Rides to Remember

2001 South Dakota State (Rainy) Rally Ride

By Twig

I started out Friday 9/14/2001 running late to Steve Sayler's  The guy who fell down the stairs @ the picnic) house. We head over to the High Country dealership to see if anyone wanted to tag along to Deadwood, no takers. So we hit the road up I-25, and north on US-85 outside of Cheyenne. Now I have never taken this route (I usually take I-25 to US-18/20 to Lusk, then north on US-85) to Deadwood & Sturgis and was wondering how much longer it would take. Actually this route is 18 miles shorter but takes about the same amount of time since one needs to ride slow thru towns en route to Lusk along hwy 18/20. As we drive thru Lusk, townspeople are just finishing up their noon prayer service for those who lost their lives on 9/11/2001. We grab a burger at the Silverdollar and hit the road again. After Newcastle, clouds thicken the sky and at S.D. border we encounter light rain. Now it's raining and cold approaching Deadwood. 1st Gold Hotel is the HOG headquarters for this rally. We see Harleys with S.D.,N.D., Iowa, etc. even a couple of CO plates. No one familiar in the casino, but who's there to sign us up "Rabbi" ! $33 entry fee, we get a walking casino poker run card in which I get 2 pair (losing hand). The music event for the nite (Deadwood Jam) had been canceled, not because of rain, but of a quiet nite request from the President. Delbert McClinton is now playing at the #10 Saloon for $10. We didn't see the band (Although he sounded great) just a bunch of dancing drunks including a Dolly Parton wannabee (Yuk). The next morning, back to 1st Gold for $.79 breakfast and find my girlfriend outside just getting into town. Give her a kiss, then down to Sturgis harley shop. All is told that riders can do the run, or just come back to Sturgis Harley around 2pm for poker cards (since it raining again). Steve now heads on poker run while I head back to see the Lady. At 2pm, we head back to Sturgis to pick another losing poker hand, but are treated to pig sandwiches. Back to Deadwood for some biker games including a plunger/roll race (one walks with a toilette plunger between one's legs using no hands and hooks partner's t.p. roll between their legs then back to finish line). 20 door prizes & 50/50 money are now given out with last 6 crystal eagles given to volunteers of the rally. Now the Deadwood Jam is going on.

Great Sights

The Deadwood Jam

Headlining this show is Big Head Todd & the Monsters with Indigenous (a Sioux Indian band with lots of S.D. Indians in the crowd) opening up for them. The Jam is being held in the Depot parking lot (where most park their bikes during Sturgis week) still wet weather and cold. When the Jam finishes up we try to get some dinner, but most kitchens are closed @ 10:30pm. The gold dust buffet is open , and we where their last customers. Next morning (Sunday 9/16/01) we pack our bags and head back to warmer, drier Colorado. Wyoming is mostly dry until Cheyenne, when we need to pull over to avoid a nasty storm. Pasting by Ft. Collins, we encounter lots of bikes headed east. Steve reminds me that the "Nut Run" @ Bruce's is going on, so we head over where a few of you guys see us. This is my first "Nut Run" and didn't know so many hardcores go on this run (Bikers snorting coke and drinking from Whiskey flasks out back of Bruce's, etc.). We finish the run with 1000 miles under our belts all with the rubber side down.

Twig can be emailed at historian@highcountryhog.com.

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