| PreSturgis Week 2006 I JUST got back !!! 2600 miles.. 500 in just yesterday.. we had to do the "touch it" run... an extra nonsense 70 miles.. just to say we went there... MONTANA. I now- officially- know what 'Bubble F@ck" looks like. This is after Cindy ran out of gas and was running on fumes, and we wandered into a one pump town, and the pump was down. Went we finally found a real station (12 miles further)... it was called "BOONDOCKS" -- How fitting !! We managed to stay clear of the weather while out sightseeing the area. My calls worked... I'd watch the Weather, and when it looked like it was closing in from the SW... I lead the group NW (Devils Twr, Spearfish, Sturgis, Deadwood), and after it passed -- and was lingering in the Middle North (Deadwood, Sturgis, Belle Fouche)... I steered the group South (Custer, Mt. Rushmore, Wildlife loop etc). I manage to overcome the fear I came to slay... -> Needles Hwy/Iron Mtn Road... In fact, did it twice, and stayed speed limit on all the curves in Spearfish canyon and Rt. 385. (much improved from my first visits) We did the wildlife loop twice... the first day Cindy was too nervous, nauseaus and tired to see much.. second time she got on her husband- Jim's bike... that day the buffalo weren't grazing in the distance... they were crossing the damn road THROUGH and around the cars & bikes! Some were galloping down the street and along side the shoulder. Bikers were pulling fast U turns to get out of the way... I timidly backed my bike up between Jim's dresser and a tourist's camper truck. I finally understand and reached to point of appreciating forward controls !! WHAT A RIDE ! We had all 4 elements ! Plenty of Earth (hills, desert, plains, etc)... Although Hubby- Vic got a bit closer to it than I did... having slipped on some messy gravel in a curve, and gently dumping his bike. This is reason # 152 - why I like Jim picking up the rear... I was a mile away before I could find a slim edge to turn around in, and see why the group hadn't cover over the ridge behind me. It took both of the guys to pick up the bike and get it upright off the low graveled shoulder. Minor damage. I bought him low profile engine guards (with built in hwy pegs)- with much insistence... for our 25th anniversary-- I got black hills gold (2 toned) earrings I wanted. We had Air... about 50 mph's worth of gusts for about 650+ miles (There's NOTHING but high winds in Nebraska- wow!).... oh and full size billboard stating "Welcome... you are entering the "middle of nowhere".... no lie !!!!! They were all whining about their butts... I also bought my husband an air cushoined pad... I come equipped with my own memory foam a$$.... I could have continued another 200 miles over the 350 we did today, as long as I can smash my rolled up leather just right...so it serves as my back rest with the help of a cargo bungee. I tell 'em I just got more grit and meddle. LOL Naming me Frogger is the recognition I get. How did Jim explain... "in a 3 blk town (Keystone)... where traffic is moving 20 mph, and has several crosswalks that require traffic to stop.... [I] Roz-- has to decide to cross in the middle ... mid stream, and only gets half way before stopping sideways on the line- and sucking it in... nearly balancing to keep traffic on either side" OKAY OKAY>.. quit laughing (he was busting a gut retelling this... several times... Perhpas, not one of my swifter, more graceful moves. I'm entitled to be tired and listless too !! We met tons of great people from New Mexico, Kansas, Ontario, Ohio, Texas, and even nearby Wis & IL. The best of all. was the mechanic at Waterloo, IA. Vic's bike started acting up and dying. Limped it an extra 50 miles (if you hear the noises - you'd ask how). We got the the HD dealer... that AWESOME service dept. put aside other work, had a guy who zoned-in on what needed to be done. The rear twin cam was shot, fired every other round. We pulled in around 12:30pm. He basically ripped down the engine rebuilt the whatever.. luckily they had all the parts in stock (which many were not standard inventoried parts). We were expecting a hefty scary bill.... turns out a defect (yes - another HD flaw- lol) in the HD 99's twin cam design. It cost us $100 plus a hefty thank you tip- to the mechanic - who got it stripped and put back together--we were on the road inside of 4 hrs!!! WOW -- We were still able to make our Sioux City goal by night fall. These guys ROCKED ! We also had FIRE and Water !! 116 Degrees, with heat index at 124... on a hot running engine-- with the asphalt radiating up at us... Cindy nearly passed out.. WHILE driving... a touch of heat exhaustion. We could only bear 30 miles at a time- then stopped to cool off, and if no station was handy - ANY shade would do (a lone tree, or bridge overpass). Mental note: Always have a mini cooler - Jim's kept cold water with us every where. Legs HAD to be up on highway bars - or it felt like your legs were on fire. We made it to the Badlands by dusk... once the day cooled down we had to ride hard to check-in before the Inn closed. Meanwhile - we were freezing at night in the mountains, of course. Acid cigars round the evening off nicely, I must agree. And today- we headed out behind the overnight storm and lightening. All decked up in rain gear and braced for it, we headed out. We managed to dog through the pelting pins and blinding water- a bit of sleet or tiny hail seemed relentless... and suddenly we reached the other side. Despite my soggy boots, it was nice to wipe the glasses clean, and lose the rain gear... eventually catching up with the gusty winds again. Oh well. I can't wait for my next ride !! RoZ |