Sturgis-Part 3

Even though I had a breakdown, I actually had a good time in Reno visiting Virginia City, checking out Hot August Nights, and having lunch with Lisa  from High School was great. We hadn't seen each other in decades. She lives in Tahoe and has a wild hair in her soul too. What I really admire about her, is that she lives her life. That is so important to me and probably the main reason why I ride. Life is here for the living--live it.

I don't like getting up early, but I'm out of here, time to go and beating the heat is a must today with triple digits on the charts.  Early is the only way on hot days.  The Best Western in Reno was very accommodating to me considering the rally was in full force with Hot August Nights. I parked the bike in the front this time along with some other riders. There were 4 other Harleys and a BMW. Seems that everywhere I go people want to know about the trike and where's the man riding it with me. "I'm riding solo" was a continued mantra throughout the trip. The BMW owner, David, was no different. He's an older guy and rode out from Tennessee. The 4 Harleys trailered from Colorado. David, comes over and shoots up a conversation. We speak of the last couple of days. Even though I never considered going back, I hated having the thought of my brakes going out again in the back of my head while riding. David gives me the best advice on the whole trip: "Kathy, I would just trust the bike now", he says. "You had it worked on, now trust it and enjoy this ride". "Trust the bike". Boy, those words were so profound for me. Hearing David's message, I finished loading my bike, hugged goodbye, and never really thought about mechanical problems again. The ride is rolling.

Weather reports have the heat high today so I am riding to beat it. Giving myself a choice of 50E and 80E, I take 80E...the fastest. 50 offers a little road game in which you pick up a booklet up in Fenley and get it stamped at little ghost towns on the way. Looking back, I think it would have been a much more interesting ride compared to just desert. However, I have decided to cut out Salt Lake City for a stop, to make up for 2 lost days... 80E it is.

In Winnemucca, I pull over for fuel and food. I meet a couple who rode from New York to San Francisco and now on their way to Sturgis. They ask me if it will be hard to get a room there.... "huh"? I smiled and said "yes...its Sturgis". Camping was their solution. I looked at the bike... no gear. Are you kidding me? I caught myself and, had to remember its Sturgis, and that's what most do.... camp. Camp naked, so to speak. We exchanged phone numbers just in case. She rode off in her white blouse and high heeled boots....... left me there thinking why I look so butt ugly in this heat wearing my fishing shirt and bugged spattered boots. Oh well.....

So now I throw on my Polar Vest and its time to head on to Ely looking more uglier. I bought the thermal bag and packed 2 rounds of ice packs. Each round lasts 8-12 hours. Its not very fashion forward, but when I am hot, I am not pretty anyway. So.... I put it on, water down my head and neck wrap and off I go into the triple digits looking butt ugly in the middle of the day.

I get into Ely a couple of hours later. Ely was specifically booked as a stop to rest since I had to change plans and was not stopping in Salt Lake. Tomorrow again, is a triple digit day and I want to miss as much of the heat as I can. I want to make Idaho Falls timely so I can enjoy my surroundings there. Just having Ely as a stopover surprised me. Its was nice to find out that Ely is a city full of offerings. Its part of the Great Basin National Park and home to some great rodeos with home grown music and pretty good food. If you are into rodeos, this is a place to be to see one. Its also the closest City to Salt Lake and has a few casinos before hitting stateline. My curiosity overwhelms my tiredness. I ride out to check out this town and its surroundings. I ride awhile in the nearby hills and discover how pretty it is, in a ghostly way. Its hard to keep in mind that this was the way West. These were roads trecked on by our pioneers. They didn't have Polar vests. My helmet is off to our forefathers and women who made history in those travels. They were bad ass before the term was even thought of.  Time to eat dinner and talk to some locals. I ride back to my room, and I snuggle up to my Hostess cupcake and milk and think... It was a great day to ride and check life out. ZZZZZZZZZZZ....

I'm up early and this time, its not so hard. After getting up early the past few mornings, I guess I am getting used to it. I set out on the ride in chaps and a leather jacket. Its cold in this basin this morning... until about thirty minutes out. Now I am hot and panting like dog. I pull over at a rest stop and throw the polar vest on and get on the ride again. Better. This Polar vest is working wonders. I am not complaining to myself at all about the heat and before I know it, I find myself in a sea of white desert land. I'm finally at Bonneville Salt Flats. For miles and miles it goes on. It feels good to be in this place of celebrity. It is desolate and has absolutely nothing around for miles.  Noise out here doesn't matter.   I have passed a few trucks and a few riders, but this road makes I-5 in California look sweeeet!

Bonneville Salt Flats



A Bit of Mountains from Hwy80
Salt Flats


I pull over for a photo op. The realization of historic speed records happening here is more than one can take. It is vast. I get a feeling of pride as a rider standing on this land. I start to think about Burt Monro known for The World Fastest Indian and what he went through mentally and physically just to get here to make history. What a rush, and its at this point, I am grateful I rode 80E. Now I can say I have been there and felt it...with pride.

On the road again, I pass a couple of riders on the way to Salt Lake. Not one CHP around and I am not wasting time. Always, on that bike I get the thumbs up and when I passed the two riders, they were all smiles. A little ego goes through me to make the rest of ride not so dull. Then that caddy ego catches up on me...I am getting pelted by road shtufff.  The wind has also kicked up and I can really feel The Beast's motions.  The butt ugly has a reason now... my legs are getting beat up by bugs and they hurt...but my boots are getting most of the hits and guts. I wonder how the NYorkers are doing in white blouses & high heels. I think to myself, "there is a reason for gear".

I pull over in Salt Lake for gas and a snack and to mend my bruised bugged hands, and look who pulls up. The two riders I passed, Steve & (? sorry forgot his name)...They are laughing and smiling as they say I must have been doing 90 or so through the bug town. They said they were doing 80 or so, while being pelted. Oh well, just saying, its wonderful to have cruise control.  We exchange wind/bug guts and bruise stories.  Gassing up also proved my having airhead moments on the road... the gas I have been smelling for the last 200 miles or so is because I left my gas cap at the last station. Yuk... another stop at Harley. I'm shuffling for my maps.  They are too.  We are all laughing and cracking up at each other.  We decide we are all road punchy. Together we locate maps and I get myself new directions.  They do too.  They are avoiding the weather by going south... looks like I am going into it north.  I have another 180 miles or so to go, so I tell my new found friends to have fun in Sturgis, safe ride and off I go to Idahooooooo.

I finally start seeing some scenery. The wind has really kicked in but only for about an hour or so.  Idaho Falls is coming up and soon I pull into the Grand Teton Harley Davidson. Gas cap waiting for me at the desk. Calling ahead was genius with gasbrain. I rest awhile and watch the line of people getting their rentals for the rally ride. The closer I get, the more peeps are coming onto the road for Sturgis. I'm getting more excited at each stop. Not just for the rally... but because I am actually riding it, being an actual part of it. People are telling their stories of rides, and the road camaraderie has now really begun.

So, The Beast has a new gas cap, and I can breathe easier now. I am hungry and I want to see some scenery. Rain is coming in about 4:00. With some locals and their directions, I get to my room at the Best Western. I like this location. I like this room. The bike is right out the door and the river and falls are right there in walking distance. Its very pretty here. I have about an hour or so before the rain. So I unpack, brush the hair and off I go for a walk to the river and eat. My legs are numb and I need to move and only have a couple of hours before the storm moves in.




Idaho Falls

The walk feels good and I get to the river. The sounds of the falls are a nice change from road music. The banks have ducks and birds swimming around and they have no worries of the impending storms. The skies are blue with the clouds making their way in. I stop at the riverbank and take some pictures. A group of Amish are walking and enjoying the sights all in uniform. Speaking their language is a romantic sound for some reason to me. They are always smiling, and seeing their faces enjoy nature as I am makes me think how grand this country is of ours for so many different cultures. I ask to take a picture of them, but have to respect the shaking of their heads sideways, so we just smile and enjoy the moments of this privilege together. There is a feeling of completeness for me.

Idaho Falls, beginning of the rain.  Notice

no cars.  The Amish had most of the rooms

they all carpooled into 2 vans. Bikers should have camped in the spaces :)

I rode, I ate, I walked and I talked... I'm in for TV now. I get back and it starts to rain. I am thinking I'd better put the cover on just in case its gets bad. By the time I get outside and put it on, it is pouring and the wind is blowing like crazy. The Amish are staying at my hotel. We gather in front of the rooms and watch Mother Nature take its course. News has it as an all niter for the rain. Motorcycles are being turned away. The rooms are all booked. Its sad seeing them all told no rooms available when its raining so hard.  I have to go in... I feel guilty. I'm going into hiding so they can't see me. Then I think...one word "Reservations". I finally get into the shower. Then I snuggle into TV while eating my Hostess cupcake with my milk and I get my mind ready for tomorrow. I listen to the rain. Tomorrow I ride through Yellowstone. I have two more days on the road to Sturgis.

One More Episode to Happy Trailzz...
KT Did