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Ohio to Spokane

G

GCTROYER

Guest
Riding out to see my son at Fairchild AFB end of May. My nephew is schooling
at U of Idaho in Moscow. I believe that's less than 100 mi apart, so can kill two with one. We're taking the two-lanes out. The route back depends on how much time we have - I'm taking 2 wks vacation. In '78 rode to Yellowstone and only had 2 days to get back. Did 2000 mi in less than 48 hours! Don't want to do that again.
Anyhow, I'm seeking suggestions as to must see places, roads, etc. between Ohio and Spokane. Don't have a gps, but can find anything with my trusty maps, so if you have any suggestions please offer them up. Don't have a lot of pics from the '78 trip, but my brother the professional photographer is riding with me, so hope to fill an album this trip.
 
I was just out there on a business trip in November (not on a bike unfortunately), but came to the conclusion that on a trip from midwest to northwest I need to ride through the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Sturgis does not really thrill me, but Deadwood, near where I stayed, is a really cool little town.

Visit Kevin Costner's Midnight Star Casino and Restaurant. Great restaurant on the top floor, although pretty expensive. One of the floors is a combination bar and musuem of his movies. My wife has to see this someday.

http://www.deadwood.org/OfficialGuide/

There are lot's of interesting places to ride through on the way there including the Badlands.

If you want another rider to go with you part way, let me know.
 
GC:

There are numerous good rides along your route; suggest you do searches here under the words: Glacier, Beartooth, Big Horn, Black Hills, Sawtooth, Lolo. That'll pull up dozens of threads and keep you busy til the end of May. Beartooth Plateau and Going to the Sun will still be closed then.

Have fun.
 
Most definitely will spend time in the Black Hills. Did that in '78 and anxious to see how things have changed - and hoping they haven't. I remember the "Honor System" camp sites - put two bucks in a wooden box, set up tent, and watch cow and calf moose walk through camp. Definitely Deadwood, too. I also remember stopping at the Buffalo Bill museum in Cody, Wy. Assuming it's still there, want to see it again.You're absolutely welcome to tag along. In fact, there's probably a 50/50 chance that my bro will back out on me and I'll be more than ready for some company. Keep in touch and thanks a million for the response.
 
Thanks, all. I will definitely check out all of the above. And keep 'em comin cause I'm diggin this! Worked all day, now I'm stuck at work all night just to walk out in the shop once every hour to monitor a kiln. I'm loaded up on Mt. Dew and wired for sound. Knew I could count on you.
 
Riding out to see my son at Fairchild AFB end of May. My nephew is schooling at U of Idaho in Moscow.

Hi,

I live in Rockford (about 20 miles south of Spokane), and work at WSU about 6 miles from U of I.

There are some really nice roads down through the Palouse. and some great roads just into Idaho around lake Coeur D' Alene.

If there is anything I can help you with while your here just PM me. I have a shop and tools you can use.
 
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Ride the old HWY 97 around the east side of Lake Coeur d'Alene. There are really some beautiful views of the Lake, and a twisty road to boot.
 
One of my favorite routes...

I ride reguarly from Seattle to Chicago and like to follow Route 2.

From your direction perhaps, once you reach Chicago, if you want to take a longer and more isolated route:

Head up through Wisconsin and/or Minnesota or even Iowa (FWIW I found Northern Iowa to be beautiful). Hook up to Route 2 at Grand Forks, and take it across North Dakota (the town of Rugby is supposed to be the geographic center of N. America), Montana and Idaho, and then into Spokane.

Using this route and keeping away from the freeways, I was able to still find big breakfasts, affordable mom-and-pop lodgings, nice campgrounds and friendly locals (especially in Minnesota). Personally, I'm drawn to places where I've been told that "there's nothing out there".

This route takes longer because of added distance and more to explore and see, so I would figure in the Interstate system when necessary to make up time and stay on schedule.

PS: You'll get to ride in everything from prairie to mountain passes, Amish communites along the way, fuel management is important in North Dakota, and Montana is the deer-on-the-road capital of the west. ;)
 
PS: You'll get to ride in everything from prairie to mountain passes, Amish communites along the way, fuel management is important in North Dakota, and Montana is the deer-on-the-road capital of the west. ;)

One year the Oilhead's Rolling Rally passed east to west through North Dakota (my way back when home state). About 10 or 12 riders total. If I recall correctly, 2 or 3 of us didn't get tickets.

A trooper was quoted as saying, "Here in North Dakota the speed limit is the limit."
 
One year the Oilhead's Rolling Rally passed east to west through North Dakota (my way back when home state). About 10 or 12 riders total. If I recall correctly, 2 or 3 of us didn't get tickets.

A trooper was quoted as saying, "Here in North Dakota the speed limit is the limit."

I've been through ND two times in the past three years, heading west to east. I saw an occasional townie officer. If there were highway patrol officers, I didn't see 'em. This changed at Grand Forks... several cage drivers were being pulled over as they entered town.

I've also ridden down around Lake Sacajawea (sp?) and that's lonely. One year I rode through acres upon acres of sunflower fields. Thousands of flower heads following the sun during the course of the day is quite a spectacle.
 
Could I suggest skipping N.D. and taking the S.D. tour, through the badlands, with a diversion to Devil's Tower, in Wyoming?

Then you would be set up nicely for the Beartooth Highway, and turn north again towards Glacier and HWY 2. There's a lot of mountain and river road to explore around here, so you could hit a few each direction to keep things interesting.
 
We head from Central WA to MN every year. If you do the SD route, Hwy 12 and Hwy 212 are the best non slab roads. 14 is OK, but you end up in Pierre. ick.

More options in ND, But you have to plan where you want to cross the water. On the last trip we headed west from MN on 13, then up 83 (avoiding Bismarck) and crossed at Washburn.

My last trip I did on a 250cc Honda Rebel. Central WA to John Day, OR then east towards Boise, Craters of the Moon, Yellowstone, Beartooth, then 14 to Sheridan and Gillette, Devils Tower, 212 all the way across SD, then you're on your own, as we headed up 23 to Aerostich. Completely different route home...mostly stuck to Hwy 200, but there were some diversions.
 
Thanks. I had cosidered US 2. In fact, figured on US highways as much as possible 'cause I thought they would offer good food and resonable lodging
when not in the mood (rain) to camp. Went through SD in '78 on a ride to Yellowstone - Black Hills route. It was a great ride. Missed out on the Badlands,
though, so should see that this trip. Looks like a northern route one way and a southern route the other to catch as much as possible.

Speaking of the law, my most vivid recollection of the '78 trip is of a psycho trooper in Illinois. I'll skip the details of how often he palmed his sidearm, and how he refered to Ohio troopers as "panty wastes", and just say that he fined me $65 cash for riding without my headlight on. The cash went into a little yellow envelope, which went into his shirt pocket. Also, we stopped at six campgrounds
before we found one that would allow us to camp - and we weren't riding Harleys. After hearing "We're a family campground," twice I started replying "We're brothers." Didn't work. Already told my brother that we're not stopping the first day until we get to Iowa. No offense to the fine folks of Ill, but memories like that stick in your craw.

Anyhow, thanks for all the suggestions. I will definitely check them all out.
And keep 'em coming. I think my boy will be in Spokane for three years, so may have to head out there a few more times.
 
in glacier last june and the road to the sun/beartooth(whichever) was closed. went back out of the park and took a detour which turned out great. anywhere you go in western montana or wyoming is tough to beat. eastern washington heading to spokane was windy as hell, riding at an angle all the way to yakima.
 
If you've time, head for the coast

The Olympic Peninsula is definitely worth a visit.

As for your cross country trip. It depends what you want to see. All the famous landmarks are great to visit, but personally, these days, I have a desire to experience the disappearing west.

Shameless plug from one of my excursions... A trip that didn't have anywhere famous on the itinerary.
http://fridgefoto.biz/p_roadside.html
 
110164: I certainly can appreciate that, as will my brother the photographer!
Most of my rides are to nowhere special - except home at the end of the day.
Thanks.
 
Hi,

I live in Rockford (about 20 miles south of Spokane), and work at WSU about 6 miles from U of I.

There are some really nice roads down through the Palouse. and some great roads just into Idaho around lake Coeur D' Alene.

If there is anything I can help you with while your here just PM me. I have a shop and tools you can use.

Careful on that road, it is pretty and very fun, some of the corners are really sharp and not necessarily labeled either. My friend wrecked in front of me on that road last year. She is fine, but it was not an experience I want to go through again. Have a great trip! :D
 
:doh I forgot to specify the road, I was talking about the roads around cour'd'elene lake. Sorry.
 
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