Hot Day with Some Fiery Rocks...

This past summer we spent a great weekend in Grand Junction, Colorado.  Travel there and back...not so great. It was SO freakin' hot...driving thru the desert in temps over 90 degrees. I know bikers are tough and ride in all types of elements, but me? Not so much. Well, I do...but I bitch and moan a bit about it. This trip was no different.

After a full day of work, we ventured on the 300 mile ride from Salt Lake to Grand Junction.  On the way, we passed a sign off the highway for Moab, Utah, and Arches National Park.  Looked intriguing but it was getting late so decided to hit it up on the way home.

Here's the route we took from outside of Salt Lake City to Grand Junction. Scenic ride...

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Last night in Grand Junction was a doozey, hit a couple of the local wineries and found a nice Italian restaurant within walking distance of hotel, so...more wine. Sunday morning woke up with a bit of a wine-over, the last thing I wanted to do was hop on the back of the bike and ride through the desert for over 300 miles. And add a sidetrip? No way. But my inner conscience was yelling at me. 'When will you be out this way again?' 'Suck it up, cupcake!', 'You wanna play with the big boys, act like one.' You know...that type of stuff.  Not really sure if that was my conscience or the old man...sounds like stuff he would say. Anyway, put my big girl panties on and gave the go-ahead. Arches National Park...here we come.

Ride in was fine, we left early enough that it was still warm...not yet blazing. Admission to get in park is $10.00, no discount for bikes like other parks we had visited over the summer. Well worth it, just making a point.

The change in scenery from flat and barren is quick and the flaming, vivid colors that contrast against the blue sky is intense. Breathtaking. There is said to be over 2,000 arches in the park in varying length from one to ninety-three meters. Lots to see...

 Roads were awesome to ride on but slow going. A lot of traffic on a long weekend.

Have you ever seen such a blue sky? Wow!

 
Keep your eyes peeled for the BigHorn Sheep. I nearly strained my eyeballs right out of the sockets, but no luck.  I just read on the Park website that there are only 75 BigHorns in the park...sounds like a needle in a haystack.

Below is the Court House Towers formation.  Apparently, there is a trail around here that leads to a swimming hole. The trail is about 5 miles long...no thanks. Did I mention it was hot?

This deep red color comes from minerals in the rocks. 

Back of Towers?

The old man particularly liked this rock below...not sure why...

Think this particular arch may have had a little bit of help from the man...

Other arches and formations are developed from the strong winds and rains crashing against the rocks.

 

Long weekend traffic...wasn't too bad, but would definitely go at another time if I went again. Parking was sparse at the pull-offs and it was difficult to get good pictures without Japanese tourists in them. Did I just say that out loud? I kid...

I think this might be the Turret Arch...not sure

Definitely is the Balancing Rock below...looks a bit like Yoshi from Super Mario Bros. No? ET?

Look close....that is a person on the top of that rock!

Owl Rock is located in the Garden of Eden area of the Park. There were several people making their way up to the top...according to most sites, this is an easy climb. Really?

Temps were starting to heat-up into the 90s and with barely a quarter of the way home completed, we had to leave. It is a beautiful park and I am very thankful that I did not let the fun from the night before keep me from such an amazing place.

New Season of Full Throttle Starts November 30th - Who's Watching?

I am! If you have never watched, tune in. Full Throttle television show gives a behind-the-scenes look at how the bar is run during the Sturgis Rally.  The owners, Mike Ballard and Jesse Dupree from Jackyl, along with Michael's fiancee(?), Angie, give viewers an inside look on the ups 'n' downs of running the world's largest biker bar.

This past summer while attending the rally, we were fortunate enough to be there while they were filming the third season. If you've seen any of the 'reality' shows on TruTV, you know that they give a new meaning to the term 'reality'.  Most of the shows are anything but real...repo drivers being chased by men dressed in chicken suits, SWAT teams entering a camper while grandma eats pot brownies....puh-lease.

Although Full Throttle does not appear to be in that same category, I was pretty surprised to see some apparent scenes being set-up. I was a bit disappointed, I must say, but do understand that it is a television show and has to entertain. I am hoping that the scenes we saw were part of an opening montage or perhaps advertisements for the show, and that they are not messing with my 'reality'. In the past two seasons, there has been plenty of drama, no need to embellish.

Off my soap box and on to the show....

 

Filming has begun

Crew of around five followed Ballard all over the property

Though filming, he still took time for his fans. Much like the person on the show, he seems very down to earth...

Directing his 'reality' TV show...things that make you go 'hmmmm'...

These are the filming bartenders...or so it appeared. The hard working beer slingers were out front, these ladies were there to look good and hand out a few beers...they did both.

 More crew

Interviewing the bartenders...

More bartenders...I think she forgot her underwear...

 

 This scene played over quite a bit, seems like it might be part of the show intro? Will have to tune in...

Filming in the burn-out pit...

Burnin' some rubbah...

Nice tatts...

Then there were these two...I don't know what to say. Were they part of the show? Were they trying to be on the show? No idea...they were just walking around half naked...drinking soda...at 4pm...on a Thursday. Maybe that's their thing, I don't know...

Free FTS tattoos...remember last season when Michael caught Angie in here getting a spider tattoo on her foot? Bit of an overreaction, I would say...

Now that's a fan...

These ladies might look familiar...one is on security and the other handles the girls and all that comes along with that...

FTS, more than just a bar...

I guess he will have to catch the show on TV...

 FTS Pimp My Ride

These are the cabins that are shown on television...remember Fajita Mike kicking in Jesse's  cabin door after 38 shots of tequila....damnnnn. I think he was fired and we won't be seeing him back, but there is always hope. That was some good TV right there....

And good TV it is. With a DJ named Goat who quits every year; a chef who drinks all the profits; raging storms with golf-ball sized hail; light-fingered employees who don't appear to notice the hundreds of cameras; cat-fights and bar-room brawls; an aging rocker with a chain saw that shoots himself out of a cannon; and of course the bikes...this show does not need any 'direction'.  Let the reality play out, TruTV...don't mess with this show.

And, we never saw Angie...boo. I think we were in bed by the time she comes out, but there is always next year. And until then...

See you on TV, Mr. Ballard.

PS - These are only my opinions and I have made a gazillion assumptions. My reality could simply not be theirs...just saying...

Sturgis, Day Three - Saved the Best for Last

On our 3rd and final day, we woke up to a gorgeous blue sky and temps already soaring well in to the 80s. With so little time and so much to still do, we hit the dealership by 9am.

Black Hills Harley Davidson is located in Rapid City, right off exit 55, I-90 on Harley Drive.  http://www.blackhillshd.com/


Each year during the rally the store has over one hundred vendors, entertainment and free parking. I think the hours were 8am - 8pm...noticed when we drove by at night that it seemed to close early.



Was surprised to hit some traffic heading in so early...but then again, I am always surprised when I wake up too early for my liking and life is moving along at a quick pace.  They had good traffic control though and we were in and parked in the back lot in a matter of minutes.

 

Spent a bit of time walking around but the temps started to heat up pretty quickly and though I am a bit of a party girl, 9am is a tad too early to have a beer. So hopped back on bike and headed to Spearfish Canyon.

Spearfish Canyon is located off 1-90 at exit 14. It's a nice ride with windy roads and lots of trees...the shade was a welcome break from the heat.

At the bottom of the Canyon is Spearfish Canyon Lodge, which during the rally, hosts a BBQ with vendors and tents.

It was now around 11am, five o'clock somewhere, so we stopped and enjoyed a refreshing beverage with our fellow bikers.  Mike's Hard Lemonade can certainly be counted as breakfast/juice, can't it?

Always interesting rides around...

After ingesting my Vitamin C for the day, we walked through the vendors and found this very talented man pin-striping bikes.

Russ from Graybeard Pinstriping can often be found at many bike rallies and events. A pretty big crowd gathered to watch him paint 'Draggin' Baggin' on the back of this Cruiser.

From here we moved on to Deadwood, which is about 15 minutes away, and pretty damn fabulous, in my humble opinion.

Bikes and saloons lined both sides of the street...

Nice little Harley store downtown...

Ain't that a pretty site?

The bartender at the Wooden Chip casino recommended this spot for lunch and it was fantastic. Kind of a hidden gem between both of the main drags - Lee Street Station outside of the Martin & Mason Hotel. 

Sat outside at Lee Street, had some sandwiches and enjoyed an icy cold bucket of beer watching the bikes cruise by...service was great, would definitely recommend for a quick bite.

Stopped into Saloon #10 for a quick refreshment at the original bar where Wild Bill Hickok was shot.

Enjoyed one last look at the bikes cruising down Main Street and moved along to our last stop at Sturgis.

G'Bye Deadwood...till we meet again....

Off to the Main Drag...first stop was Buffalo Chip

The parking lot is as far as we got because there was a $58 admission to get in? Hello?? What if you don't want to see the show?  Can't we just walk around? No.  Okay, should've done my research...was pretty bummed I didn't get to see the midget tossing.  Moved along to the Full Throttle and spent our money there....

TruTV was still filming during our second stop at the Full Throttle

Extra parking in the back...

Plenty of entertainment outside the bar, there was some bungy thing and a daredevil motorcycle stunt show..

Bike, bikes and more bikes

Inside Bar Area...

Free FTS Tattoos!

Interesting clientele...

Burnout Pit - a/k/a wheely-spinny things

Bartenders preparing for filming...

Met some fun people

 And then took off for the strip

Dinner was yummy... 

 Few more trips up and down the strip and it was time to say our goodbyes to Sturgis :(

They even had a sign for us....

Oh you will see us again, Sturgis....sooner rather than later.

Oops..what is that blue building calling our name from the side of the highway? Piedmont Casion Blue Bar. Time for one more? Aw hell, why not? Last stop in South Dakota.

Next day, up and at 'em for a 10 hour drive south to Utah through the hot summer desert...

you were so worth it, Sturgis.