Activities in August

We've been pretty busy this month, between working and playing.

Sturgis was really busy - it seemed like a lot more bikes were here this year.  After bike week we rode into town to have a look and see what was on sale.  We stopped at the Full Throttle Saloon, nothing much was going on there except cleanup!

 We also had a rodeo out at Hart Ranch.  They used to have them here every year, so this year the theme was "The Return of the Rodeo".  It was fun, but only one cowboy rode 8 seconds in three nights, so next year they need to get some better talent!

The kids race for their shoes

It was Military Night - the Ellsworth AFB Color Guard

Last week we were going to ride Iron Mountain Road and Needles Highway - but it was raining and we didn't want to do all the curves in the rain.  We ended up having a picnic at Sylvan Lake, and then heading back to Hart Ranch - going around the weather.  We had fun anyway!

Cheers!

Dakota Thunder and Sturgis Bike Week

What a thrill!  Yesterday we participated in the Dakota Thunder ride from Ellsworth AFB into downtown Sturgis.

This was the 13th year of the Dakota Thunder ride.  This ride is in honor of our military, and is approximately 250 motorcycles that are escorted from Ellsworth AFB, through Rapid City and into the Black Hills, through the town of Nemo, through Vanoker Canyon and into Sturgis. The SD Highway Patrol shuts the exits and entrances to I-90, and the Rapid City PD stop all traffic as we ride through town. The Sturgis PD stop all traffic in Sturgis as we ride to our destination.  We have reserved parking, and a refreshments tent. This year they honored a WWII Vet who is from Sturgis. It is a big thrill. 

We met friends Sandy and Tom Butler at the Hart Mart and 7:00 am and rode out to Ellsworth.  We got signed up, had our pancake breakfast, and then were able to take pictures under the static B1 in front of the Air Museum.

Parked under the B1

We had to be escorted out to the base, where we parked to wait for the ride to start.

Last year we started the ride by riding down the runway, but this year they were doing B1 training missions so we didn't get to do that.  But we were treated to being up close for three B1 taxis and takeoffs. What a thrill!

Two B1s as they taxi down the runway

A B1 taxiing for takeoff

We had lunch at the Loud American Roadhouse (steak tips and fries), and then went to the Jack Daniels exhibit to get our bandanas (they sponsored the ride), and had an enjoyable ride home.
There are many more bikers here this year, and it's very exciting to hear the noise and see all of the beautiful bikes.

Main Street Sturgis

Main Street Sturgis

July Rides

7/31/13

Since the 1880's train ride, we've also had a few great motorcycle rides. 

We rode to Devil's Tower - a 250 mile ride which is one of our favorites.  It was so beautiful because everything is so green. We've had a lot more rain than last year, and the hills are spectacular.

Devil's Tower

We rode to the Badlands with friends (Gold Wing Trikes from North Platte, Nebraska) Lee, Mel, and Nyla.  We stopped in Interior, SD looking for lunch, but everything was closed. We stopped in Wall for a donut, and then on the way back to Hart Ranch we got caught in a rain storm.  We pulled into a car wash in Box Elder to wait it out, and didn't get too wet.  I wish I had thought to take a picture in the car wash!

Rest Stop at Interior, SD

Yesterday, Mike and I rode to the Sugar Shack for breakfast, through Spearfish Canyon,  and then into Sturgis for lunch. We didn't get all the way through Spearfish Canyon as just a couple of miles out of Spearfish, a hay truck had turned over in a curve and it was going to be hours before they got it cleaned up, so we turned around.  When we got back to Cheyenne Crossing, the Highway Patrol had the canyon closed.  There was a line of motorcycles about a half mile long waiting to go through. (It's a favorite ride, too).

On the way back into Lead, a wasp flew into my neck and started stinging me!  Then it went down my shirt, and was stinging all the way down.  Luckily I didn't have my shirt tucked in, and I got it out, and thankfully I didn't run off the road.  Also, thankfully Mike and I have the communicators so I could scream into his ear to pull over.   We stopped at the grocery store in Lead to get some benadryl, and I put hand sanitizer on it to stop the itching and hopefully get the stinger out.  It itches like crazy today.

The Best Burgers in the Hills

Now THAT's a Pancake!

Main Street Sturgis - this is nothing compared to Bike Week next week!

This fellow rode THIS motorcycle from Illinois.  It has hydraulics to lift it up off the wheels.

This looks like fun!

Last, because we've had so much rain, we've had some beautiful clouds.  They are so pretty before they get so ugly with thunderstorms and hail.

That's all for now!