Yesterday was the Dakota Thunder ride. This was our 3rd year participating, and it's just a thrill every year. We met friends Lee and Deb Ralston, Karen Sue and Floyd White, and Angie and Victor Tejeda for breakfast at the Chuckwagon here at Hart Ranch. We all rode together to Ellsworth Air Force Base.
They escort you on to the base in small groups, and then you line up and wait for the ride to start. In the meantime, you can look at the static B1B's parked there. Yesterday they also had B-52's. Those planes are temporarily at Ellsworth while their runways get resurfaced in North Dakota. This was a once in a lifetime thing! Two of the B52's and one B1B took off while we were waiting for the ride to start.
About 200 or so motorcycles are escorted by the SD Highway Patrol, the Sheriff, the Rapid City Police, and then into Sturgis by the Sturgis Police department. We ride through Rapid City, through Nemo, then on through Vanoker Canyon and into Sturgis. Just before we get into Sturgis, they stop us and let us all regroup so that we all ride in together. We have special parking (the ONLY way to go during Bike Week!), and a hospitality tent put on by the Mayor. Each year they honor a veteran. It's really something.
Sturgis seemed more crowded this year. Next year is going to be crazy because it's going to be the 75th anniversary of Sturgis. We got soaked on the ride home - but luckily there wasn't any hail!
Here are some pictures from our adventure!
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| Here's the group for our professional photo! |
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| Waiting for things to start |
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| B52 and B1 |
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| Bikes lined up from under the B1 wing |
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| Waiting for the escort into Sturgis |
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| Where's the front of the line? |
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| Still waiting |
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| The Clydesdales hitched up to the wagon |
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| The Clydesdales in their stalls in their truck |
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