2008 - Black Hills Rally

We took our time going out, dropping off the interstate north of Nashville, we headed due west, stopping at Fort Donnelson to take in some Civil War history and then on to an overnight camp at Reelfoot lake. While Reelfoot was a beautiful area, the heat and humidity made for an uncomfortable night. We unloaded the bike and rode around the area, stopping for dinner at a nice little cafe called "Boyette's". The heat index the following morning was near 100 by the time we got on the road around 9am.

Mississippi river lowlands and into the midwest

We headed up the eastern side of the lake stopping along the way to take in some of the lake access areas. We intended to take the Ferry Boat over into New Madrid, MO. , but it was out of commission due to funding. The resulting detour took us through some interesting and beautiful Mississippi low land farms. It was worth it.

Tonights goal - Kansas City (and an air-conditioned hotel room!).

We started the day north of Kansas City. We had planned to take a plant tour where Harley builds the V-Rod, but the plant tour center was closed for remodeling. While this was disappointing, it did give us more time to take it easy as we traveled north toward South Dakota. We arrived at our destination along the Missouri near Yankton, SD at the Lewis and Clark state park. We unloaded the bike and rode to a restaurant called the Quarry and enjoyed a fine meal.

The target today is the hotel at Custer SD. After the trip up to Yankton from Kansas City, we decided to avoid the interstate today and head cross-county taking Hwy 50,46,44 towards Rapid City. This was a fantastic drive across rolling high plains, with wheat and cornfields as far as you could see, and just open range, with very few visual clues of human existence. Large storms moved north of us across the prairie, leaving their veiled trails of rain behind them. Deep blue skies behind the billowing thunderheads enhance their beauty.
Country stores are truly general out here. A stop reveals not only what you expect to find in a general store, but some things that are of a surprise. There are poker machines in the back and a mini liquor store in another section.
As we travel westward, the land turns from open and raw prairie, where we passed a coyote chasing something along the side of the road, to what looked like moonscape with prairie dogs a popping up everywhere, this is the Badlands.
The final photo in this series shows the Black Hills in the background. It is easy to see how they got their name from the dark appearance that their rounded hilltops and well-forested slopes present at a distance.

Fun at the HOG reception at Rapid City and riding the new Harleys. Afternoon in Sturgis and an evening in Deadwood.

Today was an extensive tour of the Black Hills area, pretty much from top to bottom. We traveled up the Needles Highway, named after the spires of rock that looked like the eye of a needle. After that, a run south into Custer Park on the wildlife loop, then a stop off at Wind Cave to cool off from the heat. On to Hot springs for lunch then back up to Keystone to stop in for some drinks and a snack. On the way up to Hill City we encountered a hail storm where we eventually had to take refuge under an entry way to a bank building in Hill City. Wet and beat up from the hail, we heading into town to find something to eat and winded up at the greasy spoon for dinner (not really the name but fits the description).

A late evening ride back to Custer down 385 ended the day.

By far, the longest day out ride of the trip. This ride was about 377 miles total, but what a fantastic ride it was. We got an early start on a cloudy and foggy morning, but it later turned out to be a cool and dry day. We traveled North, through the Spearfish canyon, then a short visit to what was the second largest gold mine in the world at Lead SD, that is, until it closed in 2002. Then, into Wyoming for a visit to Devils Tower then backtracking to Sturgis to watch the crazy people. We dropped back by the Lucky Nugget in Deadwood for the evening buffet then a late evening trip back to Custer after dark. We were constantly on the go from 8am until about 11 pm. It all added up to a very memorable day.

It was sad to have to leave, but the time had come. Before heading out of Custer, Susan and I walked downtown to take pictures of the Buffalos that were placed at almost every intersection in Custer. We didn't get them all, and from what I understand, each told a story. We didn't have time to discover the full story -maybe on a return trip we will do that. We headed south out of the Black Hills and into Wyoming again, through Cheyenne and getting to our hotel just in time before the sky openned up and it started to rain. We met up with one of Bob's old friends from his Navy days and had a great dinner at a local Fort Collins resturant called the Rio Grande.
Tomorrow - the Rocky Mountains National Park.

A run into Estes Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park Trail Ridge Road. While only about 214 miles total today, this was probably the most challenging. After a nice ride over into Grand Lake over the Trail Ridge Road, the weather turned on us for the trip back across. As we climbed back up to the 12,000 ft level we encountered high winds, sleet, rain, and fog. Back on the east side of the mountain it finally let up and dryed out. Back in Estes Park we stopped for dinner and some time to dry out. We rode back towards Lyons and Bob's friends plot of land up in the mountains for a brief stop and looking up a Longs Peak it was obvious that quite a bit of new snow had fallen on the tops. Storms brewed as we headed out of the mountains towards Loveland. Rain, wind and lightning accompanied us out of the canyon and back to the hotel. Tomorrow would be a long day as we would be packing and heading for home in the morning.

Nebraska along the Great Platt River Road - Oregon Trail and Mormon Trail, where the ruts are still very appearent. 508 Miles today will only get us to Missouri, but the drive is relaxing and we have the windows down to enjoy the cool wind and smell the corn

St. Lewis presents a navigation challenge as we come through right after rush hour. A long days drive, almost 600 miles gets us to Eddyville Kentucky near the Barkley Lake Dam. Tomorrow we will be home by 3:30.

The last leg. The weather has cooled quite a bit since we left these parts. As we get closer to home, thoughts and dreads of tall grass and the other catchup chores start to sink in.

Back to the salt mines. We're sure going to miss the road!