I  rode north out of Yellowstone through the NE entrance after stopping at the Roosevelt Lodge. I dropped my cycle again. This time I have an excuse as flimsy as it is; I was on loose gravel and a hill. Teddy Roosevelt had stayed in this part of the park. This exit took me through Beartooth Pass at almost 11,000 feet. In 1974 my buddy and I made the trip up the pass into Yellowstone and it was good to be back. Somewhere along here, highway 212, I became extremely tired, so I found a part of the forest along the road which appeared relaxing, made myself comfortable, and slept for about 20 minutes. It was better than the Iron Butt Motel. After feeling refreshed, I rolled on to Red Lodge, Montana. I had sunshine until after Red Lodge. A good rain came, but I suited up for it at a gas station, good gas mileage coming out of Beartooth pass, and pushed on towards Billings. Wow, this has been an awesome trip, I could do it again.    

My arrival in Billings, Montana was greeted with sun so I stopped at a refinery parking lot to get out of my Frog Togg rain suit, I was getting hot. So far I have been pleased with the Frog Togg. A friendly security guard, retired from the WWF, was quick to arrive on the scene and she asked if I needed help. I am sure this was code to see what I might be up to. I assured her that I was just getting out of my rain suit. She said that was fine and to have a safe ride. Nice lady.  

I wanted to get to the Custer National Battlefield before it closed so I pushed the speed limit. I had toured it twice before so a stamp for the IBA was my main goal. This is really wide open country. Rain was again threatening as I arrived, but never materialized. It sure had changed since I was last there in the early 80's, new and improved. Now there are markers where the warriors fell; I like this addition. It is very different from my first visit in 1974. I called my good buddy, Don, who was with me in '74 to let him know I was here and to make him jealous. I seem never to have enough time to walk all the way to the river, maybe the next time. 

After leaving Custer I topped off the tank and checked into a pretty nice KOA camp ground not far away. After I checked in I realized it was the same campground I stayed at 35 years ago. At least it seemed like it was. No rain but I did get a good light show from distant lightning. The sunset was awesome. I camped next to two couples on motorcycles from British Columbia. We had good conversation. Good people.  

I tried to get out early but did not succeed (I think there is a pattern here). I ate a very good breakfast at the Purple Cow down the road. I was on the road again at 09:00 heading for the Southern Unit of Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, I made it. It is a very interesting park. I hope to return and visit the nearby neat, little town of Medora. I was pushing sunset so I headed south toward the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore.  

On the way south I stopped for fuel and I asked if there was a camp ground farther south. The lady was funny. She said yes in Bella Fourche. She started giving me directions. A fellow in the "honk and holler" asked her why was she  telling me to go the way she suggested; she said it was so I would avoid traffic. I laughed. I politely told her I was from the Dallas area and traffic was not a problem. Rain appeared probable and day light was running low, so I stopped at the town of Bella Fourche, French for Beautiful Fork, to camp. There were a lot of bikers from the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally camping there. It was really just a big field with not very good facilities. However, it was a grassy place to camp. I did not use the showers as the weather was cool so BO was not a problem. I set up my tent and just finished cooking some Denny Moore Beef Stew when the rain came; It rained all night. Although the rain fly leaked, I stayed dry so nothing was ruined. The rain stopped in time for me to take down the tent and pack up. God was good to me. Beautiful morning!

With a mix of rain clouds and sunshine, I headed south to the Black Hills. I "blew through" the Sturgis "Carnival", rode on some great roads, got lost, ate some buffalo BBQ; saw fantastic scenery, plus Mt. Rushmore, Jewel Cave, and the Wind Cave. It was great riding; I always enjoy the Black Hills. This was the first time on a motorcycle and the best way to really see things.   

From the Black Hills, my primary target was Rocky Mountain National Park for the next day. I was planning on sleeping in my tent, but some very black clouds with plenty of lightning was all but upon me. I opted for a motel in Newcastle, Wyoming. Seconds after getting into my room a very bad storm roared in. Was I ever glad to have seen it coming and I was in one of the few towns in the area. The next town on my route was 86 miles to the south and a sign informed me of no services for 86 miles. I ate jerky and peanut butter crackers as I did not want to go out in the storm. TV sounded good after over a week without it; I sure haven't missed it.  

After a good night of sleep I could not resist a side trip to Agate Fossil Beds National Monument in Nebraska along with Scotts Bluff National Monument. Then a stop at Ft. Laramie National Historic Site back in Wyoming could not be skipped. (Three more stamps for IBA and another state.) Then I was back on the trail south to Cheyenne and Colorado. I almost waited too long for a fuel stop, but I made it with at least a half gallon left. No sweat.  

I wanted to get to Rocky Mountain National Park before the visitors center closed and park. I made it. The ride through Rocky Mountain National was a fantastic ride. Dark clouds were ever present but no rain and enough sunshine to keep me happy. In 1974 during the same time of year, I ran into rain, sleet, hail, snow, and sunshine on this road, thank God I was in a car then. This is the highest, 12183' at the highest point, paved "through road" in North America. Big horn sheep and mountain goats can be seen along the drive, including many hiking trails.

I finished the trip through the park in time to seriously look for a camp site. I found a camp ground (?) that was pretty sorry; I passed on it. Camping is free in parts of the national forest but I could not get my motorcycle far enough off the road and the "regular" camp grounds were full. I could continue to Winter Park or get a room. I opted for a room in Grand Lake Village at the edge of the park as I just about burned all of the daylight. It was a good choice. The place was cheap and very comfortable. The bonus was the owner told me of an excellent Mexican restaurant in town. Good food and good sleep was obtained at this stop.

This morning I "smelled home". I decided to be in my home bed after one more night on the road. It was 42 degrees so I dressed a little warmer and "hit the trail". This took me near Mount Evans, Colorado, the highest paved road in North America. I could not resist a 16 mile trip up to a 14,200 ft mountain peak; It was very well worth the time. I passed several bicyclists peddling up the monster. The air is mighty thin at 14,000 feet. My motorcycle did great, but I was out of breath by the time I reached the top.  I passed glaciers, mountain goats, other wildlife, and one guy jogging up the thing.