You can go to the pictures anytime you want, and follow along with a map, but here’s the story of the trip.

I will warn you now, that I’ve included almost every detail about the six-week trip. Since it was my very first cross-country trip, and my longest vacation ever, it was quite an adventure, and I do hope that you enjoy reading about it. Settle in to a comfortable chair, and enjoy the story.

Here’s an index to the portions of the trip:

1. New Century, New Plans
2. Steve’s First Trip to Sturgis
3. The Sturgis Rally
4. A Day of Nothing
5. Around Yellowstone
6. To Seattle
7. The Pacific Northwest
8. The Pacific Southwest
9. Homeward Bound
10. Reflections on the Trip

Enjoy!

New Century, New Plans…

Long before this vacation began…

During my second trip to Sturgis in 1999, it occurred to me that I have ridden halfway across the country twice. It would be really fun to ride across the country, at least once in my life. So, when returned to work, I told my boss that I will have accumulated six weeks of vacation for next year, and I would like to take it all at once, so I could do this big trip on my motorcycle. She was stunned for a few seconds, thought about it for a few more, and gave her approval. WEE! I can start getting excited about this trip!

In 2000 I turned 40, and felt like I had finally arrived at a point of contentment in life. I have a fun new job within the company (with a great boss who’d let me leave for 6 weeks!), an incredible circle of close friends, a house, and a bike that could easily take me traveling. The two prior bike trips to Sturgis had opened my world to other people and places, and introduced me to a new circle of close friends from around the country that share the passion for the open road. Add in a sense of accomplishment, independence, a healthy measure of self-respect, enough experience to know at least some of my limits, and enough experience to know that there is much more to be discovered. It’s a new century, and life is going very well.

My friends have seen me return safely from Sturgis, twice. They have seen the pictures and have heard the stories. My best friend, Jeff, is adventurous and fun. We both started riding at about the same time. We did a couple of trips to eastern Pennsylvania, and he is a good rider. He wanted to go to Sturgis in 1999, but canceled just before we left. He wants to go this year.

Another good friend, Steve, tells me that he also wants to go to Sturgis. I’m really surprised by this, simply because he is rather timid, and has only been riding for a few years. I can see the excitement in his eyes. I can tell that he’s put a lot of thought into this, and that he knows that this is a big jump outside his ‘comfort zone’. He’s ready for an adventure, and he trusts that I can show him the way. Steve has told me that he has never ridden his bike in the dark, in rain, or on gravel. Hmmm. Steve makes Jeff promise to go, so that he doesn’t have to ride back to Ohio by himself, since they both know that I plan to continue riding west. They send in their camping reservations. They are committed.

At some point in the year, I meet Bubba, from Tennessee. He’s got a few big road trips under his belt, and one of the guys from our Sturgis group put him in touch with me. Bubba comes up to Ohio for a camping weekend in northeastern Ohio, and is still unsure about going to Sturgis. My friend LB, just started riding this Spring, and is joining us on one of his first bike trips. Wagz didn’t have a bike at this point, but he drives my truck with most of our camping gear and supplies to the campsite near Warren, Ohio.

We stop for gas, before getting on the turnpike, and see rain clouds in the area, so we try to prepare. LB reminds us that he’s never ridden in the rain. As I lead the group onto the turnpike, the shoulder on both sides of the road is closed, replaced by the concrete walls. Just about 50 yards after merging with the fast, heavy, traffic, the sky opens up, and we are instantly drenched. I can’t see the road, and trying desparately to keep close enough to the see taillights on the car that was in front of me, so I know where the road is. LB is behind me, and has never ridden in the rain. CRAP! I sure hope that Bubba is still behind LB. The concrete barriers prevent us from pulling off the road, if I could even grab a chance to see if they were still there. The brief moments I am able to look in my (wet) rearview mirror, I can’t see LB’s headlight, but I didn’t think I would be able to. It doesn’t stop me from worrying about him.

After a few miles of torrential rain, it lets up. LB and Bubba are still behind me. YAY!! I pull off at the next exit. LB is laughing. Laughing! I was worried about him in his first rain ride, the heaviest rain I have ever ridden in, and he’s laughing! Thank goodness!! Bubba is fine, as well. We jump back onto the turnpike and have great weather for the rest of the weekend.

It’s just a week before Sturgis, and Bubba is still undecided. He doesn’t have to hurry back to Tennessee, but he doesn’t want to spend a lot on the trip. I convince him to stay in Columbus for the week to make up his mind. Jeff decides not to do the trip. Steve tells me, confidently, that he’s still going, even if he doesn’t have Jeff to ride home with. That’s the spirit! Jeff gives Bubba his camping space (free!), so that makes the trip affordable for Bubba. ‘The Plan’ changes, once again.

Next: Steve’s First Trip to Sturgis