Mid month my daughter Liz moved to Edmonton to go to the University of Alberta and I spent the rest of the month at my duplex ripping out baseboards and carpets before redoing the floors... which turned into redoing the kitchen..which turned into redoing the bathroom... etc... you know how it goes. Lot's of hard work in a short time means a need for renewal and thankfully a much needed break was in the form of an 8 hour drive to Manitoba for the Laval Family Reunion. Elgin look out! Lavals are rockin' da house!
was colder than can be....
K, I'm tapped out, lol - been blogging for 2 days straight but I want to get this wrapped up as the trip was winding down and has wrapped up almost 2 months ago. It was our final day in the US being able to ride without helmets, but we probably should have worn them just to keep our heads warm. It was the coolest day so far and I was not only cold but still tired. Maybe 2 week vacations are too much for me, because I am wiped and could have fallen asleep on the back of the bike. We stopped for lunch at the same place in Grass Range on day 2 and were back on the road again. With me not staying focused on the ride, and not keeping the GPS handy, we missed our shortcut turn to Fort Belknap and ended up headed to Malta instead. We stopped to fill up with gas and drop a 20 in the slots at the casino next door as the drizzle began. Hoping it would pass, we realized we were headed straight for it no matter what. 
onning our rain gear, we continued to Havre only stopping once along the way for cheap cigarettes and then checked into the Best Western Annex. We dined at the Duck Inn again and it was straight to bed (and watch the weather channel) I can't believe how tuckered I am. Move over Lewis and Clark - One more sleep!
ctually I was dead to the world and slept in til past 10 and my camera battery was dead also. Have gone through both I brought and didn't bring the charger so pictures from here on in are from the web. We had to change plans about going to Yellowstone National Park since a) we were running short on time and b) weather was turning for the worse. Rather than head northwest towards the rain, we decided to head back to Billings instead. We arrived in time for an early supper at Red Lobster and after driving around for at least an hour, found room at the Inn, the C'mon Inn. 
Sweet! Perfectly rhymes with dancing, or should it rhyme with drumming? I've googled the lyrics to the song and discovered two different versions but i'll stick with this since it's the day before my birthday and romance is in the air, as well as the moon above Devil's Tower. 
After slathering ourselves in sunscreen, we "head out on the highway" (looking for adventure - like we haven't found enough yet eh?) towards Gillette, Wy for lunch. It was strange riding the red highways of Wyoming after spending the last week in the "Black" Hills of South Dakota it was strange to ride the Red Highways of Wyoming and return to the flat prairie like landscape. Felt a lot like home. Gillette is a coal mining town, and Ray was astounded at the size of the open mines and I am sure we will definetly return someday for a tour so he can fully embrace the magnitude of the operation. Working in a gas field, with everything underground, is quite a different mode of harvesting energy in comparison, and with a windmill farm being planned near his farm, it's quite intriguing to say the least. Anyhoo, I'm kinda paraphrasing but Ray has given me the okay to publish this so I'm all cool and he's down with that! 
After lunch at Taco John's, it was back on the road which changed from straight and narrow to long and winding (went from quoting steffenwolf to the beatles now). We were planning on heading up to Sheridan and over to Cody but discovered, thanks to the GPS, that it was shorter to head southwest from Buffalo and also thanks to the locals, we even ignored the GPS and took their recommended shortcuts. The terrain on the drive reminded us of the drive from Lethbridge to Calgary, plains on the east, foothills and rockies to the west. Not exactly the magnatude of the Canadian Rockies, but still a part of them. I didn't realize they extended so far south, but then again I haven't picked up a geography book in ages, You would think the queen of google would know these things! ha! One is never too old to learn! 
We rode on through the prairies and the canyons to Cody, Wy and looked for a place to rest for the night so after dinner, and many phone calls in search of a jaccuzi suite, we got ready to settle in for the night. Ray asked me if I wanted a suite tonight or tomorrow, the night of my birthday (what's wrong with both?) and I chose tonight, for I would wake on my birthday to a huge tub to soak my aching muscles. It's not only hard on the driver but the rider on the back as well on such long trips. But then again, it's not all about me. Today is our anniversay (3 years, 11 months) We always celebrate it monthly, whether it's something extravegant like a jaccuzi suite or simply a card and an I love you, Sept 12th is OUR day!
We ended up at Buffalo Bill's Antler Inn. There were antler coat racks and antler chandeliers, but it would be better named Buffalo Bill's Tree Hotel. (hmm, sounds like a hotel for trees so maybe not) As you can see, the bed and frame is made of natural trees, as were the lamps, desk and vanity legs in the bathroom. There was the biggest (and greenest) jacuzzi tub that was calling my name. I had a wonderfully long soak while Ray went in search of...I can't remember now. May have been food, mix, bike wash or all three. It didn't matter at the time. The only thing that mattered to me was hot, steamy bubbly water and a soft warm bed. I was out like a light before midnight. Here my birthday was beginning and I'm already dreaming of the day to come.
here were so many different types of stalagmites growing up from the floor and stalagtites growing down from the ceiling, and sometimes meeting in the middle. You would think once you've seen one you've seen them all, but the the tour guide not only had the correct names for each type but nick names for certain formations as well. There was bacon, the bat, popcorn, bugs bunny with carrots, and I even named one myself they missed and brought their attention to, and who knows, maybe next time they do a tour, they will use it! Benjamin Franklin! How fitting for the history of the area but gee you'd think an American would have caught that one rather than a Canadian - lol) He's just missing his glasses no?
fter touring the cave, we headed back to the Nemo Road and the 385 to Deadwood to tour Mount Moriah Cemetary where Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane are buried. We even hiked to the top off the bluff to see Seth Bullock's grave, that overlooked Mount Roosevelt, where Seth had erected a monument after the death of hiss friend President Roosevelt and renamed the peak in honour of his late friend.
on the agenda was to head back to Leads in search of The Boars Nest. I thought it was between Leads and Deadwood, but it was between Leads and Spearfish Canyon After stopping for directions, we found it, and even the owner was there. We may have missed all the action when it was open during the bike rally, but he was able to spend time telling us the history, the fire and the plan for the future. After buying a t-shirt for Morgan & Dee (owners of The Boars Nest in Seven Persons) we headed back to Leads and stopped at the Stampmill for lunch before touring the Adams Museum in Deadwood. 
leaving town, Ray got a chance to play poker at the Franklin Inn once again and I got to do some more shopping, okay we both did, and at the end of the day, we stopped for a beer at The Stockade to watch the entertainment, and breathe in our last breath of Deadwood. Even with all the foul language of the HBO series, it still was a great show and peaked our interest enough to want to visit South Dakota. How convenient that it's so close to the biggest motorcycle rally in North America. More like how lucky for us - even with all the bad weather and back luck of singers falling off the stage!
Then we checked out the public mineral pool but opted for the Mineral Spa with 2 hot tubs and a private pool. How relaxing and entertaining too. Ray the Rock could actually float and we met a several couples from canada, one from St. Albert who works for the forestry dept and know's my friends from Sherwood Park. Talk about a small world, and quite the change from Ray knowing someone anywhere he went. It was my turn! lol
my wallets getting light
We then retraced our steps from the past few days so I could get decent pictures of all the places we had been in better light. Everywhere was pretty empty, but still open, unlike the next day when we found out 1 casino we missed was only open for the week of Sturgis. The Full Throttle was just as impressive in the daylight as it was in the moonlight. Although the Broken Spoke boasted the same sign, i do believe this could be the biggest biker bar in north america!
Well, more like 20 and not just for me. We had ridden to Main Street and parked the bike and walked in search of bargains and a tattoo parlour for Ray to get a matching tattoo of his friends but no such luck on the tattoo. I got a new rain suit since I split the pants in my yellow "duck" suit and Ray got several sleeveless denim shirts at hot leathers (.com) Paid $5 to climb the tower to take a photo of all the bikes on Main Street. There were more than 400,000 in attendance, but we didn't register at Sturgis headquarters, so were not counted in, but we were there. The proof is in the pudding, and photographs.
We grabbed a bite to eat before heading to The Knuckle Saloon to watch the fights (and flashing). Anyone could sign up but it was pretty slow going since there weren't a lot in the same weight category. They ended up going ahead, 160lbs vs 180 and Mr 180 had way too much to drink to barely stand. It was a quick one. The most entertaining were the girls, who put on a great show of taunting and teasing but still got a few good swipes in. We met some great folks to share a picnic table with for a great view and I spent most my time chatting with a lady who was stationed at a base nearby. 
Then it was back to the Buffalo Chip to watch The Guess Who and wow what a concert! No one fell off the stage (aerosmith) or threw up on themselves (buckcherry) and we didn't have to stand in the mud pit of a concert bowl. We had prime seats upstairs in a little bar smack dab infront of the stage with a 3 tiered deck to watch and sing along. One more day of bike week left so it was plans for more shopping on Sunday and returning to all the bars to take photos in the day time as my camera is not the best at night. More pics to come! Hope you are enjoying my ramblings. Back soon with day 6! 
we gambled most the day
y Ranch in Santa Clarita, California. Guess we will have to take a trip to California now too, but that shouldn't be a problem as that is where my son lives and hope to travel there at least once a year. We paid $5 to park in a hotel parking lot and you got free drinks at the casino (if you're gambling you do anyways, but I don't usually partake) We headed over to the Franklin Inn and grabbed a glass of wine while Ray sat at the Slots. I perused over all the pamphlets to design a plan of attack (on all the touristy places) I also went upstairs to the balcony to take photos and I ended playing the slots anyways, losing 20 at Jacks or Better, but finally my game of choice became available. Lobstermania! Oh how I love fishing for lobster to the tune of the B52's Rock Lobster. Oh how I love winning at the game of Rock Lobster. 60 bucks! Won back my loss, Ray's loss and walked away with $20! Now that's successful gambling to me!
We strolled down Main Street and stopped in where Wild Bill Hickock was shot (with the dead man's hand, Aces and Eights) and played Texas Holdem'. The rules were 5/10/kill and within no time, I was out $50 and stepped away from the table. Ray lost $50 and stepped towards the ATM lol! A while later he was out another $100 so we headed back to the street but it had started to rain, then hail, dime size, nickle, quarter then REALLY hail! Loonie and Toonie size! Ok actually golfball size but I was stay with the gambling theme of $$!!! We stood at the window and watched the bikes get pelted, and a sign us above get smashed with glass crashing down on the sidewalk. 
Ray threw a $20 into a machine while we were waiting for the storm to pass, down to $10 and won $460! Pretty much paid for the past two days! Thankfully the hail only lasted around 20 minutes (and no more money was lost to the slots) so we headed back to our bike to see how it faired and all was well.
flying past The Boars Nest with bikes, bikers and picnic tables outside. We instantly thought of our favourite watering hole in Seven Persons and knew that stopping in was on the list of things to do when we returned next time.
After returning home, we road to the World's Biggest Biggest Bar, The Full Throttle to discover they did not fair so well. As we walked in from the parking lot there was a row of cars with smashed windows. Our bartender explained about the baseball size hail and since the bar is mostly outdoors, no wonder it was not busy at all. We headed across the highway over to Monkey's Rock and it was almost empty as well.
Then it was back into town and stopped at the Broken Spoke, but even that wasn't very busy either. I guess the storm sent a lot of people home, especially if they were camping and the rest were at the other two big bars in town... or make that 3. The karaoke place was always hopping, but we passed it over to go back to the hotel to watch the news and weather channel about the recent storm, and rest up for the next plans. SHOPPING!
We headed out with our friends to Rapid City and I thought of the first time I went there as a kids on summer vacation with my parents as we rode past the Reptile Gardens. I still can see the polaroid photo in the photo album of me and my two sisters sitting on a giant tourtoise and the one of my dad holding a huge snake around his neck. No need to stop in and visit this time round as we have a huge cornsnake named Fluffy at the farm and over the past few years have sheltered a tarantula, lizard, frogs, hermit crabs and more (cuz that's what little boys are made of apparently)
We rode through Keystone then stopped on the side of the road to take pictures of Mt. Rushmore (from both angles), headed up the highway to Crazy Horse and then back tracked to ride through the Needles Highway. I was on the back of Ray's bike snapping pictures left right and crazy... and really need to learn to sit more still after a wobble near the edge of the narrow steep road sent my heart into my throat.
We road back via the Iron Mountain Road that had just as many tunnels as the Needles Highway but with views of Mt. Rushmore when driving through. We almost stopped in Keystone for a bite to eat but headed for Rapid City to try and out run the rain. Bad choice. We should have stayed put and waited for it to blow over since it was a good 15 minute ride in pelting rain before we could stop for something to eat in RC. After warming up and drying out a bit, it was back on the bike to Sturgis and then showered and ready for a night on the town.
then over to the Oasis for some karaoke (crazy people, only 1 song for me), and got spanked at 
One Eyed Jacks (not me, only 2 of the guys)
Then we took the long way home via McDonald's for $1 burgers and home and in bed by 4!!! I guess technically it was day 4, but sleep is much needed before heading out that day!
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