Observations & Random Thoughts from the Road

Thank you to everyone that has prayed for safe travels for me & for a calm spirit for Dolli. She’s a bit of a worrier. On Sunday, July 9th I rode off for my 3000 mile solo motorcycle journey out West. As I was loading my bike, Dolli asked, “Aren’t you going to take the tinder (battery charger)?” My reply, “I shouldn’t need it.” I threw it in anyway to make her happy. Clearly my wife is wiser than I or had a premonition. I got as far as Granville, IL & stopped for gas. I went to start my bike back up & click, click, click… I rolled the bike over to the store & plugged in the tinder. 30 minutes later, it fired right up! Next stop, Auto Zone in St. Charles, MO to buy a new battery.

Other than the battery, the first couple of days were uneventful, just cruising along. As I headed north toward Sioux Falls, SD through the vast farmland of Iowa, the wind started to pick up & I thought, “Man, this wind is pretty strong,” as it kind of pushed me around a bit. On Wednesday morning, I hopped on I-90 West for 300 miles of riding toward the Badlands. The wind on the plains & hills of SD said, “Hold my beer!” as it made Iowa’s wind seem like a calm breeze.

I thought my 1998 Harley Fatboy was powerful with its 1340cc engine until I met the winds of SD. Riding into an Eastward blowing wind at 70 miles an hour was challenging. I’ve been riding motorcycles since I was 10 years old with the last 5 on my Harley & I think I’m a fairly experienced rider. But, those winds really challenged my abilities & at times pushed my bike to the limit. I had the throttle wide open & it took all 1340cc’s of power to maintain my speed up some of those hills.

After 1150 miles of riding, I ended up in the Badlands. Wow! What a marvelous site. The rock formations & rolling hills, valleys & ravines were a site to behold. Clearly the Creator had fun when the Badlands were made! After a day of rest just kicking back in my chair, reading & staring at the mountains, I thought to myself, “Camping ain’t so bad!” I crawled in bed for a good night sleep before my 300 miles journey into WY the next morning. About 1:30 am, my illusions of a peaceful night were shattered as I awoke to thunder, lightning, wind & rain. Within minutes, my tightly staked-down sunshade was whipping in the wind – it folded like a cheap suit! Thank goodness I tied it off securely to the picnic shelter or it would have been gone! Thank God for a low-profile tent & good tent stakes. It felt like 40-mile an hour winds were going to blow me away as I pushed on the side of my tent to keep it from collapsing. I was just about to strap on my helmet, when the wind died down & the rain subsided. I emerged to assess the damage. Tent was totally in tact & dry on the inside. Sunshade poles were dropped in the exact spot they stood but the shade tarp was all knotted up & whipping in the wind. My bike was still standing, just a little wet – thank goodness it weighs 650 lbs & was leaning on it’s kickstand opposite the direction of the wind. The only loss, my small comfy camping chair that I left right next to my tent – I’m guessing it was miles away! Oh well, I’m sure I can find another at my next stop. I thought, “Not so sure I like camping anymore!”

Now for the random thoughts:

There are many different shades of asphalt: black, gray, brown, white, red.

Passing a semi at 80 mph fighting through the wind in IA is challenging & the vast farmland makes you feel small.

Sitting in the Badlands among all the huge rock formations makes you feel small.

Crouching in your tent praying it holds as you push the side of the tent while rain pounds the side of it & lightning & thunder explode all around you makes you feel helpless.

Wrestling the wind in SD & IA as you & your bike fight to stay on the road makes you feel powerless!

They bale hay right on the side of the interstate in SD.

The speed limit on I-90 in WY & SD is 80 mph and trucks drive over 80.

Hills & mountains extend as far as the eye can see in WY.

Riding a motorcycle in SD & WY is not for a novice rider – it will challenge you.

After 250 miles battling wind, your legs ache, your hands are tight & cramp & you’re ready for a stop.

I have a new appreciation for the old saying, “May the wind always be at your back!”

Dolli doesn’t like passing semis on the interstate, she would hate being on the back of a bike going 70 mph in the winds of SD & WY.

I’m thankful I bought the 19-inch windshield rather than the 17-in – diverting the bugs, wind and rain.

I’m thankful for my low-vibration hand grips and foot pads.

I thought bikers wore leather to look cool… I’m thankful for my leather chaps & jacket to protect me from the elements – bugs, wind, rain.. bugs at 75 mph sting a bit!

About every 10 to 15 miles on the interstate in WY & MT it says deer crossing next 5 miles… what would I do if I met a 400 lb deer on the road?

The world is large & I’m so small, yet God made it all!

Keep the prayers coming… 1500 miles to go. But only 130 today 🙂