Coop's Corner: The Ducati Goes West

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

The Ducati Goes West

Over the winter of 07-08, friends and I decided to plan a longer trip than our weekends had been taking us on. All fans of 'west', it was decided that we'd take two weeks to see the Black Hills, then move on to Yellowstone and hopefully have enough time to do some exploring in addition to just riding everyday.

We decided on starting out the Monday following the July 4 weekend, which was difficult for me since I'd have started out if not the Friday evening before, certainly early Saturday morning. The brothers from Wisconsin weren't able to leave on the weekend, so we'd all meet in Jackson, MN, along I-90 in southwestern MN. They'd be coming west on the Interstate and since I had all day to cover less than half the miles, an involved, slower route was planned on county roads so that I'd arrive in Jackson by late afternoon, the KOA our camping spot for the night.

My Monday lunch stop, near Beauford, MN, pulled over for a sandwich and some granola.......

Since I had arrived early and was setup, it sounded like a good idea to ride south into Iowa and visit Spirit Lake. I'd heard that there were cabins and resort area there so an Iowa lake seemed like a worthy thing to go in search of. North and back into MN, I was fascinated with the large and very long trucks all parked in a line at the nearby Truck Stop. They were carrying wind turbine blades and made some very impressive loads. By late afternoon, 2 of the three guys from Wisconsin had arrived. Our 4th person wasn't able to get away right away and the word was that he'd catch up to us as we moved west.

Steve's HD and Scott's V-Strom........

Good to finally get moving, Tuesday morning's first goal was to move west on I-90 through Souix Falls and on to Humboldt and Hwy 19 to move us south, getting off the Interstate and onto a more pleasant, and by our definition, more interesting route west. Through Pumpkin, SD and on down to State Hwy #44 which was to become our path to cross South Dakota.

Lunch stop in Parkston, SD. How did we ever cope before there were gas/sandwich/convenience stores?

Our plans were foiled once we got near the Missouri River. The old bridge there was out and being rebuilt, the only practical choice was to go north again and jump onto I-90 once again. With more than enough time to daydream, thoughts drifted back to my grandfather's story of riding west in the 1920's on his very early Harley. He mentions waiting to taking the ferry to cross the MO River at Mobridge while on the Yellowstone Trail, the the charge to cross the river $.25

Again on the Interstate, traveling as far as Cactus Flat where we left the big road, going south on #240 to the Badlands National Monument. With what looked like some weather approaching, a discussion was needed about stopping or riding through the park.

The available light, considering it was mid-day, was rather nice for photos.....

On the west end of the park, most if not all of the weather passing us to the north. If we had any drops, it couldn't have been more than a few.

Buffalo Gap National Grassland.....

We arrived at the Kemp's Kamp, just outside of Keystone, a place that Scott and Steve had stayed at previously and it was a great place. After we got all setup at the campground, we rode back down into Keystone for something to eat.

After dinner, we went back to camp for a short time, then up to Mt. Rushmore for the evening program which was interesting, patriotic and regal with the background of the 4 profiles in the distance above us.

Wed. morning dawned bright and clear with what promised to be a perfect day. Breaking camp, we headed up the valley, using the Old Hill City Road towards Hill City.

South on #87.....

We noticed the motorhome coming up the road, the Needles Highway supposedly closed to wide/tall vehicles. The road is one-way and we started to wonder if he might block our route.....

Everyone wondering....

He did it...no problem.....

Up the Mt. Coolidge Observation Road....

From the observation platform......

The story of the Galena fire, some 20 years before....

Around the Custer State Park loop.....

Up the gravel road to the buffalo herd viewing area.....

While parked on the opposite side of the road from the parking lot, a gentleman approached me, wondering, "who's touring on the ST2?.....good for you, I've always thought more people should". With a pat on the back, he smiled and said, "Good for you". I'll always wonder who the ND guy was....

After leaving the State Park, we took a left and went north back towards Spearfish, using #385 and #14A, stopping here for another great view of the Faces in the distance. Scott and Steve off the path for a better view......

From in behind.....

Into Spearfish, then stopped for the night at Chris' Campground. Very inviting showers and a good place to rest....

Tents, rain fly's, ground cloths, etc. spread everywhere, taking advantage of the warm sunlight to dry out due to being packed that morning in very heavy dew.

Are you remembering that our 4th camper, Chris was rumored to be catching up to us a couple of days ago?? Well, after riding all night, Chris caught us at Spearfish as were packing up, after having left the afternoon before. Not visible here, but the bike was absolutely covered (insulated??) with bugs from his overnight travel.

Aladdin, WY, The General Store on our way to Devil's Tower.....

The Community Bench out front......

After something to drink and a couple of T-shirts, it was west on 224, Devil's Tower becoming visible in the distance.....

Surprised by the almost 'swoopie' shape to the north, I had never seen it from this direction before. All my former viewings and knowledge of the pillar's shape were very symmetrical.

The three of us went inside while Chris stayed outside to take a nap and recover......

It was hot, upper 90's and this shade was precious...

We listened to the Ranger's presentation, then went up the trail to circle the monument. Very interesting perspective by completing the loop trail.

There were two parties of climbers on the rock the day we were there.

From the north side....

Northwest to Sheridan on Route 14. We saw 100's on the digital temperature signs.......

Our goal was to find a campsite on the edge of the Bighorns and after stopping at the first potential spot, we decided to press on, certain that we could do better. Tired from the day's heat and long-ish ride, sunset was coming so it was time to be stopping. The trailer court in Ranchester, WY was our spot for the night. We were given the choice of staying in our tents or in this Tepee.........

We decided to do the tents.....

Friday morning in Ranchester......

Almost ready, just finishing up breakfast. I'm splitting off from the guys this morning, they're heading on to Yellowstone for the second week and I'll be heading towards home.

On #14 west, the Bighorns in the distance. We'll ride as far as Burgess Junction together, they'll continue on 14A towards Cody, I'll be turning south on #14 towards Greybull, WY after a stop and short hike at Burgess Junction.

Elevation 7787 on the GPS, definitely no longer on the Plains......

Visitor Center in the distance........

Stopped for construction, east of Shell, heading down into the valley at Greybull.......

Outside of Ten Sleep. After riding through the strongest winds I've ever been on the bike in, it was nice to get out of the deep and long valley that Greybull rests in and up towards the Powder River Pass.

Stopped for a roadside lunch on the way up to Powder River Pass.

Meadowlark Lake......

Almost to the pass......

At the top and now down into Buffalo, WY, then back on I-90, hoping to make Spearfish and another night back at Chris' Campground.......

Saturday morning back in Spearfish, very same campsite that we stayed in a few days before. BMW's were showing up for an area rally.....

East of Sturgis along #34, looking back to the west, Bear Butte in the distance.....

Impala Place.....

Ash Creek Road and its ranches.......

The Oahe Dam and Recreation Area.....

In the park's cottonwood campground.......

Sunday morning, up and left the Pierre area, east on 14, some lunch in New Ulm, through St. Peter and then county roads into Faribault and more back home. It was a great trip, fun week and a blast actually getting the Ducati out for some real road miles.

3 comments:

Erik RMarch 14, 2012 at 9:04 PM
It's pretty cool to see that someone else has been to the same places and taken the same pictures that I have. I think the west is such a great place to ride.
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BradJanuary 13, 2015 at 6:38 PM
Thanks for sharing Coop!
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Others say....

"it was auspicious to approach any situation from a deferential, inquisitive place. Conceding that there is much to learn is the best blueprint for discovering something new." ----B. Fuller

The Man straightened stiffly above the block of salt fixed to the stake and looked at the young cattle ringed about him. The pasture was holding out well and the stock was looking good. This bunch would be ready to sell in another month, maybe sooner if the market was right.

A stir among the cattle down near the river brought him round to face the swinging bridge he'd built years before. Someone was coming toward him from the bridge. Someone in breeches, but it didn't look like a man, somehow. What was a woman doing in his pasture this time of night?

He bent over the salt again; maybe if he paid her no heed she'd go on past and let him mind his own business. He heard her footsteps come nearer and stop. "Good evening," she said.

Her voice was smooth with book learning but friendlier than most, and somehow almost shy. When he made no answer she went on, "I've been sitting on your swinging bridge....I thought I'd like to say thank-you...." Her voice stumbled a little, then she tried once more.

"You are Mr. ____". His name sounded strange in her voice, but she went on to tell her own.

"That's what they've called me the last sixty-eight years," he said, looking past her face to the hills fast darkening under a single star. "I reckon the woods are free for those that like to walk there."

The unfamiliar voice laughed a little. "That's what Emerson said: the grove belongs to the man who walks in it with an open heart....On that basis I guess I've owned part of your woods for a good many years.....". She made a final effort. "I've always wanted to thank you....."

Something deeply hidden stirred in him. "There's a stump up there, in the notch of the woods", he said slowly, "that before the timber grew so tall you could stand on it and see all over this country."

He kept still a minute, remembering, then, "I used to stand up there an' look at things, an' wonder how they come to be like they was, an' how the hills was created, an' all the things in Nature.... I told my wife I guessed all the religion I ever had I got standin' on that old stump, a-wonderin'..." He turned his face away from her.

She helped him out. "I know about that, a little. This afternoon I saw......." Her account of a thing she had really taken time to look at eased him, and he answered with telling of the badger den at the foot of the swinging bridge.

When she had gone, he turned to watch her. After a moment she stood clear and unmoving against the sky. You could hear the sounds of the river where she stood. She was one that could stand still long enough, he thought, really to hear what a body was saying, or a river.

Then she walked down the farther side of the slope and was gone. ------Margaret Snyder from A Chosen Valley

Fall was the end of harvest, end of the growing season, a burst of color and sun-warmth before killing frost turned the land gray and cold. Fall was a moody time, full of both life and death, a time when we were reminded of the power outside of us, reminded that the seasons happen to us. We do not invite the change to come.-------Ben Logan, from The Land Remembers

When you get those rare moments of clarity, those flashes when the universe makes sense, you try desperately to hold onto them. They are the lifeboats for the darker times, when the vastness of it all, the incomprehensible nature of life is completely elusive. So the question becomes or should have been all along, what would you do if you knew you only had one day, or one week, or one month to live. What lifeboat would you grab onto? What secret would you tell? What band would you see? What person would you declare your love to? What wish would you fulfill? What exotic locale would you fly to for coffee? What book would you write? ------- Ben Tyler

We were also cautioned about journeying far from home. As an example of the dangers, the town had a badly crippled lady named Lucy, who as a girl had traveled to New York City. As she traveled along a sidewalk, sightseeing, she was struck by the outstretched hand of a suicide who had leapt from high above. Her spine had been shattered and for the rest of her life, she was to walk bent forward at the waist, tapping the sidewalk with two black canes. Whenever the subject of travel to a big city was raised, someone would say, "Just remember what happened to Miss Tripp." ---- Ted Kooser, from Local Wonders

"Steamboats are like wedding cakes without the complications...." ----Mark Twain

"It's not about having lots of money, it's about having lots of options......." -----Chris Rock

As the very proud father of three former ponytail wearers, hopefully I can get away with this....."For the past few years it's been fashionable for young women to wear ball caps and to snap the strap on the back under their ponytails. I like the looks of that, their shiny ponytails jauntily swinging, but it's hard not to think of the rear ends of horses. There's a piece of harness called the crupper that goes just under a horse's tail to keep its nose down. If the horse lifts its head to look for a way out of whatever predicament it's in, the crupper tightens and hurts the horse. But it's foolish for parents to think that a ball cap might keep a young woman from running away. Anybody can see they're made for running." ------Ted Kooser, Local Wonders

"I tell the guy's girlfriend that the only difference between the book's main character Phaedrus and myself is that I am neither brilliant, tortured or insane, she looks at my bike and there is an uncomfortable silence." --------ahendepe (a.k.a. Vermin)