Travel Plans to/from Jackson WY

Day and Evans concur on travel and lodging plans to/from Jackson WY.  I have created a New Page, Bruce Rte, and place them their along with links showing the routes and the motels.

I have also created a New Page, Dave Rte, for the other van, but I am not sure of what they are doing.  I have entered nothing.  I will fill it it when they confirm their exact schedule.

Note From Sonia to Dave S

All our reservation has been made.  I talked with Pat and she just said:  "You can just call them and pretend you are me"  I said, OK, as long as I have your permission to do so.

Today, I called  and with no problems I was able to transfer Pat's reservation for Colter Bay to Michael Kovach.  I gave them our credit card number and they will credit Pat's credit card within 7 to 10 days.

I also called Yellowstone Valley Lodge and make our reservations for Sept 2, 3 and 4th, 2014 in Livingston, MT.  They were charging me over $200 / night, but I said you paid $169/night, so they gave me the same price you got.

Now, I was trying to find the e-mail you sent telling us about the hotels  for Aug.27, 28, 29, but I could not find it.  Would you please send it again.  You said something about Country Inn at St.Peters $81.00,   La Quinta $95.00 MO to Salina.  

I wanted to ask Mike about whereabouts St.Peters is, but as I mentioned it, I could not find the e-mail.

Would, please let me know where these places are....like the name of the State.

I would like to check some other hotels if I just have the name of the town and the State.  Mike and I have hotel points with Best Western and Hampton Inn that we could use.

Today, Saturday, 7-26-14 Mike went on 62 miles ride, 5600 vertical ride.  He came home very, very tired.  It was near 90 today and he lived.  He started at 7:30 am and finished the ride at 2 p.m.  He came home and slept and slept.

Motel Options - Ride Home

I have searched the stops on our preferred route/sked.  I searched for prices in the range of $100 which is on the lower end of what is available.  Here is what I have found:
- Buffalo, WY:          Days Hotel (click here)
- Rapid City, SD:      Super 8 (click here)
- Chamberlain, SD:  Super 8 (click here)
- Blue Springs, MO: Econo Lodge (click here)

Motels Recommendations Day/Evans - To Jackson

I suggest the following two motels for Day/Evans drive to Jackson

Wednesday Sep 3'rd: ($59): Super 8 Lawrenceburg, KS (click here)
Thursday Sep 4'th: ($81): Super 8 Westminister Denver (click here) 

Additional Dinner Reservations

I have made the additional dinner reservations at Yellowstone Lake and Old Faithful.  We now have reservations for 16 adults.

DATE      TIME       FACILITY                        EVENT                 ADULTS
9/07/14    5:15PM    Lake Hotel Dinner            DINING 4-TOP          4 
9/09/14    5:15PM    Old Faithful Inn Dinner    DINING 4-TOP          4 

. . The Lake Hotel time matches Dave's the Old Faithful is a half-hour earlier.  Other than asking for something before 6:15P, the times were select by the park and not by me.  As Dave noted earlier, we can't make reservations at Mammoth.
. . No one checked out Colter Bay. I suspect we may want to eat in the Lodge.  49 years ago, the view of the Mt. Moran through its huge rear window is spectacular, but expect a pricey menu.

Return from Yellowstone - Second Alternative

In response to Dave's suggestion to my first alternate route, I have outline a second alternative for returning.  I have put short drives on day's 1 through 3 to allow for touring and then made a "beeline" for home on days 4 & 5.
Day #1: (338+sight seeing) http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5397048
Day #2: (227+touring) http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5397099
Day #3: (230+touring) http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5397121
Day #4: (522) http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5397178
Day #5: (562) http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5397234

Comments?

Bike Covers

On Thursday Dave commented about us maybe wanting a bike cover for the long trip.  I did a quick google and found this.
http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Sports-Outdoors-Bike-Covers/zgbs/sporting-goods/194529011

They were not as expensive as I expected, but I am not sure they are compatible with a bike carrier.

Any thoughts on this matter?

I keep getting chastised (correctly) by Tom for not posting only on the blog.  Also both he and my wife corrected Tom and Bruce's departure date.  They leave Sept 3.

The time is getting close.  So far one couple, Ben and Anne Cowan, have already departed for six weeks of bicycling and camping in the NW before the cap off their trip with our ride in Grand Tetons/Yellowstone.  

The next group to leave will be Mike and Sonia Kovach & Alicia and I on Aug 27th.   We will drive to Denver then tour up to Livingston, MT to spend 3 days with Marilyn Clotz (my neighbor from Amherst), then go to Jackson Hole.

Sharyn and Tom Evans & Wilma and Bruce Day will start driving out on Sept 3rd to Jackson Hole.  This late departure is because Wilma will be just getting back from a trip to Mexico with her sisters.  This will bring the vehicle count to one station wagon and two mini vans.

Brian is flying into Jackson Hole on Friday Sept 5th.  Charlie and Lee, please let us know your travel plans when you have them set.  

Regular updates are being posted on the website.  Charlie and Lee, I think that you still have may not have gotten repeat access to the site.  If this is true, let me know and we will send another invitation so you receive and can post updates.

Both Tom and I will have bike racks on our van.  One van will be available for SAG and the other will be for the non-riders to use for their touring. 

I have attached a link to my tour prep check list.   

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-hfvcntWZfjTmlEMkNvTDI3V2M/edit?usp=sharing

You can use it as a guide also.  One caution...we all have a tendency to over pack.  Except for the bike, all this fits in one small gym bag.  We will be close enough to stores to get most unexpected things that we may need....except for critical bike parts.  Even in this case, with as many riders going, we will probably have most everything necessary to fix most mechanical breakdowns.

Please let me know if you have any questions/suggestions.   However, it is better if you post on the blog so all riders are kept up to date.  More details about all I discussed above are on the website.

See you in the Wild West....soon.

Dave

The Grand Teton Night Sky

. . One of my fondest memories of my last visit to the Grand Tetons was the night sky.  Forty-nine years ago, as Sharyn and I drove back from Yellowstone to our cabin near Jackson Hole lodge, the road was lit only by the stars in the sky.  It was an experience that I have failed to duplicate since then and I have really tried. A program on NPR, about the loss of the "night" sky and that the majority of Americans may never witness the Milky Way, reminded me of it.
. . I thought I would check out darkness in Yellowstone to see if we might again have that opportunity.  Below is a picture from space.  Click on it to enlarge it.  The view may not be as spectacular as it was for us nearly fifty years ago, but it looks good.

Yellowstone and Grand Tetons Road Construction Info 2014

The following was sent by Sonia Kovach: Yellowstone National Park 2014 Scheduled Road Construction Reference the numbered dots and map below to see where road construction is scheduled for 2014.   Gibbon River Bridge (near the Norris Campground road) to Gardner River Bridge (near the Indian Creek Campground road): Expect road construction with possible half hour delays any time the road is open. Starting June 1st, the road will close nightly from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., Sunday through Thursday nights. The road will NOT be closed Friday and Saturday nights. 4th of July weekend starting at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 3, through 7 a.m. Monday, July 7: no road construction activities will occur on the Norris to Mammoth road project. Labor Day weekend starting at 6 p.m. Friday, August 29, through 6 a.m. Tuesday, September 2: no road construction activities will occur on the Norris to Mammoth road project. Starting September 14 at 11:00 p.m. and extending to September 30 at 7:00 a.m., there will be a full road closure for this section of road. The detour for this section will be over Dunraven Pass.   Isa Lake Bridge Replacement: Bridge reconstruction is underway with possible half hour delays. Road closes September 2 at 6:00 AM for the season.     Motorcyclists are advised to slow down and use extreme caution on loose gravel in construction areas.   General Road Construction Information Road construction is perennial in Yellowstone National Park. In general, park roads have either been recently repaired or reconstructed, or are scheduled for repair or reconstruction. Approximately 80% of main park roads (about 185 mi or 295 km) are in a structurally deficient state, with poor quality road bases failing under the weight, speed, and volume of modern traffic for which they were not designed. Harsh winter weather and short construction seasons provide additional challenges. These needs are now being addressed under a 20-year, $300 million Federal Lands Highway Program for Yellowstone National Park. In addition, park road repair crews will be working in other areas of the park throughout the seasons. Yellowstone reconstructs its roads during the spring, summer and fall seasons, which means you will likely encounter delays depending on your destination. It's a good idea to check with our visitor centers or entrance stations for current information and possible delays.   Recommended Road and Construction Resources Before Traveling Yellowstone Info Information about our roads. Yellowstone's Park Roads page for the current road status. Current road information by phone: 307-344-2117 Montana InfoInformation about Montana road projects. call 1-800-226-7623 or visit www.mdt511.com Wyoming Info Information about Wyoming road projects. call 1-888-996-7623 or visit www.wyoroad.info/ Grand Teton National Park Info Information about their roads. call 307-739-3614 Grand Teton's newspaper includes a road construction map for further reference and can be found online atwww.nps.gov/grte, or picked up at any park entrance station or visitor center. Other Numbers to Call for Road Information Beartooth Highway: 1-888-285-4636 Cody Chamber: 1-800-393-2639 Red Lodge Chamber: 1-888-281-0625 Cooke City Chamber: 406-838-2495

H'ville to Colorado Springs - Depart Wed, Aug 27 arrive Friday, Aug 29

Mike and Sonia,   (Tom reminds me that I am supposed to Post in the Blog, not send e-mails.)

Three Days, ~ 6 hours/400 miles driving/day.

Hendersonville to St Peters, MO to Salina, KS to Colorado Springs CO.
http://goo.gl/N5VWJX 

Proposed Hotels, before AARP Disc

Wed Aug 27 - Country Inn and Suites, St Peters   $81

Thur Aug 28 - La Quinta    $95

Fri Aug 29    - Colorado Springs   Location??

Let me know what you think.

Dave

Return From Yellowstone

Here is a preliminary route for returning from Yellowstone

Monday,      Sep 18: (510 miles) http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5323367
Tuesday,      Sep 19: Tour the Badlands
Wednesday, Sep 20: (510 miles) http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5323410
Thursday,    Sep 21: (541 miles) http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5323433
Friday,         Sep 22: (239 miles) http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5323453

Comments?

Driving to Jackson WY

In order to begin the discussion on the drive from H'ville to Jackson, I have mapped the direct drive route for everyone's consideration, but specifically for Day and Evans.

Wednesday,   Sep 3: (621 miles)  http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5323150
Thursday,      Sep 4: (551 miles)  http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5323166
Friday,           Sep 5: (540 miles)  http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5323188

An alternative would be to start on Tuesday (Labor Day) and add a little touring while in Colorado around Rocky Mt National Park.  Comments?

Current Travel Plans

All,

I cobbled together our latest email on travel plans.  I find it much easier having this info in one spot than trying to sort through email at a later date.

On Wed, Jul 3, 2014 PM, Dave wrote:

Alicia and Dave will be leaving ~Aug 27 for a direct drive to Denver (probably 3 days at our pace) then 2-3 days touring from Denver to Livingston.  They will spend tue-thur nights in Livingston and join up with everyone Friday afternoon in Jackson.

Mike and Sonia may/want to ride with Dave/Alicia. Brian plans to fly in for most of ride starting Friday.

On Wed, Jul 2, 2014 PM, Bruce wrote:

Tom, Absolutely perfect!  I just talked with Ben Cowan and he is also all set. 
Bruce

On 7/2/2014 PM, Tom wrote:

Bruce, Here is what I told Sharyn.

1) We would be driving my van.

2) We would be going with Bruce and Wilma.  Dave and Alicia are driving out to Livingstone & we would meet them in Jackson.

3) We would be doing minimum sight-seeing on the way out, due the short turn-around time after Wilma’s return from Mexico.

4) We are likely to return by way of Mt Rushmore and spend a day touring the National Park.

5)Nothing is locked in and we are flexible.

The flying option does not sound attractive to me and likely to be a big pain.  Sharyn does not care one way or another, but I suspect she would prefer we stay together and drive rather than trying to split up with ladies on planes and guys in van.  She and Wilma get along too well.  We can stop every couple of hours for a cigarette break for them.

To show I'm in

I just wanted to let everyone see that I'm in the blog.  Hopefully, I'll be able to come back without all the problems. (I've had many) I'm Mike Kovach and my wife, Sonia and I will be making the trip/tour also.  We're looking forward to just being with Dave and Alicia, Alicia being Sonia's sister.  Have lived far apart so long and actually, biking has brought us together it seems.  We'll be traveling out west together.