MOTO TRIPPIN--SD, WY, CO DAY 4

Day 4 - Spearfish & Sturgis

 

Day 4 means clean jeans!  Every 3 days whether they stink or not!

Slept good last night, up and ready to go by 8am.  It was 66 degrees when I headed out.

Just wearing a T-shirt, no jacket today.  Cool at first, comfortable later.

Only 3 miles to my first stop for a tour of the Broken Boot Gold Mine.  I was so early that I was the only person on the tour!

 

  Remember the gold rush of 1849 in California?  The gold rush here was in 1876.  The mine closed in 1917, and now is just a tourist place. 

Next, a few mile ride to Lead, SD.  Then rode through Spearfish Canyon.  It was pretty chilly, but I resisted the urge to pull over and put on my jacket.  The ride through the canyon is a 30 mile, gentle down-hill ride, keeping company with the mountain stream (Spearfish Creek) on one side and towering cliffs and pines on each side.  I might just ride through here again tomorrow when I leave for Wyoming.

I was quite at my leisure. Didn't have to hurry, was able to stop often and take in all the sights.

I saw quite a few bicyclists heading up the canyon, then I saw one smart one coasting downhill.

And which playlist did I choose on my IPOD?  Blues, of course!

 

At the end of the canyon, I got onto I90 and rode to Sturgis.  This is a view of the country outside of Sturgis.  It really is a beautiful place, no mystery why they started having summer rallies here.

I checked out Sturgis, which didn't take too long.  Found a souvenir for my dog, but nothing I thought my wife would like or wear.

This is inside the Full Throttle Saloon, billed as the world's biggest biker bar, and I believe it!

A very amazing collection of décor.  Notice all the bikes on the walls.  There was even a real donkey roaming the bar, I got a picture on my phone I can show you.  The place must be 4 times the size of an average Sam's Club!

 I saw this piece of art--someone is very good with metal working!

Ate lunch at the Loud American, famous for their tips!  I had the tips and chips. Good eats!

I will refrain from tasteless jokes here.

Rode back to Deadwood, through another canyon, and logged a total of only 74 miles for the day.

I said I was going to take it easy today and I did. 

After I got back to the motel I realized I forgot to get that tattoo!  Maybe next time.

 

Will spend a little time this evening preparing to leave in the morning, looking at maps, choosing my route, and packing. I'm having fun, very much enjoy these motorcycle adventures.

 

MOTO TRIPPIN--SD, WY, CO DAY 3

Day 3 - The Black Hills

Woke up early, my body apparently is still on Central Time.  I needed an easier, lower-milage day so I took my time getting ready and headed out at about 7:45.  The temp was 60 degrees--just right for riding in jeans and a jacket, very comfortable riding in cool morning air in such beautiful surroundings. Topped-off my gas tank first thing because you never know how far the next fill-up will be.

 

 

I soon realized I was wise to fill-up, because I was in the boondocks!

The roads were curvy and the smell of pine trees was in the air.

Passed several blue, mountain lakes.  Good riding for sure!

After an hour I got onto highway 16 that goes past Mount Rushmore.

I have not rode a highway that is any more challenging than this one.  The road is old, narrow, twisty, hilly (countless 15mph curves), and with lots of

tunnels!!  I love tunnels!  These are different because there were about 6 that were one-lane only, added excitement for no extra charge (except the $10 park fee, the 2nd I've paid so far).  The tunnel above is significant in that if you look through it you can see Mount Rushmore in the distance.

Custer state park was next, where I saw these elk.  It was so peaceful riding through, enjoying the rolling hills, green pastures, wildlife, and fresh air.

This is another picture from within the park, on what they call the wildlife observation loop.

It reminded me of Jurassic Park in that there were these long jeeps hauling tourists around for a driving tour, but just regular animals instead of dinosaurs.



I was behind one of those jeeps when I got stuck in this bison traffic jam.  There was a herd of at least 400 crossing the road.  I had to ride right past a cow and her nursing calve in the exact middle of the road.  I always feel so vulnerable next to those 2000 pound bison--my motorcycle only weights 800 pounds, and I can be tipped easily. 

This a picture of a prairie dog.  There was a whole bunch of them. Cute little buggers!

I also saw deer and wild horses.  Wild horses seem so special.

Next I rode through a section of the Black Hills knows as The Needles. Notice the tall spires of rock formations. More tunnels and tight, twisty, hilly roads.  I'm telling you what, I only rode 166 miles today, but they were much more physically taxing than the almost 1000 miles I rode the two days previous.  My shoulders hurt, my neck, my hands, and my legs.  I need a restufull day tomorrow, so I'm planning Spearfish Canyon, a gold mine tour, and visiting Sturgis.  Maybe I'll get a tattoo while I'm there?

 

MOTO TRIPPIN--SD, WY, CO DAY 2

Day 2 - The Badlands

 Got started at 6:30, it was a very chilly 49 degrees.  Fresh air!

Jumped back on I29 north to Sioux Falls, then west on I90.

Places to stop for gas were few and far between, I was really low when I found a 2-pump place called Cowboy Town.

Quite thrilling to ride 80mph through this wide open space!  About the same mileage as yesterday, 481 miles, but made much better time. Plus I gained an hour when I got to Mountain Time Zone.

The early sunshine left after a couple of hours, changing to overcast, which made it seem colder.

My hands would get numb, forcing me to stop. Then, by 10:30 it was finally 60 degrees and much more comfortable.

Got to the Badlands by 12:30.  A lot of other people had the same idea, quite a few vehicles.

Dry, barren land can sometimes be very beautiful.  I took all my leather off and rode in shirt sleeves the rest of the day.

Just about 100 miles from Badlands to Deadwood, an easy ride.

As the elevation increased, the cooler temps returned, but I endured without stopping for a jacket.

Didn't stop in Sturgis, there were some dark storm clouds over that area, and thought it wiser to get checked-in and unloaded.

This is the place I'm staying.  The town is small, older, nested in the Black Hills.  They have one of those live cowboy shows on the main street when they dress in old cloths and shoot blanks.

Looking forward to riding the the Black Hills tomorrow.

 

 

MOTO TRIPPIN--SD, WY, CO DAY 1

Day 1 - The Road North

 

Got started this morning at 5:30, still dark outside, trying to get some miles behind me before it started raining again.  Left the house with bags all covered for rain but not yet wearing the rain suit.  It was 72 degrees, very nice morning for day 1 of my trip--mood very high!  About 1 hour down the road I pulled over and put on the rain suit, rode in light rain until Kansas City. No big deal at all, but a little chilly. Have to do without GPS and IPOD when riding in rain.   Shed the rain suit north of KC near St Joeseph.

 



 

The sun came out and it was very nice riding as I continued north, but it was still chilly and I wore my chaps, leather jacket, and stocking hat all day in order to be comfortable.  Everything was so green because of all the rain we've been having, saw a lot of corn fields, and half a dozen glances of the Missouri River--each time it was a little smaller.  Ate lunch in Nebraska City.  The speed limit for I-29 was 80mph which really eats the miles fast.  Is it harder to breath when you have 80mph winds on your chest?  I think so.

After riding 489 miles, I checked into the Prairie Inn in Vermillion, South Dakota.  Spend a little time cleaning the rain grim off of the bike.  Planning to grab some wings for dinner, get to bed early, and head out out early again tomorrow.  I'll be heading west across South Dakota, through the Badlands, towards the Black Hills.

 



MAGGIE VALLEY DAY 8

LAST DAY

 

Breakfast at 6, on the road at 630.

 

 

Crossed Mississippi River into Missouri at 730.

Dealt with a thunderstorm near Poplar Bluff at 830.

Made more frequent stops as I battling fatigue and fighting sleep.

 

Stopped for a cold treat at 11am as it was really getting hot!

Arrived home shortly after 2pm.  What a great feeling!

 

Rode 397 miles today, 2436 miles in the 8 days.

Time to rest.



MAGGIE VALLEY DAY 7

HEADING HOME!

 

It was a very cool 52 degrees when I left this morning just before 7am mountain time.  Wore full leathers and a stocking hat with insulated gloves and they felt good as I headed up the valley.  Got onto I-40 and headed over the mountains, enjoying the big, sweeping curves, the tunnel, and the mountains around me.  This is just as pretty as I-70 over the Rocky Mountians and I-64 in West Virginia.  Crossed the Tennessee line at 7:30, making good time.  Got to Knoxville and remembered it was Sunday, and therefore the traffic was thankfully light.  Next was I-75 North.

 

 

Soon I got off the Interstate and started enjoying the Tennessee countryside as I headed North into Kentucky.  Stopped for breakfast in a town called Oneida, and shed my chaps and hat before continuing my ride.  In Kentucky, I got onto the Cumberland Parkway and headed west through the southern part of the state.  The parkways is like an interstate but without the billboards. Nice.  I got that hour back that I lost on the way east last week.

 

Stopped for lunch at one of my favorite restaurants!  Put the jacket away as it was getting really hot!  Was reminding me of Missouri weather.

 

Now, I'm going to have to keep a closer eye on my GPS, because I'm pretty sure it's been smoking crack.  Second day in a row its gotten me lost.  Today it lead me into the Kentucky country roads, right, left, right, left, and eventually the roads didn't have names, but they did have tall fields of corn all around.  Luckily I had plenty of time to enjoy my circumstance.  I turned around twice and tried other roads until I came to Adairville.  Asked an elderly fellow in the store if he could help me.  He looked at my map and said his eyes weren't very good, but he could tell me good directions if I told him where I wanted to go.  I told him and he told me, and soon I was lost again, and now I was lost in TN instead of KY!  The next old guy in Adams, exclaimed "he sent you this way!"  He had his daughter give me directions, and I eventually I got to I-24, but  was now 25 miles south of the KY border, and pretty hot!

 

Well, I made it to the motel in Gilbertsville 90 miles later.  The ride was supposed to be 433 miles, but ended up being 500 miles.  It was an interesting day, though, and the trip is supposed to be interesting after all, and it was.  I wonder if I can make 8 days in a row without rain?  Will find out tomorrow as I start the last day of my ride, heading home to Joplin.  I miss my wife, family, and dog.

 



MAGGIE VALLEY DAY 6

 

Third day in a row for breakfast at Country Vittles Restaurant.  Because I was up late last night, I slept later this morning and the restaurant was crowded, so I was asked to share a table with two others.  That's how I met Joel and Ralph--Joel is Ralph's nephew and Ralph is Joel's uncle they say.  Two more new friends--they're starting to pile up!

 

 

Decided to ride some local roads today (input from motel owner).  Rode up the valley a ways, then onto Rabbit Skin Road, where I took this picture, met 3 tractors, and met zero cars.

 

Made more than a few wrong turns because the roads had names instead of numbers and weren't marked well.  Fun, none-the-less.  Just nice to be in the country.  Saw several tobacco fields and barns for drying tobacco.

 

This is Panther Creek which runs next to Riverside Drive.  Lots of the roads were named cove or holler, and they are all curvy and narrow.

 

This is the view from atop Crabtree Mountain Road.  I was warned that it was steep, curvy, narrow, and might have gravel in the curves (all true).

 

Spent a lot of time in first gear, which is a little unusual.  So, one day later, I'm saying this is the most challenging road I've been on to date.

 

Still continued to take wrong turns, and eventually I was very lost.  Turned on the GPS and it had trouble, too.  GPS sent me up another mountain road that eventually seemed like someone's driveway.  I stopped at a curve and heard someone hollering at me from their front porch "Hey!  Where are you going?"  I told them Maggie Valley, and they informed me I was going the wrong way.  I almost laughed, but they seemed serious, but did give me good directions, which helped a lot after I managed to turn around on the narrow, steep road.

 

This is Lake Junaluska (name of a lake and the town next to it) which is up the road from Maggie.

Got back mid-afternoon after a whopping 70 miles, but don't let the numbers fools you, I worked hard again.  Spent a little last time at the pool, resting up for tomorrows journey towards home.  I came over through Tennessee, so I'm going back through Kentucky.