(updated 7/28/04 12:11p.m.)

Well, at least for a few weeks.
No, there is nothing to be 'proven' in a venture of touring on a motorcycle for almost 7,000 miles -- merely a need to satisfy a 'wanderlust' that everyone feels from time to time.



This is the story of such a wanderlust that probably has merely whetted, not satisfied, the appetite. It is the story of first a wonderful family vacation and then a trip with a good friend to do something that most people will never have the opportunity to do, or even to think of doing.



We saw the beauty of America, experienced the vagaries of Mother Nature, and engaged many interesting people along the way. It is my pleasure to share some of the experience through my inadequate words and barely adequate photography but if any of your wanderlust is thusly satisfied then I am pleased.



Here is a list of links to many of the places we saw.



We covered Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Montana, Washington, Oregon, California and Arizona. Some of the highlights included:

• 8 days in Lake City, CO


• The world's roughest road (456 in NW Oklahoma -- but scenic!)


• Camping in the Jim Bridger Forest just NE of Montpelier, ID


• Jackson Hole, WY


• Viewing the Grand Tetons


• Yellowstone


• 3 nights and 2 days of touring Glacier NP


• Hike to Avalanche Lake in Glacier


• Camping in the forest under Mt. Hood


• California Redwoods and the "Big" Tree


• Lake Tahoe, camped by the lake

Some of the best roads/routes were:

• SR12 Trinidad, CO to U.S. 160


• Southfork/Creede/Lake City


• Lake City/Gunnison/CR742 over Cottonwood Pass


• CO SR82 over Independence Pass to Aspen and on to Glenwood Springs


• WY SR 530 along West side of Flaming Gorge Reservoir


• U.S. 2 from Browning to West Glacier


• Going-to-the-sun road up to Logan Pass in Glacier


• U.S. 2 to Libby, Eureka, U.S. 93 back to Kalispell


• Kalispell/US 93/SR28/SR200/SR135 to I90


• Coeur d'Alene/US 95/Lewiston/US12 to Umatilla,OR


• Oregon SR35/US26 around Mt. Hood


• US 101 on the entire Oregon Coast


• CA 299 to Redding/44 to Lassen/89 to Lake Tahoe

The "worst" of the trip:

• Craig, CO KOA (can you spell T R A I N?)


• Waiting for tire change in Post Falls, ID

and the most disappointing: Columbia River Gorge which was long, hot and boring. Not up to the hype.



The longest day of riding was Cedar City, UT to Santa Rosa, NM -- 695 miles.



Most rain: Albuquerque to Clines Corner.



Browse and feel free to log your own observations, similar experiences or comments.



Look at the PINK links in the left column to navigate directly to the entire "2004 Trip" section or the "Trip Images" or just the "CapnJ's Blogs" about the trip. Or, you can click here for full trip album -- caution -- it's big



gil -- a/k/a 'Captain Justice'