And Home Again

Day 18. - 252 Miles

It was good to get home...

So I can start planning a bigger ride next year.
Maybe Four Corners.

Total Miles: 5253

Medford Again

Day 17. - Places Traveled - 427 Miles

I headed south and lodged with Kip again in Medford.

An oil change and the telling of tales.

Total Miles: 5001

Seattle

Day 16. - 647 Miles

I woke and cleaned up the bike, it was covered with ash, and headed to Federal Way near Seattle to visit my sister.

Longest day so far

Total Miles: 4574

Great Falls, Mt

Day 15. - 547 Miles

More wind... and now I'm seeing the effects of these great western fires. Not much sun, lots of "overcast" and a constant odor of "fireplaces."

I ran across a Harley rider returning from Sturgis and he's been separated from his group, having some kind of carburator problem. Asked me to send his mates back when I ran across them... I volunteered to escort him at least to a gas station first, but he insisted. After an hour, I figured I'd missed them... but after 93 miles... I found them waiting just before the Interstate. A mix of Harleys, Wings, and Ricebikes.

They hardly believed me that their friend was as much as 90 miles behind them... but they also asked if I had seen a green Kawasaki along the way. Go figure. They'd lost more than one along the way.

By the time I hit Great Falls, the air was really bad, so it's Triple-A for me tonight.

Total Miles: 3927

Bismarck, ND

Day 14. - 431 Miles

Heading home... via Seattle, it's a long way. The first day I got as far as Bismarck. Lots of flat... Very windy too. Chewing up the gas mileage.

I lost a lot of time, waiting for a gas station to "repair" its teller machines... and finally went to the next station up the road. They said it was 21 miles... but it was only 19 and a good thing too. I was all but bone dry.

The wind has worn me out. I'm just going for some Chinese and then to bed.

Total Miles: 3380

Minneapolis

Day 13. - 142 Miles

The run into Minneapolis was sedate, much better weather.
I'll look around the city for a couple of days... maybe see the fallen bridge on the I-35.

Total Miles: 2949

St. James, Minnesota

Day 13. - 500 Miles

Across South Dakota into Minnesota on the way to Minneapolis.

I skipped the Badlands because the weather looked dicey.

Total Miles: 2807

A few more bikes... before we go...

Cruising the Black Hill

The Black Hills Motorcycle Rally

Days 8-12. 203 Miles

Cruising around the Black Hills along with 100,000 other bikers is very cool.

Hill City



Mount Rushmore









We saw more of the same in Rapid City, cruising toward the Crazy Horse Monument, which isn't complete yet...

Deadwood





Met Arlen Ness





Sturgis







Tuttle of Orange County Choppers



Nice ride...







I mean... nice ride!!




Total Miles: 2307

Lead, South Dakota

Day 7. 180 Miles

Woke up, broke camp, and headed over the next pass east, looking for a place to eat. Stopped in Broadus and found one place, The Cashaway. Didn't think much about the name... but then found out they only took cash. Between us we scraped enough together to not end up washing dishes and headed east again.





We side-tracked south to find the Devil's Tower. Now if you think you know it from Close Encounters of the Third Kind... you have to go see it yourself. You have no idea.









Then on south to the condominims. Through Sundance, Spearfish, Deadwood, and finally Lead. There were a fair number of bikes in Spearfish, but it wasn't until we hit Deadwood that we were, or at least I was, really impressed. It was almost overwhelming, bikes parked everywhere, along the streets and filling every parking lot.

Lead is smaller and not as many bikes out on the streets here... we passed through town and up the mountain to the ski resort that is to be our accomodations. Plush... but Cozette??? What's with just one bed!! LOL

Total Miles: 2104

Custer

Day 6. 314 Miles

We headed north from Thermopolis to take a Kip-tour through The Little Big Horn Battlefield, aka Custer Last Stand. It is Kip's 4th or 5th time there and he's quite knowledgeable about the site, the archeology that's gone on there recently, and the history of the battle and what we now know, through the archeology, most likely happened.

And now so do I. Enthralling... and I forgot to take pics. Next time.

We headed east again and found camping in a section of the Custer Nat'l Forest.

Total Miles: 1924

Thermopolis, Wyoming

Day 5. -> 416 Miles

We took off and I slid into my trail position behind Kip. I especially like it there, the two bikes harmonize nicely, like listening to a Merlin engine.

We're noticing that his bike is losing power climbing hills, and the higher the altitude the worse it gets... and the "lowlands" here are over 4000 feet up to begin with...

We road down the Indian River Canyon. Kind of reminds me of the Feather River Canyon only bigger! The state campground we were counting on doesn't allow camping, so we went on to Themopolis and stayed at an RV park... and partook of the hotspring pools. Very refreshing.

Total Miles: 1610

Evanston, Wyoming

Day 4. - 72 Miles

And a short run to Wyoming to see Kip's ex... Cozette... and pick up the time share papers. Sturgis in a time share resort. It's gonna rock.

Cozette introduced us to a neighbor who has a bike shop... and he disassembled Kip's Aero and found the short. A pinched wire Kip must have clipped when he rejetted his carborators. It didn't wear through until the long trip in the high desert.

Total Miles: 1194

Heber, Utah

Day 3. - 453 Miles

A long run into Utah so Kip can see his daughter and grandkids.

Kip's having some cooling problems... a short that is killing his radiator fan. We've stopped several times, replacing the fuse, and it's still recurring.

That put us into Heber late, and at dusk, a hornet or wasp went up my sleeve, stinging me 3 times as it went up my arm. Next time the gauntlets go on as it nears dusk.

Got in late to Melissa's... and somehow Kip is on the floor and I'm in a bed. Heh heh.

Total Miles: 1122

Vale Oregon

Day 2. - 417 Miles

Oil changes, some gaming, and packing gear, and now we're off. Up past Crater Lake, through Bend, and almost to Vale, we camped in the National Forest.







Total Miles: 669

Medford, Oregon

Day 1. - 252 Miles

Enjoyed the route to Medford, I've been there several times now, visiting Kip. Somehow this run was particularly enjoyable.

Total Miles: 252

My First Sturgis Trip

My first Sturgis trip.
My first major bike trip. I'm stoked and excited. Is that redundant.

Picked up my motorcycle yesterday, all new rubber, and I'm ready to roll.
First order of business, head to Kip's tomorrow, spend a couple of days there, and we'll be on our way!