Up with the crowing of roosters, we're back on U.S. 281 to Grand Junction, Nebraska for our link with state highway 2. Matt stops at a Wal-Mart to find an insulated water bottle to hang around his neck (like my set-up) so hydration on the fly is possible. Our next destination: CarHenge in Alliance, Nebraska. Highway 2 has a railroad that runs parallel and is very much in business. The engineers are friendly and will blow their air horns with the lift of your hand. To the left of the road are rolling hills that look like waves on the ocean. The road is flat, straight, long, and it's really hot!
The Rally in Sturgis begins tomorrow, and we've been seeing so much bike traffic. At an old restaurant that used to have carhops, we meet Greg and Cindy, a married couple headed for the rally on a pair of H-Ds. Greg's in good shape, and why not, he's a 40-year-old P.E. teacher for elementary kids. Cindy works for an investment firm. They join up and follow us to Alliance. CarHenge, we're here! Do you remember seeing Stonehenge in geography class? Well, this artist took a bunch of cars and piled them on top of each other to replicate that ancient landmark.
U.S. 385 north out of Alliance has gentle hills with long straights to carry our bikes to the crest and beyond. Our line of sight becomes panoramic and the wonder of the plains apparent. Rolling into Hot Springs, South Dakota a pit stop is in order at the junction of U.S. 385, and SR. 79. We busy ourselves topping off tanks, adjusting and lubing chains, repositioning loads, and catching a drink. Bikes are now everywhere.
A 40-minute ride north on Highway 79 to Spring Creek road separates Matt and I from the crowd. We're off to the Hart Ranch (I'm a member of Coast to Coast camp resort system), which is private and will only cost us $7.00 per night for the campsite. Some of the Road Dogs are camped on lawns in Sturgis for $15.00 per person per night, with access to the shower and toilet. Other Road Dogs are at campgrounds upwards of $25.00 per night per person with a toilet, and shower. We got swimming pools, tennis courts, movies, game room, TV, Restaurant, gas, a store and other amenities for just $7.00 a night.
Nights in the Black Hills can get really cold. I'm claustrophobic so a down-filled mummy bag is out of the equation. Instead, I opt for the second best choice which is a heavy wool blanket. I use a small stuffed-cloth soccer ball that I won at a carnival for a pillow. It's light, packs easy, and works great.
Tent camping on motorcycle journeys is great fun if some careful thought is factored in. I have a miniature lantern that uses AA batteries that I hang in my tent using a metal shower curtain hook. I also use a magic air mattress I got from Guide Gear. You roll it out, open the cap, and it fills with air. Close the cap and you're in business. Open the cap and roll it up and the air escapes. It's light and makes a great backrest on long runs.
Sturgis is a 30-minute ride from Rapid City via Interstate 90. The amount of motorcycle traffic is staggering, and the number of riders without a skid lid is equally as staggering. I believe in rider choice, but I also believe in the actuarial table. If you ride long enough, you're gonna get rained on. You're gonna have a flat, or run out of gas. A fuse is gonna blow and shut the bike down in the outback somewhere. And, you're gonna get road rash or crack your melon. I've had flats, been rained on, blown a fuse, and I've had road rash. But my choice is to use that skid lid, along with my chaps, full fingered gloves by Firstgear, my armored jacket by Olympia, my Nelson Riggs rain suit, and I carry extra fuses, and a can of Fix-a-Flat. Hey! I've even got AAA.
Check this out, I never would have believed it but while everyone is getting wind burn on their arms, and burning up in the sun, I'm actually comfortable in my Olympia jacket while on the move and no wind burn. Of course, I have raccoon eyes just like everyone else.
The Russians
Stan & Donna