Buffalo, Wyoming 2018

Last week we had a great trip to Buffalo and the Bighorn Mountains.  Good thing it was last week, as the whole area is getting snow this week!

We rode over on Monday, and it was quite cool - and the smoke from the western fires was so bad that what should have been a beautiful vista of the mountains was nothing but gray haze.

It rained Monday night and Tuesday morning, so we just hung out in town. We actually got to explore the downtown area - something we'd never done before.  The historic Occidental Hotel and Saloon was really cool - we had happy hour in the saloon.   We also went to the museum - very interesting about the cattle wars.

On Wednesday we rode on Highway 16 across the mountains and over to Ten Sleep for lunch in our favorite saloon.  We usually make the huge loop over 16 to Worland, then over to Greybull, then on Highway 14 to Sheridan and back to Buffalo; but we decided we just wanted a nice, easy ride.  It was perfect, the weather was cool and the scenery was beautiful.  Luckily the smoke had died down, so we could actually see the mountains!

Riding in the Bighorn Mountains is one of our favorite things to do, and I'm glad we got to do it again this year.  It never gets old!!!

Our campsite at the Buffalo KOA

It's a muddy mess on Tuesday morning!! And COLD

The view from Loaf Mountain overlook

Selfie at one of the pullouts LOL!

This is the view of Ten Sleep Canyon from the overlook

The Ten Sleep Saloon - LOVE IT!!

Sturgis 2018

It's that time of year again, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally!

LOVE the roar of the bikes as they take off from Hart Ranch in the mornings, LOVE seeing them all over the Hills, LOVE the excitement!!

One of our favorite things to do during Sturgis is the Dakota Thunder motorcycle ride.  It starts at Ellsworth AFB and is an escorted ride (by Sturgis Police), and the SD Highway Patrol shut down I-90 from Ellsworth to Rapid City, and then the Rapid City Police shut down the intersections as 200 motorcycles make their way through town. 

Then we ride through Nemo, through Vanocker Canyon and into Sturgis.  Again, the Sturgis Police shut down the intersections as we ride through, and then we arrive in a designated parking area.

This always happens on Tuesday, and Tuesday is always Military Appreciation Day in Sturgis.

This ride used to be open to the first 200 who signed up, but the last few years it is only open to active military, veterans, and their guests (due to heightened security on the base).  We were fortunate enough this year to be invited by our friend Scott Anderson who is stationed at Ellsworth, but also works here at Hart Ranch in the IT department.

We had such a great day, the weather was perfect, there was a B1B flyover down main street, an Army veteran/double amputee did a parachute jump with a huge American flag, and the patriotism (including saying the Pledge of Allegiance at Harley Square as we honored our veterans and active military) was elating and heartwarming!

THANK YOU SCOTT!!

Here are a few of the pictures:

This bike is on display at our local Wal-Mart.  Beautiful bike, but look at the price!!

Scott and Mike while we wait to get signed in for the Dakota Thunder ride

Bikes lining up waiting for the ride.  Gotta love that beautiful bird in the background!!!

Almost ready to start 'em up. It starts with a blessing from the Chaplain, and then THE ROAR is so AWESOME!

We just came through Vanocker Canyon - 200 bikes lining up to be escorted into Sturgis

Lining up to be escorted into Sturgis

Army Vet Dana Bowman comes in with the American flag

Double Amputee!!

The crowd folding the large American flag

Main Street Sturgis, waiting for the B1B flyover