Ozarks 2025

We have come to the end of the trail. It is time for Buttercup and Magellan to drive home, and for me to fly home. This was our fifth major bike trip: Rt. 66 Glacier National Park Alaska Lake Michigan And now Utah.   We've done two minor trips: the Smoky Mountains and Key West. The Band of Brothers has spend a lot of time together on motorcycles.  On this trip, we rode 2,070 miles (recognizing that one day we had no miles as we were riding ATVs). By comparison we rode 4,379 miles on the Alaska trip. Our daily mileage count was lower (remember that this does not consider the ride to Utah and back by my Southern brothers, and the ride to Chicago or the ride back from Alaska). I think that unless there is a need to get somewhere quickly, we will trend toward lower daily mileage counts.  When we met for breakfast this morning, it was 75 degrees - so we ate outside. The reported weather was "smoke." So, the wildfires continue to burn. The following is our last pic of the ...

  When we left Logan, it was 61 degrees. It was beautiful riding to our first stop - the Golden Spike National Historical Park.  Golden Spike When the railroad coming from the west met the railroad coming from the east in 1869, the golden spike connected the two lines and created a transcontinental railroad. It was an enormous boost to the economy of a young nation and opened the West.  This is a pic of the track: I really like the National Park Service. They do a terrific job, and did an exceptionally good job at the Visitor Center and the many programs provided in a very remote location. We spent a lot of time at the Site, and very much enjoyed ourselves - which is especially true for the two old railroad guys.  There are two steam trains at the site. They move them so the noses touch, to simulate the railroad coming from the west, and the railroad coming from the east. They also have a diesel engine, as the steam trains are prone to breakdown and often need to be ...

Today's adventure involved four segments: a drive-by of Brigham Young University, Provo Canyon, Mirror Lake and Logan Canyon.  Buttercup has become quite the photographer, and took this gem of a photo of Mirror Lake. Brigham Young University BYU is a major university with 33,000 undergraduates. For Chicagoans, everyone knows it as the alma mater of Jim McMahon - which always invites the question of why did he go there, and why did they accept him? It is one of life's mysteries. McMahon was the quarterback for the 1985 Super Bowl Champion Bears, and is a wild man.  The campus is unremarkable except for one thing - I have never seen a major university without a bar scene and a host of student taverns. The BYU Code of Honor may explain it, as is summarized below. The Code requires: • Abstinence from illicit drugs, alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and tea (substances forbidden by the LDS Words of Wisdom) • Honesty • Encouraging others in their commitment to keep the Honor Code • ...

This was a transition day - from the canyonlands of south Utah to the Mountains of North Utah.  The most significant sight was the Nebo Loop on Forest Service Road 15 - a paved road through the mountains.  The only downside is that my bike would not start at the summit. But with my new battery pack and Magellan and Buttercup working like an Indy race car pit crew, they got me going. Thanks to my brothers with wrenches. Before the Nebo loop, our most important task was to feed Magellan. And of course Buttercup had to do some deals.  Driving up through the central valley was very dry and very hot. This was the sight as we drove from the flatlands into the Nebo Loop where it was cooler. The summit was over 9,000 feet. Notice how green it is.  This is what the roadway looked like.  Where is Buttercup? The mountain views were pretty spectacular. As hot as it was, there was a small amount of snow on the mountain. Of course, there were swtichbacks: Taps We drove 168 mi...