We took off for a week to the west end of the country and brought the bikes along for some great rides.
Step one was bringing the bikes and making things compact, this little trailer was fun to build and worked perfectly, here it is hanging out in Yellowstone. Holds 5 bikes, could fit 6 if needed along with all the luggage leaving the car free for the kids to stretch out for the long drives.
We took a detour to see the High Trestle Bridge in Iowa, its a sight worth seeing.
At 20 stories above the valley it really is high and over a mile long making the actual ride really impressive and worth the extra hours that were added.
In Custer, SD we hopped on the Mickelson trail in Custer, SD. With 8 miles of steady uphill we reached the Crazy Horse carving which had a serious climb to reach the gate of. Unfortunately they had a stupid rule that bikes cost 10.00 each to enter with no exception for kids while a car was 15.00 to enter, we turned around and went back to Custer. The trail is pay to ride, 4.00 per adult, kids under 12 free and you pay at any number of spots. Totally worth it, while cinder, it was in great shape the whole way and covers 110 miles one way. Due to the steady climb most users were on ebikes.
In Missoula the military museum had a great coverage of early bike packers, they had a pre-WWI bicycle military unit that had some impressive accomplishments.
The final ride, we did the Coeur D'Alene trail and had a close up with a moose and her baby which were maybe 20 feet away, we stayed on the trail and didn't approach to avoid spooking them. Overall some nice rides and good times.
