SINCE MY GIRLFRIEND AND I ARE STARTING TO GET READY TO PACK FOR THE UPCOMING STURGIS 2008 RALLY I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE COOL TO WRITE ABOUT IT.SO IF YOUR PLANNING A LONG MOTORCYCLE TRIP OR JUST INTERESTED IN READING ABOUT IT,AND DONT MIND MY SPELLING THEN HERES MY TAKE ON IT. I LIVE IN OHIO SO THE TRIP TO SOUTH DAKOTA IS APPROX 1,300 MILES ONE WAY.

MUST TAKE ITEMS: CHAP STICK,SUN BLOCK,EAR PLUGS,TOOLS,OIL,SPARK PLUGS,MAP,FLASHLIGHT,PHONE NUBMERS,RAINSUIT,GLOVES,LEATHER COAT,SWEATSHIRT,HELMET,,PEN,PAPER TABLET,FIXAFLAT KIT,2-PAIR JEANS,BOOTS,TENNIS SHOES,3-T-SHIRTS.TOOTHBRUSH,PASTE,DEOD,RAZOR,SISSORS,SUNGLASSES,CLEAR GLASSES.THEN COMES HER STUFF,10-SHORT SLEEVE SHIRTS,10-LONG SLEEVE,5-JEANS,SEVERAL UNDERGARMENTS,MAKEUP,MORE MAKEUP,2-COATS,2-SWEATSHIRTS,CURLIRON,HAIR DRYER,(YOU GETTING THE PICTURE) ECT.ECT.I PACK ALL THIS IN A T-BAG THAT SLIDES OVER MY SISSY BAR.THE COATS AND RIDING GEAR IN THE SADDLEBAGS.

I PACK A LARGE BOX WITH TANKTOPS,LONGSLEEVE SHIRT,HD SHIRTS,JEANS,BED SHEETS,PILLOW CASES,ECT. THEN HER STUFF,REMEMBER ECT,ECT,YES A LOT OF STUFF WE DONT NEED AND WONT USE.I SHIP THIS BOX TO THE PLACE IM STAYING FOR THE WEEK OF THE RALLY,IM STAYING IN ALLADIN WY.IN A HUNTERS CABIN,IN THE HILLS .ITS FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM THE CROUDS BUT CLOSE ENOUGH TO EVERYTHING I NEED TO CHECK OUT.

THE TRIP:WE LEAVE ON MY 2001 HD ROADKING WED.JULY 30TH IN THE AFTERNOON AND RIDE APPROX 200 MILES RT 80/90 STOP AND GET A ROOM APPROX BETWEEN TOLEDO OHIO AND CHICAGO ILL. THEN ON FRIDAY 31ST I RIDE 400 - 500 MILES RT 90 TO IOWA,THATS THE LONG DAY,STAY THE NIGHT,HEAD UPRT 29 TO SIOUX FALLS HEAD WEST ON RT 90  TO CHAMBERLIN SD,SPEND THE NIGHT,SAT RIDE INTO RAPID CITY SD,CHECK OUT MT.RUSHMOORE,CRAZY HORSE,HD SHOP ECT, RIDE INTO STURGIS THEN ITS STRAIGHT THRU INTO WY.MOVE INTO THE CABIN MY BOX OF CLEAN CLOTHES AND A BED ARE WAITING FOR ME.SUN ITS SPEARFISH CANYON ,LEAD,AND DEADWOOD OLD HISTORICAL TOWN,GAMBLING ECT.BEAUTIFUL RIDING.DURING THE WEEK ITS BLACKHILLS,CUSTER STATE PARK.AT THE END OF THE WEEK I WILL SHIP ALL OUR DIRTY CLOTHES AND GIFTS I PICKED UP HOME.WHEN I LEAVE I WILL HEAD UP RT 90 TO RT 94 HEAD EAST TO MINNESOTA TO MEET A FRIEND IVE NEVER SEEN IN PERSON BUT MET OVER THE PHONE TWO YEARS AGO,GREG OWNS A BAR/RESTAURENT IN GRASSTON MI.CALLED CREEKSIDE BAR,WE WILL PARTY A FEW DAYS,LAUGH,DRINK AND PART EVEN BETTER FRIENDS.DOWN RT 35 SOUTH TO RT 80 EAST TO YOUNGSTOWN OHIO,RETURNING AUG.13TH I WILL HAVE HIT ALL TYPES OF WEATHER RAIN,HAIL,COLD,HOT,THUNDERSTORMS,BUT WITH GOD AT MY SIDE THERE AND BACK I KNOW I WILL RETURN SAFE AND SOUND WITH WELL OVER 4,000 MILES ON MY BIKE,STORIES AND MEMORIES AND PICTURES TO LOOK AT IN MY ROCKINGCHAIR TO SHOW MY GRAND KIDS IN YEARS TO COME,THIS WILL BE MY 10TH TRIP TO STURGIS,AND I HAVE TO TELL YA,EVERY TRIP I MEET NEW PEOPLE,SEE NEW THINGS AND HAVE A GREAT TIME.IF YOU EVER GET THE CHANCE TAKE A TRIP A LONG ONE,YOU WONT REGRET IT. RIDE SAFE JOHN