Lake Tahoe

It appears that not only am I a bad-ass dude, I'm also "radical", "a stud" and "the sort of person you normally only read about", and today an American family bought me an ice cream in recognition of my endeavours.

I'm in California, I've got a bike licence - there's only one thing to do - rent a Harley.












Before I got on the bike a Harley owner told me once I'd ridden one there'd be no going back. I'm not so sure. Like going to Vegas, I'm glad I did it but I'm in no great hurry to do it again.

Yosemite National Park

Forest fires meant parts of the park were closed off, but you could still hike to the giant sequoias, the world's largest living organism. Except for the one with a tunnel through it which presumably is the world's largest dead organism.

Viva Las Vegas

The best thing about Vegas? An all-you-can-eat buffet breakfast, and lunch, and dinner for $20. For another $20 you can drink as much as you like aswell, but that only lasts for 4 hours.

The Grand Canyon

Bryce Canyon

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park

This was the view from this evening's campsite.

Monument Valley

Moki Dugway

The Moki Dugway is a dirt track short-cut that cuts up the side of a canyon wall. No deep sand this time, just dirt and gravel.

Canyonlands National Park

A couple of days ago I was in a bike shop buying some spare parts. I was telling one of the mechanics about my journey so far and he told me I was "one bad ass dude." That's a good thing, right?

Dead Horse Point State Park

One of the park rangers spotted my bike and recommended an off-road shortcut back to Moab. He told me there was a short tricky stretch through some rocks but that the rest was a breeze. I got through the rocky bit but decided to turn around when I got to the single track deeply sandy hairpin bend with a thousand foot drop off.

Arches National Park

Its not a legal requirement to wear a motorcycle helmet in Utah so I thought I'd risk it for a short evening ride. I don't think I'll be repeating it - I kept glancing down at the tarmac and thinking how unforgiving it looked. I also rode without my jacket in the hope it would be a bit cooler (it was 39 degrees during the day) but it wasn't. The air was so hot it was like riding through a hairdryer.

Bonneville Salt Flats

I rode onto the Bonneville Speedway Course, but I decided not to attempt the landspeed record for a fully loaded Yamaha.






Then to West Wendover, Nevada, home to the world's largest mechanical cowboy.

Grand Teton National Park

Last night was spent camping in Grand Teton. None of the campsites have showers but there is a public bathhouse. Its just like being back in Mongolia!

Lunch today was in Afton - "Home of the world's largest intermittent spring".

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone was the world's first national park and is home to half of the world's geysers.















The bins are bear-proof








The food lockers are bear-proof








But what about the tent?













Whilst buying a bottle of wine for my evening picnic I was asked for ID. Its good to know that after four months on the road I haven't lost my youthful good looks.

Montana

Montana is known as Big Sky Country. Unfortunately none of it's blue.














To avoid a thunderstorm this afternoon I took shelter and had a coffee in a Safeway store in Helena. Whilst drinking it I wondered to myself how many people from Helena, Montana had ridden a motorbike to Safeway in High Wycombe for a cup of coffee?

The Good Old US of A

I've discovered two things the US has in common with Russia - neither of them let you fill up with fuel without paying first, and neither of their computer systems at the border can cope with a British registered vehicle.
Whilst waiting to be processed I thought I'd conform to the British stereotype and ask the border guard about the weather. I was told "SIR! I can admit you to the United States of America. What I CANNOT do is give you a weather forecast". I didn't bother with any more small talk after that.



The picture is on the 'Going To The Sun Road' in Glacier National Park. I kept going, I never found the sun.

Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump

With a name like Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump you just have to go and have a look, but in the event its a slightly unimpressive small cliff which Indians used to make buffalo stampede over in order to slaughter them.

Kananaskis Country

I thought the Icefields Parkway was good, but Kananaskis Country, southwest of Calgary, is just as good but without the crowds.

As an added bonus you can stop at Marv's Classic Soda Shop afterwards, and I strongly suggest you do.

Icefield Parkway

The Icefields Parkway is a 140 mile stretch of road between Jasper and Lake Louise. It's been voted one of the world's top ten drives. With views like these at every turn I'm inclined to agree.

Hope v Expectation

Its been said that its better to travel in hope rather than expectation. Well having travelled through Hope today I'm not entirely convinced. Nice burgers though.

Whistler

In Whistler, exploring the mountains and taking a ride on the Peak 2 Peak gondola, the world's longest with an unsupported span of 1.88 miles.