South Dakota 2020

The Fall Colors Of South Dakota
September, 2020

I've had a real problem the last few years------go riding where I've not been--a good problem to have no doubt.
It's a head scratcher that keeps me awake at night.
South Dakota----I have just touched on it riding thru on my KTM 950 back in 2005 ??????
So---------Let's try this again------invited my good friend Scott Williams who is from Oklahoma.
He's always got my back on rides and...............can cook.

I had a plan that worked out perfectly as we both hauled our Husqvarna 701's from home and needed a
place to store our tow vehicles----both having Ford Transit vans. So I paid for a campsite in Wind Cave
National park. We split the camp fees and this cost each of us $4.50 a nite. Since I'm so old I got a 50%
discount. You just can't beat that---we loved it here---the campsites were primitive. It's a small campground
and not too many folks come here it seems since there are no RV hookups, wifi or cell service.
But have buffalo out the wazooo.

On the way up here I had been riding my E-mountain bike wherever I could and spent several days getting up here
from Illinois----the E-Bike made quick morning runs to the outhouse very handy here at the campground.
I rode 3 separate rails to trails bicycle routes on the way up.

I had been at the campground way before Scott arrived and when he did get here he got to cookin' and
I got to eatin'.

He fixed us hamburgers with an egg on it--------never heard of such a thing---it was delicious.
We had food, water and cold drinks to last for many days and never had to go to town.

My bike is a 2020 Husky 701 I had bought not long ago---but hadn't yet took it on a long camping ride.
Would my gear work out ?????

Would Scott's gear work out ???? He was in the exact same boat as me.
But...........Me and Scott have been doing this type of thing all our lives and are very well versed at setting up a bike.
Everything went perfectly.

I laid out all the routing using some ideas I'd gotten from other riders for all the cool places to ride.
Some from the guys that laid out the DAKAL-----Dakota Adventure loop---some of mine and even
some of Sam Correro's as his South Dakota TAT goes thru the area. I planned to ride for 2 days and
then end up back at our campground to re-group and get some more good food and sleep in our vans.
First day we'd ride South. Then we'd go off North for a few more days.
And man did we see the bufflalo.

In no time at all we hit some great riding and had to open many gates.

Some trails out here require a motorized trail permit.

The weather was perfect and stayed that way everyday.
I had almost cancelled this trip as 2 weeks before we came up it had snowed 6" in Custer, S. Dakota.
High Five had worked up hear many years ago and assured me that was an unseasonable
fluke and the weather would turn back warm---------and he was right.

Neat little cabin we found on the route today.

We ended out day in Edgemont, S. Dakota and had a great meal at the local pub.

And Pie And Ice Cream

The yellow line is our route.

A short video of today---please select HD if you have the speed.

Day 2 of our Ride

I think we stayed at the "Cowboy Inn" in Edgemont, South Dakota.
Today we'd hopefully get back to our camp in Wind Cave National Park.
But.............between us and there was the Cheyenne river crossing.
I've lost sleep thinking about that crossing------after reading about it.

I found an outlet.

All the roads out here were nothing but dirt--------no rock just dirt.
50 miles of it---the roads were marked with trail markers but were not on my gps.
Without a gps track to follow we'd of died out here.

People on rides like this like to say they saw nobody.
We saw nobody too.

Most people would scoff riding this boring looking scenery----me and Scott felt just the opposite.
This is so much better than bumper to bumper 4 wheel traffic over all those famous high mountain
passes we all know of---------I'm through with those. Ain't know different than rush hour in the city to me.

It was here Scott made the revelation----"this is the best riding I've ever done".

We finally blew into the very small town of Ardmore, S. Dakota and this was the most
prominent feature in town-------I love these old water towers.
This is just a couple miles North of the Nebraska border.
Another one of my favorite states for reasons I've already stated above.

The route took us right back into Edgemont where we got gas and headed for the
Cheyenne river crossing.

As we got there the river needed a thorough checking out before attempting to cross.
I wanted to blow across right here before Scott got here and be on the other side.
That would have resulted in disaster as the rock and mud was as slick as snot ice---and there
were deep holes out there--------I would have filled my motor full of water.
Looks easy------it ain't.

Scott is an expert trials riders----and is a better rider than 99% of the people reading this.
He scoped it out like a trials rider would a difficult section.
He don't like to dab----------but did.

There is much evil lurking in those waters. The jeep guy wouldn't try it.

Scott made it across and we all were astounded at his success.
I told Scott straight away I wasn't riding my bike across.
I didn't ----3 of us pushed it across and I was so excited to get on the other side.

The other side was a rutted hill that posed no problem for the either of us.

It was about 3 miles to the main highway-----and on the way we rode to a gated horse preserve.
And then right thru another horse ranch with horses running everywhere.

Back thru Hot Spring South Dakota we bought ice as we figured are coolers would need it.
We both have those expensive coolers that seem to keep ice for ever---and really didn't need it.
I don't want a fridge in my van. Doesn't work for me and the way I travel.

That evening someone had hung a cooked hamburger on my bike.
Probably bait for a bear---but there are no bears around here.
Bufflao scared them off maybe ?????

A map of our ride today--the yellow line is our route we rode.

A short video of our Day 2 ride----please select HD if you have the speed.

Day 3 of our ride

Today we would ride from our camp in Wind Cave National Park to a campsite we found in the forest.

The next group of pictures may not be in order----I got really confused dealing with pictures
from both of us---------hey.............I'm old.

But the fall colors were starting to come out.

This guy got tired of me being behind him and reared around in a half second.
And gave me the look.
He was just trotting along with me in the same direction I was going until he got pissed.
Scared the crap out of me.
I felt the look he gave me down thru my spine. High Five behind me thought I was a gonner.

The famous needles highway in Custer National forest.

It took me a bit to make my way thru these guys----ever so slowly.
I've done this many times and never had a problem----with the cowboys or the cows.
Just show them some patience and respect.