Week 2 - Highway in the Sky and Going-to-the-Sun Road
/New Heights
Waking up to the shining sun and a wonderful breakfast in Evergreen at an Inn, I was ready for a great day of riding. There were no clouds in the sky, and I was excited to climb to the top of Mount Evans. The ride to Mount Evans and Echo Lake was a specular precursor to what was to come next. The mountains and the forest kept coming as I rolled on the throttle and leaned the bike into the twists and turns.
Inspired Colorado Living
I was heading north through the forest and mountains on several spectacular roads. Suffice to say, the motorcycling around here rocks! I was on my way to Lyons, Colorado to visit friends. When you see people following their passions, creating a vision for their lives, and realizing those dreams, it’s inspiring. It is simply cool to see people finding joy in their lives. With a sense of admiration and a feeling of kindred spirits, spending time on this journey connecting with people you know is special. They gave me the gift of their time, friendship, and wonderful hospitality.
Highway in the Sky
On the bike, revving the engine, pushing through the gears, and leaning into the turns I arrived at Estes Park. I was ready to enter Rocky Mountain National Park and ride Trail Ridge Road across a number of mountain passes, to Grand Lake on the westside of the park. I had come by last year too early in the season and the road was closed. I felt the excitement building as I got closer to using my annual National Park pass and then it happened. A line to get in, but not just any line. Finally, I presented my annual pass and photo ID. I was in! There was no problem on Trail Ridge Road and so I rolled right through. It did not take too long to realize that it was worth the wait. The temperature was falling, which was welcomed, and the riding was relaxed. A caravan of cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles were trekking along Trail Ridge Road. It’s about 48 miles and it’s not up and back. It runs from Estes Park in the east to Grand Lake in the west. You definitely have the feeling that you’re going somewhere. The views are big and breathtaking. The scenery changed by Grand Lake, namely the lake. I continued west through a National Forest, then North, and west across the Continental Divide. Next was Rabbit Ears Pass from east to west you wouldn’t know it if not for the sign. Well, it’s still a mountain pass and I crossed the Continental Divide. Very cool. Turning north I was in Steamboat Springs circling about and calling around for a hotel. A few phone calls and a lot of sweat form the increasing temperature, I finally picked a place. Walking into the lobby above the front desk was the following quote.
“Live, travel, adventure, bless and don’t be sorry.”
History on the Trail
On the way to Salmon I followed the Sacajawea Historic Byway. The primary portion was 120 miles on Idaho 28, with views of the mountains and the high plains that were serene and alluring. Heading north into the Bitterroot Mountains I was traversing part of the Lewis and Clarke Trail, that same expedition that Sacajawea helped them on. Parts of the same route I was on was also the Nez Perce National Historic Trail, taken by the tribe of the same name when attempting to flee the US Cavalry and head to Canada. There’s an incredible amount of history and significance in all of this and it left me feeling that I should have paid a bit more attention in elementary school history. More deeply, it got me thinking about the incredible expeditions that opened up the frontier of what is now the USA and the casualties of that so-called progress. The USA has a dark history and a dark origin. From the genocide of the Native American people to slavery. You can’t make an argument that the ends justify the means and that’s the price of progress. Societies and governments use that argument to justify the evil that is done. The ends don’t justify the means and penance is all that can be done now.
Travel, Experience, Why?
Traveling to reach a destination and see something unique, yes that can be a goal. Traveling as a “getaway” or vacation from day-to-day routine life, rest and relaxation is something easily understood. Traveling to have an adventure and push your limits, maybe that’s another reason. Possibly the simple answer is travel to experience, without any expectation or preconceived notion of what is to come. Just to travel, to journey, and to let experiences and all the moments pass through you.
I’ve been passing through so many places. Being present and in the moment allows you to really experience the fullness of life. Maybe it’s a bit of a paradox. To be able to have such a deep experience in any moment, but not be able to hold on to the totality of those moments. What is left is the essence and feeling from having experienced something. To recognize that each moment fades away and in its place is the Now-current moment you are in. Moving from moment to moment and experience to experience it shapes you. It’s not about one experience or just one moment. It’s about the essence of it all and how each moment shapes you, connects you to your Higher Self or to the Universe, expands your consciousness, and all those other labels that allude to you just being joyful. Travel is a way to open yourself to a wealth of new experiences. It shapes you.
New Heights and Going-to-the-Sun Road
Today marks two weeks on the road and it seems appropriate to be riding through Glacier National Park. Each day on the road has its own rewards, but today seems particularly meaningful. It’s a celebration of what’s been experienced, more so than what has been achieved. Yes, I’ve travelled many miles, over 3800, through numerous states, and now today I entered Canada. What really is meaningful for me is how much I’ve experienced in 14 days. For that matter, each day gives the gift of “newness” and experiences flow through me. I try to stay out of the way and just let it all happen, without judgement of what it means. However, today does seem like one of those days that have a bit more significance for me.
It’s not about what I did and where I went. It’s completely about realizing a vision and a dream. It’s totally about manifesting an idea that I played with over the years. “Wouldn’t it be cool to ride through Glacier National Park in Montana and then head to Banff in Canada?” Just an idea, that became a vision for trip, that then turned into a feeling of something that would be done. The number of miles and the line on the map representing the last 14 days, well those are outcomes to be proud of for sure. It’s a sense of accomplishment. The thing that puts the big smile on my face is idea, vision, and manifesting a dream. That’s a feeling of reaching “new heights” and that’s something joyful.
Day 8 - Evergreen, Colorado to Lyons, Colorado to stay the night with friends, first with a spectacular ride up Mt. Evans and a stop for lunch in Idaho Springs
Day 9 - Lyons, Colorado Visiting Friends to Steamboat Springs, Colorado passing through Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Trail Ridge Road, Rabbit Ears Pass & the Continental Divide, and finally arriving in Steamboat Springs
Day 10 - Steamboat Springs, Colorado to Jackson, Wyoming on the way North
Day 11 - Jackson, Wyoming to Darby, Montana via Teton Pass, Salmon, Idaho and into Darby Montana on the way to Glacier National Park
Day 12 - Darby, Montana to Kalispell, Montana, one hour from Glacier National Park
Day 13 - Kalispell, Montana Rest Day, one hour from Glacier National Park, exercise, laundry, and route planning
Day 14 - Kalispell, Montana to Banff, Alberta Canada riding through Glacier National Park and Going-to-the-Sun-Road crossing the Continental Divide at Logan Pass culminating two weeks on the road