My Way

Welcome back to my solo road trip to Sturgis, South Dakota. Are you ready for day 4? I surely was when I started it, excited about the miles ahead.

Morning in Rawlins, Wyoming

After an hour of repacking the bike, I left my 0.5 star motel in search of breakfast. Not being an early riser, it was already mid-morning. That’s one of the reasons I like to ride alone on my own schedule. When I was a commercial pilot all those years, I was able to do whatever it took to be on time. But now, this is my life and my time, so I make the most of it, my way.

Standing in a Subway shop to get a ham and egg breakfast sandwich, there was a long line that had not moved since I walked in. It was right off the interstate and a popular place. After about ten minutes my back could not take it any longer and the shooting pains down my right leg was unbearable, I had to lose my place in line to sit down at one of the tables to rest. That hour of standing to pack the bike had not helped.

This was my first long motorcycle ride in two years, during that ride I was dealing with a cancer diagnosis, which has since been fixed. No, I did not mention it in Against the Wind. Now on this trip, I was constantly being reminded that the warranty on my body was definitely expired.

Giving in to the twenty-first century I searched my phone for a place to sit down to eat and drink coffee. Hobbling out to the bike it was a relief to be able to sit and lean back as I cruised back through town looking for the café.

Independence Rock, Wyoming on Highway 220

And here all this time you probably thought I was made of iron. Maybe that’s why the red hair. It’s rust!

That motorcycle accident when I was seventeen is taking its toll. The good part is that I’m okay sitting, so spending the day in the saddle is not a problem, it’s only when I get off and have to walk or stand.

Sorry, not looking for a pity party here, I just thought I would let you, my readers, and friends in on the secret that this ride was not all roses. It took a lot of effort to overcome the pain, but in my opinion, it was worth every minute and believe it or not, I really was having a great time.

Once again shunning the interstate I left town northbound on Highway 287, then turned east on 220 at Muddy Gap. More two-lane roads and vast emptiness that allows me to continue to pretend I’m in a different century.

Because of the beautiful country I kept stopping to take pictures it seemed every fifteen to twenty minutes. Between that and the late start I readjusted my stop for the night. I was starting to think I would get to Sturgis too soon and I wanted to make this trip last.

The bike was purring along like it was as happy as I was, and the weather was perfect, I had not been rained on in two days. Instead of trying to make Lusk, Wyoming, I decided Casper would do for the night. It was only a two-hour ride from Rawlins, but somehow it took me almost four hours to get there.

Getting into town I saw a sporting goods store and went in and found a pair of waterproof ski gloves since I had left my good warm pair at home. I was sure it was going to get colder as I went north. Then I found one of the cheapest hotels in town, but it wasn’t that cheap.

One of the many photo ops along the way

Even though the motel had a McDonalds right next to it, I stubbornly cooked another can of beef stew in the room on my little camp stove. My plan was to set up the tent when I got to Sturgis and stay in it, but for the trip the thought of setting it up every evening and taking it down the next morning in addition to packing the bike was more than I thought my back could stand.

After the day’s ride, lying on a soft bed and sipping a glass of vodka and orange juice was a heavenly way to end the day.

All packed!

Stay tuned next month for Day 5 of my trip from Clarkdale, AZ, to Sturgis, South Dakota.

Life on the road doesn’t get any better