Day 6.
Friday July 25th, 2014.

Up at dawn. Back on the interstate (reluctantly) I now have a need for twisties! Pushed north west and into Sturgis, SD. Great time to be here. 1 week ahead of the "madness" which is definitely not my scene or thing! Vendors all setting up tents and booths in preparation for the annual gathering that begins on the 4th August.
OK, been there and visited. 
Pushed on and into Wyoming! Aah, Wyoming! My re-scheduled/unplanned turn around point. Beautiful! Wide open! I just wish I could have kept going. That's how I felt anyway! Gateway to the west!
I made sure to put my wheels into this state for a few beautiful miles. It was all I could afford in time. After which then, I turned around and reluctantly began my journey back home to Ohio. I needed to begin making tracks back home – to work! My wallet was running close to empty.
So I turned around and pointed the ST eastwards. With a promise to return and immerse myself in a good tour and visit here, on my way further west one of these days/tours.
Not long afterwards, crossing back into South Dakota, I made out the familiar and unmistakable silhouette of a Honda ST1300. The tapered rear cowl and taillight, the characteristic triangular exhaust pipes/mufflers ………. Like no other bike on the road anywhere in the world.
I pulled up alongside him, having noted his German registration plates and made a friendly wave and gesture, hoping he would understand the unspoken word of “where are you headed?”
He returned a shrug that seemed to say to me that he either did not know where he was going or he did not understand what I was asking.
So I tried again. He shrugged me off again.
I motioned one more time hoping he’d understand this time that I would have liked to pull over and “make his acquaintance.” Again I felt I had a cold shoulder response.
This chap does not have friendship to offer. I accelerated and pulled away putting distance between the two of us.
I convinced myself that I was not worthy of his friendship!
I kept on going.

Time was drawing close to midday. Hunger pangs began tugging at me. I fancied a cooked meal. I now thought that it would be good to take time off the highway and sit down for a relaxed, cooked meal. Besides it was hot and I needed to rehydrate. My onboard supply of fluids and snacks were now running low. It would be a good time to restock my mobile pantry.
The sign by the highway signaled my approach to the town of Kadoka, SD.
I began my search for a Bison burger. I‘ve never had Bison. I’ve been told that it’s a very lean meat. “Healthy” is always good! This was Bison territory.
I pulled into the first food joint I came to. The parking lot was quite packed. My first impressions were that it was a popular place and so must be a good place to eat.
No Bison.
Returning outdoors, I met a young man – a bicyclist, on his way home from Seattle, WA to Boston, MA.
(I would follow his journey through his internet blog for the next month and a half till he reached home. At which time his Dad rode out – on a bicycle to meet him at the MA state line and ride home the rest of way with him.
I was to later read as well that he had made mention of “this man” he met in Kadoka, SD who was also living his dream of riding his motorbike across this country!) I smiled to myself.
“He did keep his word. He did say he would be sure to mention me”, as my story had also peaked his interest.

Less than a mile down the road I pulled into another eatery and opted for a beef burger in lieu of Bison. …… and a very good burger it turned out to be too! Well worth the stop.
I was joined at my table by an elder gentleman for the following 45 minutes, who incidentally happened to be the oldest and longest living resident in this locale who engaged me in conversation from his time in the war to his admiration of me embarking on this journey.
I could have stayed with him talking till breakfast time.
I enjoy talking to people like this. It is like an opportunity to peer into the past. Making me realize how generations before me made great sacrifices in their lives to try and give following generations the impetus to follow suit in search of “better” lives. – And I use the term “better”, very loosely.
After all, it’s all relative, right?
So after about an hour and a half’s’ ride after lunch, I needed to stop for fuel and also replenish my now dwindling stock of on-board water and snacks.
I took the next exit ramp off the interstate then negotiated a beautiful unending sweeper of a right turn that put me directly into a gas station/convenience store. I was in the town of Chamberlain.


The bike drank up 6.1 gallons of premium unleaded fuel. And I drank a much-desired cold 20 oz. of Cherry Pepsi.
As I cleaned my windshield and visor of my helmet in the comfort of shade of the roof of the pump station/island, I mused at the long line of flags that I could make out in the distance; as well as some sort of water body and a bridge.
“Wait a minute” I thought to myself. That’s the direction I just came from! I don’t recall traversing that! I tried to recollect my thoughts and for the life of me, could not remember going over that bridge or crossing that water body.
Now I was really confused! I knew for sure though that it was the direction I came from.
In my state of utter confusion, I went inside to the station store clerk and asked what the flags and water body was all about.
“That’s the Missouri River!” was the answer I got in response to my question. “You mean you don’t know?”
I felt like a Lilliputian!
It took me a while to understand that I was fatigued. I had crossed the Mighty Missouri without even knowing it!
I saddled up. To put my mind at ease, I took the exit back westwards and made a U-turn at the first opportunity, that was about 5 miles down the road. I made sure to be aware of the sign that indicated the Missouri river crossing (which I earlier on had missed altogether) and re-crossed the river, forcing myself to register the view/image in my mind.
I now knew I was really fatigued.
The Cherry Pepsi began to give me a good wake-up kick. I felt better. I now recall crossing the river (on the 2nd time around) and I was ready to continue the journey, feeling somewhat fresher.
(This experience has made me very keen to recognize when I get fatigued on a trip. It is a very dangerous situation and can have serious ramifications. In more recent times/trips, I take mandatory breaks purposely to avoid this from ever happening again.)
Another sign marking a historical point in the journey of the Lewis and Clark Expedition beckoned me off the highway.
Using it as another forced break and to gather a little bit of history, I took the exit and visited the area.
The view of the Missouri River from this viewpoint was simply majestic. I was in awe at the great expanse of the river.
I chatted with a few of the visiting tourists as well and took some photos.
I tried to envision what this area would or could look like without this modern day highway running through it. And how the members of the expedition would have felt at this point during their journey of discovery.
Gosh, how enchanting!


Rode all afternoon till sundown, finding myself in Worthington, MN. My search for a close by hotel in this area proved futile. It was getting late. The sun had begun its descent in the late afternoon sky. The colors were beautifully golden. But at this time, finding a place to spend the night took precedence over photography.
It continued to get late as I sat in the McDonalds establishment searching online for a place.
I found the nearest hotel availability in, doubled back to and spent the night in Sioux Falls, SD.
It had been 404 miles of interstate pavement, but I climbed off the ST feeling like I could keep going on. I was neither fatigued, weary or aching. I felt good, physically. I think that Missouri River crossing served as my wake-up call!
The Honda ST is truly made for comfortable long distance touring! The ergonomics fit me just right. I felt in good shape although I was ready for a good nights sleep. Black Hills riding had worn me out. I needed it.
Tomorrow I would NEED to arrive home (as per my plan) to keep my end of vacation comfortably on track to be fresh and ready for work.

Next - CS Day 7.