Yellowstone Circle - 2010

This year's longest trip is my June travel to the Yellowstone area. The spring has been very late arriving this year and the trip has been one of those mixed blessings. The weather this spring has been cool, wet and it seems like March has lasted forever. The snow on the mountains and the rain seemingly everywhere else has kept most of us indoors eagerly awaiting some sign of real riding weather. A number of popular events and rallies have suffered from this dull weather and while I don't blame them, the fair-weather riders are just are not getting a chance to get on the road in a serious manner.

My major trip this year suffered from the same dull weather patterns which have affected so much of the western continent. It started in dull-grey skies mixed with rain and cold in the Washington mountain passes around Everett, Washington. The drive up the Snohomish pass was certainly one for the story books. The rain began early and the temperature dropped dramatically.

The day started cool and clear. A great change from the first day of the ride. It didn't hurt that after the rain last night my companions and I had opted for a local motel for the night's rest. Our first breakfast on the road was a regular U.S. feast of pancakes, coffee and syrup (not maple... ).