YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK!
My best friend's & my first cross country moto trip!
Oct 4, 2021
My best friend, Jeff and I are best friends in the realest sense. We enable each other (to do good progressive things and also to pull ridiculous pranks on each other). LOL. We both lack impulse control and I think that's why we've done so much cool stuff together. We've hiked, camped, backpacked throughout the US and in Canada, and traveled across the world together. Why not add mototouring to the list? Looking back, what in the world were we thinking? We were not prepared, did no research and just winged it. I think that's why we're best friends: we're both impulsive and just say, "Yes! That sounds like a great idea!" Morgan Freeman voice: That was indeed not such a good idea.
I think that's why we're best friends: we're both impulsive and just say, "Yes! That sounds like a great idea!"
Morgan Freeman voice: That was indeed not such a good idea.
Here are 5 things we learned from that trip.
1. Even if you don't think it's going to rain, hail and thunderstorm, drop to 30 degrees all at the same time, prepare for it.
It was all sunny skies in Idaho until we looked up and saw the most terrifying black cloud on the horizon in front of us. Of course we were in leathers and didn't bring any raingear. We were freezing and being pelted with pea size hail. If you know the 80E/W, it's only two lanes going either way and we were going so slow because the road was so wet and slippery, we were riding 15 mph on the shoulder while cars and big rigs were whizzing past us. We didn't have a choice, there was nowhere to camp out on the freeway and the bridges had signs that prohibited us from hiding under them. So we sucked it up for an hour and rode in this wet, freezing, pelleting weather. Lesson learned, bring rain protection gear or check the weather before the day's ride.
2. Idaho and Wyoming are beautiful.
To be honest, the midwest is the butt of West Coasters jokes. But we had absolutely nothing to say when we rode through Idaho and Wyoming because we were absolutely speechless with how beautiful the landscape was. If you get a change, take a road trip through these less famous states, you won't regret it. We felt so peaceful inside.
3. Ravens are smarter than you.
We didn't know ravens were an issue in Yellowstone. We were so excited to finally arrive at Yellowstone National Park after a week and 1,000 miles, we immediately went to get front row seats to see Old Faithful erupt! We arrived just in time to walk over and get good seats. While we were away for 2 hours marveling at Old Faithful and walking around all the geysers, ravens smelled our oatmeal through 3 plastic bags and pecked through our belongings to our breakfast. When we came back, the ravens were graciously helping themselves to their reward. I ran as fast as I could in my leathers and stiff riding boots to chase them away. Lesson learned, take your food with you because along with pecking, ravens can open zippers too.
4. Allot time for rest
Wow, riding 200-300 miles a day is extremely HARD on your body. Even if someone warned me, it would not have prepared me for how physically taxing this was. Plan a few extra days in your trip for unforeseen circumstances, weather and for physical exhaustion. You can thank me later
5. Don't say one day. Plan the trip and go.
Here's a photo of Grand Prismatic Spring, but this photo doesn't do it justice. You need to see it up close. Life is waiting for you on the other side of "some day".