Short Trip with my Grad

[matman1972]

My oldest graduated from high school this past June.

She decided that, rather than take a trip to the beach, or a cruise, she wanted to go for a trike ride out west with me. Since the trike has been taunting me from the parking lot almost every day,

I had no problem with her request.
I completed some much-needed service, and a few performance mods (new jetting on the carb, etc...)
and we packed up and left Atlanta at the end of June.


We started off our trip by heading up through Tennessee and into rain.... lots of rain...


Rainsuit time until we reach Kentucky.

We spent some time camping and fishing in the land Between the Lakes, Kentucky for a while. My younger sister's father-in-law wanted to go to Illinois, so he followed us on this leg of the trip.

Then we headed up to Illinois to hang out with family, Ride around in the corn,

Eat some good food..

[matman1972]

And Celebrate the 4th...

After a few days of recovery from too much food, beer and fun, we headed up to hang out at Poopy's. Had some good food and watched "Almost Kiss" who, by the way, were better than the real thing. Well, Kind of...


Went by and saw the Pickers' store

But, they were a little proud of their stuff, so no souvenirs from there.

Headed North to I90 and then West. We made the mistake of camping out in Minnesota. I swear the state birds were getting high in the smoke from my citronella candle... OFF did nothing to them. Mosquitoes suck.

Made it to South Dakota...


I swear, the view as you head down into the Missouri river valley is awesome!
We ended up camping near Rushmore that night so we could spend the next day putt-putting around the black hills.

We then headed out of town and into Wyoming. Had to go see if the aliens were landing at Devil's Tower. Found a town for sale...


Since we couldn't figure out how to make our $1.5 million back from the 15 person population, we headed on.

Camped at the KOA at the base of the tower. Spent the evening watching Close Encounters with the tower as a backdrop..

[matman1972]

Gracie had to get into character after shopping for past-years discount clothing.

I did find at least one alien at Devil's Tower. named him Paul...


We headed back to Illinois by heading south through the Black Hills, and hitting more construction that I285 in Atlanta...


Made it to Illinois, and Gracie decided I wasn't going fast enough.


I guess three weeks of being on the road gave her a new appreciation for sleeping inside and having our own bathroom...

4500 miles total with all the side trip. Got lucky with the weather. we stayed out of the rain for the entire trip after the first two days. No mechanical issues other than a dirty air cleaner, and a coil clamp that kept letting the coil slide loose. (fixed that after the second time it happened)

[pcombe]

Way to go! thanks for the pics also, travel threads are pretty worthless without them and I know how much time it takes to set it up.

Here is picture of my daughter who was just way too small even though full grown to ride the old tour glide she grew up on by herself.
After I triked it she took to like a duck to water.
This was in the summer of 2013.
She is now 22 and the bike is 25. I recall putting her in a baby backpack with her sitting her little butt on the backrest and her riding around the block with me. Later she graduated to a baby seat strapped to rear seat.



Sturgis Rally 1991

the family

[matman1972]

Sturgis Rally 1991

I was at the 91 Sturgis rally! first time I went. I had just graduated from high school the year before and that was the first cross-country trip I took with my dad on separate bikes. I rode a beat up honda 400 from Georgia to Sturgis for that one.
I have a pic somewhere of my oldest one on another obne of my bikes with her car seat bungee-corded to the back fender. (didn't drive anywhere like that, just making a goofy pic)
Glad you got yours started early too.

[pcombe]

I was at the 91 Sturgis rally! first time I went. I had just graduated from high school the year before and that was the first cross-country trip I took with my dad on separate bikes. I rode a beat up honda 400 from Georgia to Sturgis for that one.
I have a pic somewhere of my oldest one on another obne of my bikes with her car seat bungee-corded to the back fender. (didn't drive anywhere like that, just making a goofy pic)
Glad you got yours started early too.

I think I seen you there, you were the young guy in jeans and a black T shirt?

My daughter would create a lot of photo opportunities for the ladies when she got a couple yrs. older. she would go to sleep back there in the baby seat. she couldn't fall out, I have no idea how many thousands of miles we traveled together as she grew up.
I lost interest in Sturgis over the years and each year when the rally started we headed in the opposite direction for daddy/daughter time.

[matman1972]

We got away from the Black Hills a few days before the rally this year. Not very interested in the huge crowds and hiked camping prices. Last time we went, we ended up camping 35 miles out and sat in long lines on the bikes all day. I'd rather get out in the open and ride.
and yes... that was me. I had the black boots , sunburn, and bugs all over my bike.

[pcombe]

We got away from the Black Hills a few days before the rally this year. Not very interested in the huge crowds and hiked camping prices. Last time we went, we ended up camping 35 miles out and sat in long lines on the bikes all day. I'd rather get out in the open and ride.
and yes... that was me. I had the black boots , sunburn, and bugs all over my bike.

Seems you were eating an Indian taco also?

last time I went to The rally I noticed that if it weren't the same half naked women as 30 yrs. ago they must have sent their mothers in their place, Some should keep their clothes on?

Sturgis used to be for bikers, the races were cool and the rally was actually fun. No cops running around in gangs and D.U.I wasn't the main funding for the state coffier's.
The buffalo chip campground was just an open field with overflowing out houses and stage guards with oozies and non-Harleys were burnt in effigy to the Harley Gods If found within the campground.

The whole purpose of going to Sturgis each year was to try and hit a new low , Nowadays you just cant get away with it. Now D.U.I. is seen as the high cost of low living?

I came to the conclusion that every one should go to the zoo once a year and play with the animals but you don't have to sleep with em!

As you know, people used to actually RIDE their bike to Sturgis? Go figger?