Black Hills FJR Roundup 2015 - So Far So Good - a few pictures

The Black Hills Roundup was great fun! Thought I'd share a few photos of my trip with y'all.

First, a little confusion about the marque in Nebraska. Or is this home for BeemerDon?



Plenty of horizon on the way through NE and SD.



Bell's Motor Lodge was nice, a vintage motel, well maintained, working neon under the eaves. You'll have to click here to see photos. I never got any of the outside.

The real scenery began the next morning with a trip down Spearfish Canyon.





I followed 14A into Sturgis...so now I can tell everyone who asks, "yes, I've been to Sturgis."



Out front a hack from the sidecar rally that was in town was getting new shoes. (Really, it wasn't a final drive issue.)



At some road construction I caught up with Niehart, PanMan, and JimieJimie. They must have thought Festar was with us, as they insisted on running in the left lane.



(Actually, we were following the pilot truck and happy to not be riding on the fresh chip seal.)

A while later we stopped for photos of Mt. Rushmore near one of the tunnels on 16A. Believe, me that's Mt. Rushmore behind the tree.



In Custer we stopped for burgers at Black HIlls Burger and Bun . Great food and sassy service. They anticipated a visit from our friends from the Pacific NW.



That evening back at the hotel, we got an answer to the question, "How many people does it take to change a BMW light bulb?"





Friday night wrapped up with a walk down the street to the weekly town celebration. Several streets blocked off, many food vendors, a great band, and a few FJR hooligans.



Next post, I'll cover Saturday, including food ****.

festar said:

Now where do I go now?

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How about this....https://www.wheelsthroughtime.com/ Maggie Valley, North Carolina. The eastern boys can help you on routing, enough good roads etc to keep you busy a month on the east coast.

Thanks for the pics Craig, and great to finally meet you!

Y'all are putting up some good stuff...hope my pillion photog got some good snaps!!

--G

Awesome pictures on this thread - one day I'll ride northwest.

Festar - if you go southeast on your next adventure, please advise. I'd enjoy a little meet-n-greet.

If held again this is definitely on my 'to do' list! Great pics and glad everyone had a fun time!

Saturday I was up fairly early and rolling shortly after 7. I took off on the loop to the NW of Spearfish that goes to Devil's Tower. However, having been there a couple times already, and not having visited Montana on the bike, I opted to stretch the route into MT and skip the tower. Here's proof that I made it...and that the sun was very bright.



Another 60 miles or so and it was time from breakfast. Broadus was the next town on the map. I cruised through looking for a cafe, and came upon...this.



Interesting, beautiful in its own way, and very disturbing. I mosied over to the gas station/convenience store and asked the lady behind the counter for directions to a good cafe and she said just up the road, as she pointed with one of her 4"-long fingernails. Interesting town, so far.

However the recommendation was solid. The Cashway Cafe had a number of big rigs parked across the highway, and lots of local pickups. Always a good sign. Had a good conversation with a trucker hauling blueberries to Minnesota, and as he left, I told him I hope his load ends up somewhere as nice as these did:



About halfway to Gillette, WY, I had to stop for more road construction, so took the opportunity to snap a photo of the landscape. Not much need for twisty roads in these parts...



During yesterday's ride, we passed through Custer and missed stopping at a local landmark. I know it broke Niehart's heart, so I set out to correct that oversight.



Peach ala mode! (It's a little fuzzy...I'm guessing I teared up a bit.)



Properly fortified, it was back up through Spearfish Canyon with a stop at Bridal Veil Falls. Good light late in the afternoon, and plenty of falls thanks to the recent rains.



Back in Spearfish, change into shorts, a bit of chatting in the parking lot a bit, then several of us walked over to the steak fry in the park. Big John was keeping a close eye on everything, making sure everyone had a good time. He succeeded.







And THIS, my friends, is one world-class meal! Thanks to Kevin (AbercrombieFJR) and Bryan (festar) for cooking steak and sides, and to John's wife (Jeannie? my apologies, we were never formally introduced) for desserts. Outstanding hospitality!



Thanks again John. Great opportunity to meet fellow forum-ites and to put real-world faces with cyber-identities. Most of 'em aren't nearly as bad as this place might lead you to believe...

The wife and I made it home today about 1:00. We ended up with 3600 miles, 7 States, 5 National Parks, and 1 amazing trip. Not to mention a lot of new friends.

I almost forgot 1 new shelf liner...thanks Jill.

Craig great pictures and write up.

hee hee still playin'...

dcarver said:

hee hee still playin'...

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rat ..

Big Rat to you!

dcarver said:

Big Rat to you!

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Why don't you go swing on a bridge, oh never mind, you already did that. Aside from a little blood, that is a pretty cool suspended foot bridge across the Kootenai River Falls.

Rat ...

Jeez. Play nice you two , or not

Good RR. Thanks to all who posted pics.

Beautiful pictures Charles.

Nice pictures Scott

Kind of reminds me of a police line-up, Beartooth Pass. Spearfish was awesome and the ride there and back wasn't too bad either. Thanks John!

Niehart said:

Kind of reminds me of a police line-up . . .

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Except the cops always have just the one real suspect.

I started a separate RR/thread here. B)

Thanks to all for coming, for your kind words and comments etc....

Will be in Red Lodge MT this coming Wednesday and plan on checking out a few places for a suitable venue for a 2016 Red Lodge Roundup!