On August 3^rd I started final packing for Sturgis. Dennis, Carol, Jan, Gideon and myself were staying in a motel in Conroe for a 5 AM pullout on Friday for Sturgis. A sixth person named Greg was supposed to meet us Friday morning at 5 AM for pullout and he did. But he said he almost didn’t because he had to leave his newly acquired girlfriend at home in bed. Tough choice, but the right one.

August 4^th, we left with five Goldwings and a Harley. On the first day we rode and we rode and we rode until we got to Newton, Kansas about 640 miles later. Butt weary puppies we were. Swimming we went and off to bed for a 5 AM pullout.

August 5^th we rode and we rode and we rode 500 miles to a KOA in Valentine, Nebraska. By the way, yours truly is leading this pack and we picked up Jim East, a RAT, into our pack riding a Voyager 1300. So far, all we have seen in flat land. But that is fixing to change.

We leave August 6^th 5 AM, hit South Dakota and I-90 turning west for Sturgis.

But a detour, Wall, South Dakota. Tourist trap. Of course, we are tourists so we go and visit the famous Wall Drug. Our first encounter with motorcycles in quantity. They lined the streets and parking lots by the thousands. Bikes were everywhere and by the license plates were from everywhere. At last we leave. Sturgis here we come.

Lord almighty we are here! Get in line to get off the freeway. No cars, just 250,000 cycles in a traffic jam. No horns, no complaints, just everybody riding around looking at everybody else.

Glencoe, where is Glencoe campground. Yes, I found it. 1483 miles later I am setting up camp in Sturgis. I have made it. We have made it.

Heck, let’s go to town. Wall to wall cycles and bikers. And women, man, the women come in all sizes and shapes and mostly great looking. Next morning, August 7^th, gone riding (just me) sightseeing. Rode through the roads marked on the maps for the best sights. Went every place I could go to some not listed.

Downfall, my disaster. I was barefoot and going to go wading in the creek when I stepped up to the picnic table and hung my toenail on the leg and ripped it off. Blood everywhere. Time 2 PM. Rest of the day spent with foot propped up. Later, tennis shoes were cut up to make a hole for the sore toe.

August 8^th. I will prevail. In tennis shoes with hole and throbbing foot, I go on with my riding. I would not be held down.

Over the next couple of days, I saw from the Sturgis starting point the following sights: Badlands, Devil’s Tower in Wyoming, Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, route 16A and the Needles highway, Custer Park scenic route and Deadwood.

By the time I left Sturgis for points west and south I had put over 2200 miles on the bike.

Colorado here I come.

Pikes Peak, it was great. I rode the Coy Train up with Jim East and we really enjoyed it.

The we went on to Royal Gorge. I thought it was great. I took lots of pictures then and throughout the whole trip.

Well Jim East said bye and headed home. Me, I went riding some more. I stayed at a KOA in New Mexico and rode highways for three days sight seeing.

At last I decided I should start home.

After having been in Texas for a day and on my last leg home I got careless. I left Fort Worth on a full tank and headed home. Just north of Conroe just prior to the roadside park I ran out of gas. I was cruising, no worries, rolling along and putt, engine quit. Look down, 197 miles on the tank.

God was on my side.

Rolled into the roadside park, pushed it up to the curb and got off. A man walked out of the restroom and said "Having a nice ride?" I said "Yes, until I got dumb and ran out of gas." He said "Oh", walked over to a brown van, pulled out a ten gallon can and started to pour.

Talk about blessed. In less than five minutes after running out I was on the road again. In Conroe, I filled it up and started my last leg.

3,653 miles later I am home. I back in the trailer, pull in the bike and it starts to rain. The first and only rain on my whole trip.