Sturgis!!

Windy, but nice ride from Sheridan, Wyoming to Sturgis, South Dakota.  Speed limit on I-90 is 75mph, so we made good time.  On our way to Sturgis, we stopped at Devil's Tower ("Close Enounters of the Third Kind") and Sundance, Wyoming.  Weather was GREAT.  And I was surprised how green the terrain is.  Usually, it's all brown.  I guess they must have had a wet summer thus far.

There's no way to describe Sturgis during the rally.  Millions of bikes.  Millions of bikers.  You can walk into any restaurant, gas station, bar, or anywhere else, and you immediately have new friends.  People are here for a good time, to get away from the routines of their day-to-day activities.  And, we all have something in common:  we all like to ride, and we're willing to ride hundreds, if not thousands, of miles to come and gather with others like us.  It's a lot of fun.  People smile a lot here.

Tomorrow (Sunday), a few of us plan to ride to Keystone, Mt. Rushmore, and Needles Highway.  Others will relax and take a day off, maybe get an oil change.  Then, the last chapter will begin on Monday:  we begin motoring home. ...  mixed emotions about that.  I'm ready to get home, my own pillow and bed, my own laundry.  But, I'll miss the "ride."  The camaraderie of 5 guys showing  "The Wild Hogs" how it's supposed to be done.  The fresh air.  The smell of pine at 9,000' altitude.  Even the challenges and frustrations those same 5 guys have dealing with each other.

Some of today's pics:

Approaching Devil's Tower

Kevin, with the local favorite:  Devil Tower Lager

...and me with mine

Quite an image, especially in person.

There was a tripod set up that people could use to take self-portraits

Sturgis:  My favorite thing is people (and bike) watching.

Purchasing our "I Rode Mine.  Sturgis 2011" patches.

Bob negotiating cigar prices with a local vendor.

This guy was riding a bike that looked more like a deer.

More people watching

Kevin humored me by posing next to a sexy mannequin.