Custer State Park...

 

That's the plan: a picnic lunch at Hole In The Wall, in Custer State Park.  And since I didn't get any videos yesterday, shoot some videos along the way, including Iron Mountain Road from the opening by Mt Rushmore.

We stopped for gas along the way; well, I stopped for gas; Joan didn't need any.  82 mpg, thanks for asking.  Highway 16 to Rockerville, South Rockerville Road to Hwy 40, then into Keystone.  South of Keystone is where we pick up Iron Mountain Road.

Yesterday, I pretty much had Iron Mountain Road to myself; today, it was National Drive Like A Slow Asshole Day, with Illinois being the featured state.  A guy in a Ford Pickup was consistently over the center double yellow line, and driving about half the speed limit.  Now, to be fair, there were two cars in from of this dumbass, but they eventually pulled off; and, they weren't over the center double yellow.  He didn't.  We finally had to pass him, or as Joan said, "Legal or not, we have to get around this guy!"

Blissful clear road ahead.  We road down the rest of Iron Mountain Road, then turned on Playhouse Road, which leads into the middle of Custer State Park.  We already have our season passes for the park, so we can come and go without having to stop at the fee gates.  We had a goal in mind: stop for a picnic lunch at Hole In The Wall on the road that takes you to the Needles.

It's a nice ride on that portion of Needles Highway; we turned into the picnic area and got a table.  Yesterday, we picked up a Jimmy John's 30 foot sandwich, with this picnic in mind.  Of course, I am kidding - the sandwich was not 30 feet long... it was only 27'... you know how I can exaggerate.  ;-)  Joan put together other goodies to make for a nice lunch.

While I was getting another camera battery out of the Vespa, a guy came up to me, with a couple questions about the scoots.  He had a Triumph in his younger years, so we had something in common.  Of course, there was the, "You didn't ride those here from Texas, did you?"... "No, we like to travel in a bit more comfort - we tow them behind our motorhome."  Then, the other always question: "How fast will those go?"... followed by the incredulous stare when I say, "This one (Vespa) will do about 80, that one (Xmax) will do 90."

"How big are the motors in those things?"

"300 CCs," (which is the marketing number).

Most people who have ridden a motorcycle are surprised by the performance... and probably think I am bullshitting them.

We packed up our picnic stuff and hit the road again.  This time, taking Needles Highway south to Hwy 16A, then east to the park entrance, then north on the Park road that becomes a part of Iron Mountain Road again.  We made some good time on this road until we closed in on another pickup... Joan said, "That's a Park Ranger, so I'll be doing the speed limit now."  Not that she was ever exceeding the speed limit.

Once outside the park, the Ranger picked up the pace; so we did, too.  Eventually he turned off and we picked up the pace a bit more; past Iron Mountain Store, and a turn the other direction on Playhouse Road.  And, then, back to Hart Ranch.

Joan got a text that we had a package to pick up at the mail room, so when we rolled into the resort, I turned to go to the Lodge, while Joan headed for our motorhome.

Back at the coach, I put the bikes away while Joan unpacked our picnic gear.  Some very nice riding today.

:-)

I shot a bunch of video, so that will get posted later.  

Here's the preview image...

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And, here's today's video...