MckSb:
Glad you had a great time and hitting the museum in Cody was a smart move on your part. Kind of dumb to be in Cody and not stop there. Unless of course it's 2 AM and you've got miles to cover....
I've wondered about riding the Chief Joseph highway for a long time. Last time I had the chance it hadn't been finished. So -- what kind of condition is the pavement in, and what's the gravel factor?
The road is in excellent shape overall. As is typical on mountain roads, there is always just a bit of sand, so you have to really pay attention in the corners and leave yourself an out.