Portland, Oregon. Paradise H-D did a great job getting the bikes ready to go.

We are ready to head West to the Pacific Ocean. After reaching the Ocean we drive North.

Looking back across the Columbia River. The bridge we rode over was tall enough, at the southern shore, to allow ocean going vessels to pass below it.

From the coast we headed east to Mt St. Helens. She blew her top in 1982.

I read that every living thing within 250 square miles was killed.

Nature's ability to heal itself is amazing.

The lava flowed thru this valley and remains visible. A small river has returned to the valley.

Close up of lava flow.

Jeanne, ready to head for Packwood.

Welcome to Packwood, Washington.

Packwood is having their annual car show.

Every motel is booked solid.

We rode 286 miles the first day.

Fortunately we had booked a room in advance. Small town but a great little stop.

Redefines driving thru the mountains.

Heading to Mt. Rainier N. P.

Sky is overcast.

Absolutely cannot see the mountain but we are at 10,000 feet.

After leaving the Park and driving about 150 miles we can look back and see Mt. Rainier !

Driving thru much different countryside than seen so far. Heading to Spokane for the night. Drove a total of 310 miles on Day 2..

Small dam and hydro power station in Idaho.

Welcome to Montana !

Beautiful little lake off Highway 2 in Montana. Saw an eagle grab a lake trout out of the water and fly away. I was too slow with my camera.

Lake McDonald in Glacier N.P. We had a second floor room with a balcony overlooking Lake McDonald.

The sunset was beautiful.

Rode 281 miles..

Life is good......

Life gets even better............

There is hope for a brighter day.....

The road hangs off the side of the moutain. Everyone wants to own the center line!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone stops to collect their nerves. The drive is tense....

Water flows across the road in a number of places..

I do not like to stand at the edge.

Due to a forest fire in the Eastern portion of the Park we could not drive completely thru the Park. Turned around at the Continental Divide.

Glacier N.P. is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

The water in the creek was as clear as glass.

Rode a total of 295 miles. Spent the night in Great Falls, Montana.

We saw a number of forest fires between Glacier and Yellowstone. The Northwest was very dry.... Rode 221 miles to Gardiner, Mt.

Elk welcoming us to Yellowstone N.P.

The Elk acted more like domesticated animals. Just laid there and chewed their cud.

Yellowstone was interesting but not beautiful. I was a little disappointed.

Bull Elk.

Old Faithful.

It was worth waiting for.

Yellowstone Lake

It was cold. We have worn cold weather gear since we started.

Chief Joseph Highway. This road was crooked as a snakes back but the country was beautiful.

I would love to revisit this area. Maybe next year.

Cheif Joseph led his people to safety over these mountains.

Escaped from the reconstituted Seventh Cavalry.

I would like to go hunting in these mountains.

I can see why many of the Indians would rather die than move to a reservation as a guest of the Government.

Only Glacier was prettier.

This chipmonk has consumed enough sunflower seeds to make me ill. Probably a winters supply for him.

Spent night in Cody, Wy. Drove 134 miles yesterday.

Big Horn Mountains.. Still wearing cold weather gear.

Rode 262 miles today. Spent night in Gillette, Wy... Cold weather gear no longer required......

Crazy Horse welcomes us to the Sturgis area. Rode 147 miles to get to Custer, SD. Still had lots of time to look around.

We were expecting to win this bike in a raffle but it must have gone to someone else..!

Had a great dinner with Don and Karen Kraus --Don is my good friend from High School. Damn that was a while ago.

We have not changed a bit.

Main Street Sturgis early in the morning.

Don and Karen fixed us a wonderful breakfast before we hit the rode. A beautiful home with a great deal of the work completed by Don and Karen.

Drove south from Sturgis to Chadron, NE. I wanted to see the memorial to Marie Sandoz at Chadron State College.

Marie Sandoz wrote extensively about the American Indian and the impact on their culture and life style by the trappers, buffalo hunters, ranchers, farmers and the US Military.

Unfortunately the Memorial library was closed but got great pictures of the outdoor portion of the Memorial.

Rode 281 miles. Spent the night in Ogallala, Ne.

Never ride a bike in Kansas. The citizens make a determined effort to kill bikers. Plus after driving a few miles the rest of the scenery is deja vu all over again.....

We stayed in Dodge City. Rode 313 miles..

Good ol Wyatt Earp doesn't look this big on TV.!

Now that is a lot of bull.............

Rode 323 miles and we are still in Kansas. Stayed in Pittsburg, Kansas.

Boy am I glad we survived Kansas.... Dorothy and Toto had it right...

Rode thru Missouri and into Kentucky. Total of 394 miles. Nice ride but not a lot to see. Spent the night in Paducah, KY. Note the miles when I stopped at the motel.

Land Between the Lakes - southwest Kentucky. Hot !!!

Rode 253 miles. Spent night in Lebannon,KY

Rode to Parkersburg, WV. Miles 321. Tomorrow we will ride home. The last days ride is roughly 150 miles. Had a great time but am looking forward to getting home. Made it home by 11 AM- drove like hell. Total ride was 4,494.7 miles. This includes all the miles riding around in Sturgis for 2 days as well as the miles we rode in the national parks.