I’ve been looking forward to this trip for a while. It has been too long since I went on a proper long ride. This one would cover about 4,000 miles when it was all said and done.
The plan is to spend some quality time with my children, nephews and their families. For this trip I took the mighty BMW K1600 Grand America. The comfort just can’t be beat!
DAY 1
I got an early start for this trip. I was only going to cover about 300 miles today but I was going to be going over several mountain passes, and I prefer to do that in the broad day light in case something happens.
August is typically a dry and hot month in Colorado, and this year is no different.
I pulled the K1600 out of the garage while the sky was still dark. It was already fueled and loaded from the night before.
I always sleep rough the night before a long ride…I suppose the anticipation and worry that I may have forgotten something keeps me awake.
I mounted the big BMW, put her in gear and released the clutch. I was on my way! I hopped on Hwy-50 and headed for Salida. This highway is a popular motorcycle road, but I’ve taken it so many times that I was looking forward to getting past it.
It was going to be warm today, the temp gauge showed 81 and it was still early. I zipped through Canon City and headed through the canyon along the Arkansas River. The new Michelin Road 5 tires stuck to the pavement like glue as I pushed the big BMW through the twisties.
I reached Salida around 10…and stopped to rest and to enjoy an early lunch.
Stopped in Salida for an early lunch. The BMW appears impatient and annoyed that we stopped so soon.
Once I finished my lunch and cup of coffee I threw my Shoei Neotec back on and headed out.
I continued west on Hwy-50 towards Gunnison. The riding is epic here! I worked my way over the Monarch pass, and I was thoroughly enjoying the performance of the K1600.
The air became cool as I went up in elevation and it felt good. I zipped passed the Gunnison basin whiling jamming to my classic country tunes. It was a perfect ride!
By the time I reached Montrose, the BMW was at a quarter tank. I stopped to refuel and drank some water. It was definitely warmer now, and I needed to stay hydrated.
It was mid afternoon and I only had 60 miles to go to reach my final destination for the day. I had a campsite reserved at the KOA in Grand Junction.
The ride to Grand Junction was uneventful and quick. I rolled down main street and stopped at the first parking spot could find. It was hot and I was ready to take off my riding gear.
Made it to Grand Junction…it felt good to take off my riding gear.
Grand Junction is a decent sized town but it was relatively quiet on this Monday evening. I stopped at a local restaurant and enjoyed some rainbow trout served on a sizzling skillet along a glass of ice cold sweet tea…mountain fare. It was a great meal!
Sat outside and enjoyed the quiet downtown for dinner
After dinner I rode a few blocks until I reached the entrance to the KOA. I checked in, set up my tent, and cleaned the bugs off the BMW along with my Shoei. It was a great first day!
Home sweet home!
DAY 2
I woke up early and quickly broke down camp. Yesterday was a fun ride, and today was going to be a long ride.
My goal is to make it to Boise, where my Army buddy Todd lives and works as a Police Officer.
I had about 630 miles to cover, and half of it would be on interstate. It was going to be another warm day so I opened the wind deflectors on the BMW and vented my jacket.
I hit I-70 and set the cruise to 85, headed due west until I hit the exit for Hwy-191 north towards Price, UT.
The thing about riding out west is that you can haul ass but feel as if you’re riding slow. It’s so open that 100mph feels like 50mph. Hwy-191 is no different. A long rider can stretch the legs of their steed in this country.
The BMW was gliding along at about 90 when I heard the rumble of a big V-twin behind me. A guy rolling on a Harley blew by me doing about 110.
He was wearing a t-shirt and no helmet as he roared past me. His hair was wildly whipping in the wind and I was certain his t-shirt was going to blow off of him.
A few miles ahead there was a sign for a rest area, I pulled in and parked next to the Harley that blew by me. I could feel the heat from his engine as I shut the BMW down. It was pinging and popping and his pipes were almost blue. He was going to blow his bike up if he kept pushing her in this heat!
Stopped for a water break at a rest area on Hwy-191
The owner of the Harley came up to me as I stretched my legs and drank water. He asked me where I was headed and I told him Boise. He said that I was about to hit a massive storm that was brewing over Salt Lake City, which is why he was in a hurry.
He wanted to get there before the flood gates opened. He hopped on his bike and ripped out of the rest area…I could hear him slamming his way through the gears as he pushed his poor Harley to the max.
Embarrassingly, the storm wasn’t on my radar at all. Hell it was HOT and dry and I don’t think this place had seen rain in months! I checked the weather on my app and sure enough, there were all sorts of warnings regarding severe thunderstorms, flash flood warnings, and even hail! Well this was about to get interesting.
It was hot and sunny with no storm in site at the rest area.
I continued to work my way north towards Salt Lake City and slowly but surely the skies began to get dark. Low hanging dark thunderheads painted the horizon…directly in my path.
Before long I was pulling in to Spanish Fork, and my phone started buzzing with weather warnings. It was early afternoon and the sky was a mix of dark grey and green. The sky ahead lit up with lightning, and the cars coming in the opposite direction were soaked.
I was heading right into the storm. I pulled off the next exit and lucky for me there was an Olive Garden. I pulled in and quickly removed my seat bag. It’s not waterproof and it’s where I keep all my camping gear.
I walked into the Olive Garden carrying a bunch of gear…I must have looked crazy. I got a booth and sat down for an early dinner, hoping to wait out the storm while I charged my phone.
The skies opened up and it rained hard, the power in the restaurant flickered as the thunder shook the walls. The wind blew the rain sideways. It stopped after a bit and I was optimistic.
I loaded up the BMW and the air felt significantly cooler. The storm seemed to wash everything clean. The sky still looked menacing, and there was an alarming amount of standing water.
I hit the road and continued my way towards Salt Lake City. Unfortunately I didn’t get far. The flood gates opened again and I could barely see. I’ve never rode in rain like that. I crawled my way to the next exit, trying my best to dodge pools of standing water. I pulled into a Best Western and assessed my situation. I was absolutely soaked…my gear was soaked, and the rain wasn’t letting up. Before long the interstate was shut down due to flooding. I wasn’t going anywhere. I messaged Todd and told him I wasn’t going to make it Boise tonight. I booked a room and hung my gear to dry. I had to unpack all of my camping gear and strategically hang it around the room to dry.
I had a lot of ground to cover tomorrow. I wanted to stick to my original plan to make it to Longview, WA tomorrow. It was just over 900 miles. I would need an early start. I took a hot shower and ate snacks while watching a baseball game until I fell asleep. I had my alarm set for 3am.
DAY 3
Three in the morning always seems to come too soon. I was motivated though…I wanted to spend as much time with my kiddos as possible. I got up and checked my gear. Everything was dry…the perks of being in the arid west. I packed my gear quickly…eager to get on the road. Today was going to be a gas-n-go kind of day…not a lot of time for looking at sites.
I fired up the BMW and stopped by a Chevron to fill up before hitting the interstate. It was significantly cooler than the last two days. It was hovering around 60 so I put on my warm gear and turned on the heated grips and seat.
I headed north and there was still quite a bit of standing water in the low areas of the interstate. The streets were virtually empty…pretty typical for 3:50 in the morning.
Once I got a little north of Salt Lake City the interstate dried up and I was able to put the hammer down. It was still dark and quiet. I set the cruise at 100mph and let the K1600 sing. It can cruise all day at this speed.
I watched for oncoming traffic…I knew it was a big rig if there were yellow marker lights on top. I would keep rolling…and I would slow down if I didn’t see marker lights. Can’t afford to be pulled over at these speeds. Thankfully traffic was light.
The miles melt away when you’re hauling ass…and it’s easy to do on the big BMW. I kept flying until the gas light started blinking…then I milked it all the way to Mountain Home, ID.
I pulled into a BP station and filled the tank…the BMW was running on fumes. Running at 100mph is not good for fuel economy! I then stopped for breakfast at a local diner. The coffee was strong and the breakfast was delicious…it was just after 7am, and I was feeling a lot better about reaching my destination.
It was still cool outside when I finished breakfast, but the sun was peeking over the horizon. Not a cloud in sight. I hit the interstate again and this time I set the cruise for 8 over. No need to risk it now with traffic picking up.
I blew through Boise and stayed on I-84 until I reached Pendleton, OR. I pulled in to top off the tank and grab some lunch. I was still feeling pretty good and the comfort of the K1600 makes it easy.
I continued west towards Portland and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. Once I-84 starts running parallel to the Columbia River you enter a wind tunnel. It can be pretty intense on a bike. There were a lot of wind surfers taking advantage of the steady westerly wind. However, I’m not a wind surfer and I was hitting the wind head on.
The BMW has good wind protection but there’s only so much a bike can do. Every time I passed a truck I was hit with violent wind turbulence that would push the bike all over the place.
I was starting to feel the miles, and I was ready to get to Longview. I finally made it to The Dalles where I stopped one last time to refuel and to take a break. I was tired. The bike was plenty comfortable but the 3am wake-up and the crazy headwind was taking a toll.
I chugged some McDonalds coffee and hit the road again. It felt amazing to finally pull into Portland and not be hammered by the wind.
I connected to I-5 north and worked my way to my nephew’s house in Longview. It was almost 7 pm when I pulled into his driveway. I was ready to get off the bike. Little over 900 miles and almost all of them were on the interstate.
My nephew’s adorable son and daughter ran out to greet me…his son was dressed as a Police Officer and I was certain I was going to be ticketed for speeding. Thankfully he just finished his shift and was off the clock…
I thought for sure I was going to be taken down to the station for speeding. Thankfully he just finished his shift and was off the clock.
It felt good to be there. I was exhausted and I slept like a rock!
DAY 4
The sun was shining bright when I finally woke up. It was 8 am and my nephew’s cute kiddos were patiently waiting for me to stir. I looked over and saw their cute smiling faces. They wanted to play with “Uncle Timmy” and I gladly obliged…they simply don’t get much cuter!
Today was an easy day. My children only lived about 1.5 hours north, and we had a plan to meet at the hotel in the afternoon. Then we would head out to Tacoma and check out the waterfront area.
First, I needed to surprise my teenage daughter who works at Burger King…she begged me not to visit her at work because it would be the “most embarrassing thing ever.”
Maija hard a work…the look she gave when she realized I was there was priceless!
I rolled in and called her name…she was working the ice cream machine and looked up and blushed. She quickly came to me and made me sit so I wouldn’t do anything “embarrassing.” She was almost done with her shift so we chatted it up for a bit.
Then I checked into the hotel and waited for the kids to arrive. Once they arrived, we hopped into my oldest daughter’s car and headed downtown.
My daughter and I
Dukes Chowderhouse in Tacoma…delicious seafood!
My son!
It was a perfect and relaxing summer day.
Noah going to check out the fishing status.
After we walked around and enjoyed dinner, we headed back to the hotel. We relaxed and spent quality time together. It’s nights like this that a dad wishes could last forever.
DAY 5
Today was another easy day. The destination was our hotel in Astoria, WA. About a 3hr ride.
My oldest daughter drove her car with Maija and Noah, and I led the way on the bike. Our first stop was my nephew’s house so the kids could visit, and I could wash my dirty laundry.
The kids were happy to see each other and we enjoyed lunch while we waited for my clothes to finish.
Abby and Maija getting lots of loves from baby Myla.
Noah got some time in with Myla as well…but she preferred the girls…boys are too rough.
Once my clothes were dry, we hit the road and headed west to Astoria. The ride to Astoria from Longview is just over an hour, with a lot of beautiful scenery along the way.
We pulled into Astoria without incident and we checked into the hotel. The kids were wanting to take advantage of the pool, but I wanted to walk around town and check it out. We agreed to walk around, eat dinner, and then spend the evening at the pool.
Astoria is a beautiful and historical town along the Columbia basin.
A long rider can see, hear, and smell plenty of sea lions and walrus while in Astoria.
The kids couldn’t get into the pool fast enough…
My view for the rest of the evening…they’re growing so quickly yet I still see brief moments where they remind me of when they were 5 years old
It was another great day spent with the kids! Tomorrow was going to be just as special.
DAY 6
Today’s plan included some time at the beach, and then following the coastline down to Tillamook, OR. We decided to stop at Seaside for some time at the beach.
The weather was perfect! Not too hot and not too cold.
We walked along the streets of Seaside and checked out the little shops. The kids found a stuffed seal that they amptly name “Hannu.” They decided that it would be a good idea if Hannu joined me for the rest of my trip!
Enjoying the streets of Seaside
Relaxing on the beach is good for the soul!
Abby, Hannu, and I. I’m a lucky dad!
Once we had our fill of warm sunshine and relaxing on the beach we continued south on Hwy-101. I have taken this road before, and it can get pretty busy during the summer months. Today was no exception. Time after time we found ourselves sitting in traffic due to a broken down vehicle, construction, or just folks stopping to take pictures. It can be frustrating on a motorcycle.
We sat in traffic like this for a while as we worked our way towards Tillamook.
We slowly made our way south. At least the scenery is beautiful. Eventually we made it to Tillamook and stopped by the famous cheese factory. We enjoyed a late lunch and some freshly made ice cream. It was well worth the traffic!
Maija and Noah practicing their cow milking skills
Abby practiced her calf feeding skills
Tillamook was the town where we went our separate ways. My kids went back home to Washington, and I continued south to my faithful camping spot in Lincoln City, OR.
The ride should have taken about an hour, but traffic was still pretty heavy so I didn’t pull into my campground until early evening. I hate saying goodbye to my children. I miss them terribly when we’re apart, but I’m proud of the young adults they are becoming!
The kids placed Hannu on the BMW…I had a passenger for the rest of my trip!
I pulled into the campground and checked in. I quickly set up the tent and situated my gear…I’ve done this so many times I could do it with my eyes closed. Once everything was set up I relaxed and ate some jerky while watching the sun set. It was a perfect ending to another perfect day!
Watching the sunset over the Pacific..a perfect evening
Sleep came quickly as the distant sound of waves lulled me to sleep. If you’re ever in Lincoln City for the night, I recommend pitching your tent at the Devil’s Lake State Campground. You won’t regret it!
DAY 7
The morning was warm and dry. I packed up my gear and mounted the BMW. I pointed the headlight south on 101 and was out of Lincoln City before 8 am.
The plan today was to get to Sacramento, and then head east. Unfortunately that plan would soon be thwarted. I wasn’t in the saddle long when I started smelling smoke. It’s dry this time of year and wildfires can be a real problem.
Sure enough, I started seeing signs warning of road closures ahead due to wild fires in northern California.
The riding was perfect…you can see the haze of smoke from the wildfires in California
I rode south until I hit Waldport. Traffic was light and I was starting to see a few emergency response vehicles for the wildfires.
I filled up and decided to change my plan…no sense in riding through an active wildfire area. Since the wildfires were still a bit south of me, I decided to take Hwy 34 due east to Corvallis.
It proved to be a wise choice as Hwy 34 is one of the finest roads a long rider could ask for. The road skirts along beautiful mountain lakes with plenty of curves and hills along the way.
Hannu posing next to a lake. You can still see the haze of wildfire smoke.
Highway 34 in Oregon is a fantastic road for motorcycle enthusiasts!
Sometimes the smoke was thick, and sometimes it was hardly noticeable. I was glad I decided to go east instead of riding into the burning inferno south of me.
Evidence of past wildfires…a common sight in this area
Sometimes the smoke hung thick in the air.
Despite the smoke, the ride was amazing. I pulled into Corvallis and was half tempted to turn around and ride the 70 miles back to Waldport just so I could enjoy that stretch of road again. It was that good!
But I kept rolling east. I hopped on Hwy 20 and took it all the way to Bend, OR. What a beautiful ride! The K1600 is a perfect mount for these roads.
Big sweepers and areas of straight stretches. That in-line 6 engine sounds amazing when she’s opened up and singing! The ride to Bend seemed short…mostly due to the amazing roads.
Lots of beautiful scenery along Hwy 20 in Oregon.
I stopped in Bend and had a delicious ribeye steak for dinner. I filled the tank of the BMW and pushed on towards Boise. It was already dusk when I left Bend, but I was feeling great and the weather was perfect!
After a few days on the bike a long rider starts to become “one” with the bike. The miles don’t seem as long…you feel as if you could just keep going. I was at that point. The riding was easy and I was enjoying every second of it.
It was well after dark when I pulled into the Holiday Inn in Caldwell, Idaho. I unloaded the BMW, and cleaned my helmet along with the windshield and lights. Riding at night means lots of bugs. I went to sleep with a smile on my face…it was a great day! Just shy of 500 miles.
DAY 8
I got an early start. I wanted to make it to Grand Junction, or even Rifle, CO if all went as planned. The first part of the day would be riding the interstate. Once I hit Salt Lake City my plan was to head east through Vernal, and then south into Rifle.
The riding was fast and easy. Traffic was light and the BMW was made for pounding out interstate miles. August in Idaho is beautiful, wheat fields are scattered along the base of the mountains and the contrast of colors is a special sight.
Idaho wheat fields tucked into the base of the mountains.
Once I reached Ogden, I jumped on I-80 and headed east. I wasn’t on the interstate very long. I peeled of I-80 and took Hwy 40 towards Park City. I stopped for a break and some lunch. Then I filled up the K1600 and regreted not filling up in Ogden…everything in Park City is three times more expensive than anywhere else in the area. Should have known better stopping at the premier ski resort town. It is a beautiful place though.
I continued my way towards Heber City, then rode by the beautiful Strawberry Reservoir and finally on my way to Vernal. This is big country and a long rider can see for miles in this area.
I zipped through Vernal and kept rolling until I got to Dinosaur…I was finally back in Colorado. I stopped for a quick break and some water. It was hot and dry. The sun was setting, and I was going to have to ride quick if I was going to get to Rifle before dark.
Dinosaur Colorado…hot, dry and beautifully rugged
I left Dinosaur and hammered down with a bit of urgency. I needed to be careful. There are a ton of deer in this area and these roads are very remote.
I didn’t beat the darkness…I rode the last 30 minutes or so in the dark. I pulled into Rifle and booked a hotel room at the Comfort Inn. I logged just over 700 miles today. A great day of riding! I drank a lot of water to rehydrate, and enjoyed a relaxing night of sleep.
DAY 9
Today was the last day of my journey. I only had 300 miles to ride and it would take me about 4 hrs or so if I took the interstate. That’s not my style though, I’m all about the backroads when I’m not pounding out a ton of miles.
The morning was hot and dry…as long as I keep moving I’ll be fine. I loaded up the BMW one last time and hit the road. I had a full tank of gas and I might make it home before I had to refill.
The morning in Rifle, CO was hot and dry.
I rode through Glenwood Springs and kept rolling on I-70 east until I peeled off the exit for Hwy 24. I followed Hwy 24 all the way to Buena Vista, then to Colorado Springs, and then home.
I pulled into Pueblo with the gas light flashing. I filled up and completed my journey home. I pulled into the drive way and shut down the BMW. What an amazing trip it was! I called to let the kids know that Hannu and I made it home safely.
Sport Touring Cycle Adventures 