I have a story from Sturgis that I've gone back and forth about sharing because I don't want anyone to think I am trying to get a pat on the back or comments on how nice I am. I want to tell it because I want people to realize that a small act of kindness and acknowledgement can go a long way.
Dan and I were wandering through all of the vendors in Sturgis to try to find a better deal on a shirt that Dan wanted to get. As we entered one of the vendor tents I spotted a gentleman standing off to the side, seeming like he'd love to be anywhere but there. As I observed him more I noticed that on his vest were patches that read Vietnam Veteran, etc. It appeared that maybe he was working there. He didn't talk to anyone unless they asked him a question and he just had this sad look about him. We had worked our way over to this table that was near where he was standing. I got this feeling in my heart that I wanted to say something to him. I walked over to him and took his hand in mine. I looked directly into his eyes and he gave me this very startled look like, what the hell lady! I said to him...Sir, thank you very much for the service that you gave to our country. I appreciate all you sacrificed. He looked back at me and said...Wow, you are welcome. I squeezed his hand ever so lightly and walked away.
As Dan paid for the shirt he wanted, I observed this man again. He went from lurking to the side of the tent, to walking up to people and talking to them in a matter of a couple minutes. And the best part about it, he had a smile on his face.
The point of my story is that if you feel something in your heart do it, say it. The feeling that you have could uplift someones spirit and help them through the day. I guess I'm all about supporting our real heroes. The ones that put their lives on the line for our freedom. As D-Day has said a couple times...maybe I should change my name to Iowa Patriot Girl. I just have such a love and respect for our military that every chance I get I tell them how much I do appreciate them. I think my whole thing is, lift up those that are real heroes, they need to know what they are doing or did is that important!
Showing posts with label Sturgis 2008. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sturgis 2008. Show all posts
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
The Long Ride To Sturgis 2008
This video cracks me up. These guys are even more hardcore then the trailer queens!!! LMAO!! Too funny...I'd classify this guy as a RUB. (Rich Urban Biker)
Saturday, August 16, 2008
The Ride Home...
Thursday, August 7th we got on the road headed back east toward the great state of Iowa. We got to Wall and stopped for breakfast at Wall Drug. Blonde's love Wall Drug and they also love hanging out with good looking bikers.
The next stop was Oacoma, SD and Al's Oasis.
We made it to Mitchell, SD about 4:00 and decided to tough it out and ride to Sioux Falls and stay the night there. I'd like to thank the biker chick at the gas station that told us the exit to take in Sioux Falls to find a hotel to stay at. We stayed at a Sleep Inn and it rocked.
Along the way I had plenty of time to think about things. I kept thinking how tough and strong biker women are. It takes a lot to sit on a tiny pillion seat for miles and miles and not bitch about it at all. A trip like the ride to Sturgis is a test of how strong willed you are and how much you can take a long the way. If you have ever ridden any distance you can attest the fact that it is an endurance thing. Everytime I saw a bike on a trailer I felt sorry for it. It was like it was crying out...RIDE ME...why aren't you riding me like the people are riding that bike??? LOL...if motorcycles on trailers could talk that is seriously what they would be saying!! It's very spiritual to me being out in the elements...feeling the wind, feeling the rain, smelling all the smells, hearing all the noises of nature. You never experience that kind of freedom in a car. Not even with all the windows rolled down. When you look down at the road and watch the center dividing lines fly by it's a rush. I bet it's even more of a rush riding your own and that will happen for me one of these days but for now I'm somewhat content riding two up.
I thought about all the cool people I met on this trip. I thought about how thankful I am to be able to freely ride to Sturgis and enjoy it so much. I said some prayers for our troops. I thought about how much I miss my family back in Iowa and that I need to spend time with them. I thought about my 40th birthday that is coming up way too soon. I thought about getting a tattoo. I thought about all of my blogger friends and thought about us all getting together next year. I thought about what I was going to write here. I thought and thought some more about so many things and finally we arrived home on Friday, August 8th....Home Sweet Home. 1749.6 miles and we were back where we started the Saturday before.
I spent Saturday really pretty depressed. I missed being in Sturgis...I missed all the bikes and the people. I even cried and that's when Dan said to me...Stephanie...only 51 weeks to go until the next one and we are there! That cheered me up big time.
Thanks for following my trip along the way. It was fun posting all the pictures I took on my phone at various points along the trip. I really do hope that the Motorcycle Blogging Family that we've created can get together next year and enjoy the 69th Anniversary Sturgis Rally together.
Much love!! IHG :)
The next stop was Oacoma, SD and Al's Oasis.
We made it to Mitchell, SD about 4:00 and decided to tough it out and ride to Sioux Falls and stay the night there. I'd like to thank the biker chick at the gas station that told us the exit to take in Sioux Falls to find a hotel to stay at. We stayed at a Sleep Inn and it rocked.
Along the way I had plenty of time to think about things. I kept thinking how tough and strong biker women are. It takes a lot to sit on a tiny pillion seat for miles and miles and not bitch about it at all. A trip like the ride to Sturgis is a test of how strong willed you are and how much you can take a long the way. If you have ever ridden any distance you can attest the fact that it is an endurance thing. Everytime I saw a bike on a trailer I felt sorry for it. It was like it was crying out...RIDE ME...why aren't you riding me like the people are riding that bike??? LOL...if motorcycles on trailers could talk that is seriously what they would be saying!! It's very spiritual to me being out in the elements...feeling the wind, feeling the rain, smelling all the smells, hearing all the noises of nature. You never experience that kind of freedom in a car. Not even with all the windows rolled down. When you look down at the road and watch the center dividing lines fly by it's a rush. I bet it's even more of a rush riding your own and that will happen for me one of these days but for now I'm somewhat content riding two up.
I thought about all the cool people I met on this trip. I thought about how thankful I am to be able to freely ride to Sturgis and enjoy it so much. I said some prayers for our troops. I thought about how much I miss my family back in Iowa and that I need to spend time with them. I thought about my 40th birthday that is coming up way too soon. I thought about getting a tattoo. I thought about all of my blogger friends and thought about us all getting together next year. I thought about what I was going to write here. I thought and thought some more about so many things and finally we arrived home on Friday, August 8th....Home Sweet Home. 1749.6 miles and we were back where we started the Saturday before.
I spent Saturday really pretty depressed. I missed being in Sturgis...I missed all the bikes and the people. I even cried and that's when Dan said to me...Stephanie...only 51 weeks to go until the next one and we are there! That cheered me up big time.
Thanks for following my trip along the way. It was fun posting all the pictures I took on my phone at various points along the trip. I really do hope that the Motorcycle Blogging Family that we've created can get together next year and enjoy the 69th Anniversary Sturgis Rally together.
Much love!! IHG :)
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Day 5 Just couldn't get enough of Sturgis!!
So we are riding on down the road back toward Sturgis and Dan didn't seem like he was going to exit and go into town...I was like...where are you going? He was like...where should I go? I was like...turn into Sturgis!!! :)~ So he did. Not sure if you can tell or not but I love being in Sturgis. I love the electricity of all the people and bikes. The sounds of the loud pipes gives me chill bumps. I was on motorcycle overload each day that we hung out there. It's like Disneyland for me!!! I love it!!
We are walking down the road and I spot this guy and think to myself...you know...I sure haven't taken many pictures of guys on this trip. I decide to snap a pix of him. Thanks Mr. Biker!! :)~
We head back down to Main Street and end up meeting this totally awesome couple from Nebraska. They are not bikers but curious folks who have always wondered what Sturgis was all about. Dan and I are headed to the Oasis to cool down and have some beverages and the couple from Nebraska follow us in and join us at our table. There is Karaoke going on and people are singing a wide range of tunes. As we are sitting at our table laughing and watching everything that was going on around us who should walk in but Willie Nelson. We are all like...Willie...over here. We need your picture. Willie comes over and we all get our pictures taken with him.
Willie gets called up on stage to sing a number and one of his adoring fans just can't help herself. She has to get on stage with Willie and show him her boobies.(Willie was actually a look a like that did a show somewhere in Sturgis I think)
When Willie came back to our table he said to us...That chick got up there with me and when I looked down and saw her tits I forgot the fucking words! LMAO!!! Too funny!
After hanging out at the Oasis for a hour or so we decided to head on over to the Broken Spoke to see what was going on there.
We listened to Jasmine Cain and the Band for a while and then decide to take a trip back down Main Street to the Loud American to listen to the Appetite for Deception Guns and Roses Tribute band. Let me tell you I felt like I was back in the day singing along to each and every Guns and Roses song. And the Axel Rose look a like did the Axel dance really well. :)
It was finally time to leave my Disneyland for the final time this year and head back to Rapid City to rest up before we left to head back to the real world of Johnston, IA.
It was also Dan's last opportunity to get that final boobie photo. LOL
We made our way back to the bike and headed back out on the road toward Rapid City. As we rode further away I got big tears in my eyes...I could feel them falling down my cheeks. I know there is always next year but it's hard to leave a place where you feel so at home. I love ya Sturgis, South Dakota!
We are walking down the road and I spot this guy and think to myself...you know...I sure haven't taken many pictures of guys on this trip. I decide to snap a pix of him. Thanks Mr. Biker!! :)~
We head back down to Main Street and end up meeting this totally awesome couple from Nebraska. They are not bikers but curious folks who have always wondered what Sturgis was all about. Dan and I are headed to the Oasis to cool down and have some beverages and the couple from Nebraska follow us in and join us at our table. There is Karaoke going on and people are singing a wide range of tunes. As we are sitting at our table laughing and watching everything that was going on around us who should walk in but Willie Nelson. We are all like...Willie...over here. We need your picture. Willie comes over and we all get our pictures taken with him.
Willie gets called up on stage to sing a number and one of his adoring fans just can't help herself. She has to get on stage with Willie and show him her boobies.(Willie was actually a look a like that did a show somewhere in Sturgis I think)
When Willie came back to our table he said to us...That chick got up there with me and when I looked down and saw her tits I forgot the fucking words! LMAO!!! Too funny!After hanging out at the Oasis for a hour or so we decided to head on over to the Broken Spoke to see what was going on there.
We listened to Jasmine Cain and the Band for a while and then decide to take a trip back down Main Street to the Loud American to listen to the Appetite for Deception Guns and Roses Tribute band. Let me tell you I felt like I was back in the day singing along to each and every Guns and Roses song. And the Axel Rose look a like did the Axel dance really well. :)
It was finally time to leave my Disneyland for the final time this year and head back to Rapid City to rest up before we left to head back to the real world of Johnston, IA.
It was also Dan's last opportunity to get that final boobie photo. LOL
We made our way back to the bike and headed back out on the road toward Rapid City. As we rode further away I got big tears in my eyes...I could feel them falling down my cheeks. I know there is always next year but it's hard to leave a place where you feel so at home. I love ya Sturgis, South Dakota!
Day 5 Taking the Spearfish Scenic Byway...Beautiful
Wednesday morning came and it was time to ride again. We had decided the day before that we were going to do the Spearfish Scenic Byway. We rode west to Sturgis and took the exit toward Deadwood. First stop...Zippy P needed a little breakfast so Dan motored her in and filled her up. Motorcycles definitely out numbered cars at the pumps.
Entering Deadwood
This was one trip that I totally stopped doing the wave on...I would have been waving about every 30 seconds. :)
It was a little chilly that morning. I was glad I had my coat.
The Spearfish Scenic Byway is a beautiful ride. It's really difficult to show it with pictures. You really need to experience it yourself.
Entering Deadwood
This was one trip that I totally stopped doing the wave on...I would have been waving about every 30 seconds. :)
It was a little chilly that morning. I was glad I had my coat. 
The Spearfish Scenic Byway is a beautiful ride. It's really difficult to show it with pictures. You really need to experience it yourself.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Day 4 Back in STURGIS!!
Pictures...oh so many pictures of Sturgis!!
This cute little couple would walk down Main Street hand in hand until a group of men gathered around and pushed her little boyfriend to the side for photos. She looked very young and I heard one guy ask her how old she was. She said she was 18. Guess I'll believe her.
Here is the Loud American where the Hell's Angel was shot by the Iron Pig.
This couple was the couple about Sturgis. We saw them everywhere. There are a couple more pictures of her a post or two back in the Miller Lite Girl contest.
We were hanging out and having fun downtown and good thing that Dan was paying attention to the western sky because I know I wasn't. He suggested that we head back to Rapid City before it stormed. I'm so glad that we did because it turned wicked in Sturgis and a couple people were actually struck by lightening at Glencoe. Here are a couple photos of the storm that Dan captured while I was doing laundry.
In an earlier post I mentioned a story about me and the Kentucky Headhunters. When we first got to Rapid City we had noticed two huge buses and it turned out that they belonged to the Kentucky Headhunters and Black Stone Cherry. So I'm doing laundry and I hear the bus start up. I'm like...they are going to be leaving here soon. I'm walking down the street and I'm going to try to meet them. LOL I'm usually pretty shy but I'm telling you I was in total biker chick diva mode on this trip. Nothing was holding me back...LMAO! So I'm standing across the street and one of the guitar players walks toward the bus. I yell over at him that I enjoyed the show and he thanked me and got in the bus. I stand there for a few more minutes and out walks the lead singer. As he gets closer to the bus I yell over at him that I really enjoyed the show and he couldn't hear me so he walked right up to me and said...What did you say? I told him that I saw the show Monday night and thought it was great...He shock my hand and kept saying...Well thank you honey...thank you so much honey. Then he got in the bus and I walked back and got my laundry.
Ok...so that is it for tonight. Hope you are enjoying the photos and the little stories. I'm having fun telling them and reliving the memories of the trip. I seriously had so much fun!
Sweet Dreams...
IHG! :)
This cute little couple would walk down Main Street hand in hand until a group of men gathered around and pushed her little boyfriend to the side for photos. She looked very young and I heard one guy ask her how old she was. She said she was 18. Guess I'll believe her.
Here is the Loud American where the Hell's Angel was shot by the Iron Pig. 
This couple was the couple about Sturgis. We saw them everywhere. There are a couple more pictures of her a post or two back in the Miller Lite Girl contest. We were hanging out and having fun downtown and good thing that Dan was paying attention to the western sky because I know I wasn't. He suggested that we head back to Rapid City before it stormed. I'm so glad that we did because it turned wicked in Sturgis and a couple people were actually struck by lightening at Glencoe. Here are a couple photos of the storm that Dan captured while I was doing laundry.
In an earlier post I mentioned a story about me and the Kentucky Headhunters. When we first got to Rapid City we had noticed two huge buses and it turned out that they belonged to the Kentucky Headhunters and Black Stone Cherry. So I'm doing laundry and I hear the bus start up. I'm like...they are going to be leaving here soon. I'm walking down the street and I'm going to try to meet them. LOL I'm usually pretty shy but I'm telling you I was in total biker chick diva mode on this trip. Nothing was holding me back...LMAO! So I'm standing across the street and one of the guitar players walks toward the bus. I yell over at him that I enjoyed the show and he thanked me and got in the bus. I stand there for a few more minutes and out walks the lead singer. As he gets closer to the bus I yell over at him that I really enjoyed the show and he couldn't hear me so he walked right up to me and said...What did you say? I told him that I saw the show Monday night and thought it was great...He shock my hand and kept saying...Well thank you honey...thank you so much honey. Then he got in the bus and I walked back and got my laundry.
Ok...so that is it for tonight. Hope you are enjoying the photos and the little stories. I'm having fun telling them and reliving the memories of the trip. I seriously had so much fun!
Sweet Dreams...
IHG! :)
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