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Warning

Photos at this site are for viewing only. Permission is not given to copy, transfer or reproduce the photos in any form or by any method. All rights reserved by Wanda and Larry Croft.

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We embarked on a 9 state trip June 2, 2007 and returned to our Gilbert, Arizona home after 3,100 or so miles later on June 20, 2007.

Our trip took us out of and back in to Arizona and through Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico.

Our weather was mostly good with some rain and some hail.

Visiting Mt. Rushmore was our primary purpose for the trip. We added visits to Yellowstone, Devils Tower, Pikes Peak and Buhl, Idaho before leaving home. As our trip progressed we visited the Golden Spike, Wall Drug, the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum, Carhenge in Nebraska and Durango in Colorado.

Weather caused us to not see Old Faithful and time did not permit going to the small city of Rugby, North Dakota which claims the title of the geographic center of North America.

It turned out to be our last motorcycle trip of any distance. About a month after returning from the trip we brought land in a remote near Snowflake, Arizona and sold our beautiful Gold Wing.

Why sell? Our new property is located 5 miles off the paved road. The road to our home is unimproved, full of bumps and with large rocks imbedded at the surface. In the summer it is either muddy from rain or very sandy. In the winter we have snow as well as mud. Riding the 5 miles would never be fun and we didn't want to trailer the bike to the highway and then leave the trailer parked for extended periods.

Perhaps we aren't avid motorcycle folks after all.

Anyway, we hope you enjoy the photos and the narratives.

Honda Wanda and her old man.

Beginning our trip to Mt. Rushmore near Rapid City. South Dakota.

Bobby McGee took us - Honda Wanda (Wanda) and her old man (Larry) - from our Gilbert, Arizona home around 9 am to Page, Arizona where we stayed overnight.

We traveled from Page, Arizona to Springville, Utah where we stayed overnight. Weather was good and the trip was pleasant.

Took few photos.

We were disappointed that the Moqui Cave and Museum in southern Utah near Kanab were closed but got over it with a good evening meal and a good night of sleep.

During our third day, we had had a full day with stops and photos of the Utah ATC facility and the Golden Spike National Historic Site, both close to Promontory, Utah.

Learning the developments leading to completing the Transcontinental Railroad, the Union Pacific 119 and the Centra Pacific Jupiter engines were interesting.

From there, we moved on to our hotel in Jerome, Idaho before visiting a friend and former co-worker, Rick, for an hour or two. Sure liked his farm, garden and animals.

We arrived as close to the Yellowstone National Park as one can without going through the gate.

We checked in our Gardnier, Montana hotel in the afternoon and rested well knowing our next day, the day we planned for Yellowstone, would be an adventure.

And, an adventure it was.

Yes, an adventure it was. The only disappointing day of the entire trip. It rained most of the day and was cold; we felt hail close to the 9,000 foot point.

While waiting for the electricity to come back on at the service station, we froze. Rain gear helped but . . . .

It would not have been fun even it a car. WHEW!

Anyway, the electricity returned, the fuel pumps pumped and, after topping off our fuel tank we were on our way. We salvaged the day with good photos.

We have good memories as well.

From Montana to Wyoming. From Gardiner to Sheridan.

A day for travel and only a few photos.

Passed by Billings, Montana during the 300 mile segment.

On to Sundance, Wyoming for the night but first through Gillette and a stop at Devils Tower National Monument.

Devils Tower - Remember Close Encounters of the third Kind? No? Close encounters was a movie about UFOs. Devils Tower was instrumental in its filming.

The short ride of 165 miles gave us plenty time at Devils Tower and plenty time for a walk around downtown Sundance.

Our visit to the Crazy Horse memorial near Custer, South Dakota was the high point.

A monument, started in 1948, of Crazy Horse the Oglala Lakota war leader is still under construction awaiting additiona funds.

Another short riding day - 110 miles

We started the day at Bear County USA near Rapid City, South Dakota.

Then on to Mount Rushmore National Memorial near Keystone, South Dakota.

Both places were equally enjoyable, however, because we knew about Mt. Rushmore from television and readings we found Bear Country with all the animals more of an adventure.

Lot of local miles today. First, a trip 55 miles east of Rapid City, South Dakota to Wall, South Dakota. Then, back through Rapid City and 30 miles northwest to Sturgis, South Dakota.

Had to visit Wall Drug in Wall, a western theme shopping mall. Perfect for tourist. Plenty of shops, eating and old west displays.

The Motorcycle Museum will be visited by every motorcycle enthusiastic in the country who travels through the Sturgis area?

Here, you can see the earliest of motorcycles.

Did you know its Hall of Fame includes a large number of well-known people?

Never thought to look for our names.

The only attraction we visited this day was Carhenge at Alliance, Nebraska, 150 miles south of Keystone, South Dakota.

Carhenge, a popular tourist attraction, consists of automobiles organized similar to Stonehenge in England.

Arrived in the Denver area in the afternoon and checked in our hotel.

Our evening meal was at the Casa Bonita, our favorite all-time restaurant.

Leisurely traveled the short distance of 75 miles to Colorado Springs, Colorado for our Pikes Peak trip next day. Only 4 photos because we captured photos of the Air Force Academy and Garden of the Gods on a previous trip.

Our trip to Pikes Peak was the highlight of the day. We took bunches of photos.

We climbed up to the top by riding in a rail car on a cog track, something we had never heard of until that day. Too, we were surprised to see snow in June. We were even more surprised to see people clearing the tracks so we could keep going. But, after all, snow doesn't melt quick at 14,000 feet up.

After Pikes Peak we rode on to Canon City, Colorado to visit the Royal Gorge.

Royal Gorge! Where the Arkansas River flows about 1,100 feet below the top.

To cross the river you can use the walk bridge or the aerial tram. One can get to the river and return using the standup incline.

Like animals?  You will find them here plus burro rides for the kids.

Traveled the 260 miles from Canon City, Colorado to Durango, Colorado. Photos consisted of roadside views.

Crossed the Continental Divide and the Rio Grande river.

On this, the last "event" day of our trip we made a round trip on the Durango - Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

Narrow Gauge refers to the distance between the tracks. Narrow gauge is about 18" less than standard gauge.

That's it.

We spent the next two days returning home traveling through Farmington, New Mexico and Payson, Arizona on the way to our home in Gilbert, Arizona.

We hope you liked what you saw.

Wanda and Larry

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