Going to the Sun Road
Riding through scenery like this is what being on a motorcycle is all about and this trip had so many beautiful places to see.
Big Skies
Epic Ride 2016
A journey through Nevada’s high desert, Idaho’s mountains and Montana’s Big Sky Country
The Ride
Big Sky Bound
The idea behind the 2016 Epic Ride was simple: head north to visit TJ’s home state of Montana and build an unforgettable loop around it. Rather than taking the fastest route, we connected some of the West’s best roads and destinations through Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and back into California. The result was an eleven-day journey filled with spectacular scenery, legendary highways, national parks, and enough memorable roadside stops to set the tone for every Epic Ride that followed.
The Route
The Northern Rockies Grand Tour
From California’s Sierra Nevada to Nevada’s Silver State, Idaho’s Gem State, and Montana’s legendary Big Sky Country, this route strings together some of the finest riding in the American West. It combines iconic destinations like Glacier National Park, Going-to-the-Sun Road, Beartooth Highway, Yellowstone, and Lake Tahoe with scenic byways, mountain passes, and unforgettable small towns. Designed as a true grand tour rather than a point-to-point ride, every day offers a different landscape, making this an unforgettable journey through the heart of the Northern Rockies.
Photo Story
Berry Pie
When an old lady working at a restaurant in the middle of nowhere says you need a piece of pie, you take it. I'm glad I did.
Kitsch is Our Middle Name
Come on, a bar with live mermaids? How do you not stop for this?
Pig Racing
After live mermaids, pig racing had to be the most unique thing we encountered on this trip.
Friends
The most important part about riding, even though the scenery is beautiful, is hanging out with a bunch of clowns like this.
The Story
From my journal:
August 19, 2016
Epic Ride starts with a bang! Started drinking a little too early. Had a great ride to Murphys, then over to Snelling, and up to Markleeville Hill for wine and a cigar. Stopped in at Jeff's place and then headed to Reno.
Great, fun day, but I'm wiped out. Time to hit the sack.
August 20, 2016
Long day riding through the desert. The riding itself was a little boring, but we still had a great time. Stopped for ice cream at the Nevada/Oregon border.
Rolled into Idaho. It was great seeing Chuck Anderson and his son. Had some laughs with the waitresses at Edge Brewery. Most of all, it was great hanging out with the guys, drinking beers and smoking cigars at the end of the day.
August 21, 2016
Left Boise and headed toward Idaho City. What a cool old western town—great bars and great people.
From there we rode on to Stanley, Idaho and stopped at the Rod & Gun for lunch. The roads were amazing—twisty, scenic, and beautiful. We saw lots of forest fire damage along the way before finally arriving in Salmon.
Salmon turned out to be a neat little town with a good local brewery. Great day.
Tomorrow we head to Montana to meet TJ, then on to Wallace, Idaho to connect with Deb and Jabe. Really looking forward to the rest of the ride.
August 22, 2016
Rode from Salmon to Missoula today through some of the most incredible scenery we've seen so far.
Met up with TJ's family and got a quick tour of Missoula and TJ's old stomping grounds. Ended up at the "Center of the Universe" in Wallace, Idaho and had dinner with Deb and Jabe.
Fantastic day.
August 24, 2016
Another incredible day of riding.
We crossed Glacier National Park, riding through the mountains before dropping out onto the plains. Met some Native American kids selling jewelry at a gas station and later spent some time talking with friendly locals at a hardware store.
Saw bison wandering alongside the road before finally arriving in Great Falls.
That evening we went to the Sip 'n Dip Lounge and watched the famous mermaids swim. Afterwards we sat around drinking beers, smoking cigars, and exchanging stories.
A great night of brotherhood.
August 25, 2016
What a day.
We rode across the Montana plains through the Lewis & Clark National Forest. The scenery was beautiful. Stopped in the town of Wilsall for a few beers before heading on.
Checked into Red Lodge and had dinner at the Bear Creek Steakhouse. Buffalo steaks were on the menu, and afterwards we watched the pig races. Doug even won $25.
TJ had some bike trouble on the way back in the rain, so a few of us got separated for a while, but everyone eventually made it back safely.
Fantastic day.
August 26, 2016
Today we rode the Beartooth Highway.
Oh my gosh...
Without question, some of the most amazing views I've ever seen. Every photo looked like a postcard. We climbed to over 11,000 feet. The air was thin, but it was unbelievably beautiful.
From there we dropped into Yellowstone and saw an incredible amount of wildlife—bighorn sheep, bison, bears, and the hot springs. It was simply awesome.
To top it all off, we finished the day shooting machine guns at a gun shop. One of them fired something like 1,800 rounds per minute.
Definitely one of those days I'll never forget.
August 30, 2016
Relaxing today before heading back to work tomorrow.
What a fantastic ride.
3,187 miles. Six states. National parks, incredible roads, and more amazing sights than I can even write about.
The best part wasn't any one destination—it was rolling through small towns and completely disconnecting from TV and the news. After a while you realize how unimportant all of that really is.
A simple life is a good life.
Great ride.
