We woke up relatively early and saw that it is foggy and moist outside. Then it slowly started to clear up and we set of for Deadwood and Mount Rushmore. The campground is filling up as we move out. After we hit the road and worked our way through Sturgis, that is getting busier all the time J, we got to talk to Ashley, a local who knows a lot about the Sturgis Black Hills Rally history.
Later that night we met up with him and Pete, a Kiwi from New Plymouth of all places (as many of you know that is where Chevonne and I lived last year !!). Pete has lived in Bunburry WA and has mutual acquaintances with Craig, as does Ashley as they both worked there !! Talking about a small world ;)
Deadwood is great and has quite a history with Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. The town had a large fire in the 1800’s and a large part was rebuilt in stone, hence a lot of the old buildings are still there. The whole main street was of course completely filled with bikes and the sight of the bikes and bikers is awesome. So many different styles and many different types of people riding them.
I did notice some Japanese bikes (a lot of Goldwings of course) but we are still a very small minority. I do predict though that in the next 10 years the younger generation will be rolling in more and more Jap bikes. I did see a few of the faster ones, a Gixxer, ZX12 (the “smaller” brother of mine ;), R1’s, Fazers, Hayabusas etc. I even saw a few Ducs and Beamers. My mate Pete, from Milwaukee Wisconsin of all places !, is riding a RS 1200 G. A brave man riding a Beamer in the heart of Harley Davidson land ;)
From Deadwood, we headed for Mount Rushmore and on the way we met Annie and Christophe again. It was nice to see them again and catch up. They just came from Rushmore and were on their way to Deadwood. We met up with them at night in Sturgis before they start to make their way home.
When we were standing in the parking lot, talking to each other, rain started again. I put on my jacket while Craig shot off towards Mt. Rushmore and that was the last we saw of him till that evening. When the rain increased on the way up, I put on my rainpants as well. It got worse, as the drops grew bigger and bigger. When I got to Mount Rushmore and parked the bike in the undercover car park and let my gear dry, I couldn’t find Craig. The film crew, Lards and Macca did show up within approx. 5 mins of each other.
We went into the park and while we did, the weather cleared up. Gav got some great time lapse shots of the monument until the park rangers threw a spanner in the works. It seems that we need a permit to be allowed to film (commercially) in the park. So we canned the filming and got the paperwork to apply for a permit later.
On the way back we rode through Keystone, a nice little touristy town. We didn’t stay and cruised back to Sturgis in the most glorious weather. When we got back we didn’t hesitate for too long and set off into town. We met with Pete and Ashley, we got our T-shirts/caps and other souvenirs. I took a lot of pics in the main drag with all the bikes and people. Over time they will appear on my site : http://www.eusje.smugmug.com/
I also told the guys that I plan to leave Sturgis tomorrow. I am not able to join them for the rest of the trip as my flight leaves Sacramento on the 13th and I would like some time in San Francisco and need to get the bike shipment sorted (Todd has promised help so that should be fairly painless). I also want some time at Steven Young’s Vineyard, the Rock is calling my name !! This leaves me too little time to go to the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas.
Also I have seen both twice before, last in 2005 and since I am so close to Yellowstone (only 900 plus kms, only 300 while I am writing this) I decide to go to the one park that has eluded me on all my previous trips !! After Yellowstone I will go to Salt Lake City and the Bonneville Salt Flats !! Hope to be able to get onto the track where Burt Munro made history with his Indian (The World’s Fastest Indian with Anthony Hopkins, one of my favourite movies). I have seen neither before so I feel the need (for speed).
I will miss the group (and do while I am writing this) and have done my best to convince them to join me. Unfortunately they have the same issue, time is not enough and for them the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas are a first and I wouldn’t pass that by either !!!!
Later that night we met up with him and Pete, a Kiwi from New Plymouth of all places (as many of you know that is where Chevonne and I lived last year !!). Pete has lived in Bunburry WA and has mutual acquaintances with Craig, as does Ashley as they both worked there !! Talking about a small world ;)
Deadwood is great and has quite a history with Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. The town had a large fire in the 1800’s and a large part was rebuilt in stone, hence a lot of the old buildings are still there. The whole main street was of course completely filled with bikes and the sight of the bikes and bikers is awesome. So many different styles and many different types of people riding them.
I did notice some Japanese bikes (a lot of Goldwings of course) but we are still a very small minority. I do predict though that in the next 10 years the younger generation will be rolling in more and more Jap bikes. I did see a few of the faster ones, a Gixxer, ZX12 (the “smaller” brother of mine ;), R1’s, Fazers, Hayabusas etc. I even saw a few Ducs and Beamers. My mate Pete, from Milwaukee Wisconsin of all places !, is riding a RS 1200 G. A brave man riding a Beamer in the heart of Harley Davidson land ;)
From Deadwood, we headed for Mount Rushmore and on the way we met Annie and Christophe again. It was nice to see them again and catch up. They just came from Rushmore and were on their way to Deadwood. We met up with them at night in Sturgis before they start to make their way home.
When we were standing in the parking lot, talking to each other, rain started again. I put on my jacket while Craig shot off towards Mt. Rushmore and that was the last we saw of him till that evening. When the rain increased on the way up, I put on my rainpants as well. It got worse, as the drops grew bigger and bigger. When I got to Mount Rushmore and parked the bike in the undercover car park and let my gear dry, I couldn’t find Craig. The film crew, Lards and Macca did show up within approx. 5 mins of each other.
We went into the park and while we did, the weather cleared up. Gav got some great time lapse shots of the monument until the park rangers threw a spanner in the works. It seems that we need a permit to be allowed to film (commercially) in the park. So we canned the filming and got the paperwork to apply for a permit later.
On the way back we rode through Keystone, a nice little touristy town. We didn’t stay and cruised back to Sturgis in the most glorious weather. When we got back we didn’t hesitate for too long and set off into town. We met with Pete and Ashley, we got our T-shirts/caps and other souvenirs. I took a lot of pics in the main drag with all the bikes and people. Over time they will appear on my site : http://www.eusje.smugmug.com/
I also told the guys that I plan to leave Sturgis tomorrow. I am not able to join them for the rest of the trip as my flight leaves Sacramento on the 13th and I would like some time in San Francisco and need to get the bike shipment sorted (Todd has promised help so that should be fairly painless). I also want some time at Steven Young’s Vineyard, the Rock is calling my name !! This leaves me too little time to go to the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas.
Also I have seen both twice before, last in 2005 and since I am so close to Yellowstone (only 900 plus kms, only 300 while I am writing this) I decide to go to the one park that has eluded me on all my previous trips !! After Yellowstone I will go to Salt Lake City and the Bonneville Salt Flats !! Hope to be able to get onto the track where Burt Munro made history with his Indian (The World’s Fastest Indian with Anthony Hopkins, one of my favourite movies). I have seen neither before so I feel the need (for speed).
I will miss the group (and do while I am writing this) and have done my best to convince them to join me. Unfortunately they have the same issue, time is not enough and for them the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas are a first and I wouldn’t pass that by either !!!!
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