Ride West IL,WI,IA,SD,WY,ID,NV,CA,OR, and Back. No Rules, Just Ride

I have read many reports from all of you and enjoyed them immensely. This will be my first real report attempt. I recently figured out how to use the Photo Bucket method and post my photos up. As many of you have said before "a ride without pictures simply did not happen"

This report obviously is a post ride report. Consider it a "thank you" for all the awesomeness that this board is.

The ride itself came up pretty quickly. The plan was hatched in literally 2 min or less after church one day

It went something like this. Nick is the Music Minister at our church. He is a renaissance man for sure as the report will show.

My buddy Nick "Hey, are you going to go on anymore rides this summer"--He was referring to my ride to Jax Fl earlier in the summer.

Me "I would like to, but would like to ride with someone else"

Nick "I will go with you, Where do you want to go?"

Me " I have read some stuff about the Black Hills"

Nick "Cool, I have a week off coming up. Lets go!.................. How far is it?"

Obviously we had quite a bit of work to do. I was more than a little apprehensive. Nick rode a 2005 Honda Shadow. It is a 600 and has 4 gears. A 2.9 gallon gas tank and that includes the reserve.

This is me getting ready to pull out of the driveway.



The warriors ready to hit the road.



But we gotta get gas in Nick's Thimble gas tank.



Token gas station fill up........one of very many

Here is Nick on the road.



Nick is a Veteran of combat duty in the Middle East. He is very capable, but seriously can he ride that bike that far???

Nick only had from Sunday after church to Saturday the next week. I had way more time than that. One plan emerged that Nick would head back while I went on to visit my brother who was in California with his family for 10 days. (Can I ride that far is the question I was asking myself) Story to follow about that.

This is typical Midwest riding territory. Reminds me of my junior high girlfriends...........Straight as a board, Flat as a pancake.



We headed North Sunday afternoon toward my brothers in Sycamore Illinois. We figured a nice 260 mile start would put us in position for the Slab across Iowa. We thought going thru the Galena area of Illinois would break up the trip better.

This is about as nice as it gets for roads here. At least as my limited experience goes.



This was along the Mississippi. You can see the Train approaching along the tracks that go between the road from the river.



The bridge was closed going into Iowa, so we had to re-route into Wisconsin. Guess it got us another state.



After about 5 min of River Valley Travel time, we were right back to this. I will only make you see one pic of Iowa.

Somewhere out here, we did make up a rule that we would follow. NO CHAIN restaurants. This rule served us very well.



This is IOWA.

We slabbed it to Mitchell South Dakota. About a hundred miles at time with that peanut sized fuel tank on the Shadow. I just filled up every other time that he did.

This Primo campsite was free!!! Guess where???



Sorry for the Quality. But this is in the Parking Lot of Cabella's in Mitchell. We went inside the store for about 2 hours to "shop" Basically it was a way to cool off. Temps were in the middle 90s that week. We had permission to camp. So we set up near the shelter and the lake and headed off for some grub.

Later that night, You will see why we picked a location so close the shelter and why the bikes are under the pavilion.

Alert: Food Porn picture forthcoming. Whiskeytown or something like that was less than a mile ride from the campsite.

Nick got the Brisket



I got the combo.



After smashing this awesome food, we made the requisite trip over to the Corn Palace. It was closed. Kinda thankful for that because it looks like a tourist trap.



After seeing the construction, we headed back to the campsite. Hit the sack and out like a light. Till about 3:30AM. I hear the tent flapping and it continues to get much worse. I pull up the radar on my phone and see it is not looking pretty. This is what is heading our way. Screen shot from the phone as we are in our tents getting smoked.



We survive and laugh it off. That parking lot is wide open.

More to continue. Heading to the Black Hills next.

Excellent start...looking forward to the rest when it comes

wheatonFJR said:

Excellent start...looking forward to the rest when it comes

Click to expand...

+1, Gunny; staying tuned in, Thank You Cav47! JSNS!

Well Josh, you finally figured out posting pics. LOL. Looking forward to the rest.

I also did a long tour with a good friend on a Sportster with a 3 gallon tank...and a 1-gallon gas can that came in handy more than once.

After pulling up camp, we had a relative short ride to Spearfish. Our destination and launching point for the next few days. I had heard that as soon as you leave Iowa, the scenery and terrain improve. I would agree for the most part. I think this is crossing over the Missouri river in Chamberlin. It was really easy to take pictures on the fly, so the roads must not have changed that much.



Then on the other side, things do change. We are not used to this in Flatland.



The Interstates actually have curves in them.

After hitting up the Sheels in Rapid City to "shop" and cool off, we rolled into the campground in Spearfish. John and others made a great recommendation.

Perfect spot with one exception. No overhead shelters, but we wouldn't need a roof 2 nights in a row, would we???



After setting up and getting a shower, we hit the roads to Spearfish Canyon. Just the tip of the iceberg around here.

About a quarter mile into the ride.



A few miles down the road

.

Walking up to the Falls. Notice the absence of shoes on Nick. Did not want to get his feet wet!!



Nice and cool water coming off the top. Family from Illinois took this picture.



Time to get some food. Headed down the Canyon and I am not shy about asking locals where to eat. This place looked like the right spot considering the parking lot was packed despite the construction going on next door. Nick is a facebook guy and he looks up everything on there. He found some reviews on there for Leweys. We were not disappointed.



I do not remember what he got. It could not have been as good as this was.

Evening was wrapping up, so what is there to do??? Rumor is there is a Casino or two around. No pictures from inside, that is frowned upon at the tables. But this was outside. Bad pic from the phone, but it was BOSS.



We rode back that night around 11pm. Hit the store for something to put in the creek. Sat around the campsite enjoying the natural refrigeration from the creek.

I awoke to the sound of thunder. This is what I saw via radar around 1 am. Nick enjoyed the evening more and had to be warned of the incoming storm.



Yep, We got crushed. My little tent did amazing. It actually is my sons tent. I put a blue tarp over it that night and my stuff was completely dry. Nicks stuff....not so much. And he bought his tent at a real camping store.

Tomorrow's plan was hook up with John who I had contacted before on the other board for a group ride. Not only did we get a guided road tour, but we got an amazing Local History lesson. Can't say which was better, the roads or the narrative. Both were amazing.

I will add more tomorrow. Let me know any suggestions you have on how to construct ride reports. This is my first one.

Nice ride report Josh, looking forward to more!

You have the five elements of any great RR, FJR's, Friends, food, a great story and great roads. In till the end.

beemerdons said:

wheatonFJR said:

Excellent start...looking forward to the rest when it comes

Click to expand...

+1, Gunny; staying tuned in, Thank You Cav47! JSNS!

Click to expand...

Thanks guys. I have lived vicariously through many others who have rode, written, and reported before me.

TomInCA said:

Well Josh, you finally figured out posting pics. LOL. Looking forward to the rest.
I also did a long tour with a good friend on a Sportster with a 3 gallon tank...and a 1-gallon gas can that came in handy more than once.

Click to expand...

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.

With photobucket, it is actually easy and fun to retell the story.

This one will not be my last.

As for the gas can, I don't think we used it. But it was sure nice having that peace of mind knowing we were okay. I don't think his Shadow even has a gas gauge. When it ran out and had to go to reserve, it was abrupt. We would be cruising along near 80 mph and I would hear him say "OH CRAP!!! Just hit reserve". It was like an on-off switch. I would always laugh after I knew he was okay.

As for that bike holding up, it ran like a champ and he still rides it all the time. Consequently, he has been looking for an FJR. He has to sell the shadow first.

gregory said:

You have the five elements of any great RR, FJR's, Friends, food, a great story and great roads. In till the end.

Click to expand...

Thanks . I know I am fortunate to get all 5 of those and more from the wife. She not only lets me go, but She knows what is good for me and often a says I should go. Guess that's what happens when you have been together for 24 years.

Should have some more tommorrow.

Tuned in, good stuff Josh. Thank you for the time to compile this

Subscribed and ready for more Josh....

Some stuff I forgot and set up the next day.

During another night at the Casino(s) I stepped out to call BigJohnSD. We had talked before about riding together one of the days we were out here. I was walking down the streets in Lead(that is where all the casinos are) and reading all the History plaques. What a cool town with so much to be learned. The town has gone through many renditions because of fire and other calamity that has claimed major sections of town.

Supposedly the real chair where Wild Bill Hickok was shot and the gun.



Plans were made for a rendezvous and ride the next morning. Plan was to ride most of the morning with John and a few guys he had coming in for a ride.

Did not get that many shots from the bike. I did more video than anything else. And we were moving along quite quickly.

John is up front there.



We rode for an hour or so and John took us by an old mine site. We could not get into the lookout area due to construction, but this was cool.

We rode seemingly perfect roads. John leading at a brisk pace, but never fast for him. My buddy, on the Shadow, was slipping back more and more as we rode.

After a couple of hours, We headed over to a lunch place that was closed. No problem for John, Just a couple of quick mental calculations and off we were to a 50s style diner out in the middle of no where. No pics, but good food outside on picnic tables. Good gathering spot for all kinds of bikes to show up.

This is where we split from the group and took the southern route and did some tourist/site-seeing things.

Recognizable Cant zoom too well with an iphone

Needles Highway. Van for scale perspective. Lots of people ruining my shots.



Some of these kids were without supervising parents and just started climbing up. The "teacher" in me so wanted to tell them to get down.



Obligatory bike shot at an overlook

Panorama shot

I got some work to do on these. I am no Fred W. He is truely amazing at what he does. Jealousy for sure.

Now the report is ruined for sure.



Maybe a bettor effort



Many of these around.

Rushmore



If you go to Rushmore, go earlier in the day. Light will be much better as it faces east. Late sun in in the photographers face.



As I construct this report, I now know why most of the pros carry a real camera. Phone cameras are just decent.

No shots of Iron Mountain Road. Was too busy dodging tourists, looking for wildlife in Custer State Park, and taking videos. I thought those would be better for memories. They might be, but they are no value in a ride report.

On the way back we went into Sturgis just for fun.



There has to a joke about this somewhere. A Preacher(Nick is our music minister at our church) and a Teacher (me) walk into a bar (Full Throttle Saloon).........



I know what the joke is................ a Beer were 7 bucks.

I have a friend back home whose last name is German. He appreciated this sign.



He thought he should take off and meet us to have a drink there...........until I told him I was 1000 miles from home.

Next up was Devils Tower. Another great night at the Casino. Made a few dollars for gas and other sundries.

Great trip Josh, but Sturgis, brings back some painful memories....

Maybe what happens in Sturgis, should stay in Sturgis.

^^^^

Tom, Tom, Tom...

There's more than one reason not to wear assless chaps.

Thanks Mark...fortunately, no one will ever know.

Nothing wrong with this RR ! I likey . More please.

Tom, no more Sturgis references. I promise. Well one more, thankfully no pictures.

BigJohn', the 2 other guys, Nick and I stopped at a gas station in Sturgis for a quick drink. We look over and a woman of at least 60 comes walking out of the station. She is wearing boots, a pair of jeans that are more holes than fabric, and a very thin, tight, white tank top. That includes all of the clothing she had on. I know there was no underwear because when she swung her leg over that chopper with the 300 width rear tire, I saw way too much of her ass. I recall the rest of the imagery , but will spare u the details. I am sorry I am able to recall this image so clearly it, but was forever burned in my memory. John said that was actually pretty tame.

That crystallized why we needed to get out of town ASAP.

I will get some more done tomorrow. Thanks for letting me put this up here to read.

Okay, back to the report. WITH pictures.

Nick and I just finished a huge southern tour of the Black Hills. We hit the casino again that night. Nick introduced me to blackjack. Nick is a diverse individual, he was a combat vet turned preacher with amazing musical talent and he really knows how to play blackjack. I believe he won each night we went but one. Overall he was up for the trip.

Today is the Northern loop of the Black Hills. Devils Tower and the like.

Upon recommendation from John, we tried out a little place in Wyoming Crossing. It is at the end of Spearfish Canyon road and where Highway 85 begins. It is a small place that is not open late for dinner. Mainly a lunch and breakfast place. Beyond awesome.

Indian Tacos

Simply amazing. This is the big order. Don't bother with ordering anything else.

As you can tell Nick does not eat vegetables.

This powered us up for a ride into Wyoming. Just after leaving the restaurant we headed West on 85. The road had just been repaved and had a few gravel spots.

This set us up for a nice 228 mile loop out through some of the most amazing scenery. Right into Wyoming



On the way to the Devils Tower, the roads were so perfect and devoid of nearly any traffic, we decided to have a "no hands" contest. I won after Nick put his hands on the bars after about 11 miles. Seems hard to believe, but this is some perfect pavement with even smoother curves.



Devils Tower is way in the back

A few closer shots





This was a far as you could go without paying an access fee. It was very hot out and riding slow on top of our machines was not what we were wanting to PAY for.

After the Tower and the subsequent sticker/decal hunt in the tourist trap stores that are there, we headed back towards Spearfish. Some of you may have seen this before, but it is worth seeing again.

Temps were very high and Nick was not feeling well. He had to stop to get something to drink. Mind you, there are few towns out this way, let alone one that will have a store to buy a water or Gatorade. We found this town.



This Store:



And the Girl in this poster works in the Store. I am not creepy enough to take a real picture of her. Let me tell you, she was just as beautiful and lovely in person.



There is some wide open spaces out here.



This was the last night for Nick and I. He had to head back toward home tomorrow which was Saturday.

We went to the Tin Lizzy Casino for some big dollar black jack, (really it was 2 dollar stakes) but I did not want to blow any significant amount of money as I might need that cash. We had a great time there.

We wandered down to the Silverado and saw a guy blow 3500 dollars on one blackjack hand. He was not phased one bit by the loss. Great night again in the Campground.

Early up and out for Nick as he was trying to make it home. I doubted he could do it with that gas tank. He did have a favorable wind. He almost made it. 826 miles is where he called it quits in Bettendorf Iowa. He is one tough dude and a great friend.



Tomorrow will start my trip west.

Carry on