Sturgis 06 - Day 02

Sorry folks, didn't have nearly as much time as I expected while the bike was in dry dock. There is just so much to do in life these days, part of the problem with society in my eyes, everyone is in such a rush that there isn't time to enjoy life. I am just as guilty as the next person. Another PGR mission in “southern” Georgia last week, was a tough one that I may expand on later.

Our second day to Sturgis wasn't all that exciting but it was a milage day. The second day consisted of Interstate riding and a lot of it. We went from the eastern boarder of Iowa across the state, which we ended up calling “the poop state”. Our experience with Iowa during the heat of the summer days (90+ degrees) was that one can smell the fertilizer. You'll hear others say things like “being on a bike with the wind in your hair and the smell of nature in your nose” but that isn't one of nature's better smells. We were about half way through the state, still could smell the fertilizer, the numbers of other bikes we came across was increasing at a regular rate.

After crossing the poop state we started heading north up into South Dakota, on I-29 north we started seeing larger groups of bikes. They were like cockroaches coming out of the woodwork, shiny chrome and bright paint glistening in the sun light. Passing bikes and cages hauling bikes in masses like that jst gets your heart pounding to get there as quick as you can, however the distance just doesn't allow it. We spent the night in Mitchell, SD. We hear it is a nice town but our butts just wouldn't let us get any farther than the hotel parking lot. Once you are this close you better have reservations, the parking lot was full as was the lobby. There had to be at least 20 people hanging around the lobby to see if there were any available rooms. We had reservations so we were allowed to walk right up to the desk and get our rooms. While others didn't exactly look to happy about that, they had to understand those who made reservations were the smart ones. While normally we don't make reservations, with an event as large as Bike Week it is a must.

We parked the bikes along the others behind the motel by our rooms, all locked up for the night. We sat around and talked for a little bit, going over things we just saw on that days ride and planning tomorrows ride. Helpful hint for traveling with others, you go at a pace you are comfortable with. If you want to go fast and others want to go slow then do it. Make sure you have gas stops in mind so that you can meet up again at those locations. It is much easier than someone getting frustrated and mad that they are either going too fast or too slow.

Yea I know, not an exciting time but one has to have these types of day to get to the more exciting ones. Any day on the bike on the open road is a great day!

Sturgis 06 - Day 01

The bike is laid up in dry dock for some major repairs, so I'll do some writing about history rather than current events or theories. We took a trip to Sturgis in 2006, rode the bike with good friends of our on their bike, we had 10 days total for the trip.

Day 1 started out with crisp and cool air about the bikes as they sat fully loaded and waiting the start your engines command. We double checked our route and destination for the first day, just over the Iowa border some 600 miles away. We checked the weather, not a sprinkle in site for this day's travels. We all mounted the bikes and gave the command (ok, a little hokey there) we pressed the starter buttons and the engines came to life.

We used all Interstate during this day as our main goal was to get to Iowa (remember 600 miles away) that day, I know for some of you iron butt riders that isn't a great feat, but for some of us it is a feat. Stopping at rest areas along the Interstate/Turnpikes to get fuel and take breaks, a few people are interested in our bikes being so very loaded with luggage. They ask where we are heading, but no one asked why, mad me wonder if they knew what Sturgis is all about or didn't care about what Sturgis is all about. I would like to think the former is the case but as those of us who enjoy the lifestyle realize the general public likes to keep clear of bikers. We don't fit the main stream image, although look around people, tattoos are huge these days where in the biker circles (and our great military) they have been popular all along. We enjoy the rests and the interest of people, ask a biker about their trip or bike and they'll talk to you as long as they can before they have to get back on the road.

Outside of Chicago we encountered construction, oh what a joy, wall to wall traffic with a pace slower than a snails pace. We use the shoulder when possible as temps outside were in the upper 80s causing the bikes engines to run extremely hot. Construction these days may cause a bigger headache because they love to use those cement barriers and leave no shoulder available on either side of the road. The bikes took us as far as they could before mine overheated, we stopped under and over pass for a break, low and behold there were two other bikes and their riders doing the same thing. We sat and chatted for about 20 mins, by then the bikes were cooled off enough we continued on. We came out of the construction just half a mile down the road and was able to get back to speed, we did pick up another bike in that time. It used to be if you came upon a bike or bikes on the road you could join in and ride with them for whatever length of time needed or wanted. Now a days some people just don't like that, with us we didn't mind at all, the more the safer.

Nothing else happened that day that was out of the ordinary, however if you get the chance there is a really cool bridge on I-80 going over the Mississippi river between Illinois and Iowa. Coming from the east you crest the ridge and look down the hill, the bridge is there spanning the river however it is a few hundred feet below you and the river is many hundred feet below the bridge.

We pulled into the motel for the night, a little sore but not in real bad shape. A small snack, a drink or two and some relaxing conversation then off to get some rest for day 2, which was about 350 miles to the middle of South Dakota.

Day 2 will be another entry, until that time, which will be soon with the bike in dry dock.

How did it start?

  Remember back in your younger years, the family has been packing for a couple days, the excitement and anticipation to start the vacation has been building. It was a warm summer day, dew might have been on the grass when you arose and stepped outside to the car. Everything was carefully packed, some food and games have been added to the load to keep you kids busy during the long drive. “Everyone go to the bathroom before we leave”, echoed from your parents mouths until everyone had gone and the family was finally ready to start their summer vacation. Everything is ready and you and your family set off down the Interstate to a final destination of pleasure and relaxation. Ok, not much to do with Harley philosophy but actually this is where it probably started.

   While riding in the family car down the Interstate on that summer vacation you may have seen a motorcycle or two go by. You most likely didn't realize what kind of bike it was, that didn't matter at your young age.

   You wonder what it is like to ride a motorcycle, it starts out with the thrill of riding a motorcycle. That is what I want to do some day, I want to ride a motorcycle. Your dad asks if anyone needs to make a pitstop. There are answers of yes and please so the next rest stop is your first stop of the trip. You get out and make a bee line to the restroom. Maybe grab a drink and a snack on the way back out to the car. While either waiting for the driver to stretch their legs a bit you watch what is happening around the parking lot. A bunch of people are in the same situation you are in, family vacation, you see some business travelers but honestly don't really know at this point. Maybe you see someone moving with their Uhaul truck or trailer. While scanning the parking lot you see small cars, big cars, pickup trucks and the big semi-trucks that you were passing on those bigger hills going up and they passed you on the way down. Then you come across the one or two motorcycles parked most likely in some shade.

   Something has peaked your interest in the motorcycles, at the younger age you don't really know what it is, but wouldn't it be cool to travel like that? Now that your mind is racing with these thoughts you get back into the family car and go about your travels with the family. Depending on how far you are going you may have the same rest stop experience again and again.

   As you get older these thoughts change from being cool just to ride a motorcycle to what kind are they riding, I wonder what they do in this or that situation, I wonder what experiences they have out on the road traveling.

  Whether it was due to the freedom represented, the bad ass attitude they display or being different than main stream. They have their own language, dress code, rituals and basic way of life. I see it on the road to this day, riding down a street I peer at the cage next to me and find this little face peering out the window. They have a look of either amazement or curiosity but whatever that look is I am sure there are many questions involved. Some brave souls actually ask questions however those are few and far between. Not many people either have courage to approach me, maybe it is the 6'4” frame my body posses or it could be they don't really know how to approach a biker.

   Once we grow up we continue to be wondered by those who display some freedoms that we really have a hard time understanding. It could be a biker, a cowboy or truck driver The secret is that those types of people usually have more freedoms than the average person. There are popular tv shows both past and present which show our continued interest in these types of people. Shows and movies like “Easy Rider”, “BJ and the Bear”, “Convoy”, “Sons of Anarchy” and of course the many western movies. People see these persons as their own person, no one telling them what to do and when to do it. They can make up their own minds while not having to “punch a clock” at an office/factory.