Day 41: Minot musings

Minot, ND
8 miles ridden/30 minutes

Currently at Pure Honda, waiting for the bike to get fixed. On the list:

  • New rear tire
  • Flush coolant
  • Fix oil leak
  • New oil, air, and fuel filters
  • Adjust running light

Still thinking about Sturgis. Sooo many thoughts about Sturgis. First, the roads are just incredible, so much so that it almost borders on unbelievable. It’s as if a motorcyclist went out there and said: “Do this, this, and this.” In the middle of a spaghetti plate of asphalt, a one-lane tunnel cut out of a cliff that perfectly frames Mt. Rushmore; corkscrew bridges; two-lane highways that split into single-lane, one-way roads that take you through fragrant pine forests; roads that essentially guarantee wild animal sightings and are named to indicate such. And so many other riders, the line of bikes almost never breaks. Blessedly few cars, although those that tackled the Needles Highway, you have to wonder what they were thinking… It’s cozy enough on a bike, after all!

One-lane tunnels carved through the mountainside are just one of the treats that await motorcycle riders in South Dakota's Black Hills National Forest.
One-lane tunnels carved through the mountainside are just one of the treats that await motorcycle riders in South Dakota’s Black Hills National Forest
The roads around Sturgis, South Dakota, seem to have been custom-built for motorcycle riding.
The roads around Sturgis, South Dakota, seem to have been custom-built for motorcycle riding

Can’t wait to come back and ride these roads again. Seems like it might be worth it to come before/after the rally. For one thing, it appeared the town had set up temporary electronic speed limit signs that read: “Dangerous curves Max safe speed 30 MPH” right after a more permanent looking metal sign with a posted limit of 45mph. Also, I thought it surprising some locals’ attitudes toward the event. While definitely a minority, I kept thinking: If I could predictably make 50-80% of my annual revenue in two weeks, I’d have nothing to complain about. But people did… either hawking wares, renting out rooms, their driveways or yards for parking or tents. For the most part though, people were friendly and supportive. How could you not be with a deal like that?

It was great hanging out with Alan; he’s got amazing Sturgis connections (perhaps something of an understatement). That he got to see Bob Dylan open for Kid Rock is insane – in part because why does Bob Dylan open for anyone?!?? Not that I’m discounting the Motely Crue and Ozzy shows…

It was fun to ride with him and Richard, Ruth and Susie – all really nice people. It definitely seems there are different levels of the Sturgis experience and Alan’s is at the top of the heap. His next door neighbors were actor Lorenzo Lamas (perhaps most well known for his role as Lance Cumson on “Falcon Crest” in the ‘80s and as Reno Raines in the ‘90s hit series “Renegade”) and Pee-wee Herman, for crying out loud! Not too many people can boast that…

Definitely the best time since Seattle, and totally worth the detour. Plus, now I know that when the tire tread looks thin, there’s still 1,000 miles left on it! As far as a setback to the rest of the trip, Sturgis differed from Golden in that I was able to ride and have a good time. Also, as Alan said, it was nice to see a familiar face at this point.

Looking back on it, had I not broken down by Jasper I may have gotten to Sturgis early. I wonder if I would have stuck it out or been hellbent on my schedule. Perhaps that was a blessing in disguise?!?

Last night at the campground, I met two guys who had just returned from Alaska and they confirmed there’s nothing on the haul road past Coldfoot. While they hadn’t regretted going on to Prudhoe Bay on their BMWs, they were the first to admit it wasn’t worth the hype.


Spearfish suggested I order five seals. Turns out I need seven. Looks like I’ll be in Minot for yet another day. Perhaps I should just buy my campsite plot at this point?


The funny thing is, I thought Sturgis had already happened. I met a group of Alaska riders headed for Sturgis in Teslin, YT, more than two weeks ago, and assumed they were arriving for the start of it; they must have gotten there pretty early. So Alan’s email was a welcome surprise to check out an event I thought I’d missed.