rocky17
09-17-2005, 06:57 PM
I just got back from an awesome ride out west. My buddy on a BMW 1100RT and I left Crystal Lake, Illinois on the 4th. We used the slab to La Crosse, WI and then took hwy 14 most of the way through Minnesota and cut up north to hwy 12. We rode 12 all the way out to White Suphur Springs, Montana and then 89 into Great Falls. As we were anxious to get there we did 1100 miles the first 2 days. Love Montana's speed limits, 70 on 2 lane roads. Next day we rode through Glacier National Park on the "road to the sun". Spectacular scenery and our timing was right. We heard 2 days later they got 6-10 inches of snow. Following day it was up to Banff via some great roads in the foothills. We picked up the main highway 1 west of Calgary. Banff is the Aspen of Canada. Being an ex-Canadian (fled south in 1965) I was able to communicate with the "beautiful people" in town tossing around a lot of "aye's" and "you hoser". Next morning it was 37 degrees and raining. I had the full set of Gerbings on under the rain suit. It was up to Lake Louise in the rain which was a shame as the mountains were obscured in the clouds. We crossed the Divide and headed down the west side on 95 and 93 to Kalispell, Montana. It rained on and off most of the day. Next morning it was still raining and cold. The forecast was for rain the next 3 days in Kalispell. We ran south, picked up Interstate 90 into Butte and the sunshine. The sky was clear next morning but the temp was 28 degrees. Gerbing time again and we rode 287 into West Yellowstone, getting there around noon and in time to see Old Faithful spout. After lunch in the lodge we made Cody, Wyoming for the night. We used the slab again and overnighted in Deadwood, South Dakota. Then it was over to Mount Rushmore via some great twisty roads. Happy to report all 4 heads were there. With most of the sightseeing over, we slabbed it on 90 taking 2 days to get back home.
The ST performed flawlessly. The 4388 miles took 91.3 gallons which works out to 48 mpg. We had some horrendous headwinds in Montana and the windshield was up a lot on those cold days. I added no oil. We were 12 days on the road for an average of 356 per day. I know one thing for sure, I'm going to have to look into a custom seat. :D
Ken
The ST performed flawlessly. The 4388 miles took 91.3 gallons which works out to 48 mpg. We had some horrendous headwinds in Montana and the windshield was up a lot on those cold days. I added no oil. We were 12 days on the road for an average of 356 per day. I know one thing for sure, I'm going to have to look into a custom seat. :D
Ken