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Glacier, Yellowstone and Sturgis
Part One (days 1 - 3)
This trip covers fifteen days, fourteen states and 6282 miles of "America the Beautiful". We've been home for a couple weeks now, and I've been searching for an appropriate way to begin this "Letter to Muthuh". After reading "Pop goes to Sturgis" in "Letters to Muthuh".
DITTO!
It all started in January of this year when I saw a show on TLC about "Glacier National Park, MT" and "Going-to-the-sun-road". I've been planning, re-planning, routing and re-routing this monster trip since then.
The clock radio sounds at 05:04 Sunday, July 28, 2002. I awake to the first few seconds of what is to be the two-week adventure of my life (so far I hope). An hour and a half later Lori and I roll out of the driveway in Anderson, SC with the 2001 FLHTCI loaded for Bear! Our intent is to make Glacier in 6 days. Then we'll meander down to Sturgis to meet some friends. I'd spent the last two days going over my checklist like a Fighter Pilot prepping for his first combat sortie.
11:45 same day. "OH SHIT!" Even the Pope himself would have said that if he'd seen the big trail of smoke coming from his "Harley" at 80 mph on I-40 east of Nashville, TN. My big beautiful trusty iron steed just puked about a quarter-quart of oil out her breather. We all know they do this a little. But this was not a little. So much for making St. Louis tonight. Instead it's "Appleton Harley-Davidson", Clarksville, TN at 07:55 Monday. The folks there were great to us, and it's a really nice place with a lounge, coffee and pool table. Only thing missing was a cold beer. The bike problem was a plastic guide/tensioner for the oil pump belt. Pieces of it had chipped off and clogged up the oil return from the engine. We roll out of Clarksville around 16:30 (they were short handed today), and arrive in St. Louis at 22:50 one day behind schedule.
On Tuesday somewhere up I-29 out of Kansas City we hook up with Wayne (NY) and Mel (VA) (Pic#1). They're cool, and they've got that same finger problem I do (Hehehe). We rode together for a while and then "OH SHIT!" Yeah, I actually said it again. Engine light is on. We pull over and she won't restart. Wayne pushes me off, and we blast away for "Harley-Davidson of Omaha" which is fortunately only a couple miles away. She starts sputtering as we pull into the lot. Stator is out. Oh well, shit happens. Wayne and Mel plan to make Sturgis tonight, so they have to split. They're a couple of real "Iron Butts". A quick look at the map tells me Omaha to Sturgis is around 900 miles, and it's 15:00 already. Ouch, poor Mel. Lori and I thank them for hanging with us and helping, we exchange cell #'s and after pointing out to Wayne that he favors Bruce Willis (he's heard it before) they head out. He left me a message the next day. They made Sturgis around midnight. Glad there were no Cops between Omaha and Sturgis that day. Thanks again Bro! You've got a pal in SC.
End of day 3 in Sioux City, Iowa Tuesday night. Man that beer at Applebee's was good. Lori splurged for her occasional Pina Colada. She is so remarkable. A guy could search his entire life and not find another like her. She's not one of those "High Maintenance Bitches" who require everything their way. She only bitched two times the entire trip. The first one comes tonight. But she was right; it WAS hot as hell in that tent. By the way, do you know what's the most often used sexual position by married couples? Doggie Style. The husband sits and begs while the wife rolls over and goes to sleep (Hehehe). She had a right to tonight.
Later Dude, Dandy Dan
Here's hoping I don't have to read anymore "Oh Shit's" for the rest of your story...
Muthuh  For Information, contact: Muthuh@Muthuh.com
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