Great photos and story line Steve. Say, what are the accomodations like when you camp for the night? Do you cook out any or eat at stop along the way? How about a few photos of where you pitch the tent and rest for the night? 

Remember to take photos of some of the little diners, small towns, and PEOPLE you meet along the way. They're as much a part of this trek as the road and scenery. 

Be safe,

Michael

Dunno how far along Steve is by now, but his is a great tale of a fabulous road trip!  I look forward to more of his wonderful, you-are-there pics and narratives.

I thought I'd bump this thread by posting pics of some dramatic state plastic relief maps made by Hubbard (http://www.amep.com/cat_maps.asp?cid=29).  Hubbard used to produce the US Army relief map series, some of which unfortunately have gradually been depleted.  Since Steve was in Colorado when he last posted, I'll start there.

The physical geography of the West is unbelievable.  Although the state-level Hubbard maps are somewhat crude for really tiny detail, they show really large-scale stuff like mountain ranges, valleys and big rivers as well as than anything I've seen. 

Relief maps have to have some vertical exaggeration to show up the major geography.  Hubbard's are about 10:1

Steve was in Colorado in the last post, around the Gunnison, the deep E-W canyon about 2/3rds of the way down in the left center:

Utah was next -- note the forested N-S spine of high mountains in the center and the broken array of high DESERT mountains to the West (left):

Nevada was next.  Note the continuation of isolated N-S desert mountains and VERY flat valleys in between.  This is called the basin and range geologic province.  The scale is HUGE in Utah and Nevada: 

California  would be next, of course.  I'll start a new post to go on from here:

I'll start a new post for the next states.

Steve's next state was going to be Oregon, the Pacific Coast state that borders California on the North.  It's also a BIG state, and, like California, has an overwhelming variety of scenery.  Steve's original route was going to take him up through the south central part, and perhaps he'll stick with it.  Eastern Oregon is very dramatic desert, in starkest contrast with the forested Western part of the state on the other side of the N-S Cascade mountain range:

I admit to giving Steve some not-so-hot advice about where to ride, based on assumptions about some parts I hadn't actually driven over.  Hopefully I won't have led him astray, or maybe he'll forgive me if I did.

Idaho is next, where I grew up and which I've driven over extensively in the past 20 years.  Note the contrast between the desert-mountain southern part, the broad and flat-looking Snake River plain which came from a MASSIVE lava flow from Yellowstone NP, and the endless forested mountains north of there.  It's got liberal Sun Valley, right-wingers holed up in the northern panhandle, and everything in between.  BTW, it's some 400 miles plus from top to bottom:

Montana is next.  Again, there is a forested Western part and a dry Eastern part, which is high plains rather than desert:

They tacked on Yellowstone NP in that tab hanging down toward the bottom left.  Steve had plotted his trip along the Interstate that bends down to the Wyoming border somewhat to the right of the bottom center.  It goes right by the Little Big Horn Battlefield NM, where Custer ended his days.

Next was Wyoming.  Unfortunately, the Hubbard website didn't have the larger WY image up, so this will have to do:

The curved mountain range in the top center (like a closing parenthesis) is the Big Horn range, and Steve's route travels to the right (East) of that.  You can see the Interstate bend East about half-way down the Big Horns, to head off to Devil's Tower (WY) and the Black Hills (SD).  Lots of Sioux Indian fighting history in those parts.

This should do, since the rest of his states are not as dramatic.  I hope this gives you at least a tiny idea of his travelin' territory.

Larry

I'm a bit concerned. In an earlier PM (almost three weeks ago), Steve said that he was expecting to pass through Bozeman last Saturday (July 18) and that he'd call before he got here.  So far. I haven't heard from him and it's been six days since his last post.  I hope that he's just having too much fun.  Has anyone else heard from him?

 added:  I just noticed that he's online. 

Sorryy guys let me catch you up.  I am still on the coast of Oregon.  Will turn East today.

Steve

Glad to hear from you - I'm such a granny.  Hope you beat the heat.

Day 11 07/15/09 Part 2

Boy, not getting cell or internet service for 2 days put me really far behind on this thread.  I hope you guys can bear with me doing multiple days at once.

I left Gunnison and headed out to the Blue Mesa Resivoir.  What a beautiful lake, it is some 400 feet deep at the dam.

  I rode out 50 and it crosses over the lake several times, at the junction of 92, 50 stays on the south of Black Rock Canyon while 92 takes the north route.  I took 50 all the way to Cimarron where it heads to Montrose instead of following the canyon.  I turned around and headed for my camp site.

This is the back side of the dam and the start of Black Rock Canyon

I talked to a ranger and he told me that one of the best campsites on the lake was up at the end of Soap Creek.  Which was about 7 miles up a hard pack gravel road.

Made it to the camp gound and set up the tent.


Sun set from the campsite, pretty nice huh?

Day 12  07/16/09

Had a good nights sleep and got up with the sun.  Packed the bike up and headed out.

Saw some wild life on the way out.

A couple of pictures of Soap Creek Canyon


I took 92 west which runs the north side of Black Rock Canyon.  This was an awsome ride with lost and lots of twisties.  Most of the road is right on the edge of the canyon and no gaurd rails.  There are parts that are 800 feet to the bottom. Can you say pay attention to the road?


Yes thats about 800 feet to the water.

The sign said this rock formation was 700 feet out of the water and look how much higher I am.

Still on 92 following the canyon

Some white birches I believe.

Ok made it off 92 and back on 50.  I made it to Utah.  It only took 3 hours to do 118 miles this morning.  The Twisties on 92 took up some time and ate alot of miles.

These next pictures are fron the Utah boarder to Salina.  Pay very close attention to the last picture and do not try this, it makes you sweat more than the heat does.







Ok I put 5.5 gallons in a 6 gallon tank.  The lesson here is pay attention to the signs for gas stations.  They are far and few.  What happened is I missed the sign that said no gas for 100 miles.

These pictures are from Salina to the Nevada boarder, still on 50.
Signs said this was a controlled burn and do not report it.

50 is long and straight and the scenery looks the same.  Can you say "The Road Goes on Forever"?




Made it to Nevada.
Stopped in Baker to get a quick dinner before going into the Great Basin to camp for the night.  Well it didn't turn out quick and it was dark riding to the camp site.
Have been without cell service since Salina and not sure when I would get it back.  The waitress said they didn't get power out here till 1976....

Day 13 07/17/09

Campsite at Great Basin.

Rode up to the end of the road in the Great Basin, up to 10,000 feet.  I really wanted to camp up here last night but was not going to ride all the way up here in the dark.
Where the road ended there was a trail up to Wheeler Peak.  the hiking trail only went up another 3000 feet and took 8 to 10 hours.  I will save that hike for another day... 
Wheeler Peak

A creek at the upper campground

The view from the top.


The ride down.  See why you wouldn't want to do this in the dark.

Stopped for some coffee at this little store in Baker.

The store was a multi purpose shop.  It was also the movie theatre on Friday nights.

Here is route 50 again.  Its called the lonliest road in Nevada.

Finally got cell service back in Ely. And was able to check in with my sweetie and let her know everything was ok.

Ok I am not really sure how to log the rest of today.  "The Lonliest Road" is really an understatment.  You basicly go over a mountain range into a valley then over another mountain range then repeat, all day long. 




The town of Austin, NV


Between Austin and Fallon






Does it ever end???????

Stopped in Fallon for the night.

Tomorrow off to go around Lake Tahoe and on into California, will I make Eureka?

Day 14   07/18/09

Left Fallon this morning and headed to Virginia City.  It was more of the same along Route 50.  Here is a couple of pictures to prove my point.


Turned North on 341 and up into the town.  There was a section that was tristy with a 14 deg. incline.


Coming into town

It still looks as it did many years ago.

There were alot of bikes out today also.


Inside one of the restaurants.

and a bar.

there are alot of people that dress up in period clothes and wander around.  They also have gunfights.




The old fire department was really cool.



Another old bar.

Even had horses.

I guess it can get pretty crazy at times in most of the bars.  We were just there at the wrong time.

I had hooked up with another rider from West Virginia way back in Utah and he was doing just about the same thing I am.  I have just been amazed at the other bikers out here that are doing long distance rides too.  Well anyway we spent quite a while in Virginia City.  We headed to Lake Tahoe around 1 or 2 pm.  After ariving in Lake Tahoe we bidded farwell to Route 50.
Last few pictures of Route 50.  the ride up to the lake is really about the only part of this road that I have been on for 3 states that is pretty.



We turned north on Hwy 28 that goes around the lake.




Tahoe is an amazing lake and I really wish my Sweetie Caroline could be with me on this part.

We stopped at the old set of Bonanza, its not open to the public anymore.  the locals seem to think the new owners want to turn it into a B&B or some kind of time share place.

I have arrived in California.

Western side of the lake looking East.

After going arounfd the north side of the lake we headed up North on 89.  It follows the Trukee River, the only river that flows out of the lake.


Then west on I-80 for a short while to 20 West.  We stopped in Yuba for the night and will head to HWY 1 and on up to Eureka in the morning.

Day 15   07/19/09

Left Yuba and stayed on Route 20 all the way to Route 1.
Leaving Yuba its mostly farm land but you can see the hills off in the distance.

Passed a few large grain elevators.

More farm land and some tree farms


Then up into the hills and past Clear Lake


After Clear Lake it started getting greener and the trees started getting bigger.



Some old logging equipment by the road.

The end of 20 and the start of route 1

Then it was just the "END"

OH MY, look what I have done.  I made it to the west coast.


Going north from Fort Bragg on Route 1

It was lucky to have a nice weather day.

After a while route 1 joins up with 101 and you start moving away from the coast and into the redwood forest.



Its a really fun road too.

After a while I decided to have fun and stop trying to take a picture of every big tree.  My back is sore from throwing that big loaded down Ultra through the curves, but all I can say is it was a blast.

Made it past Eureka and camped for the night.

Day 16  07/20/09

Take a look at whare we camped last night.


Yup, thats right on the coast.

Stopped and had a big breakfast and spotted this cross section of a redwood.  Its 13 feet from bottom to top.

It turned out being really foggy most of the day.

Made it to Oregon

Coastline along 101.



The Mary D Hume was in service for 97 years before being left to rot here.

More coastline.

I dropped my camera yesterday and its been acting up all day today.  well now it doesnt work at all.  The following pictures I borrowed from Tom, the guy I met in Utah from West Virginia.  I will stop into a Wally world tomorrow and pick up a new one.

Caroline likes light houses and I saw the sign for the Cape Blanco Lighthouse.  The fog was pretty much gone from the road we were on so we ventured down the 6 miles to the lighthouse.  How the weather can change in 6 miles.


Plus the light house was closed to tours on Mondays.

Stopped for the night in Reedsport

Sput,

Looks like earliest to be in Bozeman would be in two days.  I really took my time coming uyp the coast and plan to start putting miles behind me again.

Need to find a new camera soon tho.  I am having a really good time an tink I might make Indy in 4 days if I'm lucky

Steve

 Wow, great pics!  Looks like a terrific ride... One question though... Where's the duck??? 

WOW! WOW! AND WOW! Steve,you are the MAN! What an adventure,makes me want to take off,stay safe.