August 1, 2009 - We drove to Iowa, leaving our truck and trailer at family, and then setting out on our bikes. First destination Sturgis, SD.
July 31 7:30 PM We left on our Journey. George serviced both of our bikes, checked the air pressures in our bikes, truck, and trailer and loaded the bikes.
George said: Yea Yea he knows you are suppose to ride them, but there isn't much scenery between MI and Iowa.
We left Kasey on watch, (with a house sitter). Kasey Don't torment Smoke the Cat too much while we are away.
Stopped around midnight and stayed in our Dodge hotel.
August 1, 2009
George was up and driving again at 6:30 AM. We arrived in Des Moines at 11:00, unloaded our bikes.
Bill and Judy Kliegl fed us lunch, let us watch the Nationwide Race and then fed us dinner before we wandered on. Thank you Bill and Judy for your hospitality. We'll be back.
Yea Brad Keselowski. Another win on your resume, and what a great battle with Kyle Busch. For those of you who aren't aware, Brad drove our Super Late Model back in the day.
Our Hosts The Kliegls
We left Des Moine about 7:00 PM and rode the back roads for 190 miles until we reached Sioux City IA.
about 11:00 PM. I was tired and freezing.
August 2, 2009
Left Sioux City IA at 9:00 AM. rode thru the badlands and arrived in Kadoka, South Dakota, about 6:00 tonight. We rode 335 miles today. It was 96 degrees, felt like a blast furnace going down the road. The grasshoppers were out in full force. George would scare them into the air and I managed to collect a few hundred, on my windshield, my jeans, my face, my hands. Well I guess that pair of jeans is history. On to a new pair. George would only let me pack 2 pair. At this rate I'll be doing laundry every other day. Oh Well so is life. This no schedule is great. We stopped in the heat of the day at Dick's Bar, in Winner, SD. They didn't serve food, so had something cold to drink, and their parttime bartender brought in broasted chicken and fed us. There were only 3 of us in this little bar, but when we left there were plenty more bikers there. Funny how you park a bike in front of a bar and they multiply.
The Badlands
August 3, 2009
Jumped on the highway and ran the last 120 miles to Rapid City IA. We stopped at Harley Davidson Dealer. Hugh crowd. George needed to talk to the Memphis Shades people more stuff for his fairing.
On to Sturgis. Full Throttle added the bridge as a patio and stage.
Stopped at Full Throttle for the Backstreet Bobber Show. I picked out mine.
We are staying in Spearfish tonight and then onto Roubaix Lake Campgrouds south of Deadwood, and sleeping on the ground for two nights. Yep that's right George wouldn't let me pack the camping pads either. Hope it rains he agreed to motel when it rains, but doubt if we could find a motel.
August 4, 2009
Left Spearfish Creek Inn (We recommend it) Nothing fancy but clean reasonable and nice location.
Head for the loops of Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse.
Crazy Horse Mounument under construction
The finished look. when it's completed.
Mt Rushmore Presidents Roosevelt, Lincoln, Washington, and Jefferson. Reached our campgrounds just in time. As we were unloading our bikes and setting up our tent, the lightning and thunder accompanied our groans of pitching our tent. We hurried, covered my bike (George skimpped on packing no cover for him), and crawled into our tent with our bags just as it poured. And what a storm. heavy rain, lightning lite up the sky, and the winds blew. Estimated 50 MPH. But our little tent kept us dry. Thought we were gonna blow away or have our tent cave in from the rain. In the morning all was well. Headed out for breakfast. George had the soggy seat! (So much for hoteling it when it rains.) So far we've moteled in beautiful weather and tented two nights in rain.
August 5, 2009
Went back to the badlands and rode all day. Stopped back at the campgrounds, and then later rode into Sturgis to experience the night life.
Sturgis. at night
And this one is for TW our friend at Klavon's You know who you are! Thanks for all your help this summer.
When we got ready to leave Sturgis, George realized his low beam light was burned out. So got a bulb and he was changing it when the lightning and thunder started overhead. Got out of town just as it started to sprinkle. Got to Deadwood and it started raining harder, and harder, and harder. I'm glad I chose to ride on the back of the black machine. We finally stopped at a placed called the Boondocker. Drove in under the awning and waited it out. The security person served us coffee and hot chocolate. There was about 6 of us waiting out the rain. When it stopped we rode the last seven miles to camp.
August 6, 2009
Started to pack up, but decided to go to breakfast. We ate at the Brownsville Fire Department. Very friendly and great breakfast. Even homemade cinnamon rolls.
Packed up camp and headed North for Spearfish and Devils Tower.
Our Early Morning Ride out of Deadwood towards Spearfish, SD headed for Devils Tower.
Devils Tower - To our son in law Troy - Here is your next climbing challenge!
Destiny,Kyle - Check out the Praire Dogs
On to Hulett, Wy
Our cabin for the night
Our back step view
August 7, 2009
Decided due to the weather we are going to bypass Glacier, and are heading out today to Yellowstone.
George eating breakfast with the animals.
Got to see the antelope playing, and my first mountain goat, but unfortunately it was dead
along side the road. Boy are they big. I don't think I want to hit one of those with my bike.
Rode 112 to Hwy 212 @ Alzada to 90 - I94 to Billings, MT just as the sky opened up again. Checked in, and about 30 mins later two guys came and they rode the same route, and said they got hailed on. Our timing has been good.
News said there was 1 1/4" hail in Sturgis. Guess we got out in time.
August 8, 2009
Woke up to rain, and decided to stay in Billings another night. Weather was cold Hi 56 in Yellowstone. We'll wait til tomorrow. Besides I think my butt deserves a day off. I now have 1500 miles on my bike. George decided to get a front tire put on his bike. It's been singing in the corners. Went to Bad Boys Cycle. Great place great service. Every in the area George recommends it.
August 9, 2009
Headed for Yellowstone. rode Hwy 212 thru Red Lodge, and down Bear Tooth Pass IT WAS COLD!. Got behind on time due to road construction, so changed our plans and rode to Mammoth to see the Hot Springs, and then out the West Entrance to West Yellowstone, and stayed at a Super 8. (Well it was sprinkling when we left the park!) Today we saw Bison, Elk, Bald Eagles. Hey Gary P. George said those nice gloves you loaned him last year really did the job and kept his hands warm. Thanks!
Friendly little fellows where we stopped.
This spring was boiling.
August 10, 2009
Rode back into Yellowstone to see Old Faithful. Headed for the South Entrance only to be delayed again, only this time by a truck going over the guardrail. Headed for Tetons. I learned how to offroad with my harley. 4 miles or more under construction. I dodged holes, rocks, and rode though very loose gravel. George was proud of me. He didn't have to come back and pick me up. Headed for Jackson Hole, WY we stopped by Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. Left and rode the rest of the miles to Victor, ID.
The Tetons
Checked into Cowboys Roadhouse Lodge in Victor ID.
August 11, 2009
The morning sunrise over the Tetons
Ate breakfast at Sun Dog Deli & Cafe. Great Food and friendly people.
Packed up and rode to the Palasades.
Thanking my son Tim on the phone for mowing and taking care of everything at home. Love ya Tim. Hope you find a job soon so you don't have to keep bailing out your Mom!
August 12, 2009
Stopped by the Harley Dealer in Provo. Had to put my mechanic to work. My bike has just quit twice now. So George cleaned my speed sensor, and hasn't quit yet.
On to Fruita, Co just outside of Grand Junction. Pretty boring ride thru Utah. Didn't even take any pics.
August 13, 2009
This was the view along our ride to Ouray, Co.
We stopped for late lunch in Silverton, Co. and decided to try and ride on to Durango, Co. 3 miles of gravel just put down, and then it rained on us. So have settled in for the night in Durango. Headed in the direction of New Mexico and then will head East towards home. This ride is great, but I do miss home, my kids, my grandkids, my Kasey and our cat Smoke. I now have 2679 miles on my trip odo since we left.
August 14, 2009
Left Durango after an evening of listening to an old fashion piano music, at the Strater Hotel, Diamond Belle Saloon. Headed towards New Mexico.
We chased the rain clouds all day, stayed dry, and finally gave up in Santa Rosa, NM with the storm 10 miles ahead of us and slow moving.
Sunset behind us
On Historic Route 66 in Santa Rosa with the thunderclouds to the east.
Colorful sky at sunset looking to the East.
August 15, 2009
Left Santa Rosa headed northeast instead of to Shreveport, LA due to the weather coming into the Gulf. Headed for Dodge City, KS. Extremely hot day riding 98 deg. at 4:00 PM.
Plenty of Windmill Farms
We stopped several times to get an update on Brad Keselowski racing at Michigan, but missed his winning pass. Way to go Brad!!!
Arrived in Dodge City just in time to go to the local dirt track, Dodge City Motorsports Park. Nice facility and good racing.
August 16, 2009
Left Dodge City headed for Kansas City. Pretty uneventful day. Again chased the storm clouds through Kansas. Stopped in Topeka as the weather was again threatening.
August 17, 2009
Headed in a Northeastern direction. Rode thru Kansas into Missouri, and then to Iowa. Stopped at
Osceola, IA for the night. Due to the tropical storm coming into Flordia and us being a couple of days away from Shreveport LA, we gave up the chance to ride the Natchez Trace Parkway to Nashville, TN. We really didn't want to ride in rain all the way home or have the rain chase us all the way home.
August 18, 2009
Rode to Des Moines IA to load up and head for home. When we loaded my odo read 4,072 miles. Not bad for old people and 19 days of riding.
For those of you who weren't aware, we headed back early to make memorial arrangements for my mom.
Virginia Buck Scott Kliegl
December 27th, 1919 - July 30th, 2009
Virginia I. Buck Scott Kliegl of Mission, Texas passed away on July 30, 2009 at the age of 89. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles E. Scott; parents, William and Muriel Buck and sister, Valeria Niehaus. From December 7, 1941 to September 2, 1945 she served in the U. S. Navy Waves. At the time of her discharge, she had achieved the rank of Specialist Cryptographer (Q) 2nd Class. She was instrumental in assisting, the breaking of the Japanese code that ended WWII. Ginny, as she was called, was an avid square, round and ball room dancer. If there was music and space, she was dancing. Surviving her is her husband of 21 years, Owen R. Kliegl; three daughters, Linda (Robert) Turner of Rives Junction, Wendy (Paul) Schroeder of Jackson and Judi (George) McCord of Jackson; stepchildren, Dick Kliegl of Iowa, Bill (Judy) Kliegl of Iowa, Kathy Houser of Minnesota, Ron (MaryAnn) Kliegl of Iowa and Dean (Sharon) Kliegl of Washington; one nephew, one niece, 23 grandchildren, 24 great- grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter. A memorial service will be held at Wetherby Funeral Home, on Saturday, August 29, 2009, at 10:30 a.m., with Pastor Edward Ross officiating. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service. Interment will take place at the South Jackson Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Great Lakes Hospice of Jackson. Friends may send condolences or share a memory with the family at wetherbyfuneralhome.com
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Thanks everyone who followed us on our trip. We will be looking forward to seeing everyone, so stop by the shop.
Georege & Judi