Heading home......1st stop, Billings, MT.

We made Stugis in 2 days of hard riding.

On the way home, our navigator said we would take 3.

So our first night's desitnation was Billings, Mt.

 Beautiful start to the day.

 We took a little jaunt out to see Devils Tower and on the way,

we passed this wood carving. I would of loved to stop, but we didn't.

 Devils Tower.

 The gift store had all kinds of neat things.

 HORSES!

 Richard and Kathy.

 Admiring some bikes from Kansas.

 Once again skirting around some rain clouds.

 On the way into Billings the kids saw a sign

FAMOUS DAVE'S.

So we just had to go eat dinner there.

 Phillip and Shanna

 Bob checking in with his wife.

 Cameron and Shelby

 Mark

 Tom

 Kathy

 Richard

 Me and Rick

 When we got back to our KOA campsite

we were greated with a family of deer!

They were just adorable!

 We had a new neighbor too.

This is, "Cargo".

He rides a bike!
Well he actually rides in a bed on the gas tank.

He had the longest eye lashes.

He just came from Stugis too.

His human's man friend was in a motorcycle accident.

He hit a deer doing about 35 mph.

He went over a cliff and was not found for 4 hrs.

He is not doing well and she is on on her way home to Mt. Rainer Washington.

By the next morning, she told us a girl friend was on her way to pick her

and Cargo and the bike up.

It would of taken her three days to get home

and her family did not want to worry about her.

I keep them in my prayers and hope everyone is ok.

 Our Camp site.

To end the evening we all played miniature golf.

Off to bed, and another early morning.

FCRC - BBQ

FCRC

is:

Freedom Cruiser Riding Club.

This is why we went to Sturgis.

They had a national get together in Rapid City on Wednesday evening.

It was a pretty good turn out and Chapter 38 hosted it.

But To kill time before we headed there,

we thought we would go check out Sturgis

ONE MORE TIME!

Everyone, on this last day, did and went where they wanted.

So all were on their own. 

Even though we usually found each other at some point.

We pretty much checked out the vendors.

By the 10th one, I am coming to the conclusion:

They all have the same stuff!

Same T-Shirts.

Same Leathers.

Same Sunglasses.

Same Gloves.

Same hardware.

Same Helmets.

And you know, the prices did NOT vary!

We saw the business liscense to one of the vendors, and they had to pay 

the City of Sturgis $600.00 for an 11 day vendor license to set up their 12 x 16 tent!

Also we were talking with one of the other vendors, and he was telling us

that they pay in the neighborhood of $30,000.00 for they spot in Sturgis!

WOW That City is making the money!

JP Cycles has a whole block! 

Wonder what THEY pay!

Everyone met back up at camp and kick stands up at 4:30 PM to head to Rapid City.

It was a great ride to Rapid City.

The place we met had cabins and the people that ran the place were outstanding!

We were told, by some FCRC members that stayed there,

when they had arrived, it was raining, then the rain turned to hail and

employees ran out with blankets to help cover bikes!

HOW NICE IS THAT?!

Then the kitchen was closing and brought over a huge basket of chips

and two trays of DIP! 

Then the next night, the place was even hosting a BBQ for the FCRC members that were staying there, and could make it. In appreciation of everyone coming from far and wide!

Customer Service is outstanding at Canyon Lake Resort!

Anyway, 

Here are a few photos of our event:

 The cook:

 Mama Duck brought her children out to show support.

Actually they were looking for a handout!

THEE PRESIDENT!

 The Umatilla Chapter below, with the ducks on the side line.

Now this gentleman below
Has a story to tell:

He comes the USA from Australia.
Buys a Harley Davidson.
Travels to where ever he wants to go.
On his way home
he makes arrangement's to:
ship the bike back to Australia when he is done traveling.

After he gets home,
He SELLS the bike!
He is allowed to do 4 a year, and makes a good living
AND has fun at the same time!

He was a guest of this chapter.

Yep, I could of listened to him talk forever.
His accent was very thick and he was quite entertaining.

We said our goodbyes, and headed back to camp.
We had lots of packing to do to leave in the morning.

Our goal.........Billings, MT.

Mt Rushmore / Crazy Horse

Second day in Sturgis we traveled to Mt. Rushmore and stopped by Crazy Horse.

When we headed out, we all decided to put on our rain gear.

Boy was it a good thing.

See traveling in the South Dakota, 

It would look, like you were headed right into a rain cloud, but then you go around a corner and you would be traveling away from it.

So you never really knew.

We got rained on pretty good for a bit.

That ole 883 was throwing up a rooster tail of rain water like you would not believe.

When we stopped here at this little rest stop,

that 883 was sent to the back of the pack...:))

This little unit stopped in too.

She was in her happy place. She loved this side car.

Said they got this up around Seattle and for the basic model

they start out at about $5,500.00...

I know if hubby had this on his bike,

I would of never drove the car!

Behind the place we stop was this huge rocking chair!

 Our ride to Mt. Rushmore.

 Did not see many policeman,
but this little guy was quite visible.

Rock formations are pretty awesome.

At the ticket center it looked like a big cluster,
but, we got through it all ok.

First view of the entrance.

Yep it is a mountain!

 And everyone had to have their picture
taken in front of it.

On the way up to the great mountain
I wanted hubby to just drop me off here for the rest of the day!

Yep I would of been content here!

Once we left Mr. Rushmore, we had to go back down the hill to
this intersection:

Note the truck and trailer.
THIS ONE was not the one I am going to talk about
but it was very similar.

We were the first ones down the mountain. Due to all the traffic we got seperated.
So we go just to the right of this curve at the bottom and
wait for our group.
It felt like it took forever.
Now right be hind us is a lot of signs stating you have to stop just around the corner.

Rick and I are sitting on our bike, waiting and watching.
My neck gets a kink in it, and I turn and look away for just a second,
when

SCREEEEEEECH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There were twenty bikes (2 by 2) lined up at the stop light.
One lone bike on the end.

I turned around just time to see
A pickup and 5th wheel trailer
sliding into the backs of the motorcycles.
The last bike in line, turned around to see it too,
and I saw him look ahead and brace for the impact!

Miraculously, I just know, GOD took over the wheel,
because as much as the trailer was fishtailing and the pickup was sliding,
he cranked it hard to the right,
took the off ramp,
and missed the guard rail and the bikes!
As he came by us he narrowly missed us too!
I know because he was looking in his mirror trying to figure out how many bikes he took out.
He eased to the side of the road just in front of Rick and I.
Sat there until all the bikes left the stop light.
Probably cleaning his shorts at the same time.

Shortly after, our group showed up and we headed back to Hill City to fuel up
before heading off to Crazy Horse.

CRAZY HORSE:
Hubby said I would enjoy this
and I did.
When you first get there you are encourage to watch an introductory video.
This explains a lot about the monument and Memorial

This is as close to the video I have found and is only in part.

 This is the road to the monument.

 First sight.

 Mark and Tom.

 They were raffling this bike off.
It was beautiful!

 The Indian and his squaw!

 Beautiful bead display.

We were going to take a trip along the Needles Highway,
but it was getting late in the day, and we were all tired.
So decided to head back to camp.

On the way back, driving through Hill City,
A maroon SUV was on our right, sitting waiting to pull out from a driveway.
Rick saw her.
"I" even saw her.
He looked from wheels to driver.
From Driver to wheels.
The tires started to roll.....
Just as we got to her!
Rick hit the brakes,
I grabbed Rick.
And we darted to the backside of her vehicle as she
pulled out right in front of us!
She NEVER EVEN SEEN US!
If I had of stuck my left foot out,
I would of kicked her bumper!

Rick said he had thought of laying on the horn, but if she would of stopped,
we would of hit her. So he thought, best he just not draw attention, and she
kept right on going and we were able to avoid an accident.

Our group behind us thought we bit the dust though!
Once again,
Our guardian Angel was with us!

Day Three in Sturgis.........