RSTD....

Beverly tells me it would be easier for her to go on rides if the pillion seat wasn't so high. My V-Strom is a tall bike....so.......I guess if I HAVE TO I'll get another bike that has a lower seat. 

Sometimes a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do..."

So we get a 'new to us' Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe!

Of course now that we have it, we have to try it out. 

We've planned a trip to Mt Rushmore, and points in between.

We leave Saturday morning and arrange to meet Brother-in-law, Bruce, and Niece, Camille in Montpelier, Idaho.

I didn't plan very well and they had to wait an hour and a half for us. Luckily they are both still speaking to me, and we ride together to Alpine, Wyoming and have a great lunch.

Beverly, Bruce, and Camille.

After lunch we split up at Palisades reservoir, they go back to Idaho Falls, we press on to Jackson, Wyoming where we stay the night.

The Tetons. 

The next morning we off to Yellowstone..

This is the Smith Mansion, it sits between Yellowstone NP and Cody, Wyoming.

Francis Smith started building in 1973, and sadly died while working on it in 1992

His daughter, who grew up in the mansion (sans running water and electricity), is trying to continue her Father's work and complete the building.

It stands 75 feet tall, and is in the exact center of the valley.

We stay overnight in Gillette, Wyoming and are off the next day to see Devils Tower. The desk clerk at our hotel is excited we are going to Devils Tower, she tells us, "its not just a big stump"...and she's right. We are glad we made this side trip.

Having seen the Big Stump, we point to bike towards Mt Rushmore.

Had a mushroom burger here.....delish!

Then on to Mt Rushmore

We stay overnight in Hill City, South Dakota.

We spend a very forgettable night in Wheatland, Wyoming. The Motel 8 was filthy, other guests were overly loud, all in all, our worst night. Oh well, off to Idaho Springs, Colorado the next day. We ride via Estes Park on wonderful twisty roads.

It's hard to eat healthy on the road, but Beverly finds a way. We would stop at a grocery store for the food then find a shady spot at the local park to stop and enjoy it.

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And our lodging in Idaho Springs, Colorado - an excellent B&B!

We stop at our room long enough to unload our bags and then we're off for a wet, and cold ride up Mt Evans - "North Americas highest auto road"

A restful night at the Miners Pick then off to Green River, Utah - staying at the River Terrace Inn... I really like this place. It was so quiet and peaceful and had some cool waterfalls.

Also a serene place to sit and watch the river meander by.

Dinner here, if you are passing through Green River and want something different and good, this is the place to go to.

Saturday morning we donn our rain gear for the wet ride home.

After seven days, and 2100 miles we are home-sweet-home.

It was a super trip, Beverly appreciated the lower seat, and we both had a very nice time. When we started the trip I liked the bike, but the time we got home I LOVED the bike....

Some times a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.