Great ride so far

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I was starting on quite a ride. I left on Saturday from my home in central South Dakota. I headed north west till I hit Missouri River at the Crow Creek Res and followed the river through the state capital, Peirre, and north to the Cheyenne River Res and then the Standing Rock Res. There is ALOT of nothing.

West out of Mobridge on Highway 20 for a long time. Arrived in Slim Buttes in The Custer National Forest and did some exploring. Lots of history up here. It's amazing how many Natives and "whitemen" died at the hands of each other on the northern plains.

I find my mind wondering thinking about the Calvery riders in the late 1800s on forced horserides?marches across this desolate landscape for days and weeks at a time. We can't even imagine it.

Pulled into Buffalo this evening and went out to set up camp. Then I returned to town to find a place that had internet access for my Q1. So here I sit enjoying some food and drink and to sent an update to you and to get some e-mail out.

I have been out of cell phone range most of the time I've been out, not that that bothers me.

I am learning to love my XM radio. It keeps me occupied through the endless miles. I am traveling alone.

Before I left I installed a spin on filter kit. I do feel more comfortable for some reason having done that. Thanks Chacal

I've travelled some 560 miles so far. Its quite cool tonight, 38 degrees, so it should be good sleeping in the tent.

Will explore the North Cave Hills and South Cave hills tomorrow. Lots of caves with petroglyphs. Custers Expedition in 1874 came this way and left their mark.

There is more wildlife out here than I have ever seen. At least one deer a mile as well as Buffalo, Antelope, Eagles, Badgers, etc.....

Heres an interesting statistic. Harding County here in NW South Dakota is more than 2 times larger than Rhode Island and has a population of less than 1200, thats 12 hundred. There still are these places even in our country.

Gotta get out to camp, a 20 mile ride. Will post another update when I get to the Black Hills on Friday.

Will post some pics at rides end.

The Buff

 

Sounds like a hell of a ride GB, especially alone. I remember going to Rushmore as a kid and driving for what seemed like an eternity without seeing any "civilization". Please post those pics when you get a chance, and be safe.

 

Well the ride is complete. 1820 miles total solo. Covered South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana. Had great weather up to the post I submitted then it kinda fell apart from there.

Not many good pictures due to the weather but will post afew in the next few days.

Places I stopped; North and South Cave Hills in the Custer National forest, Slim Buttes National Monument, Mount Rushmore, Jewel Cave, Wind Cave, Crazy Horse Monument (able to climb to the top one weekend a year, this was my 6th time), buffalo Nat Grasslands, Big Horn Mountains, Devil's Tower, Little Bighorn Nat Battle Field, Badlands Nat Monument, and the list goes on and on.

The bike ran flawlessly, thats a good thing because I was out in the middle of nowhere for much of the trip. I think I spent a total of 120 miles on the super slab and maybe 30% of the time I was broken pavement and dirt.

Ran into a guy from Minnesota doing the same basic thing except he was on a 75 BMW. We traveled about 150 mile together, he continued west when I went north into Montana.

The night I spent in the North Cave Hills I was the only soul for about 30 miles and the Cyotes can sound pretty creepy, then you start to think about the growing litter of mountain lions in the area and that makes for a pretty sleepless night. Oh! and no cell coverage for about 50 miles.

Met lots of great people along the way and many were surprised that I would take such an "old" bike on such a trip. Several of them walked away saying they were going to look for an XJ themselves.

I've gotta encourage any of you out there with a stitch of adventure in your bones to take part in such a venture. I think the next one I take I will try to find at least one other to join me. Many times I thought, if only there someone here to enjoy this or that with.

Just before I left I installed one of Chacals Spin On Oil Filter kits. The best thing I ever did. thanks Chacal.

Will be doing this again this fall and would like to see if I can find a few of you guys up in this neck of the woods to join the fun.

The Buff

 

Welcome home Buff, glad your trip went so well. What an adventure! I would be curious to know what your fuel expences were.

 

Robert,
The most I paid for fuel was $3.89. The least I paid was $3.75. I averaged 44.2 mpg. The total fuel costs for the trip was $162.82. That is alot better then what I would have paid if I were in my Xterra @ 15 mpg.

I did get a free tank of gas from a rancher I ran into at a store who invited back to his place for dinner. I camped in his back yard and before I left in the morning they fed me breakfast, then told me to pull up to his fuel tank where he filled my bike up. A big hand shake and a thanks alot and I was on my way. There are so many other stories similar to that. I was quite suprised with the milage as my bike was quite heavy with gear but most of the driving was in the 60 mph range while some was even slower. I had 3 weeks to get done what I wanted to do so I was in no hurry.

There is something about being on a bike that allows you to get closer to the pulse of what and who is around you. I met so many people I wouldn't have if I was in my Xterra or even if I were riding with someone else. I think being alone forces you talk to people so you can have some sort of interaction. If I were with someone else I would to them for conversation.
I would like to go with another rider the next time though because its nice to have someone to share things with.

 

Man that's the stuff. Sounds like a great ride, glad everything went well. I've always wanted to do a long ride of that kind. The fact that you did it flawlessly on the same bike as mine puts me a huge step closer to accomplishing that. Thanks for the inspiration, updates, and getting back safe. Well done.