Sturgis 2010 Part 1

JULY 29, 2010

Today is the day I have been looking forward for almost a year. I'm riding to Sturgis, solo, for the first time. I have been planning this for months.  The Plan:   to ride there, take 6-7 days for the journey, spend 7 days riding the Black Hills... haul home.  Yes, I said haul home.  I figure a good 14 days of riding is good and if I beat the storms... I'm even better.  No excuses...just comfort. Considering everyone I know is hauling there and back, I would of gone solo anyway. I want to experience it. Its been on my list since I started riding.

I've also been asked, why solo?  My answer:  Because I like to get up when I want to.  I like to eat when I want to.  I do not want listen to anyone tell me what to do, and most of all, if I have to stop and pee, I'm going too.  Aside from all of that... If I wanted to change plans, I did not want to be on anyone's schedule but mine...period.   I wanted my own road rules... no bull crap or drama.  Don't get me wrong, I like riding with my friends, however, not this ride.  I'm meeting people there and will enjoy every moment with them there.  The ride is all mine.

First day's ride is to Northern California.  Simple ride.   My plan is to decide the route to take depending upon the weather.  The weather in the past few days have been foggy on the coast... hot inland.  So depending on the fog (not doing the coast in fog) and the heat (don't like it, but am prepared for it).  I made a couple of routes and booked them.  Mostly Best Western.  Their 24 hour cancellation policy makes it easy to change if on the road and something happens.  It just so happens, I needed that little perk on this trip. 

Getting up early was surprisingly easy to do.  I have been excited and waiting for the day, so I got up early 4:35 a.m. However, I didn't leave till almost 6:00.  Last minute packing led me to unpack some things that led me to be late.  Sooo........... I'm riding to frigging Sturgis! I don't care what time I leave today.... I am leaving!

Fog on the Coast was a sure thing.  So here comes I-5 in all its boring glory.  Traffic in the a.m. isn't so sweet going through L.A. either. The 57 had a crash on it and the I-5 was the choice of the hour.  Its also the fastest.  Usually a 5-6 hour drive.

After riding through traffic in Los Angeles for two hours, riding over the Grapevine was a pleasure.  I passed a thumbs up from 3 trucks  hauling bikes to Sturgis.  It was great to see other riders and haulers making the journey to South Dakota for the motorcycle mecca rally.  I knew from the beginning that riding solo didn't mean I was riding alone.  I never feel alone out on the road.  So when people asked me if I was scared, my reply was no.  In fact, my first stop beyond the Grapevine was Starbucks.  I met another rider there and we proceeded to chat while we had our coffee.  He knew mutual friend Betsy Huelskamp, and when I sent her a text with a pic of me & him she thought it was great that in the scheme of the road we met.  He went on his way to Washington.  He was going to be in Salt Lake when I was so we were going to meet up for another coffee, however, my destination to Salt Lake had to be cut out of the plans (explanation later on...). 

So anyway, I-5.  I take this freeway a lot to Northern California, so I know it well.  I stopped at the usual stops.  It was hot, but not unbearable.  I stopped at the vista point.  Something I had never done before.  Not very interesting, but to those people who like irrigation and aqueducts, it is.  I have some interest, as one of my great grandfathers helped develop the Stockton area irrigation.  I took some pics and off I went. 

Vista Point I-5 California

The next few miles are full of cow poo smell. My clothes stunk when I got home.  My mask was full of it.  Full face helmets are at the will of the smell too.  I wear my 3/4 for most of the journey then put on my half helmet. Bugs come out of nowhere and they hurt, but my half helmet is less confining in the heat and wetting my mask is cooling.  Harris Ranch is burger town...also a gardener's dream.

The ride is not so exciting to most.  I-5 is just a straight shot. The rolling California hills and farmlands can be boring to the eyes, but through this trip, I have come to appreciate them a little more. They are very pretty and I-5 at least gives you a look at something.  When I finally get to the Altamount Pass I know within the hour I will be done with my first leg of the trip.  I smile and take it all in. 

I arrive in Alameda around 2:30 or so. The first leg of my trip is done... just like that it seems. It brought a little tear to my eye and just in time to notice the backrest holding my luggage on has lost a screw..now I could cry like a baby...add Oakland Harley Davidson to the itinerary...tomorrow...geeezzzzz.



The next day is full of running around.  First thing to do is to get that screw.  HD in Oakland is not far from my house there so it was pretty easy.  They fortunately had a few and I took them all.   

The back road into Alameda from Hegenberger in Oakland is a spot where years ago everyone would go to to watch the boat races.  You could hear them for miles around when they ran. I pulled into the parking lot and took a few pics.  Reminisced and took a little ride around town. 

Alameda/Oakland Race Place

After riding around town, I knew I had to get it together to get on my next leg of the ride.  So after getting the backrest screwed back in, I repacked the bike and plotted my ride to the Grass Valley and the gold country there.  Next post a comin'....

Happy Sturgis Trailzzzz

KT Did