Mark's trip is complete

I'll write more about the final part of the trip, but for now I'll simply say that from start to finish, this was an experience of a lifetime.

Left Spearfish, SD at 6:20 am on Wed. Arrived at home at 4:45 am on Thurs. Rode 1123 miles straight through. Time to sleep.

Hi Kansas.

First time on a bike in Nebraska

The ride home begins

18 days ago, I left Texas on the beginning of the motorcycle trip of a lifetime. Today, I'm going home. Going to try and make it SS1k number 3. Fingers crossed.

Inside the Full Throttle

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More Main St

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Main street in Sturgis

This is just part of one block

We made it to the famous Full Throttle Saloon

It's everything you've heard and more. The midget wrestling was new for me.

It's official

The official Sturgis 2010 picture

Deadwood again

Sent from my iPadStopped in traffic in Deadwood on our ride today. Not sure what it is that Tina is doing to Raimonds...

My new ride

Sent from my iPadThe new bike where we stopped for lunch on a ride through the Black Hills today (Monday). Stopped for lunch at a place that had many, many bikes there.

Everyone's garage should look like this

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Deadwood, SD

Sent from my iPadTook a ride into Deadwood, SD on Sunday. This is one view of the downtown area. Pretty neat little town, complete with legal gambling in casinos. Real ones...not the Indian Reservation kind.

Say hello to my new friend

The trip took an unexpected turn today. This is my new bike. It's an Arlen Ness custom. I'm in shock.

Oh give me a home...

At


Sent from my iPad...where these buffalo roam. Being in the middle of a 600 head herd of buffalo, I couldn't help but wonder what it must have been like during the early times in our country's history when millions of these magnificent creatures roamed the plains. At the same time, Raimonds and I wondered if it was wrong to be eating buffalo jerky while sitting in the middle of this herd. I knew it would be wrong to offer them any...

Beautiful country

Sent from my iPadJust a small example of the type of land we were so fortunate to experience today.

Rambo and Tina on the quad

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4 wheels, but lots of fun

Sent from my iPadSpent the day at a buffalo ranch, in a secret, undisclosed location. I've never played with quad ATV's before. Played hard with this one today! Have the blister on my throttle hand to prove it.

And Sturgis begins...

Say hello to Bart the Buffalo

Bart is one of the family pets. He like to be petted.

Aladdin, SD

Sent from my iPadA 110 year old general store in Aladdin, SD. Population - 15. Very fun place to stop and look around. It's the real deal.

South Dakota

Sent from my iPadFinally arrived at our destination state, South Dakota. Home to Sturgis and that other famous little place called Mount Rushmore.

Raimonds says..."me likey a lot"

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Hi Wyoming

Sent from my iPadSpent the better part of the ride today traveling north along the eastern edge of Wyoming. The majestic scenery of the desert southwest and Colorado mountains has given way to a different type of beauty in the wide open, grass-filled plains of eastern Wyoming. Same straight roads that we experienced in Arizona and Nevada, but with a much "softer" feel to the scene with sand and rock replaced by grass and some trees. Seeing how our country transitions from one type of geography or topography to another is quite fascinating. Not something you can appreciate when flying over this part of the country.

Our welcome to South Dakota

As we pulled into Belle Fourche, SD and the beautiful home of Scott and Susan, a storm came in behind us and produced this beautiful, full rainbow.

Meet Bart the Buffalo

Lunch spot in Lusk, WY

Little kickstand repair work on the Big Dog

Last full day of the group ride

We're getting ready to leave Greeley for the final stretch through northern Colorado and eastern Wyoming. Destination Belle Fourche, SD. About a 400 mile day, which will be the longest of the group ride portion of the trip.

Roberto the Italian

It's Roberto's birthday. The shirt and shorts were gifts from the group.

Breckenridge

Little diversion to Breckenridge to ride the gondola.

Tale of two days

The day started bright and sunny in Durango, CO. We split into two groups today. Raimonds and I went with the group that planned to ride the Million Dollar Highway, otherwise known as US 550. What a ride that turned out to be. As we left Durango, we passed the Durango-Silverton train. An original coal burning locomotive. The road climbed up to just over 10,000 feet as we crossed over the mountain and down into Silverton, CO--a famous old mining town.

We then climbed another mountain, this time reaching 11,500 feet. The road was a motorcyclist's dream. Twisties and sweepers and even a few hairpin curves thrown in. At the base of this mountain was the town of Montrose. Had lunch. Got about 5 miles out of town and heading into the mountains when we had to pull over and don the rain gear. We were headed into a wild lightening and rainstorm.

We did another 11,500 ft mountain in the rain. It was so bad at one point that we had to stop and wait it out. Ultimately, we did most of the last 200 miles in the rain and cold. What we could see of the scenery was still fascinating.

Made it into Leadville 11 hours after we left Durango. Wet, cold and smiling ear to ear with the memory of the dry part of the day.

Raimonds and Tina at 10,600 ft

10,600 feet

Welcome to Raimond's family and friends

Glad to have you following along. Make sure you check on the SPOT tracking link to see exactly where we are in real time.

At the Grand Canyon

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Riding the 66

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Our motley crüe

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Grand Canyon

Sent from my iPadThis is out of sequence at this point, but seemed worth posting. My expectations of the GC were massively exceeded.

Ready for the rain.

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How cute are these two?

Sent from my iPadRaimonds and Tina at the Grand Canyon

Cortez, CO

Stopped in Cortez, CO for a quick bite to eat and a little fuel for the bike. We're through the expansive stretches of valley and and amazing rock structures. Now it's up into the mountains. It's so interesting to see how the geography of the country transitions itself.

Food has arrived.

Colorado border and the Italians

Monument Valley

First time back in Utah in many years

Monument Valley

The scenery in this place is literally overwhelming my senses. I can feel my brain trying to record what my eyes are seeing and there's just too much. How did I live in this state and never come see this?

Breakfast stop

In the heart of Monument Valley for a breakfast stop. Beautiful riding in amazingly beautiful country.

Little bit of me at the GC

More Raimond and Tina at the GC

Raimonds and Tina at the Grand Canyon

Hwy 66

Beautiful ride along a section of historic why 66. In Seligman, AZ.

At Hoover Dam

Live, from Las Vegas

Second day of part II of the trip is complete. Shortest day of the trip (171 miles), but also the hottest (114 degrees on the bikes). While the desert has a tremendous beauty and expansiveness to it, I'm ready to move on to new types of scenery. We went through Needles, CA today--home to Snoopy's brother Spike. Also went through Laughlin, NV which is like a miniature Las Vegas, only on the river so water sports come into play as much as gambling. Not an easy place to get to, but seemed like it could be a lot of fun.

I was able to fulfill a longtime goal of riding a motorcycle down Las Vegas Boulevard (better known as The Strip). Not a ton of fun in the 114 degree heat...but the box has been checked. Wasn't able to get a picture. Also couldn't get a picture of the bike at the Welcome to Nevada sign. No shoulder to pull onto safely. Bummer.

Tomorrow, we leave Vegas, make a quick stop at Hoover Dam, then work our way to the Grand Canyon. Lived in AZ for a year, worked in Flagstaff at least once a month during that time...never went to the Grand Canyon. Looking forward to seeing it--especially on a bike trip. Weather looks iffy...fingers are crossed that the storms pass before we get there.

Arriving in Vegas

Dinner at BB Kings in the Mirage

Sometimes, biking ain't pretty

The Men's Club turned out to be uninhabitable in 95 degree heat. We're back in an air conditioned house. But Raimonds and Tina are sharing 3 couch cushions and I'm sleeping on a foam pool flotation pad on the kitchen floor. Sadly, it's more comfortable than some European hotel beds I've slept in.

Still can't diminish my enthusiasm for what has been a stellar day. Truly memorable.