Crazy Horse monument

This was good to see, but you have to use your imagination to see what the finished work will be. Already under construction for over 50 years, maybe this will be one of America's lasting works. Lots of bikes there today. Never would have thought there were so many bikers in the country.

Mt. Rushmore

Escaped Sturgis after many bands, much beer and bad food, and two very sleepless nights where the party seems to go until 4am, and by 6am it's too hot to sleep. Loads of fun, but two days is enough. Intermittent reception means lots of offline time, so will update when I can. Tomorrow - Yellowstone :)

Sturgis Main Street

Day 2 - life at 80mph

The speed limit in Montana is 75...last time I drove the length of the state, there was no limit. Makes no difference since if you're doing 80, someone will still fly by. Nice to make fast progress. Just look out for the thunderstorms ~

Civilization

Big Sky country

475 miles to Missoula - happy to be here. Picked up a nice thunder shower coming over the mountains by Lolo. Cooled things off nicely.

Day 1

Made it to Coeur d'Alene :) 4.5 hours, 310 miles. Only 160 miles to Missoula. Maybe I'll keep going!

Pee Wee, ZZ, and 250,000 bikes

It's not the destination - it's the journey, right?



1300 miles is a long way to go to see Pee Wee Herman MC the 70th annual Sturgis motorcycle rally, but the forecast for the ride is long & scenic, with a chance of thundershowers. I'm only planning to spend a couple of days at the rally, staying at the infamous Buffalo Chip camp ground who this year is hosting bands including ZZ Top, CCR, the Guess Who, Bob Dylan, Kid Rock, and Lynyrd Skynyrd (feels like high school all over again - except for Kid Rock (who is that?)). Buy a bunch of t-shirts, get a couple of tattoos and toss a few sets of Mardi Gras beads, I'll be ready for the long, slow ride back... It's the Harley version of a pilgrimage to Mecca without the threat of being stoned (well, I guess there's some threat of that :))

The route is I-90 fast to Missoula, MT the first day, Sheridan, WY the second, and arriving in Sturgis before most people crawl out of their tents on Sunday.
The trip back is much more relaxed, with fishing in Yellowstone and a roller coaster ride over Lolo Pass.

I'll post from my iPhone as I go - so pictures, occasional video, and as much text as my thumbs allow.