BigBrother-84 Posted September 12, 2023 Author Share Posted September 12, 2023 What a trip! Excellent pictures. Beautiful area. 2023/09/06 Day 8, back country ride. 228 / 141 miles (Orange). Starting at Varney, we drove the Gravelly Range Road. HUGE! Rough gravel road, single car large. Big Brother was really happy, remembering his early days on Anticosti Island. If you wan't to see Montana's back country, I highly recommand this scenic road. Lot of wildlife and animals: Fantastic views: The signs are... difficult to read: Can't call it "overlanding", but the exit road, at Red Rocks Wild Life Reserve, was muddy and with deep ruts. We slept in a campground about 15 miles north of West Yellowstone, on the Big Sky road (Gallatin valley). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBrother-84 Posted September 12, 2023 Author Share Posted September 12, 2023 What a trip! Excellent pictures. Beautiful area. 2023/09/07 Day 9, Yellowstone Ntl Park - part 1. 277km / 172 miles (Yellow). Nice place, we saw Bison herd, partially blocking the road, creating a trafick jam: We stoped at nice hot water holes and geysers: We hoped to see the Old Faithfull Geyser, but it was too crowded! As much tourists as the whole Mont Tremblant resort, but for this single spot. So we continued our way, heading North. Stop along Yellowstone Lake, here is Big Bro: Then, about 2 minutes after leaving this pict spot, Big Bro stopped…. A chance that we were arriving at large shoulder. I first installed my spare Ignition Module, but nothing to do, engine does not start. I unplugged the carburetor fuel line, and nothing was coming out… No fuel at all. Already missing fuel? Hhhmmm, not 100% sure, but I remember we fueled not so far. Anyway, don’t worry! I carry a 5 gallon Jarry Can! So I poured the fuel in Big Bro’s tank and… nothing. The fuel pump? It is NEW! But what else could it be…. I am carrying the old used pump, so let’s go and swap the pump. Hurray, it works! Curiously, we had to “prime” the carb with fuel directly in the carb in order to start the engine, and finally having fuel coming in from the fuel line. This “new” pump died after only 4000 miles! I immediately ordered another spare pump (just in case, we never know), will take it at Salt Lake City on next September 10th. Due to late hour, we decided to change our planning and to turn around Yellowstone counter clock wise. So we headed East, to Cody. Nice canyon to go there! Big Bro in front of our restaurant: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpin Posted September 12, 2023 Share Posted September 12, 2023 2023/09/07 Day 9, Yellowstone Ntl Park - part 1. 277km / 172 miles (Yellow). Nice place, we saw Bison herd, partially blocking the road, creating a trafick jam: We stoped at nice hot water holes and geysers: We hoped to see the Old Faithfull Geyser, but it was too crowded! As much tourists as the whole Mont Tremblant resort, but for this single spot. So we continued our way, heading North. Stop along Yellowstone Lake, here is Big Bro: Then, about 2 minutes after leaving this pict spot, Big Bro stopped…. A chance that we were arriving at large shoulder. I first installed my spare Ignition Module, but nothing to do, engine does not start. I unplugged the carburetor fuel line, and nothing was coming out… No fuel at all. Already missing fuel? Hhhmmm, not 100% sure, but I remember we fueled not so far. Anyway, don’t worry! I carry a 5 gallon Jarry Can! So I poured the fuel in Big Bro’s tank and… nothing. The fuel pump? It is NEW! But what else could it be…. I am carrying the old used pump, so let’s go and swap the pump. Hurray, it works! Curiously, we had to “prime” the carb with fuel directly in the carb in order to start the engine, and finally having fuel coming in from the fuel line. This “new” pump died after only 4000 miles! I immediately ordered another spare pump (just in case, we never know), will take it at Salt Lake City on next September 10th. Due to late hour, we decided to change our planning and to turn around Yellowstone counter clock wise. So we headed East, to Cody. Nice canyon to go there! Big Bro in front of our restaurant: Wow! You are seeing some sights! Good job on the fuel pump! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBrother-84 Posted September 12, 2023 Author Share Posted September 12, 2023 What a trip! Excellent pictures. Beautiful area. 2023/09/08 Day 10, Yellowstone Ntl Park - part 2. 506km / 314 miles (Dark Blue). We left Cody early morning, heading North to Red Lodge: And then turned West to The Beartooth Highway. What a gorgious scenic road, full of hairpin turns! In Yellowstone park, we headed South and stopped at Canyon Village: And before leaving the park, we saw another Bison grazing along the road: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted September 12, 2023 Share Posted September 12, 2023 2023/09/05 Day 7, some tourism. 451km / 280 miles (Blue). Started by visiting the Clark & Lewis Caverns: They call this column "North Pole", 'cause Santa sits on it: Then, we rode the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway. Interesting, but lot of forest. For Laurentians as us, we’re accustomed to trees and trees and trees… We were more interested by some views to the mountains. We do not have this kind of "open range" in Quebec. So we were bit surprised to find cows on the road. We crossed Ennis, an historic city. Big Bro at the Far West: We slept at a campground near Ennis. Arriving at the campground site, a moose was welcoming us: Beautiful pictures! And beautiful country! Glad your trip is going so well. I've been to the Lewis & Clark Caverns. I remember it so well since someone asked the ranger on the cable car if the cable was safe and he said we shouldn't worry as they had a spare in the warehouse. And I'm told I'm somehow descended from Meriwether Lewis - although he supposedly had no children. Anyway, with only 3 days left I can't wait to meet you! Travel safely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBrother-84 Posted September 14, 2023 Author Share Posted September 14, 2023 I've been to the Lewis & Clark Caverns. I remember it so well since someone asked the ranger on the cable car if the cable was safe and he said we shouldn't worry as they had a spare in the warehouse. Yes, our guide (who is as old as the cavern ) told us this story about the spare cables. Although there is no more funicular, every transportation systems are gone. So, let's continue the Big Tour report. Leaving Yellowstone, there wasn’t any available campgrounds before Jackson Hole. We looked to take a motel there for the night... but at 350$-550$ a night (on what planet were we?), we continued our way and found a nice campground named Hoback (Bridger Teton National Forest). 9 septembre Day 11, Hoback to Bear Lake 215km / 134 miles (Purple). A full road day, ending at Bear Lake. Some pictures of the road: Bear Lake is very special, due to its dark turquoise color. Here is the explanation I found: «Bear Lake is known as the "Caribbean of the Rockies" for its unique turquoise-blue color. The intense and vibrant color of Bear Lake is due to the refraction of limestone deposits (calcium carbonate) from the Bear River Range suspended in the lake waters and reflecting the natural blue color back up to the surface.» Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBrother-84 Posted September 14, 2023 Author Share Posted September 14, 2023 I've been to the Lewis & Clark Caverns. I remember it so well since someone asked the ranger on the cable car if the cable was safe and he said we shouldn't worry as they had a spare in the warehouse. Yes, our guide (who is as old as the cavern ) told us this story about the spare cables. Although there is no more funicular, every transportation systems are gone. So, let's continue the Big Tour report. Leaving Yellowstone, there wasn’t any available campgrounds before Jackson Hole. We looked to take a motel there for the night... but at 350$-550$ a night (on what planet were we?), we continued our way and found a nice campground named Hoback (Bridger Teton National Forest). 9 septembre Day 11, Hoback to Bear Lake 215km / 134 miles (Purple). A full road day, ending at Bear Lake. Some pictures of the road: Bear Lake is very special, due to its dark turquoise color. Here is the explanation I found: «Bear Lake is known as the "Caribbean of the Rockies" for its unique turquoise-blue color. The intense and vibrant color of Bear Lake is due to the refraction of limestone deposits (calcium carbonate) from the Bear River Range suspended in the lake waters and reflecting the natural blue color back up to the surface.» 10 septembre Day 12, another full road day 317km / 197 miles (Orange). Leaving Bear Lake, we headed to Salt lake City, where I bought a spare fuel pump at a local O'Reilly Auto Parts. For White Bears as we are, we found that SLC was really hot on that sunny day. Some picts of this day: Arriving at SLC: After picking up the fuel pump, we continued our way to a well organised campground (although not nature close), called Deer Creek State Park, in Provo region. It has a view on the Deer Creek Reservoir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBrother-84 Posted September 14, 2023 Author Share Posted September 14, 2023 10 septembre Day 12, another full road day 317km / 197 miles (Orange). Leaving Bear Lake, we headed to Salt lake City, where I bought a spare fuel pump at a local O'Reilly Auto Parts. For White Bears as we are, we found that SLC was really hot on that sunny day. Some picts of this day: Arriving at SLC: After picking up the fuel pump, we continued our way to a well organised campground (although not nature close), called Deer Creek State Park, in Provo region. It has a view on the Deer Creek Reservoir. 11 septembre Day 13, SLC (Provo) to Moab 346km / 215 miles (Red). Still heading South, we went to Moab (hey, not as in "road"... the Locals pronounce it as we do in Frech, mo-A-b, as in "A-bsolute"). We arrived late, installed the camp and slept early, we were plannig a BIG day the next morning. Some picts of this road day: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBrother-84 Posted September 14, 2023 Author Share Posted September 14, 2023 11 septembre Day 13, SLC (Provo) to Moab 346km / 215 miles (Red). Still heading South, we went to Moab (hey, not as in "road"... the Locals pronounce it as we do in Frech, mo-A-b, as in "A-bsolute"). We arrived late, installed the camp and slept early, we were plannig a BIG day the next morning. Some picts of this road day: 12 septembre Day 14, BIG tourism day 209km / 130 miles (Blue). A day in 3 parts. I'll separate the picts in 3 different posts. Day 14 / Part 1 Dead Horse State Park + Canyonlands Ntl Park + Shafer Canyon Overlook 93km / 58 miles AWSOME and SPECTACULAR views on the Colorado River canyon, from the upper plateau of Dead Horse State Park! From the State Park, we can see the Shafer Canyon and the "landing" of the Shafer Trail on the Ntl Park side, and the begining path of the Potash Trail down the canyon: We left Dead Horse State Park and went to Canyonlands Ntl Park. Views from the Shafer Canyon Overlook: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBrother-84 Posted September 14, 2023 Author Share Posted September 14, 2023 11 septembre Day 13, SLC (Provo) to Moab 346km / 215 miles (Red). Still heading South, we went to Moab (hey, not as in "road"... the Locals pronounce it as we do in Frech, mo-A-b, as in "A-bsolute"). We arrived late, installed the camp and slept early, we were plannig a BIG day the next morning. Some picts of this road day: Day 14 / Part 2 Shafer Trail + Potash trail 56km / 35 miles My wife asked me why I didn't want to go down the Shafer Trail. I had no good answer, we are HERE, so let's go! She regretted it all the way down... Almost didn't toutched the brake pedal, 4L + 2nd drive, Big Brother compressed like a champ, constant speed no acceleration. Oh, I can now confirm that Big Bro CANNOT take the hairpins turns. We had to backup 3 times. You have to not make a mistake while clutching, let's say. Shafer Trail: Here's a link to a short movie. Pictures are below: Big Brother at Shafer Trail bottom: Begining the Potash Trail: Some views along the Potash Trail: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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