Where the Mucca is Winnefucca?

Day 1 - Sturgis 2012
Day one went without a hitch.  Really, we did not tow the bikes!  This is our first time time to make the trip without towing our bikes.  In Sturgis you can buy patches for your vest that say "I rode mine".  I looked and looked for "I towed mine" patches, but sadly never saw one.  It is a different feeling to ride all the way to Sturgis.  We saw a lot of bikes being trailered, and can only assume they were heading to the largest Harley gathering in the world.  As we passed them on the bikes, I would sneer at them in their cushy trucks with air condition, cup holders, heated seats, XM radios...ok, that does sound a lot like my motorcycle.  Anyway, we sneered and uttered "pussy" under our breath.  How good it is to be so righteous.

We left this morning at the crack of dawn, actually 8:45, from the Starbucks in Benicia.  The weather was overcast and cool, perfect riding conditions, but unfortunately did not last for long.

L to R: Kirk, Patty, Pam, Ray, Julie, Dave

Today's journey took us from Benicia to Truckee where we made our first gas stop.  It was also a good opportunity to shed the jackets as the sun and temperature were both on the rise.  Julie was on the bike for the first leg with Patty and Pam, manning (womanning) the truck as we have a 2 person in the truck rule.  We met shortly thereafter for lunch in Verde, Nevada.  It was a lovely lunch at the Jack in the Box.  This was clearly a break in Mild Hog tradition as we eat strictly at Subways while on the road.  Oh well, I suspect we will be breaking many traditions with the women on board.  After lunch, it was a boys only ride  to Winnemucca.  Wow was it ever hot!  The temp was 96 when we finally stopped.

Jerry has been on our minds constantly.  We've never been on this run without him.  We have been filling in as best we can.  I rode in the back and tried to look out for all the riders, just as Jerry always did without ridiculing anyone's riding, at least not where they can hear.  Kirk even spotted a deer!  It had been hit by a tractor trailer, but none the less, he did spot it.

It is good to have new prospects, Ray and Pam on the ride.  Their stories are new, at least for now, so it helps.

Tomorrow we head for Jackson Hole which is 60 miles outside of Yellowstone.  It will be a long day so I will close for now.  I promise more pictures tomorrow.  Ansul Adams (Julie) took a few pictures today, but to be honest with you, Nevada is not exactly picturesque, after all, it is the smoking section of California.

More tomorrow!  See you on the road.