DJ & JJ"s Most Excellent Sturgis Adventure

Monday afternoon we arrived in Murdo, SD our first stop. We stayed at the Super 8 and while we were sitting outside relaxing a young man walked by and looked at our bikes and noticed my KAXE sticker. He was a student at UMD at one time and had a friend from Grand Rapids who turned him on to our station and he loved it. He was working with a threshing crew or is it combine crew?

Tuesday morning we made the first stop for most everyone going west to Sturgis, The Badlands of South Dakota, yes there are The Badlands of North Dakota too. My favorite time to see the Badlands is at night and under a full moon. The shadows and stillness make it seem like a lunar landscape. Of course after traveling through The Badlands the next stop is Wall, SD and the most famous tourist trap in the U.S. and maybe the world, Wall Drug. We stopped at a local watering hole, it was 90+ that day, and noticed again an unusual phenomena, for us anyway, Russian waitresses. Young girls with very little English working in South Dakota!!! Also South Africans!!! They are temporary workers and we're not sure why and for how long because we don't want to pry and they speak and understand very little English.

Wednesday during Rally Week is Wyoming Wednesday and several little towns in WY put on special events. On the way we stop at Beulah, WY site of the famous street drags down main street, well actually there is only one street. The drags have been shut down for years by the Wyoming Highway Patrol because that main street is also Hwy 16. The drags were even on an episode of Cops. Here at the Dime Horseshoe Saloon we check out the time for the Burnout Contest in Sundance, WY. It starts at 4pm so we head to Devil's Tower.

Traffic is beginning to build and it is 90+ again and we take some free ice cold water from this young man who has for years been preaching and giving water to thirsty people. I just noticed the irony of The Cross and Devil's Tower in that picture.

Next stop is Hulett, WY for the Ham n Jam. It is also "No Panties Wednesday" in Hulett. I don't know if this is only during Wyoming Wednesday or every Wednesday, but it is a quaint custom nonetheless and hopefully restricted to just Wyoming Wednesday. Thankfully there are porta potties everywhere because Hulett's normal population is just a few hundred people and the thousands that are there for the fun would swamp them literally. We parked our bikes on the outside of town and walked in across the bridge and looked around and it was time to head back to Sundance and the burnout contest.

On the out skirts of Sundance we ate at the Chop Shop and I ordered a pork tenderloin and got something less than I was expecting, but it was cheap and hot and they also had lemonade. You need to keep hydrated because of the high temp, clear skies and low humidity. The burnout contest was awesome. My next blog will be all about it. All I can say is you needed to destroy equipment and go topless to be in the top 3.

We had many clear nights and it was a beautiful sight to see the moon over the Black Hills. We stayed at Black Hills State College in a dorm room. It is a great deal, $400 for four nights and five days for two people.

Thursday is set aside to ride the Black Hills and see Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Lake Pactulo, Keystone, Custer and ride the Needles Highway as well as The Iron Horse Road. We ride up Spearfish Canyon on our way and stop to take in the beautiful scenery. Scenes from Dances with Wolves were filmed here and as well as Black Lock Falls.

We also stopped in Lead, SD to see the Homestake Gold Mine. No activity going on even with gold prices at a record high. Well, they have already mined millions and millions of dollars worth of gold.

Next on our list is the town of Rochford, SD. It is a beautiful fifteen mile ride on gorgeous blacktop. Two other roads lead out of Rochford, but they are gravel. We also find the Moonshine Gulch Saloon and learn that The Hamsters were here yesterday and held their own burnout contest and hence the four Sheriff Deputies in town. No butnouts today. More later on the Hamsters.
From Rochford it is off to Lake Pactulo, a beautiful lake created in the fifties to provide water for Rapid City. Today at Veterans' Point a group has scattered the ashes of a loved one on the waters of the lake.


Mount Rushmore has changed so much in the last ten years. Before you just pulled into a parking lot and go look. Now you have to pay admission and there is even a parking ramp and stoplights. We took the Needles Highway to see this side view of George and ride the switchbacks. The Needles Highway has several of these extremely tight turns and you can look down and see the bikes coming up the same road....no place for novices.

Next on the list is Crazy Horse. I first saw it in 1970 on a road trip. It was a family operation and Korshak's wife actually gave us a tour. Their plan was to have it ready for the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976 and obviously didn't make it. Now as you can see it has a multi-laned road with ticket booths.

From Crazy Horse it's a short ride to Custer, SD. We stopped at the VFW and they had a Veterans' Program in progress that included a fly over down main street by a B-1 bomber and a young veteran who has learned to play the bagpipes. He was fabulous, hey, I love bagpipes and accordians, what can I say? He played three or four songs for us and finished with the standad "Amazing Grace" and it brought a tear to my eye he was so good.

On our way back we stopped in Hill City, SD and engaged the locals in conversation. I knew the moment I walked in I was gonna like the place because they were playing Ring of Fire by Social Distortion. We also got to see the sun set over Lake Pactulo.



Deadwood, SD and Old N0. 10 Saloon is a must see for everyone. This is the site where Wild Bill Hickcock was shot. The chair he was supposedly sitting in when he was shot is hanging on the wall. Wild Bill wasn't there but Santa Claus and one of his elves was inside relaxing before the busy season starts. He said some kiddies won't be getting any present because of their behavior during Rally Week. The main street in Deadwood is brick and very attractive. I first saw Deadwood in 1966 when prostitution was still legal and gambling was illegal. It was a sleepy little town with one main street and a railroad running next to it. It was like going back into time and the old west. Now gambling is legal and there are several casinos one of which is owned by Kevin Costner.

Friday was our last full day in Sturgis. We went to the Full Throttle Saloon in the morning and it was all but deserted. As the day builds and night begins this place fills up and has many activities going on including bands, burnout contests and other mayhem. Friday is also a great day to bargin shop because The Rally is almost over and vendors will bargin. T-shirts that cost $15 are now $5 because they say Sturgis 2008, leather can be bought for halfprice sometimes. One more year and still no tattoos. We talked about getting one, but we ran out time and besides there are evil squirrels in SD and they were after our nuts so it was time to get out of Dodge.

RFTW

Here's the group from Minnesota the rode together to California and DC. From l to r Subrat, DJ, Rueben, Chatter, Wheezy, Oscar and Felix.



Here's part of our Fuel Crew including Subrat, Hawk, Squeeky and Irish.




More of the Fuel Crew including Speedy, Pooh Hoppy, Oscar, Skippy and Subrat again.

Fuel Crew at Morning Meeting Irish again, Sgt Slinky, Musicman, Krash, and Enigma, our leader. Krash's bike brokedown in Texas and it cost $500 to fix. He was headed home because he was out of money so we passed the hat got more than $500 so Krash stayed on and went all the way.

RFTW Day Last

Friday we got to DC and Saturday went to The Wall. Mission accomplished. This has been so hard. As the trip went on....too tired and too sweaty to blog at night. I don't want to be a reporter..........they observe and record all day and then must report. So many stories.............I think I'll need to get home and run it through my mind and report some great stories.

My main man "Road Hog" left for Texas this mornin. He was the first guy to greet me in California and he extended his hand and said in his best Texas gravely growl, my name is "Ground Hog" and they call me that because my Hog is on the ground all the time because I can't get the kickstand down. Sure enough in Chattanooga, TN at the H-D dealer, Musicman and Ms. Musicman and I are last to leave the party and here comes "Ground Hog" and he says, Hey DJ can I talk to you for a minute over here and there was his Hog on the ground. Thanks for the memorey Ground Hog, you will live forever in my mind.........

See you on the radio Friday night and remember it ALL VINYL NIGHT on Monday May 2.

L+P
DJ

RFTW Day 6 Monroe LA - Meridian MS 208 miles

Check out rftw.org Southern Route......lotsa pics and stories. The fuel crew isn't in many of the pictures because we are gone. THere are so many stories on this ride. Yesterday, Jim H., born in Rapids graduated Hibbing HS, 101st Airborne Vietnam, was at a ceremony in Monroe LA talking to another guy from MN and a guy comes up to him and says, Jim H.? and Jim asked him how he knew his name and the guy said 101st Airborne Vietnam and Jim said, Barney? Sure enough 40 years had separated them and despite the extra pounds and gray hair they recognized one another. Barney asked Jim if he remembered who carried his rucksack and gun off the mountain in the Ashau Valley(a very bad place)? Barney had been so thirsty that despite warnings he drank some questionable water and got amoebic dysentery. Jim carried the rucksack and someone else carried his rifle. They also remembered the time going down another mountain in the Ashau and hearing the NVA coming up the mountain. They hit the ground and Jim pulled out a grenade and threw it down the slope and his buddy pulled a grenade and lobbed it and THUNK! it hit a tree and bounced back towards them........the slope was at such an angle that they just got a dust bath. Jim is in another place today after meeting Barney after all these years. At the Mississippi River we were greeted by a Vietnam era Cobra gunship and a Huey slick circling overhead. Over the next miles to Jackson people were on the overpasses and waving flags and holding banners reading THANK YOU FOR OUR FREEDOM, THANK YOU FOR OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH, THANK YOU FOR OUR FREEDOM OF RELIGION....Our noon stop was at H-D of Jackson MS. They had a Chinook sitting out front which eventually fired up and corkscrewed up to a 1000 ft and flew off. Eventually it returned and skydivers leaped out the back. A jet fighter flew over at what might be considered too low. H-D of Jackson MS fueled all the bikes for free and provided a BBQ chicken lunch. There were also three Congressional Medal of Honor recipients (you do not win the MOH, it is awarded), POW's from WWII-Vietnam, a Navy band performed and also many people in character for The Trail of Honor. There were 21 stations with people in character and costume depicting the wars the U.S. has been a part of starting with French and Indian War through Vietnam. Many organizations worked together to make all this happen. We also visited a VA hospital in Jackson to talk with the residents. We went inside in case there were people who couldn't go outside. It was a beautiful day and everyone seemed to be outside talking. The Fuel Team also got to escort the Traveling Wall to the next city. I was part of a missing man formation that lead The Wall on it's journey. What an honor. Our stop for the evening was Meridian MS. We were at the Meridian Ag Pavilion waiting for the main group to arrive. There was a fire dept ladder truck flying a giant American flag over the road and the main group was met at the MS state border by what appeared to be every motorcycle officer in MS and escorted to Meridian. It was pretty impressive to see 30-40 motorcycle officers with blue lights flashing and sirens wailing leading 400 motorcycles. People parked their bikes and were taking off gear and talking when right on the deck a jet fighter goes over and pulls up into a vertical climb and flies off. Everyone was going cool man and then three jets come flying over and doing some fancy maneuvers and fly off and by now everyone is pumped and then a single jet flew over and dropped its landing gear and zooms off and flys back over us wagging its wings. The people of Meridian are fantastic. We had the best catfish, fries, hush puppies and slaw meal ever and all you could eat. Sorry Monroe LA, but you had the best desserts and second greatest catfish meal. Then they said if anyone has dirty laundry someone will take it home and wash and fold it and return it by 10:00pm that night. They even gave you a laundry bag to keep. After the speeches and awards the speaker asked if any Meridian police officers were present. Up walked what looked to be the Chief of Police and there is a little off mike conversation and the speaker says, There will be no arrests in Meridian tonight.........this is your hometown tonight people thank youa for your service to our country. The crowd roared with approval. Safe pledge to make with this group of veterans....after they take their meds and shower they are in the racks by 10pm sawing logs. Had a great conversation with a local historian. He told how Sherman or Grant had burned Meridian to the ground and ripped up the rr tracks and twisted the rails and three weeks later the rr was back in operation. We also talked about the Battle of Vicksburg..........Vicksburg surrendered on the 4th of July and every year since on the 4th of July the flag is flown at half staff at the capital in Vicksburg.

RFTW Day 11

Day 5 RFTW Weatherford TX-Monroe LA 350 miles

Long run today. Started with about 350 riders and at our first stop in Terrell TX we picked up another 100 day riders. The people of Terrell had a tent set up with free refreshments and sandwiches for all of us. Fuel Crew doesn't get to stay for many festivities because we go in advance of the group to get the fuel stop set up. We got it down now. We can fuel 350 bikes in about 20 minutes. Working as a team now and things are going good when we can find the gas station. Our next stop was Longview TX and we drove all over looking for the gas station and once again we drove by it 2-3 times before we figured it out. I should say before our leader figured it out. He sure is no path finder. Longview VFW provided a meal and refreshments for all 450 riders. We didn't get to eat there because we were behind so we got some gut bombs and hit the road. Finally got to slow down when we left Texas. Louisiana's speed limit is 70mph and we all asked things to slow down. Only hit 80 a couple of times and mostly kept it at 70 or 5 over. No clouds until late afternoon....temp was in high 90's and I fried. Didn't get sun block on until afternoon so I look like lobster boy now. I coudn't count all the overpasses that had people standing on them waving flags and banners welcoming us to Louisiana. Flags were stuck in the ground every mile for 10 miles into Monroe LA. Someone picked up the fuel tab for our stop in Minden LA. In Monroe LA the people put on a fabulous dinner including catfish, hush puppies, salads, tater-tots and pies and cakes. People shake our hands and say thank you for your service every where we go. I'll never forget the old cowboy at the end of his driveway leaning against his pick up and waving to everyone that went by.......

RFTW Day 8 9 10

Things got pretty busy after the first official day of RFTW. We need to catch up here. Like I said I'm on the fuel crew and for day 2 and day 3 we kinda looked like the FOOL CRU. Our leaders were wonderful to step forward and try to organize us, but then they half-stepped when faced with the volunteers (ARMY MEAN GREEN). Most of the volunteers are retired military (or conscripts like us)and are use to giving orders, so if you don't take charge right away they start complaining and griping and holding back to see if it is worth it. The guyz in charge are Air Force and they were/are all specialist, not leaders of groups of individuals. One leader was a backseat man on Phantoms so all he has seen has been from 35,000 feet looking at a screen (and besides he rides a BMW) and the other leader was an Air Force NCO sent to help the ARMY in Song Be (r u followin me BEAV???) while the rest of us had our feet on the ground. Now, 35 years later on the ground he likes to go super sonic. Most of Texas is legal 80MPH on the interstate. That means we can go 90MPH to the lead guyz. Besides jet jockeys, there are chopper pilots that like the rush too. Somewhere in TX before the DEA check point we were riding 80MPH in the rain....that's a no brainer, there is stuff on the road that can hurt you. We made it out of the rain and the check point because our guardian angels can fly as fast and high as we can...............

Day 2 we rode 390 miles from Phoenix to Las Cruces like a bunch of crazy gringos...........faster than a speeding ticket. Two FREE fuel stops on day 2 that cost donor's $1,500 aprox and two meals provided with programs by communities we visited. We ask for donations at the FREE fuel stops and any money over and above what we owe goes to a fund that helps a child or children of a VET who dies. Time for a true story.....VET returning from Iraq to Dallas..........his wife and two children are driving to the airport to meet him and a drunk driver hits them............when he got off the plane he was greeted with a message........his two children were gone and his wife was in IC.............all gave some............some gave all...........what did this guy give????????.

We looked like fools in Wilcox, AZ because last week the truck stop we were lookin for changed names and we drove by it twice before the local cops pulled us over and said follow us dumb asses. Day 1 and Day 2 we had 2 free fuels and 2 free meals and 2 free MOMENTS. There are people out there building memorials to VETERANS out of pure love for VETERANS and a lot of them are VN vets We have seen more hand built and maintained memorials and the most beautiful thing is they did it to honor us and in turn we honor them when we stop.........I was listening to Prairie Home Companion tonight and after there was a program about a son taking his father, a Purple Heart Vietnam Vet, back to Vietnam to see where he was attacked and wounded..........fab program until the next program which was about somebody and their struggle to end the war,,,,,,,,,,,,,,it musta been hard carryin those signs and doing those panty raids. Last night I saw a guy who I kept seeing in the fuel line. I asked him if he wuz havin fun still? He said, "I'm from California and my faith in America has been restored"........he is coming back next year with his wife.

DAY 3 Las Cruces to Odessa, TX. More high speeeed pursuit......Things were AFU...........some of us got left behind at the noon pump and munch and so we had to catch up. Music Man and I did 90MPH for 90 miles to catch up in Pecos, TX. When we got to the exit my front tire went flat.......good newz......I put it on the trailer and road in the back seat to Odessa. Two free fuels and two free meals and two programs honoring veterans.

DAY 4 Odessa TX to Weatherford TX.......New leaders and new flight plan.......90MPH in a tight pack and once in awhile 95MPH....yikes.....I know my Road Glide can do 110MPH now tryin to keep up.....Hoppy, a front seater on Phantoms in the day did an amazing evasive manuever at the Colorado City, TX exit when he saw some gravel in the corner and amazed us ground pounders when he kept it up right and over the berm and into the ditch and back onto the ramp. The best day and fuel stop we had so far. We have got it figured out now if leadership will stay out of the way. GOD, I LOVE THIS COUNTRY. Tomorrow we finally get outta TX and can slow down for some MS and LA down home stylin. Every day is better than the previous and every day I get closer to home.

L+P DJ II Cor 1:8-11

RFTW Day 7

Today is the 7th day into my journey and the 1st official day of Run For The Wall. We ride for those who can't and to make people aware of POW and MIA issues. Barry A. Olson was a classmate and neighbor of mine growing up. Barry dropped out of high school and eventually joined the Army. On September 26, 1968 he was riding on an APC (armored personel carrier) which was hit with a B-40 rocket fired by VC or NVA. The APC caught fire and Barry was sitting over the claymore mines and other ammo. After the attack was over all personel were thought to have been evacuated. At a later head count it was discovered Barry was missing. A search was launched and he was not found. He had been seriously wounded and was thought to have died yet no remains were found. Local villagers or the NVA or VC know what happened to him. Posters were distributed in the area and rewards offered. No remains have ever been found or turned over to the U.S. Barry's mother died never knowing what happen to her son.

We left Rancho Cucamonga this morning in 75 degree weather at 07:30. By 08:30 we were in the desert and at 95 degrees. I am part of the advance team and our job is to help fuel the bikes at the fuel stops. Our fuel team heads out before the main group to get things ready and we hand them the gas hose and collect the money. We round up to the nearest dollar to speed things up. We can fuel 200 bikes in 20 minutes to the pleasure of the station employees and customers because we could tie things up for a long time. To be part of the advance team you have to have been a previous participant in RFTW so we have an experienced group of riders. We ride tight and it is so exciting to ride with about 30 bikes at 80 mph across the desert. Even 30 bikes take up a lot of highway so we have to be aware of traffic and not block its flow. Maybe we are all adreline junkies and love the high you get. On our second fuel stop was in Blythe, CA and as we pulled into town we were escorted by local police and firemen and greeted by people lined up on the streets waving flags and cheering and saluting us. This is part of the healing process for the FNG's (Funny (or F#$%*ng)New Guys) this is the parade they never got when they came home. I still get choked up and this is my second time. The fuel for everybody was paid for by donations from the people of Blythe. After fueling we headed to the fairgrounds where a BBQ lunch and refreshments were provided again by the people of Blythe. The local school band was there to play the National Anthem and other music. People were lined up shaking hands and thanking the riders for their military service and mission. Probably won't see that on the big three news channels, but it will be in our hearts forever. If you are ever driving by Blythe, CA stop and spend some money there on gas and food. At our next fuel stop a trucking company paid for the fuel and we are talking about $1500-$2000 worth of fuel. The Arizon HP motorcycle patrol gave us an escort into Phoenix and to the Veterans' Home. We met with the residents and they were thrilled to see us as they remembered last year's visit. I talked to 3 or 4 residents and they were so glad to have visitors. One resident I talked to, Frank, was a WWII Vet and after the war went to college on the GI Bill. He was the head computer guy for the lunar missions of the 1960's. Still sharp and proud of his country and supportive of those who fought for it. God Bless you Frank. After the visit we headed to the host hotel and a free steak and chicken meal from Outback Steak House. Saw a bumper sticker today that I just loved, it said Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of those who threaten it, USMC. Hooray for the Green Machine. I know it sounds trite, but FREEDOM ISN"T FREE.

Never forget Barry A. Olson and all MIAs and their families.