Day 6 North to Alaska
May 25th, 2010 Cheyenne Wyoming to Billings Montana, 460 Miles
I slept in until 0830 hrs and did my Blog for day 5. I figured I could ride a relaxed pace leaving my 1030 hrs and make it to Billings by 1900 hrs. The weather was blue skies dotted with scattered small cloud formations. The route was simple, I-25 to I-90 and into Billings for the night.
During my ride, I received a text from Milky, who lives in Salt Lake City. Merritt had broken down on Hwy 191 north of I-80. His instruments lights lit up and then died and so did his BMW 1200 Gs. Somehow Merritt got a passing trucker to load up his bike and got permission to transport Merritt and drop him and the GS off at Salt Lake City BMW. Milky was going to meet Merritt there and take him to his home until his issue was analyzed and resolved.
I left without eating breakfast, so at about 60 miles out of Cheyenne, I saw a small town but what I would call and Outpost called Gulp Water. I saw the Buffalo Inn and Diner and it ended up being a good choice. The food there tasted home cooked and the prices was right too. Gulp Water is also the home of the Wyoming State Chili Championships, scheduled for June 19th. I highly recommend it if you are ever leaving Cheyenne and can wait an hour for lunch or breakfast.
Two eggs breakfast with bacon, toast and hashbrowns and a cup of Joe for $7.95
Buffalo Inn and Grill on I-25 in Chug Water, Wy
Back on the road I couldn’t help but notice the expanse of the plains of Wyoming. I did notice though a lack of trees and thought about starting a tree seed campaign to help out. Plus it would cut the wind problems down. Although not as bad as yesterday, there were still some mild crosswinds to contend with but it wasn’t strenuous. There were several spots on the interstate for roadway construction which slowed traffic to 45 but they only lasted 2 to 3 miles. The one in Laramie had a detour through town which took 10 minutes.
A couple of hundred miles later and after transitioning onto I-90, I got hungry again. I saw an interesting lake Lake De Smet with some new development going on around it. I also saw some Pronghorn Antelope and a sign that said food, so I thought it was a good place to stop. I had a burger there and found out the lady who cooked it, rides on a Gold Wing Trike with her husband. The Burger was good and the view from the dinning room was excellent.
Two Pronghorn. I used the zoom but they were about 75 yards from me. I turned of my motor and coasted to a stop so not to scare them. They took off when I started up again.
Lake De Smet 12 miles or so west of Sheridan, Wyoming
My view while eating my Burger
The Cafe at Lake De Smet
Cockpit view of I-90 near Lake De Smet
I continued on as the terrain became elevated with rock outcroppings and I was finally beginning to see trees! Further down the road past Sheridan, I had to drain my tank. I noticed a town called Gary Owen. Gary Owen was the unit song for Custer’s 7th Calvary. Then it hit me, I was near Little Big Horn. Although it was too late to visit the Battlefield Park or the Custer Museum, I did stop and use the outhouse and got me a Drumstick Ice Cream. There I read the plaques in the parking lot of the Museum and read the plaques for the Unknown Soldier from Custer’s Last Stand.
Tomb of the Unknown, one assigned to Major Reno and found by the river.
Bust of Sitting Bull
Gen George Armstrong Custer
On I-90 in Gary Owen, Montana
After my brief Ice Cream, I drove up to the gate of the Battlefield which closed at 1800 hrs, I was there one minute before closing. Just to say I was there, then made the last 60 miles to Billings. I found the Best Western and check in, it was now 1930 hrs. I ordered in, Chinese again and washed my socks in the sink. They were getting a little ripe after three days. I called my sweetheart and then spoke to my ride buddy Merritt. I was supposed to link up with him on Weds in Great Falls.
In room dinning Asian BBQ ribs. I washed my socks, a pair of underwear, cleaned my wind screen and helmet face shield.
Merritt was with Milky at dinner in Salt Lake City eating Sushi. His bike wouldn’t be ready until the morning, so we scrubbed our rendezvous in Great Falls. His alternator belt broke and this was his third one on a motorcycle only 8 months old. I would go onto Banff Alberta and he would find an alternate route and Iron Butt it to either Prince George B.C. or meet me in Hyder. Merritt said either way he was going to make Alaska. I told him not to kill himself and take his time. I told Merritt he would now have a story for a campfire and he assured me he had a story to tell.
I checked weather for Banff, rain for tomorrow and the rest of the week, no getting around it. It is 602 miles and they have a Best Western there. Then its another 500 miles to Prince Georg, where I will try to link up with Bob Hole and Bob Sheldon from California on Thursday the 27th. From Prince George it is a little over 400 miles to Hyder. So 1,500 more miles to go!
Today’s route, 460 miles, Cheyenne Wyoming to Billings Montana
Mark, I think you have realized the best trip in the North West. All the talk of food is really starting to get me in the ‘mood’.