahead. By big I mean maybe the length of a football field or two, turning anywhere between 30 and 90 degrees. And the road surface was PERFECT. We went a bit faster through those, and it was great fun, but I normally am pretty conservative on first-time roads.

The thing that was probably stupid now that I look back on it was the night ride into Rawlins. We had lost most of the day repairing my bike and had hotel rooms reserved there that night. My two boys (John and Jason) were in front and it was pitch black. At least for me. At my age my night vision is not good. I asked them later about this, and they said they could see things (like animals) in the areas that were pitch black for me. In photography terms, I had no "shadow detail". So we're maintaining about 90 mph and pretty much all I can see are some reflectors on the side of the road (at times) and their two tail lights ahead.

So I learned to anticipate and guage the turns primarily by watching their tail lights. At that speed, there was little room for error. I got pretty comfortable after an hour or 2 of this, but it was a bit scary at first.

Should have asked them to slow down, but it was 1 am when we got to the hotel as it was... -bg

That must have been a nice trip. Any pics?

Ya-night vision-I USED to be able to see like a hawk at night.Now it's a No Go to ride around on my bike at night.Especially up here with the BIG critters runnin around!.I know what ya mean about pitch black-seein just reflectors and tailights!Scary ya!Glad ya had a great time tho-whattaya mean"repairing my bike"?Geez-what a bummer-nothing too serious I hope?Glad yer back!!

* Last updated by: blue07 on 6/27/2009 @ 11:19 AM *

whattaya mean"repairing my bike

We were heading south from Cody and got about 20 miles out and the bike got hot and I got an F1 error. Stopped and noticed a hole in the radiator. The bike wouldn't start at this point. It was cranking over, but no spark.

Called the number on my AMA card for a lift back to Cody.

So we had 2 problems -- a hole in the radiator and it wouldn't start.

First thing I checked was the PC III ground wire. Turns out that the bike got hot enough to start to melt the plastic where the coolant overflow tank was bolted to the frame. The PC ground wire was behind the tank at the top bolt. It had apparently lost contact with the frame, although I'm not sure how the softened plastic could have caused this. Anyway, I move the ground wire to the bottom overflow tank bolt and she fired right up.

While I was working on this, my boys went to an auto parts store and talked to them about radiator repair/patching. They came back with a putty-like product (don't know its name) that needed to be kneaded for a few minutes and then, after the radiator was cleaned as much as possible, pressed into it over and around the leak. It worked like a champ, and the bike made it home without further incident (about 500 miles, I think). I'm watching eBay for a replacement radiator, because new ones cost over $600.

So we had planned to ride from Cody to Rawlins that day (260 miles), and it was after 5pm and we still needed to eat. That's what put us into night riding.

Quite an adventure! -bg

* Last updated by: bgordon on 6/27/2009 @ 1:01 PM *

Some pics from my wife's camera...

Son Jason in front, then me, then son John:

Old faithful:

At a rest stop in Yellowstone one morning:

I'm not clear on where Beartooth Pass is. If this isn't it, it's close to it. VERY cold.

My little skittery beggar friend:

Old guys shouldn't be allowed to have this much fun <grin>:

Jan and John getting together on directions:

She's dead about 20 miles south of Cody. Hole in radiator; got very hot:

Got her trailered back to Cody. Moved the PC III ground wire to a better position and she's running again:

John gets the radiator patching goop ready:

and makes the radiator repair:

* Last updated by: bgordon on 6/27/2009 @ 6:18 PM *

There you go, cool pisc.

BTW, do all folks living on Continental divide ride Continental tires?

Great Pics-ya-good job on those.Okay-NOW-are you gonna get a Rad Guard with yer new radiator?Geez-gotta tell these youngsters EVERYTHING! LOL!

Yes. The radiator guard is on order. I'll probably have it before I have a new radiator. Had no idea I needed something like that.

These forums are great. -bg

Alright!While I'm busy chiding you-one more "must have"!!!TIRE REPAIR KIT!!!!-Aerostich "Expedition".I think $49.00 at Aerostch.com.Comes with everything ya need and will snugly fit right where the California Model Evap Canister would be(under the front of the seat there).Glad yer back-wish I could have been with ya'll-Awesome trip there!!!!

A few more trip pics from John's camera...

The radiator patch that got us home:

* Last updated by: bgordon on 7/16/2009 @ 9:44 AM *

Great Pics....Thanks for posting

That's cool BG that both your sons enjoy riding also. Making great family memories! I have two sons, hopefully someday we'll have their mom convinced........

Best of luck with that (convincing mom). That can be difficult, but it's important... -bg

Just did Beartooth Highway 3 weeks ago.
What an incredible road.

Wow!!!!! Thanks for the pic's BG. Yellowstone is a place I sure want to visit before I die. On the 14 would just be the trip!!

If you do get up there, you won't be sorry you went! -bg

If ya did beartooths 3 weeks ago your lucky.There tearin' the road up now.Takes me about an hour and a half to get to Red Lodge from Cody.Lot of peg scrappin'
You guys should have pm'd me when you where in town.

Dream Trip