| Author | Message | ||
     F_skinner |
On a whim I decided to go to Sturgis this year. I have been going there off and on since the early 80s and like everything else it has changed but it seems it is the same BS each year. The attraction it has for me is hanging out with the family I always stay with and seeing the same people year after year. My friends were headed up on Friday but I headed up on Thursday with an idea of going through the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. I loaded up the Uly and headed out. 48 degrees and rain (it reminded me of my Homecoming trip except it was much warmer). When I came out of the rain I was North of Denver and stopped in to see Zac and Jammer. Jammer was not there but Zac and I had a good chat. I was not in the mood for pictures so I pressed on. I stopped in Douglas WY and talked to someone that just came from Yellowstone and the weather was not good so I decided to press up North. Since my Sturgis family was not expecting me on Thursday I meandered around WY and eventually headed up and decided to surprise them. I had the whole yard to myself and their hospitality is the best. Coffee in the AM and a hot shower along with good conversation. The next day I went to Devils Tower the long way to the tune of about 400 miles dodging rain storms.    A Buell Cube showed up at the house. The young man that had it absolutely hated it and had zero interest in the Uly. Not the target market I guess.  I took another day and hit Walls Drugs to watch the bikes being unloaded off trailers so the owners could ride into Sturgis. I went down to the Badlands and checked it out. I can only describe it like this, I felt like I was on another planet.      The Canadians had the Americans out numbered by one person this year. They are all a great group of people. I saw maybe 12 Buells, a couple of M2s, two S3s and some XBs. As I was sitting in the Broken Spoke Saloon looking at all the classic Harleys, Indians and Triumphs on the wall I could not help but to think what a waste to just have them sitting there. Pics of the house, tents and people.     Random pics.      I bought the Uly on 2 Jan of this year and have a little under 9K miles on her so far. I like the fun factor and the fact that I can pack a lot. I often compare it to the EGlide and think the comfort factor is about the same. With the handling and HP it wins over the EGlide hands down. The remarks and questions from the Harley crowd was comical to say the least but you can tell the ones that are truly interested. It is good to be home. | ||
| Jcbikes |
Nice pictures Frank. Welcome back to Co. | ||
| J2blue |
Except for Sturgis, sounds like the kind of trip I'd like to make. I love the pics of the Badlands. | ||
| Badbuell08 |
I was just at devils tower a week ago would be nice to meet some of you people one of these days and Im sure i will I also had a great ride when i went up there | ||
| Jlnance |
Wow, you're going all the places I'm planning on going.  | ||
| Jlnance |
What is the antenna on your bike for? | ||
| F_skinner |
Jim, it is for Amateur Radio, (VHF/UHF (FTM-10), Weather Band, AM/FM radio, plus a siren function which came in handy). http://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProduc ts&ProdCatID=106&encProdID=AF7E08DC3F2467B1B4B2CB4 DA49BCF88&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0 I used the VHF function on the way home. I finally found the Bluetooth mic that was in the trunk. It save me a big traffic jam that a couple of Goldwing Riders were in North of Colorado Springs. I chatted with them from Denver down South and detoured thanks to their advice. I did not post any of the Ham adventures. I did take a Elecraft K1 as my portable HF rig and was able to chat to a few people via HF and Morse Code (not while riding) just to check it out. I built it a few years ago and wanted to make sure it worked along with the solar battery re-charging system. http://www.elecraft.com/k1_page.htm Frank | ||
| Moxnix |
Pork Parfait poster? Pulled pork, BBQ sauce & mashed potatoes. Where was this quintessential roadside food offered? | ||
| Jlnance |
Frank - I thought it might be - kb4fxd | ||
| Unibear12r |
Jim, while your headed up that way why don't you try to find the "monument" at the "Center of the Nation". And NOT the one in the town but the one in the country at the geographic center. You'll be a member of a select few.  Just look out for some really small signs, and a couple lonely bulls. They didn't care about Uly much one way or the other but they sure thought a Goldwing looked mighty sexy.  Oh, and there's about ten miles of gravel road involved too. | ||
| Jlnance |
Hmmm... | ||
| Firstbatch |
Just posted a quick on the Uly board seeing if anyone was in the area. I am on an extended trip on the Uly from Virginia planning on running into Sturgis on Friday/Sat. Never been so figured I would ride thru then on to Wyoming. You still in the are then Frank? | ||
| F_skinner |
Firstbatch. sorry but no I am not there anymore. I had to leave on Monday. I am sure there are a few BadWebbers that are still there but I have no idea when they are leaving or if they have Internet access. I am thinking maybe we can do a meet and greet for those Buellers that show up next year. Sturgis and bike week are not everyones cup of tea and I must say, as I get older, it has very little of offer me except seeing some old friends. | ||
| Firstbatch |
Hey, thanks.....thats fine I just rolled in to Sioux Falls tonight and on my way to Yellowstone and then on to Colorado. Having a blast riding the Uly all over the country. I'm getting on in years too and I know what you mean about bike weeks. Not big on my list either but I did want to ride a bit through the Black Hills area and it just happens to be be bike week. Guess it may not be the best time for riding that area as I assume it will be packed. Any suggestions? Never been in the area. I'm moteling it on this trip using Marriott point from years of being a road warrior doing work. Found a Farifield in Rapid City for Saturday night but thats about it. I know the Marriott list gets pretty thin in SD and WY so will be staying just about anywhere in those areas. I like to ride and not much interested in just hanging out. Appreciate your advice. | ||
| F_skinner |
Firstbatch, I liked the Badlands. If you take 240 south from Wall Drugs you will hit it. You can loop back around to Rapid City via 44 I think but that is 80 miles of boredom. I usually just head back to Wall Drugs. Needles Highway is great and one of my favorites is Spearfish Canyon. The ride out to Devils Tower is not technical and a lot of fun but Johnny Law likes that area to. Where in Colorado are you heading? | ||
| Firstbatch |
Frank, the Badlands are awesome to say the least for a Virginia boy. Decided to stay in one of those cedar lodge cabins that was cool. Rode in in the afternoon and it was like 97 deg,,,,unloaded and road to Walls. Neat place. Waited towards sunset then road back on 240 man was that spectacular. storm had just sliced by and lightening in the distance...wow....took loads of pics. I have a camera on a retractable gear tether so it made for some neat shots. Have to post some later. Today will be much cooler and it is raining just a bit....gonna ride 240 again I liked it so much for the scenery and then get into the black hills. Probably going to head towards Boulder from somewhere in WY to see some family and then try and figure out some good riding in CO. | ||
| F_skinner |
From Boulder Just go West, I hope you did not get any of the hail storm I saw on TV. The only thing I did not like about 240 was the other bikes on the road but it was fun. I really like Spearfish Canyon and you might be able to ride that on your way down South. The temps are cool in the morning and I had a blast coming home that way. Stay safe. I saw that the Harley Tech Talk board had a couple of meet and greets and maybe we can do the same next year. A BadWeb meet and great at Sturgis would be fun. Frank | ||
| Firstbatch |
Well, I'm learning something about the the Black Hills weather. I missed the Sturgis hail storm on Friday but when I was up at Mt Rushmore on Saturday checking out the monument a bad storm rolled in and the hail started pounding down. Good news is the Uly was in the parking deck. Got to the deck and was able to get my GPS478 to get a signal and watch the NEXRAD. Storm passed relatively quickly which apparently is typical around these parts. I was headed to Spearfish and it was clear for that route so I headed out but not before I heard a bunch of sirens from emergency vehicles. While I rolled out rte 44 came upon a not so good wreck of vehicles. No bikes. Been looking at the web tonight about the weather in these parts. Apparently Cheyenne is a high hail incident area and the Black Hills is right behind. Straight line wind damage from storms seems to do more damage then tornadoes, Have to respect that. The NeXRAD radar on the GPS gave me a heads up earlier in the trip and I will continue to pay attention as these storms are not something you want to mess with on bike. |
