We’re off to the 2010 Sturgis motorcycle rally, the 70th annual. Really, we’ll be there a few days before the official start, but there will be enough craziness going on for us (I hope!). All our gear packed in the 4 cases around the bike, Bert driving and me holding on and manning the iPod for road music. And yes, I have my leather chaps, armored gloves, steel lug boots and huge helmet with a big old fish swimming on it. Didn’t leave until about noon, and still somehow managed to ride through three afternoon and evening rainstorms. We were zooming along and all of a sudden I notice something hitting my helmet windshield. It took me a minute to figure out that it was rain. Light rain, but my jacket and leather chaps kept all the moisture out. Stopped in Tarrington, Wyoming, for dinner in a little local diner. Quaint. Great to get off the bike. Filled up on hot tea to keep me nice and warm (and ensure a couple more stops along the way). In and out of another rainstorm and patches of sunshine, and more stops to get some circulation going in the extremities. As it was getting dark, we saw big lightning up ahead, so another quick stop to don rain gear. By the time we were pulling into Deadwood, about 20 miles outside of Sturgis, it was really raining. But careful driving and determination got us to our hotel a little after 10 pm, safe and sound. After a good night’s sleep, our first day ride took us to Devil’s Tower. Bikers are everywhere – both bikes and riders are a wild variety of shapes, sizes and colors (I take that back, only the bikes were of varying colors). You definitely can’t visit the tower without thinking of Close Encounters…Unfortunately, it is in the slow process of crumbling, but is still majestic and very cool looking. We stripped out of our motorcycle “uniform” and into hiking shorts and took a short 3 mile hike around the area – very pretty. Looped around back to Sturgis and stopped on the way at a little family-owned restaurant that was slammed by big tables of bikers; the 10 and 13 year-old daughters who were waiting on everyone were great. Also stopped in Deadwood, which is like a little touristy gambling town where the movie Silverado must have been filmed – several bars and restaurants bear the same name as many characters and locales in the movie. No gambling for us, though one of us had a pull at the infamous one-armed bandit! Into town that night to the Loud American Roadhouse (which definitely lived up to its name). Ate some dinner and listened to Johnny Lunchmeat, local cover band. Home to rest for another busy day!