Rovin' 'Rauder's Sturgis Report 8/07/99

Well, the first day was sunny and clear. A pretty big headwind all the way! 610 miles from NJ to Dayton Ohio. Some great countryside through NJ (woods, horse farms, farms), Pennsylvania Turnpike I76 (farms, the long ridge type mountains Penna. is so well known for, which means tunnels), West Virginia I70 (the best with such great hilly countryside, farms and forests) and Ohio (rolling hills, farms). It is so green and beautiful at this time of year! Spent the nite at a Motel 6 and met two couples driving to Sturgis. One with a Goldwing and Roadmaster on a trailer, the other just driving.

Day two was better and worse. The ride was much like the day before, but overcast. A bad omen! Saw several bikes, some obviously going to Sturgis! (Piled with packs, etc.) Getting a good feeling! Then past Indianapolis I74, the land has gotten pretty flat. The farms go as far in every direction as the eye can see. Big Sky! What's that in the distance? A roiling, dark wall of water! Purple, like a wall! Looks like an ocean wave ahead. Put on the rain suit. Rain starts, light. After 25 miles of in-and-out light rain, I'm getting lulled into the idea that it won't really rain. WRONG!

Next two hours cruising in heavy rain. Now seeing bikes everywhere. Vans with trailers, chase vehicles, RVs. I'm still 900 miles away from Sturgis, and I'm seeing fellow Sturgisites everywhere. (Pronounce that out loud!)

I80 - After two hours of being slow chilled, I arrive in Iowa. The rain stops at the border, like it was a political decision. I'm still three+ hours from Des Moines, and exhausted. I stop at a diner, and realize I'm cold. Two bowls of real home made vegatable beef soup! Great, I'll remember this diner. Three cups of coffee, and I'm human again! (sort of) In Iowa the land really opens up. Unbelievable amounts of corn in rolling hills of farms. Incredibly beautiful. The sky is that just barely broken cloudiness, with the suns rays spilling through at all angles. I've only seen this specific kind of clouds and sun in the mid-west. (Those outside the US must be told that this area was named the mid-west when the far west was not yet occupied.

Now I'm seeing all kinds of Sturgisites. I'd bet that every 5th person on the road is going (OK, maybe every 10th). Every kind of bike known to man, but most are HD. A big black woman flies past me on a BMW. I'm doing 80 in a 65 zone, and she has to be doing 100+. No one is doing less that 75. What speed limit? Is this the autobahn? I do 90 for a while, but feel I'm pushing poor Bessy too hard. My mileage drops to an all-time low of 40 mpg (stock jets).

By the time I get to Des Moines, I've done 630 miles. Now more and more bikes, RVs and trailers. I'm almost dry (can you every get dry riding?) A fast trip to the Taco Bell (extra hot sauce please), the convenience store (6 of Busch, peanuts) and I'm ready for the computer.

Tomorrow it's a short 340 mile ride to Mitchell South Dakota, then Monday morning a 300 mile ride to Sturgis.

I love to drive/ride, and it always amazes me the sheer size of this country of ours. The number of farms that just roll by, mile after mile, hour after hour, day after day. The astonishing richness of our soil. The accomplishments of our society (not politicians). I love my country and my countrymen. Such a tour is therapy for the soul. We have so much here. You really should get out and see it as much as possible, but I'm preaching to the choir. Those who love motorcycles already know that the TV is no way to see this beautiful world of ours.

JimG and "Bessy" (98 Marauder)
(LT, Laptop, Rovin' 'Rauder, Puppy)
MIG #229