There has been a standing joke in our household that some morning I would announce to my wife that we were going to the Jersey Lilly in Ingomar (MT - 300 miles east)) for their famous beans.
Marilyn's 64th birthday was Sunday, June 14. On Thursday, I told her we were going to the Jersey Lilly on Saturday to celebrate. She was thrilled (okay, maybe that's an overstatement) but became downright hesitant when I added the stop in Ingomar would be part of our first Saddle Sore 1000. She prevaricated until Friday, then said, "Let's do it!" With very little prep (topped up tire pressures, checked the oil), we gathered our gear Friday night, rolled out of the sack at 4 a.m. Saturday and hit the road at 5:20 - 20 minutes later than I had hoped. Exactly 16 hours later - 9:20 p.m., nine miles east of Billings - we showed 1,000 more miles on the odo, and had 1,056 for the day when we stopped at our cabin in Columbus MT for the night. We mixed a cocktail, toasted our wonderful day, then slept like the dead.
I told Marilyn I was happy to be married to a woman with such spunk and grit. She actually enjoyed the ride immensely, as did I. Montana in mid-June is stunningly beautiful. With intent we rode mostly the rugged hill country, badlands and plains of north central, east central and south central Montana. The grass is tall and emerald green. The cattle and horses are fat and sleek and happy. The roads were almost empty. When most think of Montana, they think the mountainous (far more crowded) western one-third. Too bad... The rest is every bit as gorgeous...at this time of year.
The temps were blessedly cool - mostly 60s and 70s, though we did see 80 at Ashland. It was 37 when we pulled out and was quite chilly over Kings Hill and even to Fort Benton. Had it been 80s-90s all day, I'm not sure we could have done it.
We saw three HP in the morning and one tribal officer, no more the rest of the day. The tribal LEO was cool: as I roared up behind him, he flicked on his lights to let me know I needed to cool it. We ran a lot of 85-95 and I saw just over 100 once. Before I get flamed, these are roads where you can see miles into the distance: no traffic, no critters.
Fuel mileage was poor - about 35 mpg. We would run the speed up after topping a hill and seeing all clear, then drop it down below 80 ($20, no points) as we started an ascent, not knowing what might be lurking over the crest, then would jam it on again - a very inefficient way to ride, but no tickets, no close calls whatsoever. Fuel stops were also inefficient. Sometimes, at just 150 miles on a fill, we'd have to refill because the next fuel was 75 miles further. At the rate we were sucking gas, that was too close for comfort. Marilyn said she was glad I had her at pillion rather than an auxiliary fuel cell. But she said the Beowulf cans have to go (I agree).
The FJR never even had to breathe hard. What a machine! It just devours the miles, mile after mile. A Gen I (my third) with comfort items Cee Baily, Russell Day-Long, risers, heated grips with Grip Puppies. That's it. I did add some damping at the shock en route. We stayed well hydrated and suffered very little fatigue or pain.
For those who know Montana (or are interested), we started in Butte, rode to Three Forks, Townsend, White Sulphur Springs, Belt, Ft. Benton, Havre, Ft. Belknap, Roundup, Ingomar (the bean soup at the Jersey Lilly is deservedly famous and their burgers are good, too), Forsyth, Miles City, Broadus, Ashland, Hardin, then east toward Sarpy Creek, then north to I-90 at Hysham, then west through Billings to Columbus "and into the barn." That little seconday from Hardin to Hysham was new to us and incredibly scenic - very rugged - southern Hysham Hills? Only about 150 miles of four-lane, the rest rural two-lane.
Will we do an SS 1000 again? Not unless we have to. Now checked off the bucket list...
Marilyn's 64th birthday was Sunday, June 14. On Thursday, I told her we were going to the Jersey Lilly on Saturday to celebrate. She was thrilled (okay, maybe that's an overstatement) but became downright hesitant when I added the stop in Ingomar would be part of our first Saddle Sore 1000. She prevaricated until Friday, then said, "Let's do it!" With very little prep (topped up tire pressures, checked the oil), we gathered our gear Friday night, rolled out of the sack at 4 a.m. Saturday and hit the road at 5:20 - 20 minutes later than I had hoped. Exactly 16 hours later - 9:20 p.m., nine miles east of Billings - we showed 1,000 more miles on the odo, and had 1,056 for the day when we stopped at our cabin in Columbus MT for the night. We mixed a cocktail, toasted our wonderful day, then slept like the dead.
I told Marilyn I was happy to be married to a woman with such spunk and grit. She actually enjoyed the ride immensely, as did I. Montana in mid-June is stunningly beautiful. With intent we rode mostly the rugged hill country, badlands and plains of north central, east central and south central Montana. The grass is tall and emerald green. The cattle and horses are fat and sleek and happy. The roads were almost empty. When most think of Montana, they think the mountainous (far more crowded) western one-third. Too bad... The rest is every bit as gorgeous...at this time of year.
The temps were blessedly cool - mostly 60s and 70s, though we did see 80 at Ashland. It was 37 when we pulled out and was quite chilly over Kings Hill and even to Fort Benton. Had it been 80s-90s all day, I'm not sure we could have done it.
We saw three HP in the morning and one tribal officer, no more the rest of the day. The tribal LEO was cool: as I roared up behind him, he flicked on his lights to let me know I needed to cool it. We ran a lot of 85-95 and I saw just over 100 once. Before I get flamed, these are roads where you can see miles into the distance: no traffic, no critters.
Fuel mileage was poor - about 35 mpg. We would run the speed up after topping a hill and seeing all clear, then drop it down below 80 ($20, no points) as we started an ascent, not knowing what might be lurking over the crest, then would jam it on again - a very inefficient way to ride, but no tickets, no close calls whatsoever. Fuel stops were also inefficient. Sometimes, at just 150 miles on a fill, we'd have to refill because the next fuel was 75 miles further. At the rate we were sucking gas, that was too close for comfort. Marilyn said she was glad I had her at pillion rather than an auxiliary fuel cell. But she said the Beowulf cans have to go (I agree).
The FJR never even had to breathe hard. What a machine! It just devours the miles, mile after mile. A Gen I (my third) with comfort items Cee Baily, Russell Day-Long, risers, heated grips with Grip Puppies. That's it. I did add some damping at the shock en route. We stayed well hydrated and suffered very little fatigue or pain.
For those who know Montana (or are interested), we started in Butte, rode to Three Forks, Townsend, White Sulphur Springs, Belt, Ft. Benton, Havre, Ft. Belknap, Roundup, Ingomar (the bean soup at the Jersey Lilly is deservedly famous and their burgers are good, too), Forsyth, Miles City, Broadus, Ashland, Hardin, then east toward Sarpy Creek, then north to I-90 at Hysham, then west through Billings to Columbus "and into the barn." That little seconday from Hardin to Hysham was new to us and incredibly scenic - very rugged - southern Hysham Hills? Only about 150 miles of four-lane, the rest rural two-lane.
Will we do an SS 1000 again? Not unless we have to. Now checked off the bucket list...
