Trip of a Lifetime

Mt Rushmore, SD

Needles Eye

We have planned a trip out west to Wyoming (Mt Rushmore) and Montana (Beartooth Hwy) for several years. After retiring a couple of months ago we finally were able to take 3 weeks and see the West. We left Maryland at 8:30 on September 11, 2015 on a 2015 Honda Goldwing CSC Trike. It was clear skies and 60 degrees. Starting mileage was 1,535.

It took us 5 days to get to Rapid City, SD with a stop in Le Claire, IA to see Antique Archelogy (History Channel). We spent 3 days in South Dakota riding Iron Mountain (16A); Needles Hwy (87); Icebox Canyon (85); Spearfish Canyon (14A); and Vanocker Canyon (170, 135, and 26); and saw Mt Rushmore; Crazy Horse; Custer State Park; Sturgis; and Deadwood, SD. Also took time to get the oil changed at Rice Honda in Rapid City. No appointment needed and very friendly.

We left Rapid City, SD on Sept 19th heading for Devil’s Tower, WY, mileage 3,547, sunny and 47 degrees. We hiked around the tower (1 ½ miles). Saw several individuals climbing and repelling the tower. Awesome, must see.

We proceeded to Livingston, MT to Yellowstone National Park (North Entrance) and Beartooth Hwy via Cook City. On Sept 21st we headed into Yellowstone with clear skies and 45 degrees. Beartooth Pass had been closed the day before for snow. You can check the road conditions and closures at mdt.511.com or mdt.mt.gov. We climbed to 10,947 feet with spectacular views of the mountains/valleys and navigated so many switchbacks!! We saw herds of Buffalo, deer, and cattle. This was the highlight of our trip. A must ride!!

We left CO on Sept 25th, mileage 5,028 and it took 6 days to get home (because of heavy rain in Ohio which slowed us down). Ending mileage was 6,751. All total we were gone 20 days; visited 13 states; travelled 5,216 miles (averaged 300 miles/day); and spent an average of $195/day for gas/food/hotels. Our average gas mileage was 31mpg (loaded down with head winds) for a total of $481 for gas.

Howard and Nancy (narrated by Nancy)