– Itinerary –
2017
April 28 Depart Ashburn, Virginia
April 29 – May 2 Columbia, SC
May 2 – May 5 Charleston, SC
May 7 – May 10 Chattanooga, TN
Rock City – Chattanooga, TN
May 10 – May 14 Nashville, TN
May 15 – May 17 Sault Ste. Marie, MI
May 17 – May 31 Alaska Highway Northbound
Entering the Alaska Highway – Dawson Creek, British Columbia
Roadside pullout somewhere in British Columbia
June 1 – August 21 Wasilla, AK
Riding the Knik Riverbed
The Knik Glacier
The Butte, Palmer, Alaska
King Fishing on the Deshka River – Willow, Alaska
Flying over the Knik Glacier, Palmer, Alaska
Yukon River Crossing on the ferry outside the city of Dawson, Yukon
Dust to Dawson Motorcycle “Gathering” – Dawson City, Yukon
On the road into Eagle, Alaska
Chicken, Alaska
Getting some grub at Fast Eddies, Tok, Alaska
Alaska Highway completed – Dawson Creek to Delta Junction
Retired cargo plane at Chena Hot Springs
On the road just south of Healey, Alaska
Independence Mine just north of Wasilla, Alaska
Hatcher Pass north of Wasilla, Alaska
Afternoon riding at the Knik River. The Knik Glacier is in the background, about 20 miles away.
A special treat – Curry Mussels and Shrimp
On the Richardson heading toward Valdez
Parked next to Horsetail Falls – as seen below
Horsetail Falls near Valdez
Valdez Harbor
Valdez
Valdez
Beautiful “sunset” in Homer
Break time
The Homer Spit Boat Dock
“Baron” The Trailer Dog
A Moment in front of Exit Glacier in Seward
Somewhere along the Denali Highway
MacLaren Summit – The Denali Highway
Remote Camping at Mile Post 46 along the Denali Highway
Alaska interior “sunset”
Denali makes a rare appearance
Alaskan “sunset” over The Susitna – Talkeetna, Alaska
Ian and I along the dreaded “Bomber Trail” just north of Wasilla
Break time along the Hatcher Pass Loop Road
The little CRF 250 has been performing very well
Enjoying a batch of Sangria trailer side
Rob and Remington “Remi” along the “Moose Road Trail” north of Wasilla
August 21 – August 31 Alaska Highway Southbound
August 23 – Camping at Cottonwood RV Park in Destruction Bay
August 24 – Sunrise at Cottonwood RV Park in Destruction Bay
August 25 – Passing over the Stikine River on the Cassiar Highway
August 25 – Close encounter with the Milepost research truck in Iskut, BC
August 25 – Camping at the Mountain Shadows RV Park, Iskut, BC – along the Cassiar Highway
August 27 – Stopping for gas at the Hyder / Stewart Junction along the Cassiar
August 28-29 – The glow of the sun through the forest fire smoke in Prince George, BC. Some of the fires to the south created this red glow all day – and especially in the evening
August 30 – Beaverview RV Park and Campground, McBride, BC. A lovely campground that we have mostly to ourselves tonight. On to Banff tomorrow.
August 31 – On the road headed toward Banff, AB. Parked here for a rest along side Bow Lake.
August 31 – September 4 – Our wonderful campsite in the Village I campground. It is about a 30 minute walk down the mountain to town. Or you can take the bus and be there in 10. It’s $2.00 Canadian round trip.
Banff Avenue – Main Street, tons of shopping and restaurants
The world famous Banff Springs Hotel. Spectacular. Opened to the public in June, 1888.
September 4 – September 9 Columbia Falls, Montana
Columbia Falls RV Park
The volume of forest fires in the area make it difficult to enjoy the scenery. Most of the Glacier National Park is closed because of the fires.
September 9 – Divide Bridge Campground, south of Butte, Montana. So, we drove out to Divide Bridge Campground, and it’s closed. Closed? Closed. I guess because of the fires. Next option…
Bannack State Park – The history of this town started 140 years ago in 1862 when John White and some fellow Coloradians discovered gold along the banks of the “Grasshopper” Creek. The news quickly spread and the population swelled to over 3,000 people that next spring.
Below, our quiet campsite (#5) in one of the two loops in the park.
Built in 1875 for $14,000, as the Beaverhead County Courthouse, this impressive building later was purchase by the Meade family for $1,250 and turned into a plush hotel.
The grand staircase inside the Meade Hotel
The local Methodist Church, built in 1877.
The Masonic Lodge and School house – built in 1874 for a cost of $14,000
Inside one of the local jail cells.
The quaint interior of the local doctor’s house, Dr. Ryburn
September 11 – Salt Lake City KOA
September 12 – On the road toward Moab, Utah
September 12 – 30, Camping and exploring in Moab, Utah
Impressive Rock Tower along Route 279 South of Moab
Landscape Arch – The longest rock arch in the park
Double O Arch
And the most famous of all – Delicate Arch
Well deserved break at the Moab Brewery. Good service, good food, and most importantly, really good local brews.
Headed West on Long Canyon Road at the Jug Handle Arch turnoff, Route 279. This section of the road is called Pucker Pass. For good reason.
Along Pucker Pass – not to worry, the bike fit under the rock no problem. It doesn’t look it, but a full sized Jeep can fit under that fallen rock.
Headed back down Pucker Pass
Selfie atop a ridge along Shafer Road, just East of the Potash Solar Evaporation Ponds.
Park Avenue – Inside Arches National Park
Railroad lines cutting through the mountain off Route 279 near Gold Bar Campground
Corona Arch – 110 Feet Tall
Inside the Fiery Furnace
Skull Arch inside the Fiery Furnace
Some of the passages through the rock fins are barely shoulder width
Colorado River Overlook along the Shafer Trail
White Rim Trail
Musselman Arch – along the East side of the White Rim Trail
The White Rim Trail looking West toward the switchbacks that lead up to the rim where it connects with Canyonland / Island In The Sky Access Road
Riding east along BLM 129, Horsethief Road/Mineral Bottom Road. This is the northern exit from Canyonlands on the White Rim Trail. It eventually dumps out just south of the Horsethief Campground on Route 313.
One of the hundreds of sandy double track roads that jig jag across northern Canyonlands
Headed east on Kane Creek Canyon Road. This awesome Jeep Trail runs east and west from the Ledge Campgrounds all the way to Highway 191 just south of Moab. Parts of the road were fairly technical. Not recommended for the beginners.
One of the many technical rocks ledges you have to cross along Kane Creek Canyon Road. I am glad I had the CRF 250 for this road. The bigger adventure bikes would be seriously challenged on this road. At one point the rock ledges got too big to cross and I had to turn back.
September 30 Today is a sad day, we are leaving Moab. Seen a lot of stuff, did a lot of riding and hiking, but now it’s time to move on to the next adventure. We will be back next spring, no doubt.
Next stop – Yuba Lake State Park
When we arrived we fully expected to fight for a spot, since it’s Saturday and the weather is beautiful. Nope. The campground was pretty much empty. And there might be a good reason for that. The “lake” that usually is here with fishing and boating, is almost dry. As you can see in the photos below, not much water left. From what we have read, they drained the lake to fix the dam at one end of the lake. And it doesn’t help that this summer was super dry, so the water level is really low to start with. The kayaks are going to have to wait at least one more day. Headed to Antelope Island State Park tomorrow, and that should have plenty of water to float the boats. It is the Salt Lake, after all.
October 1 Antelope Island State Park, Salt Lake City
Camping along side the Great Salt Lake. A first for us. And since it is now October, it’s a bit chilly. The wind was whipping today and about 55 degrees. A far cry from the 95 degrees we saw in Moab two weeks ago. But we are enjoying the views and solitude. The views are forever.
October 2 – October 4 Twin Falls, Idaho
Shoshone Falls is one of the two (no shit) falls in Twin Falls, Idaho. This time of year it runs very dry. So lots of rock and very little water. Come back in April and it is the Niagara Falls of the West.
Twins Falls is also the site of the famous Evil Knievel Snake River Rocket Bike jump, on September 8, 1974. Just around the bend on the left side of this gorge below is the site of the failed rocket bike jump.
October 4 – October 8 Boise, Idaho
October 8 Crow Butte State Park, Washington
On the road in Northern Oregon
October 9 – October 12 Cape Lookout State Park, just south of Tillamook, Oregon
A fantastic example of beautiful sunsets along the Oregon coast
October 13 Lincoln City, Oregon
What can we say Oregon? Your sunsets have been amazing so far.
If you have the means, we highly recommend it.
October 14 – October 18 South Beach State Park, just south of Newport, Oregon
October 18 – October 21 Jessie M. Honeyman State Park, Oregon
October 22 Prairie Creek Campground – inside the Redwood National Park
October 23 – October 24 Benbow KOA – Benbow, CA
Avenue of the Giants, near Humbolt, California
October 25 Lake Mendocino State Park, Ukiah, California
October 26 – October 29 Clear Lake State Park – Kelsey Creek Campground, Kelseyville, California
October 29 – November 1 Petaluma KOA, Petaluma, CA
November 1 – November 15 Nape Valley Expo RV Park, Napa, CA
Wine Tasting is obviously why we are in Napa for a month – First stop, Freemark Abbey
Freemark Abbey had one of the best Cabernet wines we have had all week. Highly recommended.
Frank Family Vineyards is another small winery with great wine.
Don’t miss their Zinfandel
The Oxbox Market in downtown Napa has some amazing shops and restaurants. Our favorite – Fieldwork Brewery. In the short three years they have been brewing, they have made quite a name for themselves in Northern California. Don’t miss their Galaxy Juice IPA, with hints of grapefruit and lemon. If you are into Stout – try the Father of the Wolf, a barrel aged Russian Imperial Stout.
The O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery is by appointment only, and it’s high on Howell Mountain north of Napa, but it’s worth the trip. The aging room is carved out in the side of the mountain.
November 15 – November 29 Cloverdale / Healdsburg KOA, Cloverdale, CA – actually a very pretty area up here in the foothills of the Sonoma Valley, but it has been raining for three days straight, and our site is a bit of a swamp. Four inches of mud and yuck awaited us today. Where is that California sun?
Another great winery – Trattore Farms Vineyard and Winery. Don’t miss the 2015 Zinfandel. Fantastic vineyard and views to die for.
Soda Rock Winery was another favorite. Try the 2014 Lord Snort, named after their mascot, shown below.
November 29 – December 6 Moss Landing / Monterey, CA
December 6 – December 9 Wine Country RV Resort – Paso Robles, CA
December 9 – December 10 Red Rock Canyon State Park, just north of Mohave, CA
December 10 – December 15 Outdoor RV Resort, Palm Springs, CA
Another perfect desert sunset.
December 15 – December 31 Emerald Desert RV Resort, Palm Springs, CA
UFO Sighting over Palm Desert
Joshua Tree National Park
To continue our adventure into 2018, please CLICK HERE
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