Day 9.
August 29th, 2021.
I awoke, not knowing the name of the motel I had slept in.
It bothered me.
The way I felt, I knew that it would not register and I would need a photo to jog my memory in the days to come.
I had to satisfy my brain, so I sauntered outdoors and took a picture of the hotel’s sign.
That task accomplished I loaded up and set off for Yellowstone Park.
By hook or by crook, I would do my best to arrive there today - as originally planned.
Somehow, I had been able to make up my much-needed time to rendezvous with Buster and Marilyn in the park.
The last 24 hours reminded me of how important it is to need to slow down and smell the roses!
I guess as the saying goes:
“Proper Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Performance”.
But sometimes a Long Rider has to do what he has to do!
I was 178 km (111 mi) from Gardiner, MT - the entrance to Yellowstone National Park.
A place I had been longing to one day visit.
I was so close now.
Another dream so close to realizing.
I felt blessed, accomplished and appreciative.
Plus I was so looking forward to seeing Buster and Marilyn again after such a long time.
I Stopped in Livingston, MT for a morning snack and some Gatorade to replenish what electrolytes I had lost in the previous 24 hrs.
The Honda needed fluid in the form of fuel too!
I called Rocky and updated him on my progress so far and of all the events and happenings on the journey since I left him.
He was in the midst of getting organized for his Arizona trip.
I called Buster and updated him as well.
“I’ll be seeing you later today Buddy!”
“Great. Looking forward to seeing you too. Be safe out there!”
It was a lovely ride from here to Yellowstone.
Such gorgeous scenery.
I slowed down to really try and take it all in.
My photo ops abounded!
I couldn’t get enough of them.
I literally wanted to take photos of everything I looked at.
That’s how nice everything looked to me.
Just before arriving in Gardiner, MT I was greeted by a large Elk wading in the Yellowstone River.
Yup, photo op!
Arriving at the park entrance, I took the opportunity to get one of the fellow tourists to take a picture of me for my commemoration photo album, at which point I entered the park and went in search of Buster and Marilyn.
I found them where they were working at the Park’s Concession Store.
After visiting for close to an hour and to “kill time” whilst they finished working for the day, I sought direction to the Grand Prismatic Hot Spring - My must-see feature of the park and trip.
I joined the throng of vehicles heading southwards, over a section where the side of the mountain had very recently been “lost” (fallen away), taking half of the road with it, making for a very precarious, narrow, single lane pass.
Drivers in the cars ahead of me were reluctant to keep moving and I instantly prayed that they would not.
The lean angle of the road at this point would surely cause me to tip over.
No way I’d be able to hold the bike up.
Scared the “bejesus” out of me!
In my brain, I began to scream at them at the top of my voice:
“Don’t stop y’all, don’t stop. Keep moving, keep moving. ‘Cos if you do stop I’m surely falling off the side of this mountain road”!
Oh gosh, was I scared!
Thank the lord for the slow maneuvering skills I had so diligently learned over the years.
Slowing down literally to walking pace, I was able to keep the bike upright.
We kept moving and I kept praying!
Writing about this event evokes memories that have instantly raised my heart rate and anxiety.
That is an experience I choose never to live through again …… if ever I have the total control.
With that thought, I was more than certain that I would not ply this road on my return leg of the ride back to ‘
Gardiner, MT later in the day - post my visit to the Grand Prismatic Spring.
I had no problem taking the long way around and back.
Besides, it would probably be dark, judging how late it was at this time of day.
I motored on.
The Grand Prismatic Spring was a sight to see!
At 113 m (370 ft.) in diameter, it is the 3rd largest Natural Hot Spring in the world.
Lots and lots of visitors.
Made me realize how popular this feature is.
I had wanted to “do” the 0.8 km (1/2 mile) walk up the trail that would take me to the iconic overlook/viewpoint for the view that almost every photographer has used as a spot to showcase a full overview of the Spring, sharply demarcating and bringing into view the differently colored bands of bacterial colonies that are the only things that can survive and live in this boiling hot environment.
Disappointingly, I did not think I had enough time to indulge myself.
It was late afternoon and the sun had already begun its descent in the sky.
Besides, I now had a good excuse to return another day.
Allow me to let my photos do the talking.
Head over to the photo album and enjoy them.
I joined the heavy traffic that was now beginning to leave the park.
Evening was approaching.
I confess, I had to make a spirited ride of my exit and just before dark I stopped to fuel up just outside of the West entrance/exit gate of the park.
I phoned Buster to check in and give him a status report and was immediately horrified to find out that I was so far southwest that I might not be able to make it back to Gardiner, MT on this night.
“What? No way!”
I had every confidence in my STeed!
She was capable of knocking down the miles like no other.
A quick check of the map for directions and I opted for Highway 191 due north.
The ST picked up her heels and we began to “nail it”.
I was king of the road.
Well actually I had no “subjects”, so technically I could claim status right?
My miscalculation had been that I did not take into account, the rises and dips in elevation along the way, which added so much more distance in actuality than it seemed otherwise looking at a 2-dimensional map on paper.
As I got into the mountains again, although a much straighter route, I started having flashbacks of my ride with Rocky in the dead of night through the Oregon mountains.
Here I went again!
I tried.
I maintained a very brisk pace but it felt like I was not getting anywhere.
There was nothing but mountain road and forest.
The hypnosis began.
The fatigue of the day began to set in.
My energy and desire to “fight the night ride” began to wane.
The reality began to set in that I would not be making it back to Gardiner on this night.
I began to dislike myself for now realizing that I would not be able to keep my word of spending the one and only night we could on this trip, with Buster and Marilyn under the stars in Yellowstone National Park.
In the morning they would be leaving the area heading southward back to Texas, an I would be heading northwards to wards North Dakota.
I was really disappointed in my decision-making of the day now gone by.
In all fairness, I had to call and offer my apologies for the coming disappointment.
Pulling over under a solitary sign, I made the call.
My next challenge was to continue northwards until I could find a place to bed down for the night.
Proportionally on the map, I was less than halfway between West Yellowstone and Bozeman and it was close to 11:00 p.m. local time.
I still had a big chunk of the Gallatin National Forest to traverse.
Oh Lord!
Another long night of precarious mountain riding was presenting itself to me.
I just stood there beating myself up in disappointment.
This trip was really pushing me to certain limits I had not, and really in retrospect, could not have planned for, let alone be prepared for.
I walked in circles for a few minutes to begin raising my heart rate to wake myself up in preparation for the ride ahead, only to realize that the lighted sign I had pulled up under, was that of a Hotel!
Gosh, how lucky could I be?
I truly had an angel riding with me.
As I checked in, I learned that I was close to Big Sky, MT.
Yup. If you know anything about this area ……… and if you don’t, it turned out to be the most expensive hotel night of my trip!
………….. but the alternative?
I “whipped out” the plastic!
