It was so GREAT that it was HORRIBLE until the END

The GREAT thing was that I was sitting in a mom and pop diner (Parkway Restaurant - excellent food) in Rapid City, SD having breakfast at 12:30 local this morning on my bike. The HORRIBLE part was that I was alone. I hate that I spent some of the best parts of my life alone. Guess I don't hate it enuf yet, hmm?

For those that may not know, Rapid City is 30 miles from Sturgis - site of the Worlds Largest Motorcycle rally. Needless to say, when you have 5 or 6 HUNDRED THOUSAND bikers in town the 'fun' spreads over into the region. Ironic when you consider the resident population of the ENTIRE STATE is 750,000! Today is the 9th of a 10-day rally that has run annually since 1938 - except during WWII - based primarily on racing and stunts. It's gotten pretty big.

And that's because of the the phenomenal things around here to see. If you like to ride, then you will LOVE Sturgis,unless you fear crowds. Within a 200 mile radius, there are beautiful and historic things to ride and visit. And the ride is as fun as the destination. That's the best. Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Iron Mountain, The Badlands, Devils Tower, Hulett, Buffalo Chip, Crazy Horse, Old Fort Mead, Deadwood and on and on.......

But around here this time of year -- and THIS rally in particular -- the weather can become the headline (except in my blog). A nasty looking storm has blown up again this afternoon. That has been the story of the week I'm told. In fact, Aerosmith's lead Singer - Steven Tyler - fell off the rain slick stage Wednesday night breaking his shoulder. Supposedly he was air-evaced out. I wonder if Mr. Jack Daniels was involved? Or is he on the wagon. I don't remember.

But alas!, how did we get to Sturgis when I decided we weren't going to make it?

Friday morning I left KC, MO with my radiators en route to North Platte, NE and in fact, made that delivery last nite about 6:30 pm (they're 24/7). While plotting my next stop in Havre, MT (see my history in Havre below) I realized Sturgis was only 56 miles out-of-the-way. Not much when you consider the whole trip is 1400 miles. So we go straight north and catch I-90 west.

Friday morning I began noticing a lot of traveling bikers - driving and towing - going south on I-29 out of KC and even more going east on I-80 out of Lincoln, NE. By the time I got up on I-90 this morning it was a flood gate of bikes heading away from Sturgis. And I'm 150 miles out!

I understand riders. My 2003 has almost 80K miles. (that's not counting the 'towed miles') It's NOT garage furniture. So when I look across the medium and I see guys with the face-mask on and no windshield running 70+ mph -- I understand. Been there - done that.

The vast majority of the riders were the big touring bikes with the fairing, big windshield, big rear seat, luggage bag, radio, yada-yada-yada. Hey, they are still riders. It's all good. Unlike the weather this year.

I'm sitting in the Fire House Brewing Co. having a capuchino (it's only 1:30) watching the weather channel and - deja vu - there is a weather advisory for some town called Rochford. "Hey bartender! Is Rochford somewhere nearby? Ya," he says. "About 15 miles west of here."

By the time I have paid my tab and ran out the door, there are raindrops (just a few) on my bike seat. The sky behind me - west - is purple. My truck is east! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. (If this doesn't sound like my first nite in Austin for RoT, I'll eat my helmet!)

It takes me less than two complete circles of the block to remember which way is the truck - that and a helpful pedestrian. But in the END, I'm back and loaded (the bike) when the sprinkles get serious here. But it would appear this line of storm has gone more south because it's clear sky and sunny to the west now. Not so nice looking south. TG I have to go west.