Travels With Connie #67 Climbing to the Sun
Sometimes I know exactly where I am going. In that case it’s easy, pick a route and go.
More often I have an idea where I’d like to end up, and generally speaking a direction to go.
Once in a while I just follow the front wheel and see where it takes me.
I've reluctantly left Red Rocks in the mirror. I was so captivated by the place that you can almost bet I'll be back. But now, right in front of Connie's front wheel the road is rising. We truly are going to the sun!
Yes. Even the bathrooms are scenic in Glacier National Park. Look at the forest here and in other pictures, the pines are dominant but not the only species in the forest by any means. It's an incredibly verdant multi species place.
When you get to a certain altitude the forest is so lush that it almost seems suffocating. Lots of snow and good sunshine in the non winter months make for a perfect recipe for a forest. This one is incredible. Even some slopes that burned a few years ago are lush with buck brush and starting to reforest on their own.
This is not a compressed view at all. For a long ways up this is how the highway looks. The forest is hard up against it. The look and smell and feel of it is very vital. It's a living thing, this forest, and it doesn't let you forget it.
Snow capped mountains behind us and in front of us. The road rises steadily at this point, always up. Again, this is a level held photograph so the slope you see is actual. They call it Going to the Sun Highway because it climbs right to the top,
As always, Connie is a very willing participant. I found myself wishing more than once that there would be a day for motorcycles only on this road. What a hoot this road would be to just ride for the joy of the road.
The road goes on, there's more. Thanks for coming along for the ride.
All words and photographs in this post are mine. For better or worse
You want some real motorcycle travel? Check out Velimir. That’s some kind of motorcycle writing.
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What a beauty! The scenery of this place is enchanting. You and connie are perfect partners to visit this sort of beautiful place. Nothing seems beautiful then lush green forests.
It IS enchanting. The incredibly lush and verdant forest played off against the stark black and white mountain peaks is just amazing.
That really is beautiful country and thick with vegetation but I have a question about Connie, how does she handle the change in elevation from a performance stand point, do you have to adjust any of the fuel injection settings?
Just curios as usual.
I have good news and bad :) Connie has an incredible electronic architecture that is just absolutely seamless. Not a ripple, ever. The only one I know of is the cold idle fuel flow. It we are at 10,000 ft when we start up in the morning and the next day we start at say 2000 ft it can be way too rich. It remembers the last setting. All I have to do is turn it off and back on to reset.
The bad news is that if that system goes away you are stuck with an inert lump of junk :)
A few years ago I did Mt. Evans to Death Valley. I was on my Honda (4 carbs in the valley of the V=4). I had to adjust the mixtures twice on that ride. But I really had my biggest problem getting the saddle bags open. They are air tight so the inside air was at 14k and the outside air was -200. I had to wiggle and wobble quite a while and they both 'wooshed' when I did get them open.
Those saddle bags sound like a really airtight opportunity for a design improvement and possible patented idea. I wonder if that situation happens to many other people? If you want the idea I can share it with you through a DM on discord.
Good thing you are mechanically inclined when it comes to carbs and that Honda.
Connie has a release valve built into the handle. Unlock the handle and equalize the air. The Honda didn't have that. My Honda was a '93. Good as Honda engineers are they can't think of everything. Everybody has some sort of release, now.
Okay, that is good to know they have it corrected. My suggestion would have been to drill and tap the bottom side of the bag and but a little quarter inch , quarter turn ball valve to let the pressure out. It would still be water tight and if the saddle bag wasn't lined it would also make a nice little cooler for water on day trips and then drain it using the ball valve at the end of the day.
That would work really good, in fact I like the idea a lot. As a matter of practicality I only had the problem once, and it took 13,000 feet of elevation change to trigger it. After that happened, if I thought I was losing too much elevation I'd merely open the bags once or twice.
I did 'electrify' the RH bag sometime after that. Put a bulkhead connector in it so I could still remove it but also charge my laptop as I rode.
I like the idea of a 'day ride cooler'. I'm looking at Connie as we speak.
Sounds like the saddle bags are not lined if you are looking at the girl in that way right now. Should be an easy installation if you decided to do it.
What a magical trip. We got a bike this spring but have only had time for some short day trips this summer. We live near the Blue Ridge Parkway that is a beautiful ride. We hope to catch it at least once this fall.
Were the temperatures chilly on the bike? Snow on the peaks makes it look cold.
I was really lucky with weather. It was pleasant all the way to the top and no forest fire smoke. That changed shortly after I was there.
The Blue Ridge Parkway? In my opinion, simply one of the best motorcycle roads on the planet. I'm always ready to go back! I'm really happy that you get to experience it on a motorcycle. It's the ultimate way.
I think on a motorcycle is the ultimate way to experience any trip. Weather permitting. I will have to keep man eye out for your posts. It kind of inspires me to make some riding time before winter.
howdy from Texas sir bigtom13! You've just let me see a road that I've wanted to travel for years now to the Glacier National Park! It's on my bucket list and your marvelous photos make me thirst even more! lol.
It is truly a remarkable post with great commentary as well as fabulous pictures of course so thank you sir! And I assume this time of year is the perfect temperature to go visit the park?
Oh. You will not be sorry. It is one of those 'distinguished' roads that everybody agrees is just great. Because it is!
Mid and late summer is the time. Winter can come early and often stays late there. Typically there is not much rain in June, July and August. The Highway may not be open in June, however. Due to snow removal :) July and August are really the prime time. Just after Labor Day, too.
I hope you get there soon!
oh my gosh sir bigtom13! it may be closed in June for snow removal! haha! that lets you know how high up you are, amazing. You obviously travel alot, do you just travel in the South during the winter months?
When you have such scenic beauty to explore, why would anyone not go out to explore these beauties? Very well written, bdw what is the name of the motorbike?
My point exactly! I have the time and the inclination. Why not go?
It is a Kawasaki Concours. Generically called a 'Connie' since it's inception in the '90s (this is second generation 2008). Hence the name.
I do love the mountains surrounding that place and your photos offer a great view of it. I especially love the one covered in snow.
And the lush green trees around, they are just incredibly beautiful. Now, that's somewhere I wanna be. Travelling around with a motorcycle must be a wonderful experience, and yours looks really nice (and ready to hit the road. hahah).
Connie is always ready. It is a truly wonderful experience and I just love nothing better than the wind on my legs.
Glacier is a stunningly beautiful place. It is truly a gem.
Hahah! How fun that is..
Yeah, it truly is
Dear sir,
We are witnessing the most beautiful phenomenon and places of close to this beautiful Glacier.
Thank you sir
Thank you. The park really is a gem. I mean the Rocky Mountains in general are simply spectacular, but Glacier is just a very special place.
starting to count the days when I travel and see some sites first hand not that yours are not wonderfully done.
That's exciting Tony. Take lots of pictures and let us ALL see!
Yes that is very lush and scenic 😁. The bathroom does indeed look like a very outdoorsy theme as well 😂
I was surprised by it. Wasn't looking for it, actually wandering across a parking area looking for the 'right' picture and there it was. Kinda fits right in,
Great travel journal @bigtom13.
It really felt like I was taking a trip in the car through those mountains, as your descriptions were so vivid and well narrated. Pictures are lush to! :-)
I have to tell you, it is pretty easy to take lush pictures on that highway,
Thanks for the kind words. I really do appreciate it,