SLC to Newfoundland and back

I'm back. While in Alaska last year I met a gentleman
at a gas station. We got to talking about travel destinations.
He had a twin brother who had chose to go to Newfoundland.
I thought "Hmmm, just finished as far North as I could go on
the bike, why not try East?".
Here is the Alaska ride report link if your really hard up to read
ride reports.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=196720

I originally was to travel with Greg (my Alaska ride partner).
At the last minute work obligations pulled him out of the ride.
Now I had to convince my wife that it was no big deal going
9,500 miles alone in 15 days.
On the Alaska venture I had to ride with a medical boot due
to broken leg that tried to derail my ride plans.
I told her at least this time I have two good legs, please???

She knows how much these rides mean to me and never did
really agree to it, but also never hid the bike keys either.
I wasn't planning on doing any type of off road so I choose
to ride an 06 Yamaha FJR. Perfect choice for going far fast
and for me in great comfort. I was planning on camping as
much as possible so I used the passenger spot for the
Moto-Fizz bag loaded with everything I needed.

I didn't have unlimited time so travel days were well spent.

I actually waited to leave so I could stop in and check out Sturgis
on the way through South Dakota. I went there in 1996 and swore I
would never be back. Never say never. Not really my type of crowd,
but I figured it would be an amusing diversion while checking out
Rushmore and Crazy Horse.

I hoofed it from SLC to Hot Springs, SD. I figured staying just outside
of Sturgis would allow me a chance for a campground.

Here is day one in the saddle.

I stayed at the Hot Springs KOA. All that was available
was the overflow area. By the road, no trees. I spent the
night remembering how badly I dislike straight pipe cruisers.

I know I'm getting old, I have cruisers in the garage too,
all with stock pipes. The factory blessed them with no
particular horsepower, handling, brakes or suspension.
Making them louder than Hell doesn't change any of that!

I feel a rant coming on and it's way too early in a ride report
to get going off on whether loud pipes save lives. I would say
no, cause I would just as soon shot those noisy bastards.

The Black Hills area is fantastic for riding. Be sure to enjoy it
because once you are out of there it is one flat straight
turnless void of a State.

These guys own the place.

Hi Rick.

While stopped to check out the buffalo I met the
rep's for Air Hawk seat pads. I always ride distance with
one and they gave me the factory recommended air
setting adjustment. Don't tell them, but I went back to
my over inflated setting later that day. I like it with a kinda
a squishy feel. They like it flat.

I head off to Rushmore to refresh my memory of 11 years ago.

I knew what I was in for. I remember the countless bikes, trailers,
motorhomes etc....
I really had planned to go with the flow and try not to use my
horsepower and handling advantage over the chrome crowd.
Yeah, that lasted through two corners. It was killing me to be in
these gentle sweepers at parade speeds.

The rider courtesy was nill. I tried to convince myself that maybe
they can't see me in their trembling Swastica/Iron cross mirrors.
No way would they move over to allow a safe reasonable pass.
The Goldwing crowd was quite courteous and seemed to have a
grasp of what to do when your bike is off the trailer.

My only close call the whole ride was with a Dodge Harley Hauler
with the obligatory bed candy proudly polished and secured.
He was camped in the left lane of one of the few areas with two lanes
to allow passing. Now I don't know if it was intentional or not, but as
I swung into the right lane so I wouldn't miss a nice sweeper, he
trades lanes, no signal, cutting me off as I was accelerating into the turn.
It was put it into the soft shoulder or swap over to the left lane.
I'm in the middle of testing the ABS, horn and handling of the FJR.
I swear as I crossed over my front tire kissed the "Harley Davidson"
receiver hitch cover. I'm pissed and stupidly react with the "I'll
show him" mentality. I must also have been subconsciously
downshifting while all this is going on. I hit the gas hard.
Revenge is a dish best never served. I'm now into the corner
second gear and not properly ready for what the bike can deliver.
If you have never ridden an FJR and felt what second gear on the
cam is like well..... it's a thing of beauty and a joy for ever!
It is also something to be respected. I am now getting a souvenir
bevel on the front sole of my boot. Most other bikes I would be
sliding down the road then waiting for an empty Sturgis trailer.

I'm sure I didn't make many friends in the corner sections that day.
Just to be sure I pull in the clutch and coast past at speed with
the bike at idle so there is no noise. Stealth pass.
There had to be more than one Nazi helmeted wannabe thinking
"Damn, what was the blue blur?".
Like I said I tried to be good, but what is more fun than Harley slalom?

I found this T-shirt in Canada that summed up Sturgis for me.

Hey Klay, how's it going?

Okay, before I get to the Sturgis pics you have
to check out Rushmore.
The rumor is no Presidents can be added unless
they can prove they're smarter than the rock.
No changes for a couple years anyway.

You made it! Great!

I'm either really big or Rushmore is not that large.

Crazy Horse monument is a trip. Even with my tight
time schedule I stayed to watch the movie about
how it all came about. Unbelievable that a man would
dedicate his whole life to chipping away at that mountain.
Climbing over 900 stairs a day. One day he went up and
down the stairs 9 times to start the compressor that wouldn't
stay running. His children are now continuing his legacy.
From the looks of the progress several generations may be
involved to finish this one.

This is what it is suppose to look like when finished.
Look under the statue's arm and you can see the
progress on the monument.

This thing is huge! I think they said Rushmore
would fit in the face of Crazy Horse.

I'm enjoying this thread and like your writing style Pluric. Keep it coming.

On to Sturgis. As I mentioned it's a "been there, done that"
thing for me. I have only been into town to take a few pictures
of the people parade. I felt it had mellowed some. Same people
just 11 years older. The other thing I found a little wierd was
the young family contingent. It was like "Come on kids, lets go see
the nice biker rally". In town is mellow enough. It's mainly a jillion
T-shirt and fast food shops. It's just, in my mind, not your best
family vacation.
You know after looking at some of the planned activities I think
it would actually be kinda fun to attend the concerts, races, and
other organized activities. Just stay out of Buffalo Chip campground.
At least as an import rider that's my advice.
Keep in mind that as you see my Sturgis shots they are sensationalized.
It's like the news, old guys in black Harley T-shirts don't sell media.
However, throw some skin in and wala anything will sell. 95% of the
sidewalk scene is gawkers just checking rides out and the abundance
of "Three for thirty dollars" T-shirts. Yet, if you look around, you will
find what most guys are looking for.

Okay, I admit that was just plain mean.

As long as I'm on a mean streak here are my new friends.
I call them my new computer wallpaper. I really only did this
because my wife thinks all I do on road rides is meet women.
Yeah, averaging 630 miles a day for two weeks leaves me all
kinds of social time.

This little lady was quite a hit. She even rode her
bike from the trailer down the street. It was a
His & Hers matching custums. A total "Will someone
please look at us!" thing. Oh, people looked.

Stugis would not be Sturgis without the "chap" shots.

I'm trying to keep this PG-13.

Sturgis version of the Doublemint gum twins.

This one comes with "Fringe" benefits.

Just say when to stop, I got a million of em......

There is always the odd couple. Last time I was here
there was a couple, he was in a Borat thong carrying a
rubber chicken and she had one of those dresses that
looks like it had been in a knife fight. This years award goes
to this cute pair. His mask is one of those snowmobile
thermal deals.... it was freaking 90 degrees out!
The price one pays to be seen I guess.

And now this! Just kidding, I remember in your Alaska RR you mentioned this would be your next ride. I just hit the subscribe button.