September 3 - 11, 2004
Note - the trip report is essentially complete. The only addition would be a video clip or two (a few are already listed). Enjoy the scenery!
We started in Illinois, trailering the bikes out to Sheridan WY where Al allowed us to stash the car and trailer. From there we headed out on the bikes (big loop is counter clockwise loop, each color represents one day of riding). Since we returned to Sheridan a day or so early we decided to stop by the Black Hills area on the way back - that's the reason for the green (clockwise) loop out of Spearfish SD.
Click for a more detailed cycle route map (54KB)
On to the pictures - each set is organized by day
Friday
Loading up and leaving Rockford
8 pictures - 0.2MB
Illinois to South Dakota
Saturday
Switch to the bikes at Sheridan. Start the two wheel trip
12 pictures - 0.3MB
South Dakota to Sheridan WY & Sheridan to Cody WY
Sunday
Dead Indian Pass, Cooke City MT, Beartooth Pass,
Wide open space south of White Sulphur Springs, Lewis & Clark National Forest
58 pictures - 1.5MB
Cody to Choteau MT
Monday
Wide open grasslands, Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Glacier National,
Lake McDonald, Kootenai Falls, MT 56 between Troy & Noxon
66 pictures - 1.8MB; 2 video's
Choteau to Thompson Falls MT
Tuesday
Thompson Pass, Dobson Pass (reminiscent of US 129 in NC/TN), Marent
Trestle (steel railroad trestle), Lolo Pass, the nice town of Mccall ID
54 pictures - 1.5MB, 1 video
Thompson Falls to McCall ID
Wednesday
Southern half of the "Idaho Loop", desolate area southeast of Salmon ID,
western slope of the Tetons, meet up with family at Jackson WY
44 pictures - 1.4MB
McCall to Jackson WY
Thursday
Grand Teton National Park, forest fire, Wind River Canyon, Thermopolis, "Crazy Dog", Shell Canyon
74 pictures - 1.9MB, 1 video
Jackson to Sheridan WY & Sheridan to Spearfish SD
Friday (thru Saturday morning)
Mt. Rushmore area scenery, roadside wildlife
42 pictures - 1.1MB, 1 video
Spearfish to trip end
Trip Stats
Approx 6 days of cycle riding
2837 cycle miles = 473 Miles per day
74.201 gallons of fuel (my cycle) = 38 mpg
$149.60 fuel cost or just about 19 miles per dollar
Car miles - Rockford IL to Sheridan and back - right about 2160 (about a hundred more for Ken as he's in the Chicago suburbs)