Man, folks on the road to Spearfish - sound off when ya can.

[Strider]

So, heard from Rainmaker and Shortleg - how about everyone else?  Oss/Gman and the Smokin'Joe Hillbilly gang..... where are ya at?  Safe winds so far?  Weather cooperating?

Ok folks, start sounding off - ROAD TRIP REPORTS when ya get a chance and pictures are always appreciated! 

I am leaving out before the sun comes out tomorrow morning - packing up now.....CAN'T WAIT!  CAN'T WAIT!  CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Safe winds everyone..........

[Brewer]

Packed, loading after dinner. Leaving early See you Saturday Evening assuming weather and roads cooperate.

[Dennis from Blythe]

I'm looking forward to it.    

I'm all packed up and ready to go.  Leaving in the AM. It's gonna be a two day trip for me,  about 600+ miles both days.

It looks like I will be chasing the rain all the way to Spearfish ,  hope I don't catch it   

[Lyn-Del]

Caging it due to the shoulder, but am in Rapid City SD.  Went to Crazy Horse today ..... enjoying taking the time to see some of the sights

[The emperor has no clothes]

We just got into Durango safe & sound. Hopefully the weather will cooperate for us tomorrow. Everybody ride safe out there.   

[Tailgate Tommy]

Headed east on HWY 20 in Iowa tomorrow am to South Sioux City!

[Oss]

At mad66guns. Went out to an old car show and dinner. With him  fudgie.and bovine the. Saw solo1

back on d road at 6

Eye is beat long day

See ya soon

[big d]

going north out of Utah into Idaho we stopped for the night.  The next morning we headed up to Yellowstone. My God what a magnificent sight seeing the grand Teton mountains for the first time in person. The views in Yellowstone were just as incredible. Last night  we went out the north entrance to stay just outside the park. Today we headed back into Yellowstone to see the tower. Water falls that is higher than Niagara Falls. We had spoken with a nice couple yesterday and they suggested we take the north east exit out of the park and take route 212 and go over bear tooth pass.  The sights were simply breathtaking as we wound our way up the mountain. Once we made it out we ended up dancing around yet another major storm just beating it into glendive Montana. The TV just said flash flood warning, I guess we really did make it to the hotel just in time. Tomorrow we head into North Dakota and eventually into ground zero.

[Bighead]

I am not headed that way but pulled off I-40 today just wet of OKC and saw a fella pumping some petrol into a Maroon/Cream tourer with trunk added so I pulls up next to him and sez ya don't see many of those on the road then he noticed I too was on a Valk said he wuz headed to spear a fish or something his name was Michael Young and a member here.

[nogrey]

With Whooray, Domino1, Redline and Icelander. Left Boise Thursday. Spent the night in West Yellowstone. Through ylowstone today, up over beartooth pass and spending the night in Cody, Wy. Fabulous ride so far. Great times already. Headed out via Devils tower and on to spearfish tomorrow.

[gordonv]

Packing up tonight, prepping all I can. Leaving by 6am tomorrow, first stop after Seattle, for breakfast. Hwy (interstate?) 90 all the way from there.

So far, spending the night in Missoula MT. Then Sunday over to Speakfish. To long fast days, 600 miles each also.

Looks like I lucked out, and all the rain has blown away out of my bath. Wife will be glad for that, we've had rain on most of our trips, but I don't like the looks of the heat. I can dress for the wet, but it's hard getting my AC working on the MC.  

[Misfit]

Rolled into GZ at 4:00 this afternoon. Nice ride in and only about 30 miles of rain. Ride safe. 

[Black Dog]

Paul (Hoosier Daddy) and Ron (Eazzy Rider) got to my place about 4:00 this afternoon...  Met Don & Barb, Loth, and Jorg for a fish fry, and are set to roll at 8:00 tomorrow morning.  6 bikes, 7 people.  Shooting for Soux Falls tomorrow, and GZ late Sunday afternoon.

Safe winds to all 

See ya Sunday

Black Dog

[flcjr]

Headed out Sunday morning from SW Montana. Skipping the local attractions just cause they are in our back yard. Gonna hit the big horns will be overnight in Ten Sleep WY and on to spearfish on Monday. If you are going thru Wy don't miss the Big Horns. Great ride. If I had to choose would go there before the Beartooth   but both are a must see. Lucky I can see both in a days ride from home.

[RainMaker]

In Rochester, Minnesota this morning, visiting friends. Spent Friday on a run from Arlington, Tx to Des Moines to visit RJ, then yesterday on a pilgrimage to Green Bay to tour Lambeau Field. From there, went on a deer dodging run thru the woods to Rochester. Will play around today before heading to South Sioux City to meet up with other riders and making the run as a group to Spearfish Sunday. Having too much fun!

[Bighead]

You boys that are riding into spearfish are riding into some Chitty weather Yall be safe

[R J]

I'd like to thank all who have already stopped to visit, and and the ones who will be stopping after today and into the week.   I really liked the discussions we had and will have.    Sorry I couldn't meet ya for supper or Breakfast.     Health just won't allow it right now.

I just wish my health was so that I COULD MAKE THE TRIP, and enjoy another InZane.

I didn't realize so many people knew who RJ was.  LOL.

Everyone have a safe ride, hopefully a dry one.   Watch out for the road varmints.     They are even in my back yard of an evening.     On the average all of my neighborhood & I have at least a dozen of these characters in the area.


They kick on my security light now they watch it till it goes out and then move on into the yard.  Last night was 4 does and 6 little ones.     The little ones are starting to grow like a bunch of weeds.

Now for the temperature.    Looks like it is going to be super HOT.   So take some supper strong sun burn stuff.   DO-NOT try to go without a shirt in this heat.     You will get yourself a super good sunburn, and possibly a Horse Pistol visit and maybe a stay..

[DK]

Two hailstorms already coming in from Little Rock.

Made it to Columbus. Headed into SFish thru Natl. Grasslands & Natl. Forest as soon as rain dies off.

I'm worried about finding gas this route. I go dry at 100 miles.

Dan

[Gryphon Rider]

Will be crossing the border into Montana in about an hour or so, destination White Sulphur Springs tonight, then Spearfish tomorrow.

[Tailgate Tommy]

I'm  lounging  the America's  Value in so. South. I'm  hungary!

[wiggydotcom]

I'm about 20 miles east of Sioux Falls, SD. That's about 550 miles so far today. I'd go about 200 more but can't. Have to stop in two hours and get a motel somewhere so I can watch the Chicago Blackhawks win game 2.

Ride safe everyone!

[motomama]

Willow and I got in yesterday around 3:30.  We had a great ride up!  We only encountered about 25 miles of light rain on Thursday and the rest of the ride was just perfect!  Boy, do I love the 80 mph speed limit in South Dakota!  Woohoo!

[DarkSideR]

Heading out of Pueblo, CO. Sunday at 6:50am. Heading up and meeting with MarkT's group in Franktown for a 9:00 am departure.

[michaelyoung254]

I am not headed that way but pulled off I-40 today just wet of OKC and saw a fella pumping some petrol into a Maroon/Cream tourer with trunk added so I pulls up next to him and sez ya don't see many of those on the road then he noticed I too was on a Valk said he wuz headed to spear a fish or something his name was Michael Young and a member here.

It was nice to meet you. It really is a small world we live in. Vita and I finally made it to Spearfish, and boy what a ride it was!

[michaelyoung254]

And now for our ride report!
Vita and I left our house outside of Riverside, TX Friday morning at about 5:15 a.m. with the intention of achieving our "Iron Butt" certification. Our plans was to make it to a motel in Valentine, NE. Anyway, it was the first time pulling a trailer, and we got about a mile from the house before it blew a fuse which happened to kill the power to the Dan Marc fuel cut-off valve as well as all lights with the exception of the headlight, and light bar. Took me a few minutes in the dark to fumble around in the trailer to find the flashlight, and then realize that it wasn't too smart hooking up the cut-off valve on the same circuit as the powered trailer adapter. 

After about 15 minutes, all was fixed and off we go again.

Then we get in to Oklahoma, and all hell breaks loose. At first, I thought I had gotten some bad gas because the bike started to run like crap.  We stopped at station (Where we met Bighead), and I put in some gas treatment thinking it was some water in the fuel. Off we go again. After about a mile the bike was running perfect again... Yea, I think I got it 

Well, after we got about 40 or 50 miles, it started acting like it was running out of gas. Still thinking that I had some crap in the fuel, I nursed the throttle as much as possible and limped as long as I could trying to burn the crap gas out of the system. I found that if I switched to "Reserve", it would start running better, and then I would switch it back to "On", and it would run okay for a little way. Made it 160 miles, and by this time it was barely running even on "Reserve". Once again filled up, and put in some Seafoam, and Heet which is supposed to take care of the water.... Hopefully this will do it this time.

Off we go again, and at about 40 or 50 miles, same thing. This time, I'm pretty sure that it's not a bad fuel issue, but perhaps the fuel tank vent has gotten plugged or kinked so I use my extra key, and open the gas cap..... Problem is still there.... Damn, this is really starting to get on my nerves.

I'm now racking my brain as what is causing this problem, when it finally occurred to me that everything seems to be fine as long as there's plenty of gas in the tank. That's when it hit me that I'm pretty sure that the problem is the Golan fuel filter. I've never had any problems before, but I never pulled a trailer either. I decided to leave it on "Reserve", and fill up about every 100 miles or so..... No more fuel problems after that.

Now, everything seems to be working good.... Yea! 

Well, that was until we hit a major thunderstorm somewhere in the middle of Nebraska. Nothing for miles, and during the deluge, I now discovered that apparently my spark plug wires aren't what they should be. Bike began sputtering, and then went completely dead. Pouring rain, and lightning all around us (of course this happened on TOP of a friggin hill). 

Finally got it started again, and off we go.... Praying it doesn't do it again, but guess what? Yes, it ran for about a mile, and then sputtered and died again. This time, I didn't think it was going to start, but I guess GOD felt sorry for us, and it started again

After another mile or so, the rain started letting up, and then stopped with the exception of a few drizzles.

Finally arrived at the hotel in Valentine, NE at about 2:30 a.m.

It was a miserable ride for sure, but I guess if the Iron Butt was easy, everybody would do it..... I know I'll never do it again.

Slept in until about 9:30, and then took a very nice leisurely ride into Spearfish.

[Lyn-Del]

Glad you made it.

Good chance the problem will be diagnosed and handled before the trip home!!

[wiggydotcom]

Willow and I got in yesterday around 3:30.  We had a great ride up!  We only encountered about 25 miles of light rain on Thursday and the rest of the ride was just perfect!  Boy, do I love the 80 mph speed limit in South Dakota!  Woohoo!

Motomama,
I also LOVE the 80mph limit but "sometimes" my speed got up to 90-or so. I found out it is darn hard to read billboards at that speed!

Also made it to the Super 8 in Chamberlain, SD. There's a few other Valks here. Decided a 700 mile day was good enough. Watching the Hawks.

[98 T]

The Don, Barbo, Jorg,  Ron,  Balckdog, Paul and I just arrived about half an hour ago in Sioux Falls, SD.

Looks like s storm blowing in.  Nasty, gusty south winds 30-40 mph all afternoon knocking us around.

Glad to rest.  Have the last 400 miles to go tomorrow.

See ya there


Loth

[R J]

Headed east on HWY 20 in Iowa tomorrow am to South Sioux City!

Headed EAST.

Why East, ya'll should be headed W E S T.

Otherwise ya'll might get LOST.

[Bighead]

I am not headed that way but pulled off I-40 today just wet of OKC and saw a fella pumping some petrol into a Maroon/Cream tourer with trunk added so I pulls up next to him and sez ya don't see many of those on the road then he noticed I too was on a Valk said he wuz headed to spear a fish or something his name was Michael Young and a member here.

It was nice to meet you. It really is a small world we live in. Vita and I finally made it to Spearfish, and boy what a ride it was!

Michael glad I bumped into you, I would have liked to spend a few minutes talking but you had that destination look in Yer Eye glad you made it safe. I am now back home safe in Alabama 
I rode just a tad over 3500 miles this week. It was a good week

[Jopson]

The Don, Barbo, Jorg,  Ron,  Balckdog, Paul and I just arrived about half an hour ago in Sioux Falls, SD.

Looks like s storm blowing in.  Nasty, gusty south winds 30-40 mph all afternoon knocking us around.

Glad to rest.  Have the last 400 miles to go tomorrow.

See ya there


Loth

Glad you guys made it to Sioux Falls ok, I live 30 miles north and we've had some terrible rains the last couple of hours, over 2" this evening. Ride safe tomorrow as there is several flood warnings in effect here in SE South Dakota. See y'all Tuesday!

[michaelyoung254]

I am not headed that way but pulled off I-40 today just wet of OKC and saw a fella pumping some petrol into a Maroon/Cream tourer with trunk added so I pulls up next to him and sez ya don't see many of those on the road then he noticed I too was on a Valk said he wuz headed to spear a fish or something his name was Michael Young and a member here.

It was nice to meet you. It really is a small world we live in. Vita and I finally made it to Spearfish, and boy what a ride it was!

Michael glad I bumped into you, I would have liked to spend a few minutes talking but you had that destination look in Yer Eye glad you made it safe. I am now back home safe in Alabama 
I rode just a tad over 3500 miles this week. It was a good week

I'm glad that we bumped into each other as well. I thought about it after we got back on the road, and realized that I probably wasn't very friendly, and for that I truly apologize. At that point, I was just kinda freaked out about my bike running so poorly, and what I was focused on was along the lines of: "Here I am, 500 or 600 miles from home, pulling a trailer, and NOW my bike decides that it wants to take a break".

I sure wish we could meet another time whereas we could visit for a spell. I'm sure I would really enjoy that.

[Bighead]

No apology needed. Glad it worked out for you and we may meet up somewhere down the road

[BonS]

Said it it the Tech Section as well: I'm stuck in Mitchell, SD with a bad front wheel bearing. The Honda dealer is open on Monday (imagine that!) and I'm hoping they have the correct bearing. If they don't then I might look at renting a U-Haul, finish the trip to Spearfish, and hope that Big BF has some wheel bearings! Wheel bearings are now on my short list of spare parts to carry in my bags!