South Dakota Bound

[msocko3]

Enjoy the ride on the train. Wife and I keep saying we're going to ride it one of these times we are down there but just never get to it. Maybe next year. Alpine Inn is a great place to eat and usually pretty busy. Not sure if they still do the prime rib evening meal for $9.95 during the week or if it is only on weekends but the last time we rode thru there about 4 p.m. the people were already lining up.

Lunch at the Alpine was pretty tasty, the train ride was nice and relaxing, I'd do it again.

Saw Bambi begging to be bagged by a homeowner

Got a few decent pictures of the engine in action.

Managed to catch them blowing down the boiler.

Tomorrow the weather is supposed to be better, so its off to Sturgis to nose around and catch lunch. Will then hit Deadwood and maybe Crazy Horse after that.

 

[oneup]

its great for me sitting here in Australia to know exactly what you are all talking about. the whole Black hills area is a natural wonder, the engineers who built those roads did an awesome job. the tourism revenue the beauty and engineering bring together is proof of the spectacular nature of the area.
once is not enough. we will make the pilgrimage to sturgis again in 2015. reading your posts has got me even more motivated.. it will be hard to be patient to get back,
loving this post

 

[jcolson]

Hey Mike!! You and pops have a safe trip back and hope you don't run into any rain. I'm so sick of all this rain!! Had a bad storm come through early Monday morning. Killed one person around here. I haven't been on a bike trip now for 2yrs. Might not get one next year either. We keep having to fly out to Vegas for some reason. Bike is running ok now. Right after it was rebuilt the 2 front lifters were knocking. Had them replace them and so far so good. Glad you two are getting away. Tell Pops I said hi. Next time go 294 around Chicago to Wisconsin or 80. When you come back 80 will take you 294 as long as you take the Indiana signs. Hey if you need to take a break on the way home give me a call (574-220-1245) and maybe we could meet at my house for a bit. Got beer and pop and water or get something to eat. Just take the South Bend and Notre Dame exit. Not hard to find. Have a safe and fun time guys. Jim

 

[msocko3]

its great for me sitting here in Australia to know exactly what you are all talking about. the whole Black hills area is a natural wonder, the engineers who built those roads did an awesome job. the tourism revenue the beauty and engineering bring together is proof of the spectacular nature of the area.
once is not enough. we will make the pilgrimage to sturgis again in 2015. reading your posts has got me even more motivated.. it will be hard to be patient to get back,
loving this post

Your right about the natural wonder, this is my 4th trip to the area. I enjoy Sturgis when there isn't a whole bunch of people to contend with.



Also stopped for a quick picture at the Full Throttle.



- - - Updated - - -

Hey Mike!! You and pops have a safe trip back and hope you don't run into any rain. I'm so sick of all this rain!! Had a bad storm come through early Monday morning. Killed one person around here. I haven't been on a bike trip now for 2yrs. Might not get one next year either. We keep having to fly out to Vegas for some reason. Bike is running ok now. Right after it was rebuilt the 2 front lifters were knocking. Had them replace them and so far so good. Glad you two are getting away. Tell Pops I said hi. Next time go 294 around Chicago to Wisconsin or 80. When you come back 80 will take you 294 as long as you take the Indiana signs. Hey if you need to take a break on the way home give me a call (574-220-1245) and maybe we could meet at my house for a bit. Got beer and pop and water or get something to eat. Just take the South Bend and Notre Dame exit. Not hard to find. Have a safe and fun time guys. Jim

I hear you on the rain, I'm so tired of the rain. We plan on running 90 to 29 which will allow us to get on 80. We'll run 80 right into Ohio before we get back on 90. Thanks for the offer of hospitality, we will be hot footing back home to reload for the next trip to Wellsboro PA.

We may have to mow some grass if the neighbor kid didn't get it done, wash the Trikes, get fresh cloths and I have to change the oil & filter on my dads Trike. Figure we should get home sometime Sat, have Sunday and off to Wellsboro on Monday.

 

[msocko3]

Left Hill City, now we're sitting in Walnut Idaho for the night, about 560 miles for the day. Any kind of luck Mother Nature will keep smiling on us and not deliver any rain.

 

[jcolson]

Not suppose to rain here till late sunday Mike. You should have clear sailing home. Jim

 

[lzski326]

Left Hill City, now we're sitting in Walnut Idaho for the night, about 560 miles for the day. Any kind of luck Mother Nature will keep smiling on us and not deliver any rain.

Hope you have a dry trip home. Walnut Idaho sounds like your going the wrong direction, unless you meant Iowa.

 

[msocko3]

Hope you have a dry trip home. Walnut Idaho sounds like your going the wrong direction, unless you meant Iowa.

Yep, I meant Iowa, mind said one thing and the fingers typed something else.

 

[msocko3]

Yesterday was a memorable one, tried to find a room at a few hotels with no luck. Decided we were going to just run straight through and sleep in our own homes. The Russell Daylong seat is the best $1,000 I've spent, 860 miles later we were home. Normally we call it a day in the 500 - 600 mile range, decided to gut up and bust out the 860.

That in itself would have been enough except the dreaded CB call from my dad after a gas stop, we get on the freeway and I get called on the CB that he had no 6th gear. Limped it 25 miles in 5th gear to the next plaza so I could look at it. Found the shaft the shifters connects to had stripped, managed to push a little more of the splines through then take an allen wrench and hog down on the pinch bolt and make it work.

Looks like PN 33709-82A shaft and PN 33718-82B lever are toast, I've heard of this happening, just never had it happen to me.