Hey guys ! next update.. Well i am in a cheap hotel in Gillette Wyoming, .. thought i deserved a bed after 5 days in the the tent! Made it here from the rally in 2 days, 953 miles as the Crow flys.. and i aint no Crow!
Sunday i rode to Patte on the Missouri river, the town is Dead, expected to see tumbe weed blowing across the road and any minute and the sherif to step out for a showdown. But there is a nice camp ground and i set up camp, cooked my stew in a can over the burner and had 5 star Egon Roney feast!! (well dreaming is nice) There were a lovely couple in their 50's also on BMW's next to me. They were tracing the Lewis and Clarke trail back along the Missouri and over to Washington State. We had a few beers in a local bar (Dock 44), again were there till closing. It was a family run place, really nice people even came complete with a Russian bar girl (Ulyana - hope thats spelt right).
One thing that is really making this trip is the wonderful people i am meeting along the way. The other riders, the people in the shops, the other campers, etc, everyone is so friendly and welcoming and really are interested in the trip and where i am going and of course have their 50cent on where I should see next!
So following on from there today was the badlands and the black hills, in 41 degrees no shade no cover!! it was an oven! Man it gets hot here. Load of cowboy films made here, Crazy Horse.. Dances with Wolves etc
There are some fun corners in in Custer State Park, and on the Iron Mountain Road. leeding up to Mt Rushmore, its all been recently resurfaced so grip is super. Speed limit is like 35 mph , but i found most of the corners can be taken at 60 ish.. (once you counter steer into them) only problem is slow cars and buffalo on the road! My excuse was i needed to even up the tire wear !! :) if you take 87 up through the park to 16A you can avoid paying the fees. Up further on advice i had a look at Spearfish Canyon, nice drive with some great scenery, just scenic, however i think i did some scouting out of a new GS ride, I had a shite map and it looked like I could cut across a big area of forrest and save miles across to Sundance on the back roads, problem is the back roads are REAL backward! i took 222 which quickly became gravel, then mud and gravel, (now would be a good time to turn back as i had road tires on) , but thinking this must be tempory and if i drive slow it will be fine, i proceeded to get totally lost, and the roads became rutted cattle tracks complete with wild cattle, which once down i had no way back (just thank God it wasnt raining) SO .. following on, proceeded to bump my way down a rocky gravel path, when the back wheel dropped into a different rut and spun the bike and send me flying! Spill number one in the US, (no fotos... i aint embarrasing myself) this was quickly followed by spill number two, .. so now i am quiet acomplished at picking up a big heavy 1200GS!! even the GPS was giving me roads that didnt exist, finally got out of there, kissed the tarmac when i was done! only damage was a dented ego, smashed indicator, and a few scratches bring on Colorado tomorrow ! just hope i can get used to this blistering heat!
Sunday i rode to Patte on the Missouri river, the town is Dead, expected to see tumbe weed blowing across the road and any minute and the sherif to step out for a showdown. But there is a nice camp ground and i set up camp, cooked my stew in a can over the burner and had 5 star Egon Roney feast!! (well dreaming is nice) There were a lovely couple in their 50's also on BMW's next to me. They were tracing the Lewis and Clarke trail back along the Missouri and over to Washington State. We had a few beers in a local bar (Dock 44), again were there till closing. It was a family run place, really nice people even came complete with a Russian bar girl (Ulyana - hope thats spelt right).
One thing that is really making this trip is the wonderful people i am meeting along the way. The other riders, the people in the shops, the other campers, etc, everyone is so friendly and welcoming and really are interested in the trip and where i am going and of course have their 50cent on where I should see next!
So following on from there today was the badlands and the black hills, in 41 degrees no shade no cover!! it was an oven! Man it gets hot here. Load of cowboy films made here, Crazy Horse.. Dances with Wolves etc
There are some fun corners in in Custer State Park, and on the Iron Mountain Road. leeding up to Mt Rushmore, its all been recently resurfaced so grip is super. Speed limit is like 35 mph , but i found most of the corners can be taken at 60 ish.. (once you counter steer into them) only problem is slow cars and buffalo on the road! My excuse was i needed to even up the tire wear !! :) if you take 87 up through the park to 16A you can avoid paying the fees. Up further on advice i had a look at Spearfish Canyon, nice drive with some great scenery, just scenic, however i think i did some scouting out of a new GS ride, I had a shite map and it looked like I could cut across a big area of forrest and save miles across to Sundance on the back roads, problem is the back roads are REAL backward! i took 222 which quickly became gravel, then mud and gravel, (now would be a good time to turn back as i had road tires on) , but thinking this must be tempory and if i drive slow it will be fine, i proceeded to get totally lost, and the roads became rutted cattle tracks complete with wild cattle, which once down i had no way back (just thank God it wasnt raining) SO .. following on, proceeded to bump my way down a rocky gravel path, when the back wheel dropped into a different rut and spun the bike and send me flying! Spill number one in the US, (no fotos... i aint embarrasing myself) this was quickly followed by spill number two, .. so now i am quiet acomplished at picking up a big heavy 1200GS!! even the GPS was giving me roads that didnt exist, finally got out of there, kissed the tarmac when i was done! only damage was a dented ego, smashed indicator, and a few scratches bring on Colorado tomorrow ! just hope i can get used to this blistering heat!
2 comments:
Hello, Kevin! It's me Cherise (from Michigan)!! Just wanted to say hello and that I'm glad you are continuing to enjoy your journey! My sister, Nikki, says hello too!! Be safe! I couldn't remember how to find your email address, but I'll keep searching. Oh and I have our pics if you wanna add that to your collection!
heya, email is in the profile section, kevfoley@gmail.com
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