Road Lessons/Day 1

This was the site of one of those moments of complete terror in
my childhood: we crossed this dam at night in a terrible storm.
My mother had to get out of the car to get a better look.
I thought for sure she'd fall off into the water.
It's always good to check your memories, not so scary now!

 We left the house this morning (on schedule!) at 8:00 in pouring rain and rode an hour or so and stopped for breakfast at Bump's in Glencoe.  What I am finding out is that being on a bike, taking a long road trip, makes people chatty...they want to know where we are headed (Sturgis?), how long will we be traveling, what kind of bike are you on?  Then people start telling their own stories...Karen, our waitress this a.m., has taken many bike trips with her husband and now their kids ride too. She took very good care of us...even gave us a table for 6 so we would have extra chairs for our helmets and wet coats. We have heard about the woman who died suddenly at 40 just the other day from a massive heart attack, and was the reason for the dozens of bikers at the Tip Top Tavern,  8 Miles out of Watertown, SD, at noon today...a poker run in her honor.  Two elderly ladies at a gas station convenience store in Highmore, SD, were envious that we could take the time to go...at 80 they are still working! We met two guys from England who flew into Chicago and rented Harleys and are hoping for a quintessential  American adventure in Sturgis.

Across from the Comfort Inn you can gamble while you get
your car washed!

We have traveled 400+ miles today and already we have had rain, wind, and brutal heat: they say it was up to 100 degrees here in Pierre, South Dakota.
We were going to camp tonight, but considering the heat and the buffeting we received from the wind today, we decided to get a hotel.  We got the last room available at the Comfort Inn in Pierre, and it wasn't cheap, but they were grilling burgers and  hotdogs and set up a little buffet and had beverages to boot. We sat out on the front patio watching the traffic on the 'strip' in Pierre (pronounced pier, for those who need to know), and the sunset over the Shell station across the way.  (If you want to know how many free Coors Lites a person can drink (tolerate): 3). So with free dinner tonight and  free breakfast with waffles, biscuits and gravy tomorrow, it makes for a reasonable price for the comfort of an air conditioner!
Overall it was a good first day...we're a little wind blown, but not too saddle sore.

First, hopefully last injury: I poked myself in the eye trying to reach under my helmet to get a hair that was tickling me...I know! Lame Gerald Ford move!

Best quote today: on the cab of a semi: "You have to be lost if you want to be found".

Lesson #1: If it's raining, bring the gel seat in to the cafe with you, then when it stops raining and you take your rain gear off you won't have a wet butt!
Lesson #2:  In a strong wind it is wise to tuck in tight when a big rig is approaching so the pressure doesn't feel so strong as it passes.
Lesson#3: don't poke yourself in the eye!