Day 7 Update

I had a perfect day for the leg from Rapid City to Jackson WY. I have now logged 2,491 miles. I crossed the continental divide and saw deer, antelope, elk (all well off the roadway). I rode along the Wind River Valley to the lake above.

Wind River Valley

The Grand Tetons were enveloped in haze, I assume from the fires burning in California. 

Grand Tetons 

Traffic in Jackson Hole was very congested--even had the horses double parked! 

Horses Double Parked

The city park entrance made from discarded antlers was an interesting landmark. 

Unique City Park Entrance in Jackson Hole

Planning to head out early to beat the crowd here. It will be 42 degrees here tonight, so definitely heading into some cooler weather. I will try to send some to Kansas!

Tomorrow I'll be riding through Yellowstone and over the Bear Tooth Pass through Red Lodge to Billings, where I will spend the afternoon visiting family. 

Day 6 Update



Moon in the Eye of the Needle

Spent my last day in the Rapid city area riding my favorite routes. After two failed attempts, I finally captured the moon through the needle's eye at the summit of the Needles Highway. 

I had a slight delay getting through the summit tunnel as there was a momma mountain sheep and her kid blocking the tunnel while licking minerals from the walls. 

I managed to avoid the numerous heavy thunderstorms circling the region most of the afternoon. Just hit a few brief sprinkles and some wet roads heading back to my hotel in Rapid City. 

Tomorrow starts longer days as I head out for Jackson Hole, Wyoming. 

On Wednesday, I will be going through the Tetons and Yellowstone on my way to Billings, Montana, to say hello to my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. 

Mt. Sheep in the tunnel

Day 5 Update

I worshiped with brothers and sisters at Real Life Nazarene Church in Rapid City this morning. I've ridden over 1400 miles thus far and will head to Wyoming and points West on Tuesday Morning. Thank you all for the continued prayers and, more importantly, for supporting the starfish initiative.

After visiting Real Life Nazarene church for worship, I rode a new route to Deadwood and then stopped in Sturgis for lunch before returning to the hotel to recharge and prepare for the longer daily routes to start on Tuesday. 

I was hoping to capture a photo of the moon through the Needles Eye at the summit of the Needles highway however the clouds didn’t cooperate. I still got a few new photo view points.

Needle's Eye Tunnel

Needle's Eye Summit

Day 4 Update

Backside of Mt. Rushmore

This morning I backtracked a bit to ride through Badlands NP during the daylight to see God’s handiwork. I took the roadways around Mt. Rushmore in the opposite directions of riders heading toward Sturgis. Some roads were a bit more crowded, but still an enjoyable day. I caught the backside of Mt. Rushmore and took a break in Hill City. I hope to have this same good weather when I head west in a couple of days.  

Badlands

Hill City, SD, Main Street

Needles Highway

Eye of the Needle

Day 3 Update

Today was another perfect day for riding. I rode the needles highway and looped back around Mt. Rushmore. I was a bit late to catch the moon through the eye of the needle at the summit so may try another day.

I rode another new route up Spearfish canyon along a crystal clear stream to the town of Spearfish--beautiful country to see. I also spent some time at Black Hills Harley Davidson admiring a lot of custom bikes and custom accessories which I can live without. (At least that is what Rebecca would definitely say.) 

At lunch I met three couples from Lenexa, KS and another gentleman, who owns a hotel in Jamestown, CA. I will be riding past Jamestown as I head to Tehachapie. Coincidence, I think not. 

I did pick up the obligatory tee shirt so now I can check the 2018 Sturgis rally off the list. I will spend the next three days riding a few routes again and experiencing some of the food at a few rally stops. 

The mile tally thus far is a bit over 1100 miles. Thanks all for your continued prayers to keep me safe.  

  

Day 2 Update



Iron Mountain with Mt. Rushmore in the distance
 

After completing over 680 miles on day 1, today was much easier with less than 200 miles. I started out riding Iron mountain highway that featured two pigtail bridges (where you go under a highway bridge and curl back up over the bridge) and three tunnels. The road offers scenic mountain and Mt. Rushmore views.

I also rode through Custer State Park where I encountered highway panhandlers and a gang blocking the roadway. The panhandlers were a few wild burrows begging passing travelers for food. The gang was a herd of wild buffalo that split the highway. A little excitement as I passed the buffalo when a bull decided he wanted to cross the road as I was about to pass by. I quickly stopped to yield his passage!

Custer, SD Main Street

Being the day before the official start of the Sturgis rally the roadways were not as congested.  I did get slightly wet from an isolated thunderstorm near Hill City. But at least there was no hail with the rain which is so often the case this time of the year. Also killed about a million mayflies as I hit three big swarms. I guess  they didn’t know it’s August. I ended the day with a brief stop in Sturgis to pick up a few souvenirs before the crowds get too large. Tomorrow will be Needles highway and possibly the Badlands in daylight. More pictures to come!

South Dakota Badlands

Day 1 Update

I got away from Topeka later than anticipated however I had a great day to ride. I altered my route for more scenic two lane roads through the beautiful flint hills of Kansas. 

My first fuel and lunch stop had an international flavor (Geneva, Nebraska). Rode through the first national park-Badlands in South Dakota.  Unfortunately, due to my late departure from Topeka, it was after dark by the time I got there. That loop may be a route I ride again in daylight, as I have the next five days in the Rapid City area for numerous routes around Mt. Rushmore and Sturgis before heading to the Grand Tetons on Tuesday. 

Thanks for your prayers, encouragement and support!