MY VIRTUAL VACATION – Courtesy of The Saint

I received a text message from my friend, The Saint, last Monday. (If you’re new here, you can check out my MAKING OF A BIKER CHICK posts in my sidebar and get to know her and the Biker Nazi better.) The message read:

Wish you were here.

The Saint

I quickly replied, “Me too. Where is here?” I assumed that she wasn’t at work or she wouldn’t be wishing I was there. I WAS at work so I was wishing to be ANYWHERE else.

She replied with, “South Dakota.”

I asked who she was with. She told me, “The Biker Nazi.”

Just the BN, I asked? She confirmed. I told her she was either very brave or crazy. She told me that he was already threatening to send her home. And she was leaning toward crazy over brave.

Well, what the ……? No one discussed this trip with me! Where was my invitation? Apparently I’ve opened my smart mouth once too often and have been voted off the island. Did I wish I was there? You bet your sweet bippy whatever that is I did! Of course the truth is that had we been invited, we wouldn’t have been able to go but still… I pouted. The BN and TS were having fun and I wasn’t. How could that be fair?

I had my 3 second pity party and was over it. I asked her to send me a picture a day so I would feel like I was there with them. And because we did this trip with them two years ago, it almost feels like I am there as I receive the photos.

The photos look great on my phone but they are a little grainy now that I’ve sent them to my computer. Even so, they are beautiful! Allow me to share:

Mount Rushmore is one of my favorites! The history of this whole area is so interesting.

I guess without me there, they probably didn’t risk being asked to leave this time.

Awwww, look! The Biker Nazi made a friend.

Looks like they have a lot in common!

Look at the snow at the top of BearTooth Pass! In JULY!

This is Glacier Park, Montana. We didn’t make it this far on our trip two years ago. It was on the agenda but we ran out of time.

Someday……………*sigh*

Hugs,

Smart Mouth Broad

THE MAKING OF A BIKER CHICK - I’M GOIN TO JACKSON

- I’m gonna mess around

Johnny and June

Most of my Biker Chick pics are from the back of a moving motorcycle. Sometimes, MHS forgets to slow down so I can get a decent shot. *sigh*

My last Making of a Biker Chick post left us in Cody Wyoming. From there we traveled west to Yellowstone National Park. We entered thru the East Entrance and wound our way down to the south entrance and headed toward Jackson Hole. (Yellowstone will have its own post, coming soon) I was really excited to get to Jackson. The Biker Nazi had told me that there were shops and shops and more shops there.

If you’re new to this blog and haven’t read previous Biker Chick stories, you should know that this trip was the first time I had ever traveled further than one hour in any direction from my home. While I was truly enjoying our adventure, I was more than ready to do something that didn’t include riding and anxious to shop for something that didn’t have HD stamped on it somewhere.

We got into Jackson just as it was getting dark. It turned out to be the only time our no plans, no reservations idea almost backfired. There were no vacancies every place we checked. We finally found one place with a room and two beds. We had to bunk together with The Biker Nazi and The Saint in pretty close quarters but it was better than sleeping on the ground so we took it.

The Wagon Wheel Village Motel was a cute little place and it was clean. It was also within walking distance to restaurants and shops which meant we could get a butt break for the night.

By the time we checked in and showered, we were starving and it was getting late. We walked to the downtown area and ate in a Mexican restaurant that was OK but nothing to brag about. I can’t even remember the name but if you’ll take me back, I could find it for you. *wink*

The shops were closing by the time we finished eating so shopping would have to wait until the morning.

There was a discussion over breakfast the next morning where we determined that if we were going to make it back in time, we needed to move on. NO SHOPPING! I have to say that I was mad. I was sad. I pouted like a four year old. I doubt The Biker Nazi ever noticed, you can hide a lot inside a helmet but I blamed him. He talked up the whole shopping thing and then ripped it right out from under me.

In truth, it wasn’t his fault. But that didn’t stop me from blaming him. We had less than a week left and still had the rest of Yellowstone to explore, Beartooth Pass and a visit to MHS’s aunt in Northern Montana to go. In the end, we even had to cut out the trip to MHS’s aunt which was disappointing to us all.

I didn’t get to shop but you can see that Jackson Hole is a very charming, quaint little village that just invites you to walk the streets in search of treasure.

This arch is made of antlers. Pretty cool, huh?

The thought crossed my mind to dismount our iron horse to take a stagecoach ride with these real horses.

Look, Jan! There’s sushi even in the old West!

A different kind of bikers.

It wasn’t hard to forget my bad mood with views like this on the way out of town.

Ain’t it purdy?

If you would like to read previous Making of a Biker Chick posts, you can find them listed on my sidebar.

THE MAKING OF A BIKER CHICK – Cody, Wyoming

Beartooth Inn was the first lodging we came across as we approached Cody. It looked nice and clean and we pulled in to check it out. It was perfect. Just look at the view.

Cody, Wyoming is named for the famous Buffalo Bill Cody. I was anxious to get a butt break explore the museum but we decided it was a little too late when we arrived in Cody and we would have more time to really take it in if we waited until the next day.

Instead, we checked out the Harley store. MHS had to get his t-shirt, you know. I got a great pair of gloves on clearance. I still thank the Harley gods for that great find every time my little fingers are cold. You know what HD stands for? If you said Harley Davidson, you’re wrong. Hundred.Dollars. Yep, you can’t get out of any HD store without being $100 poorer. (That’s not really true but it’s a “joke” that a biker told me on the ferry ride to the statue of liberty after giving me directions to the Manhattan HD store.)

After we got our shopping fix, our bellies were getting a little grumbly. A local recommended a great Mexican restaurant. We got there just before 9pm and they were closing up shop. Note to future travelers: Cody is a great little town but they roll the streets up early. Those cowboys gotta get up early, you know.

Plan B was Wyoming’s Rib and Chop House. This turned out to be a serendipitous change in plans. We had been on the road for about a week and some comfort food was sounding really good to me. I ordered the pot roast and I am still trying to re-create that recipe at home. It was served with a mountain of red potatoes mashed with the skins and the pot roast was shredded and completely encircled the mountain. I have no recollection of what anyone else ordered because I was in love with my plate and had eyes for no other. That and a few beers and I was one happy woman.

The next morning, The Saint and I went on an exciting adventure to the laundrOmat while MHS and the Biker Nazi explored Cody on the bikes. MHS took the camera with him so I have no pictures but it was a very nice laundrOmat. *wink*

I said it before and I’ll say it again: I like people in my pictures but MHS and The Biker Nazi like to photograph their bikes.

This photograph was taken from the parking lot of the hotel. Beyond the mountains in the distance (and a really long ride) lies Yellowstone, our next destination.

MHS is scouting for lodging.

Halt, thief! Who is that masked man trying to steal Bill’s rifle?

It was hot! Be kind and try to ignore that I’m posting a picture of me in shorts. ACK!

That’s BN and MHS on the other side of those rifles.

The Firearms Museum was really cool. So many guns, so little time.

The Biker Nazi and The Saint stop to make a memory.

Two Grumpy Bears

The Saint dared me to climb up on this horseless saddle. I can’t resist a dare. We’re lucky we didn’t get thrown out. This was before they confiscated my water bottle. (Nice helmet hair, huh?)

See how the men are patiently waiting for us to conclude our horse-less ride? Wait, is that the BN’s foot I see tapping?

Aren’t you glad we don’t get our mail like this anymore?

MHS is completely oblivious to the fact that he’s about to get an antler in the arse.

We had a great time in Cody and I would love to go back one day.

Coming soon to a blog near you: The Making of a Biker Chick – Yellowstone National Park. Buffalo and elk and bears! Oh my!

***Note***

Links to earlier “Making of a Biker Chick” posts are listed on my sidebar.

LIVE TO RIDE AND RIDE TO EAT

When the Biker Nazi is in town, there is no question about what we’ll be doing. Ride, ride, ride. We spent all day Saturday on the bikes and covered a good many miles and explored city and country near our home. We started the day with a ride out to Indiantown and enjoyed brunch at the Seminole Inn. The inn opened in 1926. Entering the inn gives you the feeling that you are stepping into a gentler time in history. I would have loved to have spent more time snooping around with my camera but we were just there to eat and run. One day I’ll insist on going back. That shouldn’t be too difficult as it is not far from our home and My Harley Stud enjoyed it too.

The Biker Nazi never met a stranger and managed to make new friends who can take him hunting on his next visit to sunny Florida.

I like this idea: Sit long, talk much. Right up my ally.

Cracker, the parrot, welcomes you as soon as you step over the threshold.

The Biker Nazi loved the new paint job on his bike.

I just love it when the trees form a canopy under which for us to pass.

You don’t have to drive too far out of town to see orange groves. I’m not sure why these haven’t been picked yet. It’s kind of late in the season, I think.

By the time we made it to the Keylime Grill, our bellies were grumbling for more than beer. My diet was blown out of the water with Pub style fish and chips. Yum to malt vinegar. Did someone take my willpower? How am I going to make my goal with temptations like this?

The yum factor was short-lived though. I haven’t eaten fried food like that in a long time and my tummy rebelled. Tums were my dessert of choice last night. Grrrr. I should have had a salad.

There was a young man playing to the crowd and he was really good. I asked if he had a CD but alas, he has none. He did give me his website info and you can listen to him here. :) He covered many of my favorites and played some of his original work too. He is quite an accomplished musician, in my humble opinion, of course.

From the Keylime Grill, we headed back North along the beach. We drove along Palm Beach and rubbed elbows with the rich and famous. There were no celebrity sightings but I’m really bad about that anyway. One could be standing right next to me and I wouldn’t notice.

The above photo was taken driving along Ocean Blvd. You can see the Atlantic on the right and the homes of Donald Trump, Rod Stewart, the old Kennedy compound are all on the left. MHS wasn’t driving slowly enough to get any pictures of the homes without blurring. Another time, maybe. He’s a great tour guide and knows who lives where because of his business contacts. The roofs to the right along the beach are the beach houses of the residents across the street. Most have tunnels that go underneath the road to get to the beach.

These are the snooty sea-gulls. These snobs probably don’t fly past the edge of the island. Palm Beachers like to stick to themselves.

As you drive along Ocean Blvd, you will see main entrances and service entrances. Funny, it’s all the same at my house.

This was taken during a butt break. This particular section of the beach is where Worth Avenue intersects with Ocean Blvd. Worth Avenue is Palm Beach’s equivalent of Rodeo Drive. (The best place for celeb sightings-but be careful. The PB cops have no problem throwing anyone who doesn’t “belong” off the island.)

Who is this riff-raff? Palm Beach bikers, of course.

You can see the tower to the famous Breakers hotel looming over the home at the end of the street. I wanted to get a picture of the long, beautiful entrance to the Breakers but new renovations include a guardhouse that obstructs the view. Apparently there were too many smart mouth broads snooping around with their cameras and someone complained.

The home at the end of the street once belonged to Clark Gable. I believe it is owned by the heir to the Estee Lauder fortune now.

This is a moving picture of the Biltmore hotel on Palm Beach.

The Palm Beach Yacht Club. Never been there. Smart Mouth Broads need not apply. Go figure.

Not a great photograph, but I kept the best of the blurry ones I captured. I learned to scuba dive under this very bridge. Exciting, huh?

Last but not least: My Harley Stud knows how much I love the inlet. Our ride concluded here. (Well actually, we still had to drive home)

Jupiter Inlet is my favorite place in the world. It soothes my weary soul.

Here you will see my reward for the hunt. I love to walk along the jetty to look for crabs on the rocks. Found one. He was shy and wouldn’t smile for the camera though.

The sun was setting and we had to skidaddle. The park closes at sunset. You can see the lighthouse on the right. I love it here. *sigh*