Saturday, August 9, 2014

Sturgis to the Santa Fe Trail
Heavy rain last night in Larmar, Colorado.  Final miles on HWY 385West turn into Oklahoma on HWY 56.  Blue skies...watch out for the potholes in OK!
Stop for a quick bikers rest stop...and there it is.  Kenny Bob is running for OK State Representative.  Goooood luck...Kennnnny Bob!  You go boy!
Into New Mexico.  Lunch at the original stage stop along the Santa Fe Trail.  Great green chili cheese burger!
Historic Santa Fe Trail.  Green rolling hills and open road.  A special ride home.
Mesas on the horizon.  Clouds and sky.  Land of enchantment.  Kickstand down... home...at least for a few days.  

live free, ride free,  Carlan

Thursday, August 7, 2014

High Plains Highway to Home
Heavy rains last night in Bridgeport, Nebraska.  Looked like the entire sky was coming down.  Good to see that dry road south this morning.
 Ridin' the original Pony Express route.  Short stop at the Pole Creek station.
Grain elevators dot the country side.
Miles and miles of corn along one side of the highway.
Miles and miles of sunflowers along the other side.
Small towns tell of days past.
I make a bikers roadside stop.  Looking up I see it.  Photography's rules of composition...foreground, middle ground, background...
Perfect day.  Dry pavement, blue skies, wind on my back...clearing my head on the open road toward home.

live free, ride free, Carlan

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Road home from Sturgis
Heavy rain last night in Rapid City.  No cover for Talon.  Wondered if he would start this morning.  Fired on the first hit of the switch.  Strange weather now a days.
Back on the open road.  Rainy day.  Thump of the motor.  Rain splatters on my goggles.  Feels good.
Black Hills.  How different the landscape looks traveling in the opposite direction.  Didn't look this way in the rear view mirrors last week.  Need to be always looking forward...not behind.
Rain...sun...rain...sun...must have put on and taken off my rain gear a dozen times today.
 Crossing into Nebraska blue sky on the horizon.
Stopped to make a picture.  Shifter linkage had vibrated loose.  Ten minutes with a wrench back on the road.  Sure happy the sun was shining.  Good day to be on the road.

live free, ride free, Carlan

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Sturgis 2014 74th Annual Motorcycle Rally
Thousands of motorcycle riders from around the world.
All styles and colors.
Mild to wild.
Sewing patches on jackets and vests.
Walking history book.
Body paint.
Lookin' for love in all the wrong places.
Ink on cheeks.
Every shirt carries a personal expression.
Keepin' the faith.
Help when you need it.
Personal expression is what it's all about.
Art on the streets.
 
"Willie G" Davidson...driving force of design for the Motor Company.
Willie G and I both attended Art Center...what a better way to connect...signed my camera bag!
What is that crowd gathering for?
Burn out!!!
 Keepin' the Peace

live free, ride free, Carlan
 

Monday, August 4, 2014

Wall of Death Sturgis
Streets in Sturgis are filled with the rumble of 1000's of Harleys.
The classis motor drome "Wall of Death".
America's motorcycle thrill show from the 30's.
Riding a 1932 Indian motorcycle the rider defies gravity up on the wall.
Traditional motorcycle entertainment at it's best...only at Sturgis.

Live free, ride free,  Carlan

Sunday, August 3, 2014

From the Sand Hills to the Black Hills into Sturgis.
Across Colorado into Nebraska the road travels as far as the eye can see.
 A spring season of rain has filled the sand hills with tall grasses waving in the wind.
Up over a rise in the road the Black Hills become a part of the landscape ahead.
Around a sweeping curve the ridge is lined with buffalo.
A quiet moment in the Black Hills spiritual home of the Lakota.

Ride safe, Carlan
 

Friday, August 1, 2014

High Plains Highway to Sturgis
On the road to Sturgis.  Riding Highway 385 North.  The High Plains Highway.
Across Colorado and Nebraska the plains reach to the horizon.
Small towns with unique buildings along the road.  Ripley's Believe It or Not.  A house build from 150,000 year old petrified wood.
Fields of sunflowers smiling and reaching for the sun.
Wind on my back, thump of my Harley, the road is mine.  Seems as if I am floating across the landscape.

Ride safe,  Carlan