Grumpy Travels the Americas !!

Miles today 306 Total 1658.7
Quite a good nights sleep in the tent but it was very warm for the first few hours and didn't nedd the sleeping bag at all. It has been many, many years since that happened.
Up and packed by 08-00 so that it was all done in the shade. A few mile to the I 80 again then over the Missiissippi. Followed the river to a bike shop but they didn't have any mesh trousers. Took the opportunity to ride down to the big river, I mean this is one of THE rivers of the world ! I watched it, took a couple of pics and just had to dip my feet in it. Who from Taunton can say that ?? Maybe nobody would want to but, it's been done.
Once over the river I was now in Iowa !
On to the I 80 again to " IOWA 80 ", the Worls biggest truckstop. It IS big. Parking for 900 trucks and inside there are vintage small trucks and at least two full 18 wheelers ie. tractors & trailers....American size !! Needless to say the buffet was great and that was my one meal of the day....possibly week !
The rest of the day was racking up the miles again; very warm and long straight roads. Passed Des Moins & the town, Winterset, Iowa, where John Wayne was borne and perhaps should have popped in. Shame I am not here on the 25th as Maureen O'Hara is there and for $125 I could meet her. She must be the lat of the greats.
The rest of the day was on the I80 and although there were plenty of camping signs earlier in the day there were none in the afternoon so found a cheap motel in Harlan.
Tomorrow should take me to Nebraska & South Dakota on my way to Devil's Tower and Little Big Horn. Warning, violent thunderstorms due. Gulp !!



Dave DRRambler, I believe I did what you explained but still does not work. Will try again later. Thanks

Miles today 270 Total 1928

After very basic brekkies at motel (I think I was the only guest). As I filled up with gas (into the language already) I had a chat with a younger guy on a Harley who was 4 days into his trip from California to Milwaukee. Apart from helmet and gloves he was not wearing any protective clothing at all. Almost every bike I have seen so far has been a Harley and they just wear T Shirts and sometimes shorts.
I had a good start re-joining the I 80 then onto the I 29 North. I realised that mu route did not actually take me into Nebraska but a little detour could correct that. I killed two birds with that as I chose a road that took me on a toll bridge over the Missouri River. For the old gits like me who were brought up on westerns the Mississippi and the Missouri were mentioned in most of them. This one just happens to be the longest in the USA at 2,341 miles.
The bridge had a terrible metal grid road that did not agree with the tread on my tyres. It was weaving all over and after paddling in the river I paid a second dollar and road over it again....very slowly !
Back onto the I 29 to the I 90 passing Little Sioux, Sioux City, through Minnehaha County then a bit to eat at a real diner. The 3 courses were delicious and cost $10.50...my only real meal of the day. This was when the weather turned nasty so from 14-30 onwards the sky was black and the heavens opened. Rode about 90 miles in that with the wind blowing me about and then the 18 wheelers adding to it as the passed.
I had enough at approx 17-15 and found a cheap hotel.
I am sure there were other places and things I should mention but it is difficult to remember them all. Yesterday I rode over North Skunk River then South Skunk River. Not astounding but to me they were great names.
I have received plenty of great comments, thank you all. Neil & Paul thought I was brave to do this. If you saw me the few day before I left and the couple of days after I landed you would not have said that. Big coward, me !

Miles today 299 Total 2227
Quick good breakfast, quick chat with Jayne on Skype as it was her lunchtime, then on the road. Bit of a chilly start (bliss) then it warmed up.
Road was again very flat but was able to stop at a visitor centre for the scenery (a bit hazy) and to read about Lewis & Clark, famous American explorers. The Brits who read this can Google them and the Americans already probably know. Very interesting though. A lady behind the information desk gave me useful routes ie. see Badlands below.
After 130 miles or so stopped to fill up at a gas station next to "1880 town", a reconstruction of a western town. Didn't go in there but parked the bike next to some table and had a cold drink. I sat on the edge of the seat but it was not bolted down so the far end of the plank went up in the air and this plank landed on his but. Luckily no one saw this so my blushes were spared.
The roads were VERY straight and managed to take a pic while riding at 65 mph ( Oh you shouldn' do that !!). While I was riding at approx 70, I was overtaken by 4x4 hooked up to a LARGE caravan AND towing a large speedboat !
Next stop Badlands. Again you will have to Google it but it is incredible and a national park. Had a Bison Hot Dog then paid the $10 entry and rode the 35 miles or so taking pics at every stop and walkabout. There are loads of them but doubt they convey the real scale of the place.
For approx 300 miles I had been reading billboards at the side of the intersate with "drug Wall" on them. They all said different things and I hadn't a clue what it was. After asking I discovered it is actually the largest drugstore in the world in the town of wall. During the depression and the time of the dustbowls people were moving west. This family had the idea of offering free iced water in their small drugstore and the rest is history. They sell everything and the place is huge ! Google it.
From there it was a 60 mile chase to Keystone, just outside Mt Rushmore where I now am. Another cheap hotel and I am knackered. Have gained a further hour though so I am now 7 hours behind the UK.

Shorter day tomorrow, I hope.

Still cant get pics on here but you can see them on the link below.

Miles today 188 Total 2415
What a day !!
As I said yesterday their was a problem with the internet at the hotel so went to the deli across the road to use theirs. As I walked out of my room I bumped into a Canadian couple who I had met a couple of hundred miles previously at a rest stop. Mutual accusations of following each other and a promise of drinks if it happened again.
Was able to download pics (took ages) had a non healthy bagel with bacon, cheese, egg n other stuff and completed the most important role of the day.............spoke to Jayne on Skype ! Technology !
Had been advised of a very scenic road over the Black Hills where I would also be able to see Mt Rushmore. It was incredible with windy roads circling over themselves, over wooden bridges and through small tunells blasted into rock. One of which is so placed that it frames Rushmore as you drive through it. Good job the speed limits were 25 & 35 or I would have been in the trees still. Then decided to take the detour through Custer state Park. Usually $10 but today was FREE. No brainer ! Also would I like a free box of Grape nuts ? They say that America is the land of the free but I thought it was a different free !!
Saw plenty Bison, One group was in the way on the road and cars were parked close to take pics.....that was until they saw the bike and they quickly moved. Still got pics though. Got a pic of two donkeys with heads stuck in a car. Also saw plenty deer and little furry things.
From there went to the scene of one of my fave movies "North by Northwest" , Mt Rushmore, and had a meal in the canteen where she shoots Cary Grant. Splendid.
From there to Deadwood...however the dark clouds that had been looming threw down what it had ready. A bit of rail but mostly hail. It was a whiteout and it hurt...a lot. I missed the worst of it as, as I travelled further down the road it was all white and the road as slippery as sheet ice. Had to hide under a tree ! After a while rode on carefully to Deadwood.
This is where Wild Bill Hickok was shot in the back of the head. I was going to have a look around but it was heaving with tourists (like me !) and casinos so rode around then moved on. Devils Tower was only 60 miles or so away so headed for Hulet, the nearest town. Passed into Wyoming and never passed a gas station. Only passed about 2 cars on the road, the sky was getting blacker and was very low on fuel so rode slowly to max the mpg. Arrived here and the only gas station closed ! Asked a guy where I could get some and he said I could use a credit card in the pump. Sigh of relief until the card didn't work........'cos I was inserting it the wrong way. Phew !! Should be Dopey travels the Americas !

Anyway found a cheap, nice hotel to avoid further thunderstorms that are due and there appears to be two western type bars for a drink...& a shootout !
Tomorrow, North to Alaska (Stewart Granger & John Wayne).

It sounds like you are having one heck of a trip! That road to Mt Rushmore is spectacular, I'm glad you found it.
Keep up the good work on the reports
Are you still passing through Edmonton? We can sort out your photo posting difficulties

Dave,

Yes I am and I figure it will be mid next week. I was planning on asking for a bit of tuition !!! See you soon & thanks.
Dave

Good report. I'll see if I can walk you through the picture posting.

When you hit the "New Reply" button you see this:



The little button that the arrow is pointing to is one way to post pictures.

Click that and you get a pop up box:



This is where you paste the "Direct' Link from Photobucket and click "OK." I copied the following photo location from your blog: http://images.travelpod.com/users/davey1212/1.1368928641.had-to.jpg



The alternative is to copy the "IMG" Link from Photobucket and paste it right in the reply box. When you paste it you will see the code for the image and if you click the "Preview Post" button you should see the image.

I hope that helps.

Fixed

Keep up the good work Grumpy. Did some of this ride last year and enjoyed it. You'll get the hang of pics. Right clicked this out of your blog and pasted it here. Just don't let the http:// go in twice. http://images.travelpod.com/users/d....can-you-see-them-ahead-between-the-trees.jpg

http://s1328.photobucket.com/user/triumph1212/media/GEDC0133_zpsbef13a96.jpg.htmlMiles today 220 Total 2635

Last night : Went out in this "one horse" town to the local bar. Interesting ! Very noisy with voices only (C&W was in the background), the blokes all had stetsons apart from one who had one of the worst wigs ever, and, I cannot repeat the language from the woman next to me whose bloke could't get a word it. She was from Bridgwater, I think ! The beer was served on a jam jar with a handle but my "bourbon on ice " had half a pint of liquor in it. When walking back to the motel a couple passed me and the lady asked it I was "the brit" ? She was born in Yorkshire 76 years ago and has lived in Connecticut for many years.
Today: It must be a Bank Holiday at home as the weather here has been 'orrible !
Rode the 9 miles to Devil's Tower as used by Mr Spielberg in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". It is amazing how it is just "there" in the landscape but it was a volcano vent...a few years ago. The heavens then opened so I decided to push along to Little Big Horn in the hope that if, the weather was moving east and I was moving west, it would soon pass. WRONG ! THe rain was heavy for the whole 220 miles to Hardin (good job there is not a "g" at the end of it mr H or I would have moved on !
On the 112 I moved into Montana "State of the Big Sky" and only saw a few cars and truske for the whole length of it. At one point there was roadworks where the sign said "Gravel". Well there was to begin with then it was mud on gravel. The wheels were slipping all over the place and I had to let a truck past. This went on for about a third of a mile and the bike and my legs were covered in mud. It goes with the "adventure" I guess.
Due to the weather, I wondered if Bighorn was worth a visit. I stopped at a gas station to refuel, the card worked but nothing came out of the nozzle. After going into store lady told me there was no fuel at all. Ta, Mrs ! I guy pulled up, said he was a biker and he could give me some gas. Said I was ok 'til the next place but he said I should visit the battle site. Bikers ? Good guys !
The visit was well worth it. very hard to believe that so much took place on that little hill and what we do to each other.
From there just a couple of miles down the road to fill up and decided to get a hotel here. Not too cheap but I was just fed up with the rain.
Having a couple of tacos and beer while writing this.
Despite the help, I still cant get pics on here.

I'm determined to help you figure this out.

I followed the link to your photobucket page. When viewing the picture you will see the "Links to share this photo" box on the right hand side of the page.



I clicked on the "Direct" box and the link automatically copies to the clipboard.

I come back to ADV and click in the "Reply to Thread" box to put the cursor where I want the picture to end up. Then I click the image icon (yellow button with mountains on it). A box will pop up. Paste the link in the box and click ok.



Voila!

Or we can just rummage through your photobucket account and post the pics that we like.

Or you could make a wrong turn, head south 450 miles to Colorado and I'll help you in person. The beer's on me.

Miles today 300 Total 2935
Best nights sleep for ages !
Had breakfast as " Taco Johns" which set me up for the day. It was dry to start with but at around midday I could see incredible black clouds on the horizon but heading my way. The rain, when it hit me, was intense as was the wind and the temperature dropped. For a good two hours or so I rode in this but is was uncomfortable and could see brighter skies to the right & the laft but not here !
Eventually it cleared up and the temp rose a bit also. The highway had a diversion due to road works and went through some beautiful Alpine scenery. Two bikes appeared in my mirrors and although I moved to the right, they stuck behind me due, as I found out later, to my GB sticker. I pulled over to a scenic view and so did Dave & Mike from Tennessee. There were also going to Alaska, although by a different route and from Anchorage by ferry to Seattle.
They had a month to do this trip and were great, friendly American guys. They were going to to carry on beyond Great Falls but after I passed my campsite to fill up with gas, returned to find them there as the sky was black again. Really black.
They managed to get the price of a log cabin reduced so I followed and for about £20 secured a small cabin to myself. However, the heavens had opened by then, the roads were flooded and so, almost was my cabin. See pics. I was moved to the next one.
Spent a good evening sharing pizza n beer with Dave & Mike hence this late entry.

Tomorrow Canada

Pics. See if you can get the tiger parked at log cabin in rain. Tells the story! Enjoying following your thread. I'm preparing an old Suzuki Bandit to head out from the Great Plains. Boring I80 you've been on then into some interesting stuff eventually.

Here was the attempt at pics you tried in a previous post. It does take a bit of fiddling and I think I'd posted for a year on a site before it made sense.

http://http://images.travelpod.com................ NO


[IMG]http://images.travelpod...................YES
[IMG]http://http://images.travelpod.com/users/davey1212/1.1368672438.proof.jpg

Grumpy, I went to your photobucket account and this pic was there and to the right where it say IMG. I just left clicked on it and it showed copied . Came here and just right clicked and pasted.

..........[...URL=http://s1328.photobucket.com/user/triumph1212/media/GEDC0133_zpsbef13a96.jpg.html][...IMG]https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/t/triumph1212_GEDC0133_zpsbef13a96.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

The IMG part is all you need but it don't be hurting nothing to leave the URL part in there. Course the 3 dots between the bracket and the IMG and URL , I put there so it would show what I was talking about instead of putting a second copy of the picture on this reply.

Loving yur trip and glad you are enjoying

Dave - I've been following you here and on your blog. You're doing a great job on both.

I for one wouldn't worry about posting photos here if it's too cumbersome. Your blog more than compensates - nice format, easy to use, tons of information, great photos, and complimented by the comments from your friends back in the UK.

After a full day of riding, advernturing and gathering memories, just to get your ride report posted is appreciated by those of us who are following your exploits.

Enjoy your time here in the States as it will pass too quickly. My only suggestion would be, if you can spare the extra time, get off the Interstates and onto the secondary roads that take you through "downtown" America.

Now get out there and have some fun!

Cheers,
KJ

Miles today 283 Total 3218

Dave & Mike were away by 06-30 but they had been riding serious miles each day ie. 650 on one day I think. I was on the road by 08-30 after a coffee and wanted to get some miles in just in case. Well, it was a great day; very very windy in places, cold on the hills in North Montana heading towards Canada.
The roads were great, mostly with little or no traffic but DRY ! No rain, no mud, hardly any clouds...great. There were straight roads, there were bendy roads and mostly with great surfaces. Had a late breakfast in the cafe in the pic....the middle of nowhere, and for the third time it was totally empty when I arrived but packed when I left. The armed Border Patrol duo gave me a stern look !
For the scenery I will let the pics do the talking....superb
Eventually (after 173 miles) I came to the Canadian Border Control in Glacier National Park. It was really busy with a queue of.......just me actually. He asked what I was planning to do in Canada and after I told him he leant back, stared at me and said " And now you expect me to be polite to you ?". Nice guy and his family came from Dorset.
The roads and scenery were a beautiful start to Canada and it warmed up quite a bit. From the start, there was one place I HAD to go to and at least take a pic of the sign. After reading about it on the internet some time ago I actually had to visit it....so I did. "Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump" was worth the trip and the $10. Have a look on Expedia. Mr Vidler, I have now been there and to prove it.... I bought the T Shirt !
Now at a municipal campsite in Claresholm where it is windy, about 3 other camper vans here and I am tired.
Oh ! I popped into a store to get a couple of bits and was welcomed by Lenny, the town drunk and he shook my hand. He must have known I was coming !!

To all those who have tried to help me with the pics, I thank you and have not ignored your info. If you read the intro on my blog it does explain that I am a bit of a caveman when it comes to IT. I have been using Photobucket to download photos and it takes ages...it only take a few minutes on Travelpod. The last couple of nights have been taxing anyway so I have done the basics and crashed. Anyway, Hope to visit Mr DRambler in the next day or so and he is an expert !!

Great Ride!!

make sure your visa is good to exit the US and then reenter. Years ago I had to rescue a couple of french chicks that had a USA Visa, had taken a bus to see the canadian side of Niagra Falls out of Buffalo, NY , then they couldn't get back into the US. DOn't want to worry you, I really don't know much about US visa laws, but hopefully you checked this out, if your stuck, sorry I didn;t see this thread a couple of days ago.


####edit### got this off of a visa info site : "It is imperative that you read the visa stamp carefully and make sure it is valid for reentry. The visa stamp may be valid for multiple entries or it may be limited to one or two entries"

***nother edit, from us customs site, looks like you are ok as along as you don't spend more than 30 days in canada,, but thats my interpretation, I am not an imigration expert,, just googling this stuff.

B-1 or B-2 visas: During your visit to the U.S., you may visit Canada or Mexico for up to 30 days and re-enter the U.S. as long as you re-enter within the period noted on the Form I-94 which you received when you first entered.
Best wishes, god speed

Oh, Oh ! I obtained a 6 month visa from the US embassy in London and told them and the immigration guy at the airport that I would be in Canada for up to 2 months and they said nothing about 30 days. I had better check, thanks.

Good idea to just check it out. You are probably ok. I just wanted to give you a heads up to a potential issue .

Good luck


**** saw this on US state department site******* Look at your VISA under "Entries" , if their is a number, thats the number of times you can reenter, if it says "M" it appears you can come and go as you please , this is the site http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1298.html
Depending on your nationality, visas can be issued from a single entry (application) up to multiple/unlimited entries.

A visa issued for a single entry (denoted on the visa under “Entries” with the number 1) is valid, or can be used from the date it is issued until the date it expires to travel to a U.S. port-of-entry one time.
A visa issued for multiple entries (denoted under “entries” with a certain number (2, 3, etc.) or “M” for multiple/unlimited entries) is valid, or can be used from the date it is issued until the date it expires to travel to the U.S. port-of-entry as many times as your visa states, provided that:
Applying for a new visa is not necessary if your visa has not expired and you have not exceeded the number of entries permitted on your visa.
Multiple uses of a visa must be for the same purpose of travel allowable on the type of visa you have.

Photos. I'm thinking travel pod could be an option for my next trip and just stick the odd pic up here. So, do what works for you!

Seeing update each day is something to look forward to and helps with motivation for my own trip. Keep up the great reporting.