Just about ready for NatSTOC in South Dakota

A friend posted his lament about his layoff from motorcycling... he had been having back trouble and his Mom was very sick. He rode to see her... she got better.

I get it... I used to visit my Grandma every year... can't do that anymore but I do go look at the cabin and have a little sniff. My favorite place in this world. I wish I had thought to be prepared to buy it myself.

Update: I had a great time a NatSTOC...

I got a new tent that was a big hit. It rained the first night and it was lovely. The tent was superb but I pitched it a bit close to the brideg over the creek. The rain had made the bridge slick so I ended up being the Troll. I had perticulary fun with little Kent and his Mama. The rest of the photos are here

Ready for NatSTOC 2012

Tent's ready

CreSTOC - May 27 to Jun 6, 2012

SUN May 27 - Billings to Three Forks, Montana - 176 miles 176 miles total
No pictures today...  it was too wet... I do have a new waterproof camera
176 miles in a drizzle and a bit of sleet on Bozeman Pass.
When the weather closed in at Three Forks I stopped for the night...
did not relish the idea of setting up the tent in the rain at the Airpot like I have in the past

MON May 28 - Three Forks to Clarkston, WA - 453 miles (Garmin player link) 629 total
I posted quite a few pics even though it continues to rain on me most of the day.  Chose to go over Pipestone Pass rather than fight the spray for the trucks on Homestake Pass.  The rain thinned a bit but never really quit. Rode Lolo pass to Orofino then the P1 road to Hendrick and the Old Spiral Highway into Lewistown. Try looking to see if their was camping at the Airpot park but ti was raining pretty hard again so Motel 6 in Clarkston, WA.  When I got settled I fired up the computer and found out the Bill Pratt had passed away while I was riding the "ST Mother Road" I was thing of him all day and made a video of the ride.  I'll post it but it may not be proccesed for a bit.

TUE May 29 - A sad day... Rest in Peace Bill Pratt.
 I'll need to decide where to go today...
I am disinclined to continue to CreSTOC but maybe hang around and ride to Oregon - Washington Coast instead. That way I can be around to attend the Memorial.

Photo at left - Bill and Marsh Pratt lead the way





As it turned out, we continued to CreSTOC... Bill would like that

WED May 30 - La Pine, OR to Rio Dell, CA 417 miles

THU May 31 - Rio Dell, CA to Tomales, CA 257 miles

Stealth Camping behind the Presbetarian Church

FRI Jun 1 - Tomales to Greenfield, CA via PCHighway 230 miles

SAT Jun 2- Greenfield to Crestline on a Walkabout 414 miles

SUN Jun 3 - Crestline to Carmel via Angeles Crest Highway

Mon Jun 4 - Carmel, CA to Stranded on the Pass with the Waggoneers

Tue Jun 5 - Adventure Campground west of Lake Tahoe to Wells, NV

Wed Jun 6 - Wells, NV to Home 630 miles

Sun Jun 10 - Ingrid's Wedding - I thought about Bill all days as this was the day of his Marq Party.

Post Moonshine - Ready to roll

I missed a few posts... I'll get back to them but there wasn't really much going on... I went out to the farm yesterday to make sure there wasn't any trash left.. Was stuck in Casey, IL waiting on a new rear tire. Managed to get two Moonburgers in the process and visited Terry Hammond's grave. I have been the only guest for two nights. Casey has great nice people. A local gave me a ride to the shop after my tire arrived. I pulled the wheel in the Comfort Inn parking lot just as the UPS truck pulled up. Lots of train traffic here but no sun so I didn't bother with photos. My little camera quit, it got wet. So did my old waterproof Magellan GPS... I think it will eventually dry out. (IT DIDN'T) 1600 miles I did in the rain... I don't think it was that waterproof. My bicycle GPS is still working so I won't get lost.

Headed for Bonne Terre, MO to do some family history stuff tomorrow, then Kansas City the next day.

SPOT will be on
Pictures are here

Moonshine Lunch Run - raining again

It rained last year too.  Helen told me it would be nice next year.  I don't trust her.

Terrys Farm

Left Donnellson Iowa in heavy rain
 
Made it to Terry's Farm about 5:30 pm

Johnny O gave me a warm greeting and helped me set up the tent.

Later that evening we went to Richard's Farm for the Banquet.

For all the pictures go to my Smugmug site

Click here for the Garmin Player Map for April 13, 2012

Moonshine - Badlands bad

Wind and more wind.. and it never got above 57F.. it's cold. Next time I'll bring the Si instead of the ST. Finally ran out from under the clouds but was slowed down running about 60mph for most of the day. Still about 650 miles to go. See ya there.

All the photos on Smugmug

And SPOT