Day 5. The Black Hills

Today we got up and had breakfast at the Belle Inn, then it was a stop at the laundromat and the car wash. Clean clothes and a clean bike. We also drove around Belle Fourche and looked at real estate. We stopped off at camp and tried to arange a ride with Paul. We ended up just riding Spearfish Canyon. We stopped at the Spearfish Fish Hatchery and Museum. We walked around the grounds taking in the sights and feeding the trout. They have a nice display of the history of fish stocking.






We also stopped at Roughlock Falls.




Then it was off to the Homestake Gold Mine in Lead.




We did a little shopping in Sturgis. Then it was back to camp.

Day 4, Cheyenne, WY to Belle Fourche, SD or Armageddon outa here.

After meeting John's cousin Paul, and his 3 traveling partners for diner last night, we headed back to the KOA and went to bed early. We got up early and packed. We were gone by a little after 0700. We had breakfast at the Subway next to the Interstate. We gassed up and headed north.

Yesterday we went past at least 12 Minuteman missile silos. Today we went by at least another 7 or 8. These are not your typical abandoned South Dakota, Ellsworth AFB silos. These are the real deal. Still live and active. They are under the control of Warren AFB in Wyoming. If they are layed out like the ones in South Dakota, there are 150 live missiles in the area. The USAF will admit to 450 Minuteman between WY, ND, and MT.
One of the silos had service vehicles and people inside the fence. I wanted to take a picture, but I rethought that idea. I did snap a quick pic of one that no one was at. That's as close as I want to get.



We continued north towards Torrington, WY. We stopped at the Meridian Rest Area, on Hwy. 85 to stretch a bit.




A few miles outside of Lusk, WY I snapped this picture of John at a nice scenic overlook.



We got to the Mule Creek Junction, WY and turned east towards South Dakota. I got 2 more state signs.




We followed 18 into Edgemont. I could start to smell the sweet scent of pine over the bitter smell of the sage brush. By the time we got to Hot Springs it was all pine. We stopped at the jewelry store run by the Whitaker's. John had to get a few things. While we were there, the skies turned black and we heard thunder. Time to put on the rain suits. A few miles up the road it started to rain. We followed 385 north. When we were driving through Deadwood there was so much hail on the ground it looked like it had snowed. I really wanted a picture of that, but there's no way I was going to try and dig out the camera. They had used a snowplow to clear the streets before we got there.

We made it to Wyatt's Hideaway. After setting up camp and hanging a few things from the trees to dry, we went to eat. Rancher Tips from the American West. mmmmmmm.

Day 3, Alliance, NE to Cheyenne, WY

Today was an easy 165 miles. We left Alliance after breakfast at Taco John's, and headed south to Bridgeport, NE. We were going to stop for gas but the station had no premium and the pay at the pump card readers didn't work. We drove through a few miles of fresh chip seal on our way to Courthouse Rock and Jail Rock.





After that stop we continued to Kimbal, NE. I needed gas and couldn't wait. We stopped and again, NO premium. Oh well. Their card readers didn't work either, and I had to pre-pay for the gas, in CASH! The station was out of quarters too, so I got back 7 dimes in my change. Their ATM didn't work.
We had seen a listing on roadsideattractions.com about a Titan missile in a city park in Kimbal. We went to check it out. It's in sad shape. The nose cone is gone and the paint looks pretty bad. There's about 6 inches of bird poop under the rocket motors. I was disappointed.



Just after crossing into Wyoming, we stopped at the visitor center and got a few maps. We drove across the highway to Subway for lunch. We ended up at the Cheyenne, WY KOA in a camper cabin for the night. We both thought that a swim in the pool sounded like a good idea. It was nice to relax and soak for a while. The skies were overcast and the temp was a nice 83 degrees. The pool was nice.




We are waiting for John's cousin Paul to show up, then we'll go to dinner.

Day 2, Murdo, SD to Alliance, NE

Today, things got a lot better. We got up and went to breakfast at the GTO Diner in Murdo. Good breakfast, but the family behind me was pretty funny. I couldn't see them but I could hear them. She was complaining that there was nothing on the menu she could eat. He was crabby as hell and wasn't too sympathetic. Someone else was crabbing that the sun was shining on her and burning her. It was funny to listen to, all they could do was bitch and complain...
After breakfast we went back down 83, then west on 18 in South Dakota.

I really like being in the middle of nowhere.



That took us through a very impoverished looking Rosebud Indian Reservation. We stopped for gas in Martin, SD. We followed 18 for a while, then went south on 391/27, through Gordon, NE. West on 20 to 87, then south into Alliance. We stopped just before town to check out Carhenge.





We walked in to the Carhenge Pitstop and the first thing John sees is a penny masher.






Here's John at Carhenge.



Me too.



After taking in all that Carhenge had to offer, we drove the 3 miles to Alliance. We got a room at the 1st INN. Yesterday we drove a little over 600 miles. Today we quit at 220.



Tonights weather looks like rain, so we pulled the bikes up under the walkway.

Sturgis Vacation, Day 1, The day of the performance award

Well, the day started ok... We made it down through Iowa and South Dakota, then into Nebraska.



I had been thinking that I hadn't seen much in the way of the Law Enforcement community. Well, John and I got to meet a fellow member. I'm glad the meeting wasn't 10 minutes earlier or things wouldn't have gone as well as they did. We met up with the Keya Paha County Sheriff himself, a very nice guy.



As if that wasn't enough, there wasn't a hotel room to be found within 80 miles of Valentine, NE. It's a small town and there was a rodeo near by. We ended up driving north up to Murdo, SD and got a room at the Anchor Inn.

I hope this isn't a sign of how things will be on this trip.

The Night Before

Ready to go. I'll leave about 0800 and meet John about an hour later outside of Northfield, MN.


Rudy is checking out my ride! I'll miss all of my 5 cats, Nancy too!!

2 Days to go!

I've spent the last two nights in the garage getting things ready. John and Wendie came over last night and John helped me change the tires on my Zx-14. We put on a new set of Michelin Pilot Road 2's. Thanks John. The oil and filter have been changed, the chain has been adjusted and lubed. I just have to put on the soft luggage, pack, strap it down, and I'm ready! I'll leave saturday morning with 8300 miles on the Zx-14.

I had a good one hour meeting with the Public Employee's Retirement Association (PERA) today. They provided me with 5 pages of forms to fill out and send back. All that's left to do is pick a date and send them back. It seems like such an easy decision to make, until you have to sign your name to all the paperwork. It's more then a little scary to think that I'd be done there after 21+ years.... Now what? I guess I could spend a lot of time on my motorcycles. I told Nancy that we could get a trailer and pull a bike down to AZ or NM during the winter for a little vacation. She thought that sounded like a great idea. She can't wait for me to be through with the county so we can spend more time together. Sounds like a good plan!

9 Days Until Vacation!

I have just 9 more days until I head west with John for our annual road trip and visit to the Sturgis Rally. John and I will leave on the 31st to meet up with his cousin Paul that will be ridding up from Phoenix. We should meet him somewhere near Cheyenne, WY on Monday the 2nd. John and I have plenty of time to get there. I told him I wanted to stop in Alliance, NE and see Carhenge. We should be able to do that.

This weekend I have a lot to do. I have a set of Michelen Pilot Road 2s to put on the Zx-14. I have a Stop and Go tire repair kit to pick up from Bob's Cycle in St. Paul and a couple of extra fairing bolts to pickup from Cities Edge Kawasaki in Shakopee. I have already installed the Ram GPS mount on the Zx.

By next Friday I hope to be all set to go!

Pre Sturgis and Points West...

As of 7-3-10 There are now 8060 miles on the Zx, that means there's 7040 miles on the tires. I hope to put a few hundred more miles in the tires before it's time to head west. I have ordered a new set of Michelin Pilot Road 2's from swmototires, they should get here by the 9th. I'll swap out the tires just before the trip, so I can put many thousands of miles on fresh rubber.

I also picked up a Garmin Nuvi GPS. I have finally entered the modern age. I used it last week when we took a prisoner back to CA. There is no way I would have been able to make the 2+ hour drive from San Francisco to Jamestown in the dark without it. I'll be looking at ways to mount it on my bike.

I've talked to John and I think we have maybe picked a route. We'd leave 7-31-10 from home and go to CO to meet his cousin. Then up to Belle Fourche, SD for part of a week. Then a loop through as many as 10 western states before making for home. I hope to be gone almost 3 weeks and return to work 8-23-10.

I have not made it official yet, but I might return to work for 11 working days, work 1 day past my 50th birthday, and then retire. 21 and 3/4 years has taken it's toll on my mental and physical health. I have to leave for my own sanity.

Oil change

Zx-14, 7606 miles, 5-30-10. Tires good, just showing a flat center in rear tire. Now 6426 miles on tires!