I’m usually in a happy mood when we set off somewhere but seeing this truck gave me a little extra boost. How can you not smile when you see those nooks and crannies grinning at you?

If you find this smiley muffin cute – take a look a look at the Faces in Places blog.

It was actually my first time eating there so I ordered what so many have recommended – Chicken Fried Steak. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the chicken fried steak at Denny’s is better.

But… the fact that you can buy a Gumby, a brick of peanut brittle or a sweatshirt with a pig in roller skates on it in the Barrel might give the place a leg up. Oh, but then again, Denny’s sells something called Moons over my Hammy. Even though I’ve never ordered it, I really like saying it. So naturally, I’m torn on where to spend my future chicken fried dollars.

And while we’re on the subject of chicken fried steak – Isn’t it totally a road trip food? The only time I eat it is when I’m away from home. I find that it’s best to not think too deeply about what it or that white gravy is. Though it can be difficult to contemplate such things over the din of your hardening arteries anyway.

Your thoughts?

Route 12 in Idaho and Montana is one American road that can boast such claims. Following along the Lewis and Clark Trail through the Bitteroot Mountains of Montana and Idaho, Route 12 sweeps through the Lolo Pass and the Lolo National Forest. It wriggles on alongside the Lochsa and middle fork of the Clearwater Rivers. Where there are rivers, there are wiggly roads.

No traffic, no people. Just you on your motorcycle in the warm glow of the rising sun. There you are just quietly cruising along; left, right, left, right – racing no one but the river running along side you. Can’t you just picture it? I sure can. Put a tick in the “Someday” column for me.

Photo Credit: John Paul James

Have you ridden Route 12? Tell us about it!

• Does anyone happen to know where the ‘Winding Road Next 77 Miles’ sign is located on the western end of route 12? I can’t seem to find it on Google maps. It would be a shame if I had to ride all the way out there just to find it. /sarcasm

For More Information:

• Route 12 & The Lolo Pass – Idaho Motorcycle Roads
• Lolo Pass Loop
• ADVRider – Winding Road Next 77 Miles Photo Thread
• View on Google Maps

Not long after that Kentucky trip we began to hatch a plan. Kenny and I should fly to Milan and rent bikes. Pims can ride down from the Netherlands to meet up with us. Then we three can head out into the world to explore. It looks like 2010 will be our year. At Christmas time I picked up a few Italian/Swiss maps and a travel book to whet my appetite to get the planning underway.

In general when traveling, we have a loose sketch of where we want to visit and then let the time unfold fairly naturally. I am not one to get crazed over keeping to a super-strict timeline. But, I am having a hard time estimating just how long it would take us to move through some mountain passes. Because of the nature of the roads, the potential for slow moving traffic, the desire to stop and see everything – I have no idea what to expect. I’m just writing down a running log of things I might want to see along the way and will try to work as many of them in as possible. This is getting exciting!

A Few Things on our Wish List:

• Bellagio – Lake Como
• The Stelvio Pass – Italy – Google Maps
• The San Bernardino Pass – Switzerland – Google Maps
• Ducati Factory & Museum – Bologna, Italy

Links of Interest

• Motorcycle Touring in Europe
• List of Italian Alps Passes
• Principle Passes of the Alps

The Stelvio Pass

*Image Source: Marco Mayer, Germany

In the morning under a clear blue sky, three headed north on route 395 with a view of Mono Lake sparkling to the east. We were heading towards the Sonora Pass.

About 20 miles out of town we saw signs for Bodie Historic Park. I had previously seen photos of the park from Novos. It looked really interesting. So, I pulled off and asked the guys if they wanted to check it out. I don’t know why I even asked. It should have been one of those given moments. Who knows when I’d ever pass that way again? It’s best to just go take a peek rather than wonder what it might have been like for the rest of your life. On we went in to Bodie.

Bodie is frozen in time. By the time that the State of California took over the town in 1962, it had been abandoned and ravaged by fire. The remaining 200 or so structures in the town are all that is left as a result of a major blaze that occurred in the 1930s.

It was fascinating to stroll through the dirt roadways, peering in to the old buildings. The only inhabitants that remain in this old mining town are the swallows that make mud nests in the eaves.

Photo Gallery – Click to Enlarge

For More Information:

• Google Maps Link – Lee Vining to Bodie
• Bodie State Historic Park
• Google Maps Link – Sonora Pass
• Wikipedia – Sonora Pass

As we rode along route 244 towards the entrance of the monument, I got my first glimpse of the 4 faces looking out of the mountainside through a break in the trees. It was stunning. It was what could only be described as a true “wow” moment. What you see in photos and movies cannot compare to the magnitude of what you are looking at in person.

• For More Information on Mount Rushmore: National Park Service

Barnstorming

Last week while in Pennsylvania, our travels took us past a handful of Mail Pouch Tobacco barns. There were a few I was unable to get shots of as we zipped along the Turnpike. That left me feeling like I’d missed something.  I want to go back and photograph them.

With the help of ohiobarns.org, I was able to pinpoint the barns that eluded me. I was also able to map a ton of West Virginia barns using the information on their site. West Virginia, motorcycle, barns, farm land… score! For me that is the making of a great ride.

My Goal

I would like to string together some barn sites and make a long weekend ride through the great motorcycling state of West Virginia. At this point I don’t have anything more than just a dimly lit light bulb of an idea. But, with so many markers in great areas how can I go wrong?

Mail Pouch Barn Markers - West Virginia

For More Information on Mail Pouch Tobacco Barns:

• Mail Pouch Barns – Wikipedia
• Ohio Barns – Mailpouch.org

With nothing to do on Tuesday we packed our toothbrushes, a hand of bananas and some Gatorade, hopped into the breadbox and pointed it west. We didn’t leave the house with much of a plan other than, “hey, let’s go somewhere.” So, that’s what we did.

Our wheels took us to the town of Bedford, Pennsylvania to visit The Coffee Pot. For several years now, I have wanted to see the big silver lady in all her roadside glory. She didn’t disappoint.

The Coffee Pot - Bedford, Pa.

• Roadside America – The Coffee Pot
• Wikipedia – The Coffee Pot

Away

Living on an island, as I do means I’m always crossing the water to get away. Be it just for the day or for a week – when my wheels roll across a bridge I know I will be going to a place that I am not from. There is something exciting about that for me.

6 Bridge Photos from my Travels:

Piermont, NH	New River Gorge, WV	Grand Isle, VT
PCH, CA	San Francisco, CA	Missouri River, SD

Day 1 is up and ready to roll:

• California to Montana on an Aprilia RSV – Day 1

Novos' RSV outside of Bodie, California

Read the Original Post:

• Heading off into the sunrise, Southern California to Montana on an Aprilia RSV