2015 Harley Road Trip: Part 4, Sturgis

2015 Harley Road Trip: Part 4, Sturgis

With Sturgis in my rear view mirror, I headed west towards the Devils Tower, made famous by the movie, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The Black Hills are a beautiful place to ride but as I discovered, during the Rally, everything (and I mean everything) is just too impacted for my liking.

I took back roads to get to the Devils Tower and every inch of the way was beautiful. The moment when one gets their first glimpse of the formation from afar is a moment they’ll never forget. Absolute amazement!

It is another tourist destination but since I got their early, I was able to find parking.

Back on the road, I planned on heading west through Wyoming and make my way to Yellowstone. The plan was to find a campground just outside of the Park for the night where I could pitch my tent and then take my time riding through and exploring the Park in the morning. Little did I know that the campgrounds just outside of the park prohibit tent camping……something to do with wild grizzly bears. Ok then.

Arriving at the entrance to Yellowstone, I knew I had just enough daylight left to get me through the Park and into the Grand Tetons.

Luckily, I made it in time to see the Tetons just before the sun set.

Majestic! The problem was though, I had nowhere to sleep and then there was that whole hungry pissed-off grizzly bear thing. Because there was also a chance of rain, I made the decision to ride to Jackson Hole and find a room for the night.

It was around 9pm and dark when I made it to Jackson Hole. My first stop was at some yuppie looking lodge. It looked pricy but I was desperate. They had one room left for a mere $1400 for the night. Thank you but no can do. The receptionist also informed me that there were no other vacancies in the whole town. As I rode farther into town, it appeared she was correct. I rode through town and as I approached the very last motel, the “No Vacancy” sign switched to “Vacancy.” I guess timing is everything. I pulled in a second before a car did and got to the door a step and a half before the woman in the car got to the door. Normally, I would have been a gentleman and opened the door for her and let her in first but not tonight. No, tonight I am a real prick. They can sleep in their car if need be…..I’m getting this room! And, I got it. Of course, I had to kill chivalry… Made it my bitch!

After a great night’s sleep, I loaded up and made it to the local Starbucks in downtown Jackson Hole. Jackson is a beautiful destination with a vibe that it’s really for the rich and famous. Kind of a pseudo-cowboy Nirvana or an “I’m too cool for Aspen” kinda place. Whatever dude, I’m making tracks outta here.

For the most part, the day was uneventful. I did discover the best bacon on the planet at a small diner called "Pickles Place."  The pancakes were delicious too.

I spent the whole day traveling across southern Idaho. At a rest stop in the middle of Nowhere, Idaho, I got photo gang-banged by a group of Japanese tourists rushing out of their tour bus to get pictures of me on the Harley. That was weird.

I ended up at the Oregon / Idaho border and found a room for the night. It was a long ride and a long day