Hot and windy in the Black Hills today: low 90s for temp, winds 15 to 25 gusting to 35. I thought this might be a good indoor day when Joan asked, "Do you want to take the scoots to Hill City for lunch? We can take that back road between Keystone and Hill City?"
It took me almost a nano-second to say, "Absolutely!"
While I was getting scoots out, Joan buttoned up everything in the coach. I said, "I need to get my camera."
She said, "Let's go camera-free today and just ride."
We could take the highway to Hill City and it would be about a 40 mile round trip... or, we can take "the shortcut" with nothing but twisty back roads and it would cut that down to about a 60 mile round trip. ;-) Twisty roads it is.
On the carbon fiber guitar forum, the conversation had turned to motorcycle and scooter riding... yeah, sometimes on the scooter forum there is some guitar talk. Nice when it can just be friends visiting. On the scooter forum, one of the participants there asked if we've done the road between Keystone and Hill City... I can't say that's what prompted Joan to suggest it, but, yes, we've ridden that road in the past (not yet this trip). It has a speed limit that is mostly 25mph with the occasional 35 - the road runs along the same path that the 1880 Train takes between Keystone and Hill City. (about 11 miles)
We did our usual twisty back roads to Keystone (hasn't gotten old), then on to County Road 323 (aka Old Hill City Road). This road crosses the railroad tracks about a dozen times; fun curves, but a more laid back ride than the first stretch to Keystone. With no photos, you'll have to trust me: very pretty, with views of some granite cliffs, open meadows, and the Black Hills. Everything is a lush green right now.
We had lunch at the Alpine Inn in Hill City. Town was hoppin' and there was a 15 minute wait for a table. The service was great, the food tasty.
We topped off our gas tanks before heading back - a new world record for me with the Vespa: 87 miles per gallon. I am amazed - most of that is pretty aggressive riding, gas on/gas off through the curves and hills. The elevation at Hill City is 5,159'.
The temperature ranged from 90º at Hill City to 95º as we rode through Keystone, then 91º back at the Ranch. The wind was hot, and you felt the gusts in open areas and across ridges... nothing bad, you were aware that Mother Nature was heating things up.
Back to the coach, and Rufus got some patio time. And some grass time, as well...
Yep, it is windy.
A couple observations: there is a scooter rental place in Keystone (Black Hills Scootours). There has been a special on one of the local TV stations: a 4 hour tour for only $45 (half the regular price). As of yet, I haven't seen any of these tours when we've been out. They may be taking roads that are a bit more docile than what we enjoy.
Another rental option: UTVs. That is the 4-wheel side-by-side vehicles. They seem to be all over the place. Quite a few people here at Hart Ranch have their own UTV. Some are street legal (not sure how they get around all the safety equipment that cars have to have)... some don't have a license plate, but you still see them out on the back roads. I think everyone should get to recreate the way they like, but... let's drive to the Black Hills, then rent a vehicle that isn't as comfortable as our car, doesn't have the same safety equipment, and take the kids for a spin?? Kinda like the souped-up golf carts back home on SPI, but these are definitely UTVs.
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An informal observation from today's ride: we passed 14 other motorcycles going the other direction... 11 Harleys, 2 dual purpose bikes, 1 Honda Shadow. All of them waved, except... the Honda Shadow. No, that doesn't mean anything. Just an observation.
It won't be long before the massive crowds start showing up for the Sturgis Rally... nobody will wave during that time period. ;-)
On the Rockerville Road stretch on the way out, there were two Harleys in front of us, a full dress bike with a couple on it and a cruiser with ape-hanger handlebars with a solo guy. Alas, in front of them was an SUV pretty much driving the speed limit. The tight turns and double yellow line on much of that road is what makes it so entertaining to ride... but those guys on the Harleys wanted to get around that SUV... bad. I don't think it was so much about holding up their ride as it was: a couple scooters gaining on them. ;-)
Just before that road Ts at a highway, the SUV pulled off to let all 4 of us pass. The Harleys blasted away at the highway. Maybe I'm reading more into it? ;-)
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