Almost Home & More Random Thoughts from the Road

My Harley was a gift from my late father-in-law. He bought it new 25 years ago in 1998. When I got it 20 years later, he had only put about 4000 miles on it. As I loaded it up on the trailer to drive home, he said, “Enjoy the bike, but you guys be safe.” I would imagine that when he bought it, he had visions of taking a trip like I’m just finishing up. But alas, his wife’s health declined & he never got to take the big road trip. I’m guessing he’d be grinning knowing his bike has traveled over 3000 miles through 8 states, well 9 if you count the few minutes I touched Nebraska. Although it was a generous gift, just like there’s no such thing as a free dog, there’s no such thing as a free bike. HD actually stands for “Hundred Dollars.” With that said, I sure am glad I spent the $2000 on the oil change, tune-up, rebuilt carburetor & all new gaskets throughout… not sure I would have made it without all that work. Even with the tune-up, my bike has burned through about a quart of oil over the trip because of the hard riding in SD, WY, MT & ND.

I mentioned in my last post that the wind in SD was strong… well the straight-line winds in WY were even stronger. I arrived in MT on Saturday, 7/15 & spent the night camping near the Yellowstone River in Billings. I thought heading East toward ND that I would have the wind at my back making for an easier ride. So much for that thought. The crosswinds in the Mountains of MT were just as challenging if not stronger… or maybe I was just a bit road weary, who knows? Passing semis on the interstate was quite the experience as the wind roared off the back of the trailers. It’s like a trying to break through a barrier of wind. Then, as you approach, the wind almost stops because the large truck is blocking the crosswind & the bike speeds up almost like the truck is dragging you along. For a brief second, there is reprieve from the wind. Just about the moment you are even with the front of the semi, “BOOM!” the wind smacks you in the face & you push the right handlebar hard to the right so the wind doesn’t blow you off the road.

I now know why they call it Big Sky Country… at times, climbing those mountains it appeared as if I was going to ride straight off into the sky. There are ranches with mountains & valleys as far as the eye can see in every direction… had to be 10.+ miles. The mountains in MT make the Ozarks in MO seem like gentle rolling hills. Towns in MT are 100+ miles apart with most exits offering only ranch access & brandish the sign, “No Services” to let you know there’s no need to stop for gas. After riding 300 miles in MT, I arrived in Medora, ND next to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I stayed next to the Little Missouri River at the Medora Campground. I was greeted to my campsite by hundreds of grasshoppers… they were everywhere. Note to self, “Make sure the tent stays zipped up at all times!” I was glad I sprung for the sleeping bag with the cold temperature rating because it dipped down into the 40’s my first night.

After a day of rest & reading, I loaded up the bike & rode across the whole state of ND to Fargo. The crosswinds of ND were just as severe as MT & it was overcast so riding was a bit chilly. I was again thankful for my windshield & leather. Apparently my reservation at the only campground in town got messed up or lost or something because they couldn’t find it & there were no tent spots left. The nearest campground was in MN & after 300 miles of riding, I didn’t want to ride the extra 30 miles out of my way. Fortunately, I got the last hotel room in Fargo… there was a huge wrestling tournament at ND State University that booked up the whole city. Change of plans, only one night in Fargo. That made Dolli scream with excitement because it meant I’d be home a day early… she missed me just a little!

On Wednesday, 7/19, I rode South across the whole state of SD to Sioux City, IA (at least I think it was Wednesday… honestly, the days all kind of run together & I’ve ridden so many miles across so many states, it’s hard to keep track of when I was where). I was thankful for the flat farmland & gentler winds of IA. I stand in awe at the power of the wind. There were many times my bike’s engine was working so hard it seemed like my feet were going to vibrate off the foot pads & I “white-knuckle” gripped the handlebars just to hang on. The wind made me wonder at times if something was wrong with the engine because the sound is totally different. The wind knocked my gas mileage down 10-12 MPG, which is a lot when the tanks only hold 4 gallons. Normally I get about 35-37 MPG, but in MT, ND & SD I averaged about 27 MPG. I pulled into some gas stations in MT on reserve with only a few miles to spare. In IA, it’s so flat, I got as high as 39 MPG.

Thursday night was spent in Independence, MO with Friday in O’Fallon, IL. That’s 4 nights spent in 4 different states. Only 246 miles to New Albany & I’ll be home. Tomorrow, my odometer will click over 19,000 miles… I’ll have ridden over 3500 miles in just 2 weeks. Would I call myself a “biker” after this trip? Probably not, but “road warrior” definitely fits. At this point, my legs are a bit sore & my throttle wrist & forearm ache. I’m glad it’s only 4 hours to Serenity Springs Dr. Thanks again for the encouraging comments & prayers.

Now for some more random observations & thoughts…

The best roads are in MO & the worst are in IL.

Worst traffic is in Kansas City, MO by far with the worst drivers in MO. Cars in St Louis zip in & out of lanes speeding up & slowing down. They don’t care at all to drift right over in front of you or ride your tail end as close as they can get… semis included.

Strongest wind is a tie between MT & ND. I think the crosswinds are worse than the head-winds.

Most road construction is in MT, they just shut down one whole side of the interstate & tear up the whole road (I mean down to the dirt) for 10-20 miles.

In SD, WY, MT & ND there are signs that say, “Interstate closed when flashing.” My first thought was, “Why would they close the interstate?” Then, it occurred to me, snow, duh!

In MT & ND there are occasional signs that say “Bump Ahead” followed by another one “Bump.” I wondered, if they can put up a sign, why can’t they just fix the bump?

KOA’s are not campgrounds, they are outdoor resorts with mini-golf, swimming pools, hot tubs, dog parks, basketball courts & firewood delivered via golf cart. People spend a lot of money “glamping” in the “great outdoors!”

Best meal was at the Wyoming Chop House in downtown Sheridan, WY. I ordered the 8 oz filet… I guess their scale was broken because I got a pound of meat which I could not finish… should’ve skipped the salad.

Would I do it again? Yes, but not anytime soon & only on a heavier bike made for “cruising” that offers more protection from the wind & is more aerodynamic so I don’t have to fight so hard against the wind. I think I need a vacation 🙂