Another year season of riding had us meeting up in Sturgis again. Ran into a lot of members here while there and had a great time. Sturgis is one of a kind!!
Thursday:
I get out of town and as usual I have to ride an hour and a half just to get around the Puget Sound before I can even start heading East. But I finally get over there and onto I-90 and open up the throttle as if Knotso was with me.
Leaving Seattle area in triple digits was great but I knew that Eastern Washington would be just as hot so it was a blessing when I finally got the 400 miles over to Idaho and into the mountains. I get into Missoula and meet up with Highrisk and Deener (both members here) and we head over to the Testy Fest and get camp set up. We've already stopped at the liquor store and stocked up. We sit around and enjoy the rest of the afternoon and have a few drinks and talk story while watching the crowds go by. Most were checking out Highrisk's "KISS" bike as usual. Nobody sees my Chopper anymore. It must be camouflaged. Here is our camp.
The Testicle Festival is not a biker event although most that go ride. But you get all kinds there.
Here just while setting up camp some young lady wants to sit on the bike. Who was I to say no? :lol:
Friday:
We get up and ride into town and have breakfast then stop and do some shopping at the grocery store and head back to camp. People are still coming in and it's starting to fill up. Saturday is the big show with all the Tittie contests and the Rooster contests.
I had a small problem while there. I guess I burned my leg up on my pipe pretty bad. It's hurting pretty good now after 9 days on the road so may go have it looked at at the Naval Hospital. Anyone want to guess what I was doing when this happened?
We party well into the night and have much fun.
Saturday:
I get up and break camp and get the hell out of there missing the main shows today. I need to be in Sturgis by sunset and it's a 700 mile day for me. Highrisk and Deener break camp and decide to take a more scenic route back by visiting Yellowstone. They did Glacier before hooking up with me Friday.
I get on the road about 10 not wanting to go or more not looking forward to all day in the saddle. Yes, I'll admit it's getting harder every year. But I do and cross 500 hundred miles of hot Montana in the sunny weather. Then cross a portion of Wyoming then get into Sturgis by 10pm. The sun had just set and there were many deer and antelope on the sides of the road. Scared the shit out of me. But I get camp set up again and after saying hi with the bunch I hang out with there I crawl into my bag and call it a night.
The group I hang out with is called the "Borrachos" and they do it up. This year they collected money and bought this big ole surplus netting for more shade. Worked well even in the thunderstorms and wind.
Sunday - Monday:
More of the same just watching the sites and catching the concerts. Just rested Sunday at the Chip. I did go into town once to get some juice and I stopped and saw both Showdog and Rick at each truck. I got to meet up with Nick Messer again. He even remembered me by name.
He now works for the company that produces all our proprietary parts like wheels and hand/foot controls.
Back at the camp I straightened up my tent and hung around.
Tuesday:
Tuesday had me up and ready to go. This was group ride day. I get out of the Chip and hit the road and fit through all the traffic in Sturgis then head over the 12 miles to Deadwood. We learn that the barriers that came down at 9am last year were coming down at 10am this year. So a bunch of us find parking and walk over to the Oyster Bar. There is already a group of forum members there. Many faces I remember from last year but there was lots of new faces also. Was great meeting all for the first time. My apologies for not remembering everyones name or forum name. So we socialized for a couple hours as more gathered. Finally at about 10:45 we rounded everyone up and attempted to get out of town and heading south to Hill City.
Just a pic of one of the open lots.
We get all the bikes running and then meet up at a lot outside town as everyone was parked in different areas.
I think the final number was about 50 of use with 29 Big Dogs. We leave Deadwood and head South at about 45 mph trying to keep the large group together. Dakotabos was road captain and did a good job. I don't have any pictures of the road ride so a lot of you guys had wives and girlfriends riding behind that were shooting pictures. Would appreciate if you would upload them into the "Sturgis 09" group in the gallery. :2thumbs:
We get to the campground about 1230 and a whole line of bikes line up in front of the tent where we would have our lunch. Hat's off to Dakotobos for organizing this luncheon and the staff at the KOA for doing this for us.
First thing I do is get everyone gathered to together and get our group picture out of the way. This was way more better than trying to do it at Mt Rushmore last year.
After the group photo's I held everyone up and introduce Nick Messer. Then we did a little "question and answer" thing. Who came the longest distance, who road not trailered, who has the oldest bike (97) and the newest (08). Was a lot of fun. We then had our lunch so everyone could go there merry ways.
97 Big Dog
You may have noticed but I forgot and left my banner at the campground. :bang: So I apologize for that as I wanted all of you guys to sign it. So you all need to come back next year! :lol:
Again, many thanks to Mike (Dakotabos) for setting this up for us and to all of you that attended. Was great meeting all of you.
On the way back to Sturgis I road with Dakotabos and started hearing a whining/bearing sound. I kept thinking it was coming from Mikes bike. But low and behold later at the campground I walk over to my bike and see the horn laying on the belt. The bracket broke. Must of just happened as it was hardly worn and I just started hearing the whining.
We stop for a quick drink at "One Eyed Jacks" and I run into my favorite bartender. Kalifornia Kali works all the rallies and many of you have posted her picture here. I have many of her.
Wednesday:
Just rested this day waiting for the Aerosmith concert. Didn't mention that Tuesday we had the yearly thunder and lightening with lots of wind we get at least on day each year. This year it continued all week. Even with the sky black the crowds were coming in to get a good seat for the show.
Here I road the trolley around the grounds.
This is the view in each direction at the Chip, just a sea of RV'rs. Must have been 10's of thousands!
Hooked up with three new guys that just got dogs. One is already on here and goes by the name "I'm a flyer" if I remember right and the other two are coming. Picture of them in the gallery section.
Thursday:
I wake up to rain (what's new!) so pack my backs and try to get on the road by 7:30. I have another 700 miles back to Missoula where I'm staying with my old friend I haven't seen in years that was a Navy Recruiter with me back in 1990.
I get all the wet stuff packed up and am on the road.
It's raining lightly going through Sturgis. I have to pussyfoot it out of the mud bog at the chip. I take it easy on the road too till I'm sure all the mud is off the tires. But I get on I-90 headed West and am in my bubble (du rag down over my glasses, face mask high up on my glasses to where I just have a small slit to see out of and the music is cranking in my ears). I get no more than a few miles out of town and hit fog so thick you can't see more than 20 yards in front of you. RV'rs, cars, trucks are slowed down to 15 -20 mph. I'm trying to maintain at least 35 but some dumb asses don't even have there lights on! :loony:
This goes on for more than 30 - 40 miles. I'm wiping my glasses off every 5 seconds just so I can see. It finally clears up and I can get the bike up to 85. Still raining though. Eventually I get through Wyoming and into Montana and hit terrible thunder storms. It's raining like hell and every 30 minutes I'm having to find shelter to hide from hail. Man I'm thinking to myself, I'm not getting anywhere fast today in this shit. But each time the hail comes I seem to just find an overpass to hide under or an exit for a gas station to hold up in. Wait 30 minutes then hit the road again. The problem was the winds were blowing West so I was chasing the storm keeping up with it. I didn't mention the winds but they must have been gusting real hard. Here is one shot from the road. Can you see the marble size hail in the road?
Well all the stopping and going cost me 3 hours out on the road longer in the rain, wind and lightening. Seems I was always bailing for a shelter when the hail came.
Oh, it was cold too. It hailed so much that is snow drifted in the parking lots.
I finally pull into Missoula Montana after crossing the Continental Divide at 6400 ft high and many other passes.
As I'm pulling into town I thinking I better gas up so I can make a quick get a way in the morning. Well I should have just went on to my friends house. I gassed up and go to start the bike and get the old dreaded "click". Have to get towed but get it in my buddies garage and let it drain some. It rained all the way across and my bike was completely saturated as well as I was. Come morning I pull out my voltage meter and hit the start button and it reads 7.6 volts so looks like the battery took a dive. I get a replacement at HD for $99. It's a direct fit and has 275 CCA 5 more than the BDM batteries. Get it in the bike and it starts right up. Kool. Enjoy an evening with my long lost friend and head out early the next morning.
Saturday:
Uneventful day except for massive winds. Mileage fell below 35 mpg cause they were so strong. Warning signs were along the highway everywhere. Trailers and semi's swerving all over the road. But I get the next 600 miles out of the way pretty quick and pull into town.
At the $50,000 Silver Dollar bar on the MT/ID state line.
See the trees in the background lay-ed over?
Ok, that is all I have to say about that. Can't wait to hear from others that attended. I know Dakotabos road 1000 miles straight home so sure he's home recuperating.
How about the rest of you? Tell us your story.
Link to other pictures and open for all to upload to:
Message - Big Dog Biker Photo Gallery
Thursday:
I get out of town and as usual I have to ride an hour and a half just to get around the Puget Sound before I can even start heading East. But I finally get over there and onto I-90 and open up the throttle as if Knotso was with me.
Leaving Seattle area in triple digits was great but I knew that Eastern Washington would be just as hot so it was a blessing when I finally got the 400 miles over to Idaho and into the mountains. I get into Missoula and meet up with Highrisk and Deener (both members here) and we head over to the Testy Fest and get camp set up. We've already stopped at the liquor store and stocked up. We sit around and enjoy the rest of the afternoon and have a few drinks and talk story while watching the crowds go by. Most were checking out Highrisk's "KISS" bike as usual. Nobody sees my Chopper anymore. It must be camouflaged. Here is our camp.
The Testicle Festival is not a biker event although most that go ride. But you get all kinds there.
Here just while setting up camp some young lady wants to sit on the bike. Who was I to say no? :lol:
Friday:
We get up and ride into town and have breakfast then stop and do some shopping at the grocery store and head back to camp. People are still coming in and it's starting to fill up. Saturday is the big show with all the Tittie contests and the Rooster contests.
I had a small problem while there. I guess I burned my leg up on my pipe pretty bad. It's hurting pretty good now after 9 days on the road so may go have it looked at at the Naval Hospital. Anyone want to guess what I was doing when this happened?
We party well into the night and have much fun.
Saturday:
I get up and break camp and get the hell out of there missing the main shows today. I need to be in Sturgis by sunset and it's a 700 mile day for me. Highrisk and Deener break camp and decide to take a more scenic route back by visiting Yellowstone. They did Glacier before hooking up with me Friday.
I get on the road about 10 not wanting to go or more not looking forward to all day in the saddle. Yes, I'll admit it's getting harder every year. But I do and cross 500 hundred miles of hot Montana in the sunny weather. Then cross a portion of Wyoming then get into Sturgis by 10pm. The sun had just set and there were many deer and antelope on the sides of the road. Scared the shit out of me. But I get camp set up again and after saying hi with the bunch I hang out with there I crawl into my bag and call it a night.
The group I hang out with is called the "Borrachos" and they do it up. This year they collected money and bought this big ole surplus netting for more shade. Worked well even in the thunderstorms and wind.
Sunday - Monday:
More of the same just watching the sites and catching the concerts. Just rested Sunday at the Chip. I did go into town once to get some juice and I stopped and saw both Showdog and Rick at each truck. I got to meet up with Nick Messer again. He even remembered me by name.
He now works for the company that produces all our proprietary parts like wheels and hand/foot controls.
Back at the camp I straightened up my tent and hung around.
Tuesday:
Tuesday had me up and ready to go. This was group ride day. I get out of the Chip and hit the road and fit through all the traffic in Sturgis then head over the 12 miles to Deadwood. We learn that the barriers that came down at 9am last year were coming down at 10am this year. So a bunch of us find parking and walk over to the Oyster Bar. There is already a group of forum members there. Many faces I remember from last year but there was lots of new faces also. Was great meeting all for the first time. My apologies for not remembering everyones name or forum name. So we socialized for a couple hours as more gathered. Finally at about 10:45 we rounded everyone up and attempted to get out of town and heading south to Hill City.
Just a pic of one of the open lots.
We get all the bikes running and then meet up at a lot outside town as everyone was parked in different areas.
I think the final number was about 50 of use with 29 Big Dogs. We leave Deadwood and head South at about 45 mph trying to keep the large group together. Dakotabos was road captain and did a good job. I don't have any pictures of the road ride so a lot of you guys had wives and girlfriends riding behind that were shooting pictures. Would appreciate if you would upload them into the "Sturgis 09" group in the gallery. :2thumbs:
We get to the campground about 1230 and a whole line of bikes line up in front of the tent where we would have our lunch. Hat's off to Dakotobos for organizing this luncheon and the staff at the KOA for doing this for us.
First thing I do is get everyone gathered to together and get our group picture out of the way. This was way more better than trying to do it at Mt Rushmore last year.
After the group photo's I held everyone up and introduce Nick Messer. Then we did a little "question and answer" thing. Who came the longest distance, who road not trailered, who has the oldest bike (97) and the newest (08). Was a lot of fun. We then had our lunch so everyone could go there merry ways.
97 Big Dog
You may have noticed but I forgot and left my banner at the campground. :bang: So I apologize for that as I wanted all of you guys to sign it. So you all need to come back next year! :lol:
Again, many thanks to Mike (Dakotabos) for setting this up for us and to all of you that attended. Was great meeting all of you.
On the way back to Sturgis I road with Dakotabos and started hearing a whining/bearing sound. I kept thinking it was coming from Mikes bike. But low and behold later at the campground I walk over to my bike and see the horn laying on the belt. The bracket broke. Must of just happened as it was hardly worn and I just started hearing the whining.
We stop for a quick drink at "One Eyed Jacks" and I run into my favorite bartender. Kalifornia Kali works all the rallies and many of you have posted her picture here. I have many of her.
Wednesday:
Just rested this day waiting for the Aerosmith concert. Didn't mention that Tuesday we had the yearly thunder and lightening with lots of wind we get at least on day each year. This year it continued all week. Even with the sky black the crowds were coming in to get a good seat for the show.
Here I road the trolley around the grounds.
This is the view in each direction at the Chip, just a sea of RV'rs. Must have been 10's of thousands!
Hooked up with three new guys that just got dogs. One is already on here and goes by the name "I'm a flyer" if I remember right and the other two are coming. Picture of them in the gallery section.
Thursday:
I wake up to rain (what's new!) so pack my backs and try to get on the road by 7:30. I have another 700 miles back to Missoula where I'm staying with my old friend I haven't seen in years that was a Navy Recruiter with me back in 1990.
I get all the wet stuff packed up and am on the road.
It's raining lightly going through Sturgis. I have to pussyfoot it out of the mud bog at the chip. I take it easy on the road too till I'm sure all the mud is off the tires. But I get on I-90 headed West and am in my bubble (du rag down over my glasses, face mask high up on my glasses to where I just have a small slit to see out of and the music is cranking in my ears). I get no more than a few miles out of town and hit fog so thick you can't see more than 20 yards in front of you. RV'rs, cars, trucks are slowed down to 15 -20 mph. I'm trying to maintain at least 35 but some dumb asses don't even have there lights on! :loony:
This goes on for more than 30 - 40 miles. I'm wiping my glasses off every 5 seconds just so I can see. It finally clears up and I can get the bike up to 85. Still raining though. Eventually I get through Wyoming and into Montana and hit terrible thunder storms. It's raining like hell and every 30 minutes I'm having to find shelter to hide from hail. Man I'm thinking to myself, I'm not getting anywhere fast today in this shit. But each time the hail comes I seem to just find an overpass to hide under or an exit for a gas station to hold up in. Wait 30 minutes then hit the road again. The problem was the winds were blowing West so I was chasing the storm keeping up with it. I didn't mention the winds but they must have been gusting real hard. Here is one shot from the road. Can you see the marble size hail in the road?
Well all the stopping and going cost me 3 hours out on the road longer in the rain, wind and lightening. Seems I was always bailing for a shelter when the hail came.
Oh, it was cold too. It hailed so much that is snow drifted in the parking lots.
I finally pull into Missoula Montana after crossing the Continental Divide at 6400 ft high and many other passes.
As I'm pulling into town I thinking I better gas up so I can make a quick get a way in the morning. Well I should have just went on to my friends house. I gassed up and go to start the bike and get the old dreaded "click". Have to get towed but get it in my buddies garage and let it drain some. It rained all the way across and my bike was completely saturated as well as I was. Come morning I pull out my voltage meter and hit the start button and it reads 7.6 volts so looks like the battery took a dive. I get a replacement at HD for $99. It's a direct fit and has 275 CCA 5 more than the BDM batteries. Get it in the bike and it starts right up. Kool. Enjoy an evening with my long lost friend and head out early the next morning.
Saturday:
Uneventful day except for massive winds. Mileage fell below 35 mpg cause they were so strong. Warning signs were along the highway everywhere. Trailers and semi's swerving all over the road. But I get the next 600 miles out of the way pretty quick and pull into town.
At the $50,000 Silver Dollar bar on the MT/ID state line.
See the trees in the background lay-ed over?
Ok, that is all I have to say about that. Can't wait to hear from others that attended. I know Dakotabos road 1000 miles straight home so sure he's home recuperating.
How about the rest of you? Tell us your story.
Link to other pictures and open for all to upload to:
Message - Big Dog Biker Photo Gallery
Last edited:
thanks for the pic's and update:2thumbs: glad you made it back home safe...
:2thumbs:
