Let's Ride

Chapter 8

"Well babe, if we're gonna do this Beartooth highway, and wanna be back to the campground before midnight we'd better go, it's a little over 175 miles all the way around, so let's ride!" Refreshed from the meal, we rolled out of Cooke City on the famous Beartooth highway, closed in winter, I could see why as we rode. The highway was standard two-lane blacktop, narrow at many points. The forest smells filled my lungs as we rode curves. Oh my God! The curves, is seemed like I was forever counter steering and dropping gears, straighten out gear up, punch it out, let off on the throttle, drown shift, counter steer left or right, gear up, over and over again. We cut south towards Cody on route 296.

Dead Indian Hill road on the Chief Joseph Highway, and I thought I'd been working my left toe off, and counter steering,, if I climbed a gear it was only one, some of the curves we would have to drop down to almost twenty miles an hour, pushing left to go left pushing right to go right, slow down drop a gear, oops too far! Kick it up! The time and miles seemed to drag, this was really getting to be a pain in the ass, finally we came out of the worst, then it was down hill, let the motor do the breaking, downshift, "slow it down damnit!" We hit Cody in the late afternoon, time for only a quick bite, gas up and go! It was closing in on dusk when we passed through the east entrance, the shadows were growing longer, when we passed Sylvan lake, the sun was just disappearing over the western horizon the shadows and fading light on the lake required a stop, Greg growled about it, but the picture I took there is one of my best.

Darkness had settled over Yellowstone Lake, the light was completely gone, we had to really slow down around Fishing Bridge, people walking across the highway, not paying attention, we revved a little more often to alert the careless. Something darted across the highway between Fishing Bridge and Lake Village but it was too dark to tell exactly what it was. It was almost nine thirty when we got back to our campsite, we were beat, Greg and I sat for awhile at our table reflecting on the day, this soon turned into some passionate kissing, since it was dark out and only the occasional campfire lighting the night, I had my top off, with Greg's deft fingers running over my back and breasts.

A lot of giggling and snickering and I think a couple people walking by as we played came to a temporary end as nature called. A quick visit to the john, into the tent, and under the sleeping bag playtime resumed. Jockeying to see who got to mount the other one first, Greg's magical fingers, my magical tongue we just never got enough. Morning found us completely burrowed inside of the sleeping bags it was still dark out but spotting wildlife was top priority so we did without coffee this morning quickly dressed and hit the road just as the other campers were stirring. Today it was north to Canyon Junction, the Hayden Valley, and across the central plateau. Right out of the "box" we spotted a black bear scampering across the highway, not enough time for a picture, but a young grizzly a few miles up the road, offered a decent picture.

We had to be real careful with this one, Greg got off a couple shots before the bear got too close, I was nervous as hell, but held off revving the throttle until Greg got his pictures, we were lucky here because no bear jamb had formed yet, we were the first. Along the Yellowstone River, moose posed for more good pictures, some elk as well. Crossing the plateau, we were almost the only ones out, we kept our speed down just taking it all in, both of us had our helmets off to catch every sound and smell. We spotted a beaver pond with beavers swimming nearby, more terrific photos. When we approached Norris Junction the meadow was filled with feeding elk, offering still more outstanding pictures. The opposite side of the road revealed a small heard of buffalo feeding, traffic was starting to pick up; the animals started taking their cue and began to move off to wherever they go during the day. We took a break at a nearby picnic site and stopped to pull out our trusty little stove and make coffee. A couple cold pop-tarts and stale doughnuts from the day before became breakfast.

We visited a little museum dedicated to park rangers, then up the road a short ways to the Norris Geyser Basin, for a walk-around, here we say some stupid kids get chased by a buffalo they got too close too, jackasses never learn. Continuing north we were forced to wait while a heard of buffalo crossed the road.