Alaska 2004
 
 

Day 02

July 10

  
 

Now I'm a breakfast man myself - none of that foo-foo stuff for me. Give me a plate full of eggs or an omelet, lots of pig meat, a jug of ice tea and I can travel in strength of that meat for many a day. Tom's a pancake man so we both learn pretty quick what we each will order for breakfast. That's one of the beauties of life - we are all a bit different - that don't mean that one way is better than the other. Sad is the man who has to have everything his way - he'll lead a very frustrated life. Freedom is accepting the other feller whether he puts sugar or salt on his grits. Today I've got three state line signs to snag a bit far apart, so I'm gonna need plenty of fuel that works for me. We have the opportunity to meet Paul Ward, another STer, for breakfast, so we have prearranged to meet at Perkins in Sioux City. My kind of place - good food, great omelets, and a reasonable price. Tom and I shake ourselves out of the sack at the Motel 6, get ready, and head out to Perkins. It's just short hop of less than 10 miles so we're there pretty quick. It's not hard for us to connect - you just don't see STs laying around the place in a Perkin's parking lot - especially one with a flag flying from the back. After 9/11 I determined I would carry a flag in plain view. I ride in honor of the folks who refused to go quietly like the men and women on the plane that went down in Pennsylvania field. Freedom has never been free except to the man who refuses to stand when the hour requires it. We hookup with Paul and of course talk about bikes and riding over my favorite kind of food.

"I don't know what all the talk about Uncle Phil snoring is. He was pretty quiet last night" Tom tells Paul.

"Yeah, I'm just a plain amateur when compared to the Spockster. He caused the last California earthquake when we out at Don's house. I never heard such paint-peeling racket in all my life" I add, realizing Tom ain't heard nothing yet.

Unfortunately, we have too short a time to spend together, but we've got to hit the road.

  
   
 

It just so happens that the Minnesota state line is just a 'little' detour from Sioux Falls where we will be going. We have a discussion that we will have over and over again during the trip -

"Tom, I reckon I'll just run over to get the Minnesota line. If you want to rest up and wait that'll be fine or you can run over with me - your choice."

"Well, I reckon I'll go with you" he tells me.

So we're off to Sioux Falls and hang a right on I90. Of all of the state line signs, Minnesota has the rest of the states beat hands down. Their major sign is always this big concrete looking doflitchy in the shape of the state. I grab the shot and we're headed back quickly. The South Dakota line comes up so quick I whiz right by it before I know it.

"Got to pay more attention" I muttered to myself.

I pull over, put the ST in manual reverse and get it too.

 
   
 

The next state line will take a bit of hauling to get - the North Dakota sign. One more time, Tom and I have the 'state line' discussion.

"I reckon I'll head up to North Dakota now to get that one, If you want, you get go ahead branch off to Rapid City. I sure don't expect you to humor my craziness."

"Well, I reckon I'll just ride up with you."

So we're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of .. I mean the North Dakota border. It's a straight shot up I29, and I've made this ride before from the other direction after a night in Grand Forks, ND. What this will mean is we will have traversed South Dakota from the south border to the north border, then the east border to almost the west border in one day. Not a small feat, even for a traveling man. The east/west ride will be a little more interesting because we'll be off the slab and quadranting down toward Rapid City. We finally arrive at the border and I get my shot.

  
   
  Having reviewed the map before hand, I've got a route sort of picked out. We will kind of seesaw down the backroads and end up heading toward Pierre the state capitol. This will give us a sense of what back country South Dakota looks like besides the Black Hills area that I have ridden before. As it turns out, it's a great, peaceful ride with some pretty scenery. Surprisingly to me, quite a few lakes dot the South Dakota countryside, and we get some nice shots.  
   
 

We go through towns like Aberdeen and Alaska - the heartland of the state. Having grown up in the country, I'm amazed at the great conditions of the barns in South Dakota. Back home they can be pretty sorry affairs, but I guess up here in the winter it means your livestock will still be alive at the end of the winter. As we stop by one of the lakes, Tom gives Reg Siemens, riding and resting in Rapid City, a shout about where we are. We want to get together for dinner, but don't know quite where we will be by then. We figure we will touch base again when we get a little closer to Pierre. Finally we arrive in Pierre, a little later than I had hoped for. As is my usual habit, I quiz the clerk at the gas station -

"Since I ain't from around here, where might a feller get some good grub?"

"Oh, Mad Mary's Steakhouse would be the place for that" he says.

"Howabouts do we get there, then?" I ask.

He directs us back across the river and to do a couple of turns. Tom gives Reg a call to let him know where we lighted. It's a good 3 hour ride from Rapid City where Reg and a friend have been riding and enjoying the day. In true STer fashion, Reg leaves the comfort of a nice pool, saddles up and makes a mad dash for us. His friend thinks him to be crazy, but as it turns out later, it is a great thing for us that he comes. We mosey on down to Mad Mary's and find it with very little trouble. It's not too busy, and I notice an old upright piano in the front room. Being a keyboard man, I love a good old upright and this one looks like a dandy.

"Tom, you know it looks like it's in pretty good tune from what I can tell" I say.

"You play the piano?" he quizzes

"Well, I've been accused of it a time or two" I tell him.

Tom and I get a table and check out the menu and place our order. It's been a long day and the steaks are good. Finally Tom's phone rings and it's Reg. He's close but no cigar. Tom tells him where we are and then goes out side to catch him. Finally Tom comes back with Reg close behind.

"It's the funniest thing" Tom says "I'm standing on the street corner and I see this ST fly by one way, then the other way."

He finally is able to reel Reg in and we all have good laugh about it. As we sit and talk, the hour is growing late so we settle up and head out. Tom catches the bar owner and whispers something to her. A plot is being hatched.

"She says it will be all right for you to play the piano if you like" Tim grins at me.

Well, I reckon a little tinkling of the ivories won't hurt much. It wouldn't be my first rodeo and probably not my last. So I sit down with my riding clothes on and sort out a few songs from my past. I'm quite a bit tired, but manage to get the folks in the place tapping their toes and peering around the corner at what's happening. Music is a wonderful transporter and for a few moments the fatigue of the day washes away as I play.

  
 
 
  But we've got to get moving so I cut it short. We mount up and fortunately Reg has great running lights on his ST and offers to lead us back into Rapid City. With the wildlife abundant in these parts it is a greatly appreciated by Tom and me. As we blast along, there's a great lighting show across the landscape. We finally make it to Rapid City and Tom and I are grateful to get here with Reg's help. 795 miles for the day after 905 miles the day before is quite rate of travel. But it will just be an average day's run for this Ascent to Alaska …