Here we are from 6/7/25 - 8/20/25 -- Our travels from Jersey City, New Jersey through Sturgis, South Dakota. We drove through Chicago on June 20, 2025. Traffic was HORRIBLE -- It took us about four hours to go the 10-15 miles through the main city on I-90! July 9, 2025. We rode back to the city of Sioux Falls to tour the park and water there. Another view of Sioux Falls Park. Pretty view of the actual falls at Sioux falls. This must be about 7/16/25. The pool at our Kennebec, South Dakota KOA was VERY appreciated. It got to mid-90's most of the week were here. It's July 23, 2025 and we have arrived at our RV spot near Sturgis, SD. The town closest to us is Vale, SD, and Sturgis is about 13 miles away, about a 20-minute ride for our two-week stay there. We are a week before the beginning of the rally now, and the park is pretty much DESERTED except for maybe 10 RVs. The RV park is called Pappy Hoel (pronounced to rhyme with "Foil"), and it probably holds close to 1,000 RVs. Inside Pappy Hoel RV park is the "Full Throttle Saloon and Distilery". It is HUGE, and here is one of its entrances. It's probably about 8/2/2025 now. The rally is in full force and we rode up northwest to Deadwood. Another view of Deadwood, SD. They have a re-enactment of this famous site every day at 4. Our timing in the town didn't coincide. Back to the Full Throttle Saloon and Distillery. This is inside the distillery store. Another view inside the distillery store. Another view of how deserted Pappy Hoel RV park is, still, near our corner. These sculptures surround the parking lot at the Full Throttle Saloon. Another sculpture on the permeter of the parking lot at the Full Throttle Saloon. Another sculpture on the perimeter of the parking lot at the Full Throttle Saloon. The parking lot at the Full Throttle must hold parking space for over 2,000 motorcycles. It is nowhere NEAR partially full! Another sculpture in the parking lot at the Full Throttle Saloon. The rally has started now. Main Street, Sturgis is where thousands of motorcycles park, lining the sides of the street, and in the middle, creating an East-West cruising ride. Another view of Main Street. This must be about August 3rd 2025. The weather is nearly perfect, maybe just a little warm. It's probably about 85 degrees most of the day. Another view of Main Street, Sturgis. We bounced into one of the MANY tattoo parlors on Main Street and Gloria got a new tattoo on the back of her left hand. The RV park has a HUGE pool that was surrounded by a few hundred patrons once it finally opened up on the first day of the rally, Friday, August 1st. Down at the Full Throttle for some evening activities. This area is PACKED with hundreds, even several thousand I bet, motorcycles from sun-up to way beyond sundown. Inside the Full Throttle, at one of their 10 or more large, sit-up-to bars. On one of the first nights at Pappy Hoel, we went down the the Full Throttle for the live performane of Hank Williams, Jr. and his band. We don't really follow his music, but the large crowd there was obously having tremendous fun! On Tuesday, August 5th, we rode about 50 miles down to "The Mammoth Site" just outside of Hot Springs, SD. The Mammoth Site is a museum and paleontological site in the Black Hills. It is an active paleontological excavation site where research and excavations are ongoing. Another view inside the Mammoth Site. Another view inside the Mammoth Site. Another view inside the Mammoth Site. On Wednesday, 8/6/25, we rode about 50 miles south to Mount Rushmore. Wonderful place to experience. Each state has a flag and placque in commemoration. Another view of the walkway, this time Washington State flag and placque. There is a large outdoor auditorium where a large gathering witnesses a musical presentation after sundown, followed by numrous floodlights BEAMING onto the monument. We didn't go up this time, but I have seen it in the past and it is NOT to be missed. A close-up view of the monument. It was a spectacular day weather-wise. Walking back to the entrance to the whole area. Another. And another. This bust is of the primary sculptor of the monument, Gutzon Borglum. I thought it was extra cool that he named his son "Lincoln". A brief view of the parking lot were we parked our mortorcycle at Mount Rushmore. I got two new tattoos, too. this one is of my dear, departed Pittie, Molly. This is the photo that the artist used to carve my tattoo into my right shoulder And a rottweiler, my other favorite breed. And the rottie graphic that the artist used for my skin-work. I flew back to the Seattle area on August 11th for some annual medical appointments. I stayed with our daughter, Jennifer, in Lake Stevens. While Jen was at work many of the daytimes I was in town, I took my gradson Aiden to McDonalds breakfast on Saturday morning, 8/16/25 . We all went to the Children's Museum in downtown Everett on Sunday, 8/17/25. This is a FUN place, even for adults! The oppurtunities for the young folks to experience are nearly endless, and in the words of their website, the "Children's Museum is where wonder meets endless possibilities! It's where learning meets adventure, and where families meet to create lasting memories." It is truly a great place to while away any portion of a day. Another view, this time on the roof, of the Children's Museum. Aiden was engrossed in the water-flow/spurt area. One parting shot before we all left for home. From left are our good friend Nadine, me, Jennifer, and Aiden. Click HERE to go back to the Table of Contents for The Big Adventure. Click HERE to go back to the Dialog that corresponds to this travel leg. 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