Adventure Ride 2018 Black Hills, Sturgis, and the Badlands

One of the first questions you get as a Harley rider is “have you been to Sturgis?”  Sturgis, SD is Mecca for Harley riders.  The annual rally attracts hundreds of thousands of riders to a town that is normally about 7,000 persons.  Even though this trip is on my BMW, and the rally is in August, I wanted to experience the amazing rides of the Black Hills.  And, I was not disappointed.

Not sure they would let a BMW in the parking lot, but business was slow this day.

Intentionally, going in July to miss the crowds, the rides were challenging, beautiful, and not crowded. I chose to camp at the city campground, in Spearfish, SD, about 15 miles from Sturgis.  Within walking distance to town, but secluded and next to a running stream, the site was perfect.

On the way to Badlands National Park, I stopped at Wall Drug.  Began in 1931, by posting signs along the road leading to the new Mt. Rushmore offering free ice water, the pharmacy today occupies an entire city block, and receives over 20,000 customers per day during the summer months.  https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2216

After visiting Badlands National Park on the way to Mt. Rushmore, I encountered the Sinclair dinosaur.  Maybe this is why it’s call the Badlands?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Rushmore

Began in 1927 and finished in 1941, this American icon has thousand of visitors daily.

The last stop on my Black Hills tour is acually in Wyoming. Devils Tower is a strange geological formation that has been revered by native Americans for centuries. Made famous more recently by Steven Spielberg in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind, it is a little eerie.

Trying to decide where to go from here, so stay tuned......

Adventure Ride 2018 “On the Road”

Getting an early start to try and avoid some hot temperatures, I missed the early am rush and started on the traditional Colorado route.  Highway 287 is familiar after dozens of trips, rides, and journeys to points north.

Arriving in Amarillo about lunch time, I stopped for the first time at the Big Texan Steak House.  No, I didn’t eat the 72oz steak in one hour.  This place is iconic tourist trap Texas, kitschy, busy, and the food was not great. There was a roving musician playing and singing Willie Nelson songs, so that made the stop worthwhile.

I chatted with a lady from Fresno.  We had passed each other several times on the way, and she had stopped there too.  She was riding a big Yamaha cruiser, alone, and had traveled to Arkansas and was on her way back to Fresno.  It’s rare to see a female riding alone (she was about my age) , but it appears she rides a lot.  She was leaving for Canada in a few weeks for another long ride.

I had planned to stop in Raton, but arriving there about 3pm I decided to continue on.  Oddly, the further along I-25 I went, the hotter it got; into the upper 90’s when I arrived in Colorado Springs.  Sticking with my habit of avoiding chain motels, I found the Green Willow motel court in Manitou Springs.  Owned by the same family since 1953, it hadn’t changed much.  It felt familiar, and perhaps  I stayed there as a child, as we often vacationed there when I was growing up.  Most of the guests were from Texas.  Manitou Springs is still a popular place apparently, as most of the lodging had “No Vacancy” neon signs lit.

Fortunately, the night was cooler, as the room had no AC, but with the windows open  and a fan I got a good nights sleep, after 650 miles on the road.

Breakfast at Uncle Sams Pancake House fulfilled my contribution to “Make America Great Again” and I meandered my way north hrough Evergreen, Idaho Springs, Granby and Walden, Colorado stopping for the day in Laramie, WY.

Temperatures were all over the place, from the 90’s down to the 50’s while riding through rain near Walden.  I passed through some recent fire areas and the fire teams were still all around to prevent another outbreak.

Adventure ride 2018

While 2017 was a year filled with travel and adventure, I did not have the opportunity to take a longer riding trip as in years past.  So, for 2018, I rode my annual Big Bend ride in February and a short overnight Hill Country ride in the spring.

After a busy start to the summer with family vacation consisting of a visit to Disney World and a Disney cruise, followed by a visit to Nashville for more family time, the bike is ready and packed for hopefully cooler points to the north of Texas.  It will be necessary as in years past to dodge the wildfires cropping up across the West, and hope for cooler temperatures along the way.

Plans include my first ever trip to South Dakota and the sites of The Badllands, Mt. Rushmore, and the other myriad rides in the area.  More to follow as the trip unfolds.

Time for a picnic on the scenic road between Marfa and Ft. Davis

Beautiful sunset in 

Lajitas 

Scenery and refreshments along the Willow City Loop

2017 River Cruise on the Danube

After arriving back in Vienna, we had decided to spend a couple more days there exploring the city.  Brooke, our daughter, joined us there as she was on her way to France from her home in LA, to celebrate her 40th birthday, pampering herself with the beauty of France.

We returned to the Hotel Bristol, were warmly welcomed, and began to explore the city.  The Bristol, located near the City Centre, and just across from the famed Vienna Opera House is the best place to stay in Vienna.

A view of the Vienna opera house from our hotel window 

The opera house in Vienna has performances every night from September through June.  Every performance is sold out, however, you can buy SRO tickets the same day.  Also, there is a large outdoor screen for the public to watch; opera and music are very important to the people of Vienna.

A performance of Rigoletto shown on the outdoor screen.

Portions of the Bass Hall in FW were patterned after the Vienna State Opera House.  Parts of thehouse were  destroyed in the bombing of WWII (accidentally said the guide), and have been restored.

These different colored rabbits were all over Vienna.  The sculptures are an interpretation of the painting "Young Hare" by the German artist Druer, which is housed in the Albertina Museum.

Brooke and her favorite indulgence.

Brooke and I enjoying a last night together at the Bristol lounge with a cigar and drinks (non-alcoholic) for her.

One last view of the beauty of Vienna as we leave for the airport, Vickie and I back home, and Brooke off to France for her next adventure.

2017 River Cruise on the Danube

Leaving Budapest, our ship reversed course and started back upstream , north on the Danube, with our destination being Vienna, which was our starting point ten days earlier.  One thing I haven't mentioned yet are the multiple locks that we passed through.  The Danube flows quite fast and has a significant elevation change from its' origin in the Black Forest of Germany to its' mouth at the Black Sea.  To prevent rapids and rough water, locks are necessary to raise ships from one elevation to the next.  We passed through a number of these, southward, they were lowering the ship, and northward the locks were raising the ship.  It was always amazing to watch.

Sheila, our new friend from Connecticut, enjoying a drink as we passed through a lock.

A view of our ship as we arrived back in Vienna

One of the most enjoyable parts of the cruise was the entertainment.  Neal, pictured here in one of his many costumes, was the host for the entire time.  A Brit, living in Norway, his antics and musical talent were appreciated by all.  Most nights, before dinner, we would have local talent join us for music.  

Being on a small ship (150 passengers) we had many opportunities to make new friends.  With most of the passengers being English speaking, conversations were easy and interesting.  We have new friends from California, top picture, England, and in the picture just above, these folks were from Texas.  The man on the right, Bob, taking a photo was leaving the cruise to visit his son in Germany, who was a member of Seal Team 6.  He had been a member of this elite squad for 15 years, had survived, and was retiring at the ripe old age of 39.  The man in the hat, Gerald Sullivan from Galveston, turned out to have been a classmate at TAMU of Ross's father; they were both in the Corps together.

In Vienna, the Belvedere Palace overlooks the city.  Once a country home for the Viennese royalty, it is now a museum that houses among other treasures, the original The Kiss, by Gustav Klimt.

Compliments of Crystal, we were treated to a private concert and tour at the Belvedere.  Performed by the Schloss Schonbrunn Orchestra Vienna and the Ballet Club Wiener Volksoper, there were performances of Mozart and Strauss selections

Completing our cruise in Vienna, we reluctantly said goodbye to our new friends, while exchanging contact info, and hoping for future adventures together.

2017 River Cruise on the Danube

Budapest is one of Europe's most exciting cities.  Having been freed from communist rule with the breakup of the USSR in the early 90's, Budapest, the capital of Hungary has grown and prospered.  Actually, two cities, Buda and Pest, divided by the Danube each has different characteristics. According to our guide, there are significant local rivalries between the populations of the two sections, with each claiming something better than the other.

Buda, with its hills provide a magnificent riverside setting for the historic and magnificent structures, while Pest with its' wide boulevards and upscale shopping areas reminds one of Paris.  With over 80 museums this city deserves more than a couple of days for exploring.

Our ship docked in Budapest

One of the several historic bridges that cross the Danube.  Budapest escaped most of the Allied and German bombs of WWII, so many historic structures are original.

The outside view and menu of Rudas Turkish baths.  Built in the 16th century, this renovated spa sits atop some of the over 100 thermal springs in Budapest.  A local FB friend had suggested we should do this and we weren't disappointed. Again, we were the only Americans among locals, and the experience of hot, sulfur smell water, along with the local people was rewarding.

Hungarian Parliament by day and night.  One of our nights there, the ship undocked and cruised up and down the Danube showing us all of the sights by night. 

St Stephens Basilica by night

And by day

Crystal cruises offers a variety of excursions and amenities.  This night's treat was dinner provided at a Michelin rated restaurant, Costes, in Budapest.http://www.costes.hu/    The food was amazing as was the company we enjoyed from the ship.