Sturgis 2015 | Cliff Note Version

Sturgis 2015 in bullet points

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally 2015

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally 2015

  1. “Someone” had the idea of avoiding the storm rolling through Omaha the morning of our departure.
    • Outcome:  A 50 mile loop around Omaha.  Pouring rain.  Lightening.  Still soaked to the bone.
    • Moral of the story: don’t attempt to be a weather man and predict the storm path.
  2. Tootsie Pop Suckers are a must have on a long road trip on the HD
  3. When searching for your friends campsite, photos of the spot are the way to go!  It’s like going on a treasure hunt.
  4. When treasure hunting – always go with a drunk girl on a Razr.   It adds to the adventure.  My advice: take a beer or two.
  5. Clint and I are a pro at tent set-ups
  6. On the flip side, tent set-ups don’t go so hot when borrowing a tent last used in 1982, but it makes a funny story for later.   Too soon, Tracy?  🙂
  7. Typical Sturgis weather = Storm 1 on Night 1.
  8. Said borrowed tent turned into a kiddie-pool
  9. Porta-pottys aren’t around when you need them the most.
  10. It takes 72 minutes to travel 7 miles in Sturgis
  11. Bikes run hot as HELL at that speed
  12. ALWAYS look for back alleys.   They are your friend in Sturgis.
  13. We are never staying on the East side of Sturgis again.   West Side for the win!
  14. Shopko in Sturgis has the hook-up for new tents fit for a King and Queen!   See #6 and #8.
  15. Finding Sturgis Christmas ornaments (my tradition) was impossible.  I ordered it online.   That’s totally cheating.
  16. Shopping in Sturgis with 800,000 of your closest friends is my idea of a great time.
  17. I ate more burgers and fries in those 6 days then I do in 6 months.
  18. I gained 6 pounds of awesome
  19. I can’t take musicians seriously when the dudes have better hair than I.
  20. Asa and Clint look dead sexy in mullets.
  21. Reapply sunscreen.  Often.
  22. Fever-blister cream works like magic on zits.
  23. Cell phone service is a bust in Deadwood.
  24. Beers are CHEAP in Deadwood.
  25. Take tip money to the bathroom/shower houses.   The lady keeping that hole clean is HILARIOUS!  She deserves all the tips.
  26. I ziplined across The Buffalo Chip Concert Arena.  I nearly fainted.  I was entertainment for Tracy.
  27. I will never zipline again.
  28. Never be-friend someone who drives to Sturgis by themselves, in a car, for one night.
    1. They may seem cool.
    2. They aren’t cool.
    3. They get clingy and pat Cyndi on the head.
    4. You try to lose them.
    5. They find you.
    6. And when they find you they say “You can run but you can’t hide”
    7. #creeperstatus
  29. My phone + motorcycle sprocket and belt = Disaster
    1. phone
  30. Said accident happened after I ziplined.   My last SnapChat was right before we ziplined.  This combo lead to a mild panic from a friend who thought I didn’t survive the zipline.   🙂
  31. I lost all my Sturgis photos from Tuesday-Friday.   Don’t talk to me about it.  I thought that is what the stupid iCloud was for.  Worthless if you need wi-fi for it to work.
  32. Still don’t talk to me about it.
  33. I have awesome friends who saved my last remaining SnapChat photo story line.  I also have awesome friends who let me steal their photos.
  34. One should ALWAYS make hotel reservations if the plan is to stop halfway home.   8 hotels later and we were setting up tents again.
  35. KOA Kampgrounds are legit!
  36. Clint and I are still pros at tent set-ups.
  37. Full recap with stolen photos coming up!

Stay tuned. 

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Sturgis 2010 and 2012

2015 marks the 75th Annual Sturgis Rally and we are FINALLY on our way!   Due to me working in the education field, taking time off in August is very difficult (if not frowned upon).  Fortunately I can tailor my schedule a little easier than others, so here we go!

We are probably already on the road as you read this, if not darn close.  We are planning on making the entire 550+ miles in one day, which equates to about 10-11 hours on the bike depending on how long we stop for each fueling.

So, in honor of Sturgis present and past, I am going to take you on a quick little walk down our 2010 and 2012 Sturgis experiences.    Each one unique and special in its own way.

Sturgis 2010 

Clint’s second trip, my first.

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The entire Sturgis experience was all it cracked up to be and more.

Especially when Clint pulled the ultimate surprise:

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… and Proposed

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The poor lady he asked to take our photo had no idea what was going on.

Fortunately she got at least one photo! 🙂

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What a fun and exciting moment.  And THAT RING!   Gorgeous diamond, custom made, bar and shield.   He masterminded the whole idea, went to a jeweler and had his vision put into real life.

He’s so good…

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Sturgis 2010

Simply amazing

Sturgis 2012

Holy beer fest, friends and awesome memories.  We went with quite the crew this go-round.   We tend to take big vacations with a core group of friends and this was definitely a crazy crew!

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Tuesday morning myself, Clint, Cyndi, John, Darin, Katy, Jade and Kayla all rolled out from our home in Omaha.  Destination: Valentine, NE | 300 miles.

Once in Valentine, we checked into our hotel, ate dinner and relaxed with a few parking lot beers.   Valentine was a perfect place to stop before Sturgis.   Last chance for an interruption free sleep, warm private shower and an actual toilet.   Honestly, that is probably the main reason we stopped instead of going the entire way in one day.   🙂

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Wednesday.   Destination: Sturgis, SD | 232 miles.

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20 miles outside of our destination:  Problem.

Thank goodness I know some really handy men!   We were up and running in no time!

And then…

Destination achieved.  

It was time to party, sight see, people watch, drink beer and thoroughly enjoy our vacation.

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Kayla and Jade

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Katy and Darin

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Kayla and I

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Vern joined up with us in Sturgis!

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Such lovebirds.

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Kayla, Vern and I

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We got stuck at The Chip for a little while.   Typical Sturgis Rain.

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We got in a little Black Hills riding.

Breathtaking

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We loved The Knuckle Saloon for the fights that we killed an entire afternoon there

Sadly, they aren’t having fights this year due to some insurance BS.

LAME

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Shenanigans

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Cyndi making Clint’s hair pretty.

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Even was able to camp with Swanny!

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FTS

Da girls

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Sturgis 2012

Perfect.

Cheers to 2015 and the 75th Anniversary!

Stay Tuned…

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The Day Has Come!

It’s the day of the 10th Annual Biker B!tch ride.

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10 years is sometimes hard to believe.   I have loved every last second of these past years and can’t wait to add today’s journey to our book of memories.

I had a Facebook countdown throughout the week.

Let me recap:

Four Days

Four more days until the 10th Annual B!tch Ride. Ten years of planned rides with some of the coolest chicks you could ever know. Each year we’ve grown. Each year we’ve gotten a little sassier.

I am DARN lucky to have them a part of my two-wheeled life… and so much more!

Let the countdown begin…

4 days

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Three Days

The countdown continues… 2015 BB Run 

‪#‎girlpower‬ ‪#‎bikerchicks‬ ‪#‎werideourown‬ ‪#‎shenanigans‬ ‪#‎windsisters‬‪#‎livetoride‬ ‪#‎ridetolive‬

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Two Days

Friendships built over shenanigans; turning heads and causing a scene as we roll through every small town. It’s the only way.

Two days… 

‪#‎bikerchicks‬ ‪#‎werideourown‬ ‪#‎twowheeledbeauties‬ ‪#‎harleysandheels‬‪#‎weowntheroad‬ ‪#‎harleylife‬ ‪#‎livetoride‬

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One Day

10 years. To me, this BB ride is more than just a ride. It’s part of me, who I am and my history. Sara and I started this 10 years ago… Just the two of us. We had built our friendship on two wheels. She was my saving grace in a time I was re-finding my path. Forming the “title” to our adventures was just something fun and silly. We had NO idea the impact it would make.

Years of friendships built. Years of memories made. We’ve gained a few, lost a few but the one thing that remains constant is the sisterhood and camaraderie. It’s hard to explain the depth of my love for this little group that I lovingly and respectfully call the Biker B!tches.

Cheers to many more years of memories, new friends, old friends and stories that we will tell for years.

One day.

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Day Of

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And now it is time we leave our mark in all the little Southwest Iowa towns today.

To my girls:

A Biker’s Prayer
As I climb astride me ride
I ask you, God, be at my side
Keep me alert throughout the day
Guide me safely along the way
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Potholes, roos and twisty bits
Oil, gravel and dimwits
Lord, protect me from each one
Until my ride this day is done
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While the engine accelerates
Let us ride as friends, as mates
But when I stop in bush or town
Let me remember to put my foot down
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Remind me that my life is fleeting
That one day we will be meeting
Let Grace and Truth with me abide
Until I take my final ride
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By Dave Woodward
bikerpastor.net

CHEERS!

And… watch out Southwest Iowa.  You have NO idea what is coming for you.

10th Annual Ride, here we come!!!!  

Float Trip 2015 | July 17-19th

 

Friday, July 17th Clint, myself, Jade and Kayla took off to Leasburg, MO to meet up with Craig and Bobbie for a fun float trip weekend.

The 7.5 hour drive down was a little daunting, but the company made it fly by.

And, perhaps the pit stops provided a little entertainment as well…

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The boys thought they needed “special” floaties…  I will spare you the photos from inside the store, but perhaps you should brace yourself for the floatie pics to come later. 😉

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Once we made it to Leasburg, we made a pitstop into Skippy’s Route 66, where the drinks were cold, the bartender hilarious and the staffing low.

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Case in point, my husband is behind the bar doing dishes and serving up customers drinks.  They were so far behind that when Clint offered to help, the bartender jumped at the chance.

It’s been YEARS since I have seen Clint work behind a bar.   9 years ago when Clint was trying to win me over 😉 he worked for a little bar called Eli’s in Rockbrook Village.  Oh man… the nights I spent in that little bar.  He was such a cute bartender.   Claire and I hit this spot OFTEN for shenanigans.

Ah, memories.

A few drinks and a shot later, we headed to our little home away from home for the weekend to settle in for some dinner, lounging and good chats.

And apparently, snuggles too.

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Saturday morning it was time to blow up the floaties and slather on the sunscreen for a FULL day of river floating and beer drinking.

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The boys named that hideous blow up doll, Verlene.   Our entire day was based on Verlene.

Verlene, Verlene, Verlene…

Our shuttle picked us up, we hooked our rafts together

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and set out for 7.5 hours of float time

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❤ that man of mine ❤

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We floated, swam, boozed, laughed, relaxed and had just a straight up awesome time.

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My suit is strapless, people.   It’s all ok. 😉

Cheers to a great weekend with friends!

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