Tag Archives: adventure

Tail of the Dragon – US Highway 129

Posted on by
Reply
Click On Photo For Video

September 13, 2025

Shaking off the Rust

The weekend of 9/12/2025 – 9/14/2025 I rode a fantastic weekend trip up in the North Carolina / Tennessee mountains and rode the Tail of the Dragon (and several other roads).

It was a bit sketchy and rusty in the mountains as this was my first real ride of any kind in two years!  Since the conclusion of my USA Midwest 2023 trip on September 16, 2023, I had only ridden about 200 miles, 200 miles in two years!

  Shortly after the USA Midwest 2023 trip I had began working two jobs and simply had no time for, well pretty much anything.  I quit my second job in late June 2025.

So, naturally after only riding for about 200 miles in two years, I logically concluded the first road trip would be Tail of the Dragon, a highly technical road in the North Carolia / Tennessee mountains.  I must admit that indeed, I felt rusty and took the pace even slower than I normally ride.  However, it was still fun, and the scenery was amazing (though admittedly I really was not paying attention to the scenery while riding).

As the day progressed I rode several other mountain roads, and became more comfortable in the saddle.

Continue reading →

Conclusion – USA Midwest 2023 Day 15 & 16

Posted on by
Reply
Click Photo For Video

Day 15, 16 Combo

Days 15 and 16 were combined to complete USA Midwest 2023.  This was not the plan of course, more about this in just a bit.

Overview

Rolled out from my hotel in Peru, IL, rolled south on Illinois Highway 251 onto Interstate 39 South, Interstate 74 East, and finally onto Interstate 57 south stopping off for lunch at Dairy Queen Grill & Chill in Arcola, IL.

From Arcola, IL, I stay off the Interstates for a while because traveling via state and local roads I believe is just way more interesting.  Interstates are great for chewing up large amounts of miles in a condensed timeframe.   But IMO, I find riding on Interstates to be boring but a useful means to an end at times.  I-70 in Colorado however is an exception to this, that is a very interesting ride. 

Riding back roads I work my way from Arcola, IL to Evansville, IN, then roll south via US Highway 41 / Interstate 69 and then roll east to Days Inn in Joelton, TN via Interstate 24.  This was the planned stop for Day 15 for total of 439 miles for the day.

Continue reading →

Motorcycle Luggage & Some Camp Gear Updates 1/24/2026

Posted on by
Reply
Click On Photo For Video

Overview

A somewhat, sort of, not really brief overview of my motorcycle luggage and some of the new camp gear.  At present, the only two camp items that are carrying over from my previous motorcycle camping trips is my ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian 2-Person Tent and camp skillet with a folding handle.  Everything else has been replaced with new gear.

The main driver for the new gear is the quest to pack smaller and lighter.  So far, my loadout for Bruce is substantially less than what I would pack for Dexter.  There are still some luxury items and things I could do without, but I’m getting old and comfort is more important.

There are always those who scream you overpack.  While I have overpacked on previous trips, this is much less.  I am convinced that I could only pack a string bikini and someone would scream I am over packing….to which I reply cool, you do you boo! 😊 

I will discuss more about the electronics I am hauling including the HoverAir X1 PROMAX drone later.

Continue reading →

USA Midwest 2023 Day 10 – Devils Tower to Fisher Grove State Park South Dakota

Posted on by
Reply
Click On Photo For Video

September 10th, 2023

Day 10 Overview

After raining heavily all night the weather broke in the early morning shortly after sunrise.  With the rain stopped, I quickly took a few photos of Devils Tower shrouded in low clouds, packed up my soggy camp and loaded up Dexter (my 2005 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic) and rolled out of camp eastward to Fisher Grove State Park Campground in South Dakota.

With temperatures hovering around 40 degrees Fahrenheit, this morning’s ride was chilly and damp.  In South Dakota, I had caught up to some of the rain systems that had earlier soaked my camp at Devils Tower.          

Total miles for today = 353 Miles, predominantly riding on US Highway 212 most of the way.

Continue reading →

USA Midwest 2023 Day 9 – Douglas, Wyoming to Devils Tower, Wyoming

Posted on by
Reply

Day 9 Overview

I depart camp from Douglas KOA in Douglas, Wyoming and roll north on Wyoming Highway 59, stopping in Wright, Wyoming for a quick gourmet lunch of Chef Boyardee canned spaghetti and meatballs with Tabasco Sauce and water, pretty fancy! 

After lunch, I continued northbound on WY Highay 59 to Gillette, Wyoming and then head east on Wyoming Highway 51 to US Highway 14 East and finally northbound onto Wyoming Highway 24 to Devils Tower, Wyoming.

Total miles for today = 178 Miles, so a low mile’s day that allowed for some relaxed riding and plenty of time to set up camp and hike around Devils Tower.

Continue reading →

USA Midwest 2023 Day 8 – Black Hills to Wyoming

Posted on by
Reply
Click On Photo For Video

Day 8 Overview

Day 8 covered roughly 206 miles, leaving plenty of time for railfanning (watching & recording trains).   

I departed camp near Keystone, South Dakota (Grizzly Bear primitive campground) and proceeded west to Wyoming via SD Highway 244, U.S. Highway 385, and U.S. Highway 16.

In Wyoming, I rolled through the Thunder Basin Grassland, Powder River Basin and ended the day at Douglas KOA campground in Douglas, Wyoming.

Continue reading →

USA Midwest 2023 – Day 7 – The Black Hills South Dakota

Posted on by
Reply
Click Photo Above for Video.

Day 7 Overview

Total Miles for day 7 was only about 42 miles, mostly consisting of a loop departing from Grizzly Bear Campground near Keystone, SD to Mount Rushmore and then through Custer State Park on South Dakota Highway 87, to Keystone (to get some supplies), and then back to camp. 

Continue reading →

USA Midwest 2023 Day 6 The Badlands South Dakota

Posted on by
Reply
Click Photo Above for Video

The Badlands

September 6th, 2023

Day 6 Overview

Total Miles for day 6 was 253 miles starting at the Badlands Hotel & Campground in Interior, South Dakota.  The highlight of today’s ride was rolling through the Badlands National Park offering up some stunning and rugged scenery.  The day concludes near Keystone, South Dakota where I camp for two nights in the Black Hills at the Grizzly Creek Primitive Campground.

Continue reading →

USA Midwest 2023 Day 5 – North Platte, Nebraska to Interior, South Dakota

Posted on by
Reply
Click on Photo Above for Video

North Platte, Nebraska to Interior, South Dakota
September 05, 2023
Today’s Miles = 286

Continue reading →

USA Midwest 2023 Day 4 – September 04, 2023

Posted on by
Reply
Click on Photo Above for Video

USA Midwest 2023 Day 4 starts in Onawa, Iowa as I roll through town and north to Whiting, Iowa.  From Whiting, I cross the Missouri river and south on US Highway 75 to Omaha, Nebraska and then end the day in North Platte, Nebraska, 368 miles for the day.

Continue reading →