With heavy hearts, we rode our bikes out of the campground Friday morning for the last time for another year. We waved to Lanna Christensen, one of the campground owners, on our way out, as she stepped out of her home and into the camp office. Yesterday, we had shared with her that we’d gotten married and embarked on a two week riding honeymoon, as during rally week, we hadn’t had a chance to talk. Lanna and Bryce Christensen are the owners of Chris’ Camp and truly our favorite place to stay in Spearfish. They are located right off I-90 and very close to every store you may need; Kmart, Walmart, Perkins, Applebee’s, KFC, gas stations, and, Spearfish Canyon is right down the road.
Within the camp are a wealth of amenities, pool, laundry, petting farm, they sell beer and ice at the camp office and during rally week, their huge pavilion becomes the TKO Bar, serving food and drinks. Bill and I are the type to ride and explore all day, and then indulge once the kickstands are down for the night. It’s just how we are. So it’s nice to know that whatever we may need is within the campground. Hell’s Kitchen opens early during rally week serving breakfast outside the camp office, and coffee stands are set up SO conveniently outside the bathhouses! So check them out if heading out that way, we highly recommend them!
Long ride back across South Dakota today. We cross the Missouri and it all turns from desert and distant hills to once again farms and cornfields. Very humid day, especially as we neared Iowa. We rode through a cloud of what I believe were cicadas along 29 south, that was an experience. Very large insects seemed to be dive bombing us and I spent most of the ride crouched down beneath my windshield as not to take one in the forehead.
It was dusk when we rolled into the parking lot of the Super 8, and met with several other bikes. The clerk asked when we checked in if we were here for Baxter Days. ? On the way to our room, we chatted with another rider who gave us the scoop. Baxter Days is an annual event promoted by Baxter Cycle, a Triumph dealership in Marne, Iowa just off I-90. Hmmm. Will definitely have to talk Bill into this one.
Short day today, only 595 miles compared to tomorrow’s 675, but it’s tougher heading east. We lost an hour today, and will lose another tomorrow, as we cross from central time back into eastern. We turned in for the night after watching the weather, and slept soundly.