OK--here we go.
Day 5: Gillette to Bozeman. 490 miles. That's a doable day, but you'll need an early start and to keep after it. The ride up over the Bighorns from Sheridan is a real gem--fantastic road, awesome climb right up and over. You can haul the mail from the bottom over to Cody. From Cody west it's a great road, you go through a tunnel at Buffalo Bill Reservoir. The road winds along the river and is really nice. Getting closer to Yellowstone though, you'll get caught up in traffic guaranteed. You'll then be averaging 35mph or less all the way to West Yellowstone. So that's where you'll lose time, plus stops you'll want to take. The road over Sylvan pass and around Yellowstone lake is awesome, but there's park traffic. The 191 up to Bozeman is sweet and you can keep a better pace.
Day 6--good route, if you have time, consider detouring out and back on the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (HWY 296) at the bottom of the beartooth pass. The ride up Dead Indian Pass is spectacular. Or maybe you'll do that from Billings if you're there two days... Beartooth will blow your mind--hit the "top of the world store" for a souvenir (you can't miss it).
Day 10: You've got 460 miles to Rexburg. If I were doing it, I'd go a different route: Straight south to Missoula, then HWY 93 all the way to Challis, ID. That takes you over Lost Trail Pass and lets you follow the Salmon River for a long way--and the road along there is excellent with little traffic. Then Challis to Arco, you'll ride past Mt. Borah, Idaho's highest, then it's a burn across the desert from Arco to Rexburg. 480 miles, with some places to make great time. There's nothing wrong with the route you have either, but the salmon river canyon is pretty awesome. Here's a pic of 93 near Salmon I took this fall. The lack of traffic on parts of this route will blow your mind....
Day 11: Rexburg to Vernal: That road east heading to Yellowstone/Teton is dirt (Grassy Lake Reservoir Road).
If you want to work in Teton Park that day you'd probably need to go Rexburg to Driggs, ID, to Victor ID, over Teton Pass to Jackson. Then North to see the Tetons, then back south heading to Vernal. I get 435 miles if you put in Jackson Lake Lodge as your turn around...
Day 12 Vernal to CO Springs. Hell yeah that will be a fun one. You'll cruise across the desert then WAY up over Independence Pass. I love that NW corner of CO, there's no one there and Rangley to Rifle is one sweet stretch of western riding heaven....
Keep us posted.
Are tag-alongs welcome? Maybe I'll hop in somewhere.
You're killing me with those awesome pics, I like wanna leave for this trip tomorrow!
....So I corrected the routes as you suggested (I believe? verbal to map sometimes gets a twist here or there). If somethings fubar'd, I still have some eraser left on my pencil. I'm totally going by you on this (as this is your stomp'n grounds!), and, you sure sound confident ...and I likey that!
? Not sure if I went up North enough into the Tetons. You said Jackson Lake Lodge, couldn't find that (or maybe I didn't zoom in enough?). Of course Jackson Lake is the big one right above Jenny Lake which I WP'd the close road that touches Jenny.
I already have some Chief Jo and Beartooth in the prior days. If those need to be altered also, no biggie especially if it shortens up our ride day, well, as you know... our days are pretty full, especially when considering photo-op stops. We know we'll have to be KSU at like 6am for most of these days. A shorter route day (sleep-in) may be like a luxurious KSU of 7am!. Our goal mainly is the miles and smiles and memories to go along with it. Getting up early to accomplish this, is all a common thought amongst this group.
Spud, absolutely a tag along would be welcomed!. And, especially from you with all your help!. (US fella's owe you nightly beers on us!). You know we need to cover some ground. I'm not saying we ride white knuckle, but ~10 over the limit is our norm with some throttle twists here n there. Hey, If we can almost do some WOT, my 2 (ex) cop buddies I know like a refreshing triple digit now and then. I don't think there NJ & VT badges will do us any good either
...oh, and they drink at the end of the day as well. First thing they want when we land at the motel... shower and where's the beer store. Hopefully we will get some walking distance restaurants nightly as well. So the dates are in the itinerary, start some planning and join in! (I usually lead, but if you join in, your turf... so we'll have you take it!).
I just gotta watch my speeding tix. I have a CDL and NYS says one more (for me) and my CDL gets lifted for a 1-year period. I think I have a little more than 1 year left on this probation. I guess I would still keep my class 5 and MC endorsement. Not sure, don't wanna test it out either!
After all routes/days gets down pat. I'll make them into Bascamp to.gpx. The googlemaps/mapQ just makes it easy to share w their public links
Itinerary as it stands to this writing 12.20.14 (Destinations are pretty much set; as I have done a lot of work in finding the affordable lodging, these towns/destinations fit that bill w some of the nights under $50 bananas.
1) Sat 7/18 Geneva NY to Joliet IL:
https://mapq.st/1sGCxQo
2) Sun 7/19 Joliet IL to Sioux Falls SD:
https://mapq.st/1H3EKw0
3) Mon 7/20 Sioux Falls SD to Sturgis SD:
https://mapq.st/gONMOR
4) Tues 7/21 Sturgis SD to Gillette WY:
https://mapq.st/1AEWVGp
5) Weds 7/22 Gillette WY to Bozeman MT:
https://mapq.st/1Auqhab
6) Thurs 7/23 Bozeman MT to Billings MT:
https://mapq.st/1vLMX1i
7) Fri 7/24 Billings MT (MOA)
8) Sat 7/25 Billings MT (MOA)
9) Sun 7/26 Billings MT to Columbia Falls MT:
https://mapq.st/1qT6Bg7
10) Mon 7/27 Columbia Falls MT to Rexburg ID:
https://mapq.st/1zgspWa
11) Tues 7/28 Rexburg ID to Vernal UT:
https://mapq.st/1GDQMhk
12) Weds 7/29 Vernal UT to Colorado Springs CO:
https://mapq.st/13DODEr
13) Thurs 7/30 Colorado Springs to North Platte NE:
https://mapq.st/1wWWXJc
14) Fri 7/31 North Platte NE to Iowa City IA:
https://mapq.st/ewSE3Y
15) Sat 8/1 Iowa City IA to Cleveland:
https://mapq.st/1JsPGaz
16) Sun 8/2 Ride home routes from Cleveland
