The Future is not Today: Yellowstone

Showing posts with label Yellowstone. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Going Nuclear in Idaho

Up bright and early, still on east coast time in body and mind. While planning the trip the objective was to make sure we are in before dusk, so we are not infringing on the critters play time on the roads, thus I had us leaving real early, I really didn't consider the critters like dawn as well. Adjustments are needed.

This morning we will be back tracking 30 miles to Craters of the Moon, but there is this place right in the middle of Arco that must be visited. It's like the missile in Warren, NH. This was the first reference going nuclear in Idaho. This is the Roadside America's the Devil Boat, Submarine in the Desert. The numbers on the sub are real. This was the fast-attack nuclear submarine USS Hawkbill (SSN-666). (all pics are clickable and can be enlarged)

Next we head south to the Craters of the Moon National Monument. We watched the video before riding around on the park loop road. Craters is a huge lava flow that is pristine from an geological point of view. We also took a walk out to one of the bat caves. I have found the knees can take the walk, now I have to work on the rest of the parts of the body.

It's really hard to convey the beauty of this place thru my camera. Gotta be the camera and not the shooter right ?

Back on the road with the wind. I had to list the bike to the left to keep going straight. Did I mention these roads are straight, if not they are. Next nuclear event is Experimental Breeder Reactor 1. Experimental Breeder Reactor I (EBR-I) is a decommissioned research reactor and U.S. National Historic Landmark located in the desert about 18 miles (29 km) southeast of Arco, Idaho. At 1:50 pm on December 20, 1951 it became the world's first electricity-generating nuclear power plant when it produced sufficient electricity to illuminate four 200-watt light bulbs. It subsequently generated sufficient electricity to power its building, and continued to be used for experimental purposes until it was decommissioned in 1964. (thank you Wikipedia)

The core

One of the original bulbs they powered up.

Back onto the windy road and heading for Yellowstone. We finally got a break being on the straight and wide when we turned onto ID 31 heading up the Tetons. The elevation changed as well.

The straight and wide

At least there was a reason to lean right and left

Into to Jackson, WY for lunch at a BBQ joint

A collection of antlers

A view of the Tetons

Entering Yellowstone. What surprised the heck out of us, we owned Yellowstone. The traffic was really light we could go as fast as we wanted but we kept the speeds down to enjoy the view.

Owning the road

What we learned last year, there are a ton of elk, moose, bison, and deer in the park. While we didn't rush thru we didn't particularly dilly dally. Stopped a couple of places for some scenery.

The last stop was right around 7pm and while the sun is still out it, it is dropping fast. We came up on one stop and the traffic is stopped and gathering. Having been stopped for more than a couple of moments, I figured there must of been some animals up ahead. Sure enough a herd of bison comes walking up the road. On the inside of the pack is a calf, protected by the huge bison. She or he was snorting away, jumping and bumping the other bisons. When he/she was about 40' from us, looking pissed, starts to head right for us. Damn damn damn, another one of these fuckers are gonna take us out again. Closer and closer, me shaking at this point, too late to dismount, we just stood there waiting for the impact. Snorting louder and louder, she/he is looking right into the fear in our eyes, he/she turns away from us. Thank you thank you thank you. MeAsWe thought she had captured the whole thing on video, but she forgot to press the start button.

Throttle up to use up the last remaining light of the day and got to West Yellowstone, MT. Grabbed Montana for Smoke Chaising 2011 and headed into the barn.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Day 4 Part 2 - Sudden Impact

After stopping in Canyon VC, we headed out the East Entrance for Chief Joseph Scenic Highway via US 14. The road out of the park takes you thru some very mountainous topography and is a very nice ride. Not much traffic either, at least heading out.

We have been riding for about and hour and half, needed water, and came across the Buffalo Bill Reservoir VC. As good as any place to stop. This is where they built the dam for the reservoir and it has quite a history. Sounds like our Boston Dig for the early 1900's. In it's day it was the tall lest dam in the world, standing 325 feet.

Cody is the next big town just before the Chief Joseph Highway and a good place to fill up. We have found ourselves filling up more often as a precautionary measure, not knowing the area. Out east gas is never more than 20 Miles away except for parts of Maine. Cody named after William "Buffalo Bill" Cody.

Just outside Cody is the entrance to Chief Joe Highway. This highway is not only incredibly scenic, but historic as well. The road roughly follows Chief Joseph path as he lead the Nez Perce indians out of Yellowstone. This road is primarily sweepers, an easy ride as heightened speeds, with a few switchbacks. A pleasure to ride.

Next up is the Beartooth Scenic Byway. Wow is all I can say. This is not a road I could ride fast. Lots of tight switchbacks. The visuals presented to you also keeps your speed. This is not a place you want to run out of road and go over the edge. I believe we hit 10,976 feet as the highest elevation. Coming from the Cody side, the ride up was more difficult than going down into Red Lodge. You get the feeling you are on top of the world. Maybe Jimi was here when he came up with "excuse me while i kiss the sky"

In Red Lodge, we stop for gas again and a bite to eat. It's about 6:30PM and we still have 183 miles to go to reach White Sulphur Springs, MT. The GPS has us turn onto SR 78. Right as we turn on I see one of those large orange construction signs about the road being under construction, with the specific instructions about motorcycles should consider alternate routes. Of course I ignored the sign and figured any construction would be within 5 miles or so. This is Montana and not the East. We finally hit the construction about 25 miles into this road, but not all was lost. The road under construction was better than most of the MA roads and those unpaved roads we find in VT. Even wet I was able to move a fair clip even passing some slower vehicles.

We are on I90 moving right along. The temps were still in the 70's, skies crystal clear, moon out and not much traffic. Conditions were perfect for making up some time.

From I90 we made a right turn onto US89 and headed North. This picture was taken at 10:41PM.

Score Board:

Willie 10 Points (i got out with a bruise)
MeAsWe 5 Points (on injured disabled list)
FJR 1 point because it survived but doesn't look pretty
Forest Rat 0 Nada Nil Eating Dirt DEAD

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Day 4 - Crosstown Traffic Yellowstone Style

27 degrees out and we gotta get an early start...Brrr. Even the FJR gives a bit of, whoa man thin my oil. Today will we head north in Yellowstone to Obisidian Cliff, back and head out the east entrance for Chief Joseph Scenic Highway and the Beartooth Path. From Red Lodge we head out I90 to US89 to White Sulphur Springs and if we are making good time maybe to Great Falls. Either place with an early rise the next puts us within striking distance of the Going to the Sun road somewhere around 11:30. So thats the plan and when traveling long distances, in unfamilar locales, one has to be flexible and go with the flo. This will prove to be an understatement.

The Pony Express Motel is located in West Yellowstone, MT right outside the entrance to the park. This a simple motel and if you don't need the newest and greatest accomodations, I would recommend this place. It has a blend of the 40's, 50's. The phrase In with new and out with old, would be in old, update, update, update. I acutually connected to their WIFI. What more could you ask.

The owners recommended Running Bear Pancake House. Said it was the best place in town. Probably the owner's brother. So off for a quick bite, especially coffee. Typical tourist place, high prices but goood food, 6.95 for 2 pieces of french toast with butter. That's pricey in my mind.

Breakfast done we follow this couple on BMW's into the park. Insignificant at this point. When we entered thru the gate, the guy told us there was an accident about 3 miles. We got a taste of Yellowstone in crowded conditions. It took us 30 to 45 minutes to travel 5 or less miles.

Finally passed the accident we head north on the Grand Loop Road for Obisidian Cliff, a National Landmark. Seeing Yellowstone in the morning is totally different visual experience than late day, evening.

We pass the sign expect up to 30 minute delays due to construction. It's Sunday and of course they won't be working. This is us waiting for the OK to go.

So now we are behind schedule at least 1 1/2 hours. We ride and ride, the Waypoint comes up arriving Obisidian Cliff. We keep going because this was an estimate on my part that I placed in MapSource. The topography in Yellowstone is very diverse. Tall mountains with trees, smokin geisers, tall mountains with burnt trees from the fire of 1988, high plateaus, massive lakes, small ponds, large river, tiny streams. Visually this place is not boring.

We having been traveling too far at this point and I decide to pull over and check the Yellowstone pamphlet map. My estimates are never this far off. The map confirms my suspicions. We must have drove right past the cliff. Turning around I pull up the WP and head back for Obisidian

Another overstated landmark ala Plymouth rock. But the ride has more than offset the disappointment of the particular site.

We are seriously behind schedule and figure Great Falls is out and we are diffently shooting for White Sulphur Springs. We will just start out earlier than planned tomorrow.

These guys keep getting closer and closer