FIRST TRIP

[BobKat]

Ok here we are, Kat and I just east of Little Rock, two days into a 6 week trip.
Thought I would post some first impressions of towing with the ST.
Covered around 900 miles so far towing our Lees-ure Lite trailer which weighs 230 # empty, and we add about 170 # of camping gear and clothing, tools, ect. For a total of around 400#.
I have just turned 4,000+ miles on the bike.
It is towing like a champ, ner a problem. Trailer pulls straight and true. I have it balanced to hold the tongue weight to no more than 35#, and hardly anything in the bike bags, keeping the weight to manufactures recommendations. The bike seems to be averageing mid 30s mpg. A lot of 70/80 mph interstate riding, but will be on all secondary roads after tomorrow.
Note, one problem, the Audiovox cruise is not working above 65mph! Shame on me for not highway testing it before we left. Will try troubleshooting during a layover in Montana.
From here we go to Tulsa, Branson MO, Billings MT, Glacer National Park, then back across the Northern part of lower 48 and down through Michigan and back home to Florida.
I will post picks and updates later in the trip.

[Mellow]

Nice!... thanks for the update!

Have a safe trip and make sure you have water... looks like it's heating up, in TX anyway...

[dannyk]

bobcat, don't know your plans when you go through Minnesota, but if you are on US 2 and have time to spare ride up through the iron range to Soudan and take the underground mine tour, when you leave take hiway 1 down through a little town called Finland, nice bike road, that will put you on the shores of Lake Superior and into Duluth, Gooseberry falls is along the road, nice place to stop for a break etc. Also the Keweenaw peninsula of Michigan has some nice riding especially M26 from Eagle River to Copper harbor and Brockway mountain drive, not the Rockies but it has its own appeal, should be cooler than the plains thats for sure. Danny

[DonD]

Thanks for the post and keep them coming

I'll read them when I return from my trailer towing 2 week vacation.

Everyone behave. :p

[Trailace]

6 weeks this should be a good one. Keep us updated and have fun.:)

[Doobage]

Can't wait to see and read what your trip brings you. Fantastic! Write when you can and let us know what routes you've taken and planning on so we can track you.

Later!

Doobage

[BobKat]

Hello agin from up the road!

Dannyk thanks for the tip, I have updated the route to include your proposal. Had a little dificulty finding Finland, but finally located it, and indeed those look like real good roads.

After Little Rock went on over to Tulsa where we met up with my two brothers, one from Oklahoma, and the other from Virginnia on a Gold Wing.

From there over to and through Eureka Springs. We took 412 east out of Tulsa, and intended to pick up 23 North to ES. However my brother has his firs GPS and was leading, and following it blindly so before we reached highway 23 he took off North on some narrow farm road. Now as most of us know those roads only get worse as the miles go by, and sure enough it turned to gravel after about 6 miles. Now any sane person would have turned around at this point, but not him. If the GPS said that was the route, then that was going to be the route. Now this gravel road was a one way, narrow with deep ruts, and large rocks. Had we been on a GS it still would have been a feat to ride it, but ride it we did, both pulling campers, and he on a '88 wing! About 2 miles down that road it dead ended into a river!!! Now we had to turn the rigs around and ride them back up that Brazilian highway. Needless to say we didn't let him off the hook on that one, and probably will still be telling that tail for years to come.

From ES we rode hwy 23 on up to Branson, a great ride. Spent 5 nights camping in Branson before moving on toward Kansas. Rode a very curvy hwy 13 going NW and was able to use some of the tires we Floridians normally dont use.

Crossing KS not much to tell, stayed on back roads and fought the wind! Would turn North now and the to go with the wind. However as we crossed into Nebraska, I went up hwy 8/10 to Minden. If you've never been there it is worth the trip. They have Pioneer Village which attempts to show the evolution of transportation (horse drawn, auto, and motorcycle) as wella as a host of other things. Many old bikes. As we toured the Musem a sever thunderstorm came up, so in between showers went next door and was able to get a room for the night. This was after a whooping 150 mile day!

Now the next day we suited up and left in a rain storm and 60 degree temps for the first half of the day. Took 183 North to hwy 2 which runs kind of NW. Now I always envisioned Neb as a flat prarie, but it turned out to be rolling hills and very senic. All of the hwys had little traffic and in gret repair. Camped that night in one of the best State Parks I have ever been in, Chadron State Park, I would recommed it to anyone in that area.

The next day on into the Black Hills of South dakota where we camped just North of Custer. Now this is absolutly some of the best riding I have ever experienced, and I have covered a lot of ground. We rode the Needles hwy (87) where they literally cut one way narrow tunnels through the rock on the Mountains, and in two cases framed Mount Rushmore! How cool that was, and a fine ride. Then connected to the Pig Tail! Yep thats what the call Iron Mountain road (16a) which like a pig tail curves back over itself several times. Now I have riden a lot of roads that posted curve speed limits at 20mph and even 10mph, but they have several posted at 5 mph! How fun that was, we simply had to ride it back after seeing Rushmore.

We stayed there for two nights and left feeling we hadn't even scratched the surface of all there is to see and do, so made a commitment to go back sometime and stay longer.

Well we are now in Billings Montana, just over 3,000 miles from our home in Florida. Staying with some of our children that live here. We will be here for about two weeks then up to Glacier National Park where we will camp for a couple of days before turning back East once more. This will be my third time to ride the road to the sun, and I can't wait!

Now as for the bike, it has run flawlessly. The trailer properly balanced has followed along without a wimper, and served us well. Spent out first night in a thunderstorn while camping in South Dakota, and stayed quite dry.

The rear tire is getting close to needing replacement, after around 6,700 miles. The combination of riding most of those miles two up and at least half towing the trailer has taken it's toll. I would guess the front will probably get us back home.

Well thats it for now. I will write more down the road. In the mean time, lets ride!!!

[Mellow]

Great Report!...

I need to add a couple of those roads in SD to my Aug/Sep trip..

Ride safe and glad you're having a good time..

[LandRover]

Hi BobKat! :)

I gotta tell ya .... I'm jealous! I live in Eustis, about 20 miles south of you, and I really want to be where you are. I'll bet the riding is sublime ...

Be safe, enjoy the kids, and the road, and have a wonderful journey. We all look forward to a ride-report upon your return ....

Cheers!
Bill

[mongo]

Sounds like a bang! Have a safe trip and enjoy the family!

[dannyk]

BK, sounds like you are having a great time, stay safe and enjoy this great country of ours. Dannyk

[Trailace]

BobKat thanks for the update.

Sure could use a few Pics.