From high up in the San Juan Range of Colorado:

 

How about this for a serenity inducing moment..

 

A Colorado mountain flower busting out of granite chunks, pretty enough for a post card.

If mineral infused h20 is more to your liking, check out Pinkerton Springs, at the foot of the "Million Dollar Highway" between Durango and Silverton. 

 

Now a roadside attraction, on a nice weekend, hundreds stop to click a pic.



Old man Pinkerton and his (is that a dude?) wife. 

Hey, Steven Tyler, bag this one for a remake of

"Lady Looks Like A Dude"

1878.  Now that's history.

Also very cool: Navajo Lake, New Mexico. 

 

Gallon and a half of gas, south of Durango, just across the border into New Mexico. 

Like anything which shouldn't exist, but does, lakes slap in the middle of a desert attract this beach-based biker.  Crappie, catfish at the upper end, Salmon at the lower.  Some of the houseboats are so huge they have to be launched via 18 wheeler!  This is a great bike ride.    South thru Ignacio, bear to the left, and keep the throttle twisted 'till you see the aqua blue h20.

Beware the tarmac quality in New Mexico.  They don't plow much cash into the NM/CO border highways in these parts. 

If separated from your biker pack, the speed bump effect will provide a trail of nuts, bolts, and tooth fillings for e-z tracking.

Black 'n' Whites?

The Durango PD has the coolest cruisers going.  Black 'n' Whites.  You stare, expecting the Blues Bros to hop out, and sing "I'm a soul man".  Speaking of malfeasance prevention..traffic cop activity has increased greatly over last week in anticipation of the heavy Labor Day weekend crowd.  They're all out there, state, county, municipal, and yes, motorcycle cops.  We like to think they're doin' it for us.  Too bad they missed the chick driving that land cruiser on Camino Del Rio.  There aren't enough cuss words to adequately describe how she makes a right hand turn a potential accident.  Just another biker day on the open road.

Sunday's parade is Durango's only connection to the 4 Corners Rally:

A few weeks ago, a hundred sweating, skinny dudes in tight fitting spandex, pumped pedals on their bicycles.  Durango was the starting point, with Denver the goal.  Compared to the support the town gives to the 4corners rally, you'd think bicycles were the second coming.  Apparently, we're not the only ones who noticed.  The Durango Herald published a letter from Mr. Cole, a local, who admonished the city for doing little or nothing to support the 4corners rally, saying, and we quote..

"...the town won't even put up a banner even though these people (bikers) are nice and respectful."  

He goes on to say that merchants, restaurants, grocery stores, and sales tax revenue peaks when the bikers are in town.  While this may suprise some, in Florida, it's old news.  Bike week at Daytona brings in three times the revenue of NASCAR's Daytona 500.  Locals repeatedly tell us that if not for spring bike week, and Biketoberfest, folks occupying lower rungs of America's financial step ladder would fall through the cracks.  So, if the cities won't do it for the bikers, then do it for those most in need.

 

A potential gold mine?

Inhabitants of an area as rich in natural resources as here should know a gold mine when they see one.  As it stands, Durango does well without having to do much of anything to promote the rally.  Sales tax dollars pour in no matter, but imagine the cash potential of 2X, 5X or over time, 10X the present crowd of bikers.  Ignacio, Durango, and Cortez/Dolores, three towns within an easy ride, sponsoring their own activities and events would cement the rally as one not to miss.  Yes, you get a decent slice of the pie as it stands, but how would you like pie ala mode, or, perhaps the whole enchilada? 

 Least they can do is to buy some banners..  Show us the love!

Sunday, 11am, cages will lead the way, at "Durango's Motorcycle and Classic Car Parade". 

If this is a motorcycle a-n-d- classic car parade, shouldn't the bikes be first?  (see last paragraph.)  Sunday morning Burrito breakfast, benefits "Homes for Heroes", great cause, small town, ask anyone for the lowdown.

Speaking of food...

Are we the only bikers in the world to photograph their meal?  Apparently, the answer is yes.

Item: Exhibit Uno..  Men have fought and died for less than this!

Patio Restaurant, Ignacio, Colorado:

 

 Chicken-Fried Steak over Texas Toast, smothered in white pepper gravy, side o' smokin' hot fries!  Last year, $7.05, this year. Thanks to the "energy act of 2005", 40% of our corn production is now used to make crappy gasoline instead of feeding livestock.  The CFS shot up to $7.99, (along with $2 apples, $10 steaks, and four dollar petrol).  Our government (both sides voted it in-now vote it OUT),

hard at work.

Pure gas in Durango:  "7-2-11", halfway up 550, main drag.  We found this one, and another, through www.pure-gas.org.  

Million Dollar Highway Has More Bikes Than Cages:

This morning, for the first time ever, riding south into Durango, we're seeing far more bikes than cages headed up the MDH toward the historic mining town of Silverton, Colorado. 5 to 1, not one to five, not a single bmw this morning..wtf.  Seeing so many bikers, peeling up the mountain with hardly a cage in sight, warmed our unstented two wheeled heart. Word is out. The riding here is as good as anywhere.  Doesn't matter what make you're riding. 95 out of 100 wave. We wave back unless we're pinned down in a 180 degree switchback, and even then, we give 'em a nod. Are you one of those curmudgeons who won't lift a finger, come on dude, returning the wave doens't make you a nerd. Waving builds ridership in our sport, p---es off cagers who hate us.

What could be better 'an that?

Mexican Hat, revisited.

What in hell is wrong with us, don't know, but every year somehow, some way, we wind up here for the obligatory pic.

10' of Bike on a 10 degree grade?

Insane ABM dude may be the only biker stupid enough to traverse Utah's "Moki Dug way" on a 10 foot chopper, up an' down!

Feathering the clutch through a maze of softball sized chunks of rock while headed uphill was the easy part. Bike slid most of the way back down. Yeah. Like Dave Matthews sings, "I did it". Please don't tell my insurance agent.

Hot Stuff! RHCP would be proud. 4 Corners Chili Lovers Can't Get Enough. What would a young man/woman do with these tasty green delights? Why, whip up a fresh batch of tamales, enchiladas, burritos, or a big pot of chili.. minimum....

Local Albertson's and Walmarts employ full-time Chili aficionados who roast these hot-as-hades peppers in a turbine gas fired open mesh barrel. On weekends the waiting line can be 20 deep for service. A whole bag of red hot Chili Peppers, bigger than a bushel, including the roast job runs $22..

They were going fast. At the time of these pic's, stock boys were dragging out another pallet of fresh chilies.

Brother, if you enjoy Mexican, this is ground zero.

Fat-Munk Likes motorcycles, cookies, stuffed pork chop:

Second year we've shared our latest camp space with what might be arguably the world's fattest chipmunk. This little sucker will walk across your boot if it means locking down on an oatmeal cookie. Other night he was eyein' a cornbread-stuffed pork chop on the grill. We definitely woulda chased him down, had he grabbed that item..and the bikes don't bother him in the least. Pic doesn't do him justice, the little dude resembles a softball with four little cigarette filter sized bumps for feetsas.

FatMunk, call Jenny..

Wet a line, get big time Omega's

Fishing for Rainbow Trout during our first two weeks was the best ever.

Up near the "tree line", elevation 9000 feet at water's edge, the fishing was incredible. Only half full from the August dry spell, spent the first hour with line and split shots casting around to find the drop offs. After that came the first 15" rainbow. In 10 minutes, another. 5 minutes later, one more, the next two within a few minutes. Honey hole. Could have caught 200 lbs by sunset, but we left 'em biting. Returned the next day in a driving rainstorm and bagged another limit. The fishing was h-o-t.

You can camp free, nearly anywhere, but... beware.

 

Amazing how few people know we're free to camp anywhere inside any US national forest. Set up a couple hundred feet off the road (if there is one), set up camp, eat, fish, bury any dukey, and live life large. This is remote country, inhabited by wild animals, including humans. Some campers feel safe without packing. That would not be ABM. Due to dry weather (until lately), bears are on the prowl, venturing well outside their normal range. BIG tracks are abundant. We had to stop for one crossing the road in front of where we were camped. They aren't trying to eat people, they just want sugar, honey, preserves, anything to bulk up for winter, including trout, a good reason to match up a small cannon with your fishin' gear, just to scare 'em off, not to kill, unless it gets ugly. Nearby Pagosa Springs, Colorado is on the edge of some of America's wildest country. A homeowner returned to find his pantry and kitchen had been bear-ransacked. He spent the rest of that Sunday afternoon cleaning up, then settled down for a good night's rest. At 4am, the bear returned, smashing out a window to gain entry. Since most residents are firearms owners,

it was not a nice second visit for the black bear.

You never need a gun until you..need a gun.

Around 2am, a lone dude allegedly wandered into a remote camp, some six miles off the beaten path, occupied by two local college students. Shot(s) were fired, one student lay dead. Deputies say they recovered a firearm. The dude is in lock down, we hear it may be for murder in the first. We're camped less than six miles from the scene of this crime. We choose the bear option.

Dude, this is truly hard core:

So we're blasting down a desert four lane, en route to the Moki Dugway, and Mexican Hat, Utah. We leave early. It's 85 by 9am. Off to the side of the road, 3 dudes drinking what I cannot fathom..I chalk it up to excessive bugs on the goggles. Next afternoon, the local "police blotter", shows a dude is busted for shoplifting a giant economy size bottle of "Listerine". They detained him, but not before he chugged most of the bottle for it's reputed 50% alcohol content. Wild country, wild people/animals, yet we're not sure the high country is any more dangerous than our city where it isn't unusual to cap a murderous weekend with one to three.

We don't take chances there, either, and it's not the gun, it's the brain (or lack of) behind it. Ban the brain.

BMW Dualies Are Everywhere:

And these bikers have discretionary money. Check out this pic from an alpine campground where we stopped to catch dinner. Couple arrived, cramped as hell between them and the equipment. They paid the same fee as that gonzo-bus parked next door, for the privilege of having electricity.

Dual sport motorcycles aren't the most comfortable bikes for cruising, especially in a cramped two up deal, and aren't intended for hard core trail busting, but they do a little of both well enough to attract a growing number of bikers who want to ride to the trails instead of loading a dirt bike into a pickup truck. Each year, we see more of these combo off-on road bikes. We bet cash money the orient big three are losing dualie market share to German cage/bike maker BMW. Dude, they're everywhere you look, alone, in pairs, in packs. We get the feeling many are converted cruiser riders, 'cause most wave to us.

As we always say, it's not what you ride, it's that you ride.

ABM is camped around 20 miles south of Silverton, Co, at the base of the "Million Dollar Highway". There is no way to predict the weather up here, so take whatever you wake up to. F-t around if it sucks, ride when it doesn't.

 

If you can only make one trip in a lifetime, the "Four Corners" of America is a great choice.

 

One tank day trips:

From the point where Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico meet, one tank of gas will take you to desert so arid, almost nothing can grow without irrigation. Caves and canyons of the Ancients are everywhere. New Mexico surprises as the scenario changes from desert to lush green hay fields, back to desert again, you never know what's over the next small ridge. Then there's Colorado, where places like Lizard Pass will make an unadjusted, carburated motorcycle choke on it's own fuel. At 11,000 feet you strain for enough air to chop a pile of ponderosa pine for the evening. By the time you are truly used to no air, it's time to head back to 5 feet above sea level. Compared to the high life, ocean side breathing is like akin to a hospital oxygen tent.

What's happening with the "Four Corners" mc rally.

What used to be a huge gathering of up to 100,000 bikers, small by Sturgis/Daytona measure, had fallen on hard times, due to a festering feud between the local tribe and cowboy dudes. Much as we wish they'd settle their differences, to bring back the huge biker crowd of the early 2000's, we skeptical. No one wins until both sides tell the lawyers to take a hike. An ABM thanks to the dudes at Durango HD for speedy service on a busted valve stem. One of the shop guys seemed to think the ongoing Hatfield-McCoy rally deal was over. We don't see it that way..yet.



American Biker Minute's Sturgis Report:

Chick Power!

They're here every year.

Latest Gag On Main Street?

First it was a dollar bill attached to 20 feet of 2 lb test trout monofilament. That was in Daytona. On Main Street in Sturgis, someone has devised a way to find the cheapest bikers at this rally. They super glued a quarter to the sidewalk. Yes, takers. How embarrasing is that. Especially, when they keep picking at it...duh.

Female Biker Trend of the Year!

Womanise Bikers Bare Breast es On Main Street, Sturgis, SD

This lady is doing what is perfectly legal here.

Step 1: On go the Pasties.

Step 2: (optional) Body Painting of the Breast es

Step 3: Cross the street and see how many dudes you can get to run into a lamp post.

Kidding aside, this is the first year we've ever seen that. Gives the rally a shot in the arm. Dudes will return for the breast es alone!

COME ON, DAYTONA!

Ditch the horse an' buggy.

Even Mel Gibson Couldn't Rescue the 'Dome:

Our friends at the Rapid City Journal report that “Thunderdome”, across the street from Full Throttle Saloon had a rough go of it this rally. According to the paper, Jay Allen, former owner of County Line/Broken Spoke venues had leased the place, and sold lots to various vendors, including people associated with the “Tattoo Expo”, which was supposed to be an inkapalooza. After almost a week of no traffic, they packed up and went home, the lady promoter claiming she’d lost more than sixty grand on the deal. She had other acerbic comments, which we won’t pass along.

Dude, Where's My.... BIKE!

Ah yes, reading the American Biker Minute blog would have saved these bikers a rather large pile of cash. First they gotta pay the fine. Next they gotta go to the impound lot. After that, they gotta spend years rediscovering scratches and dents they'd swear weren't there before....

Parked up against the far side curb, yes, the one with the big bright yellow painted all over it. In Sturgis, that's a tow job, not a .. well, you know. Yes, the city might have prevented quite a few visits to the impound lot, had they stenciled a bold warning over the yellow, but that's sort of not their responsibility, if ya catch our drift. NOR, is it the SPD's responsibility to indicate, in any way, that you are about to shoot yourself in the foot, as you gingerly back your baby up against the freshly painted curb. Yes, even though they are standing not 40 feet away.  There's usually quite a bit of signage to warn us. 

Also, you cannot park "overnight" in Sturgis.  2-6am are the magic hours of tow.  Look at that brand new F-350!

We think a major cause of this parking malfeasance is due to the dudes arriving early in the morning, when no other bikes are on the street. The natural inclination is to park on the sides, not in the middle of the street. In this way, a biker's human nature, (and the fact that most of us are burned out as hell by the time we finally get here), serves, in it's own little way to support the greater good of the Sturgis community.

Maybe a new soda machine for the station, and Bob Seger for the Christmas party.. they're expensive, you know.

With a building crowd of semi-disgusted gawkers, the tow truck people hurried to grab as much iron as possible before it got ugly. Kidding, but only the part about getting ugly.

For the record, this ain't the only city which tows bike week bikes away. Daytona is probably the world class leader in mobile motorcycle towing, and they don't quit there. Before you sign up for a room at the beach, get your parking guarantee in writing, especially if you trailer down there, oh man, they just love to tow trailers. See, it could be worse, here all you got to worry about is the mello yellow line. And don't think for a moment you can take advantage of the folks at Lynn's Dakota Mart. Either they're watching on closed circuit, or chalk marking tires. On a good day, they'll impound a dozen cages in that lot. Cagers cannot get it straight. This is bike week, so we have no parking for your nasty cage.
Buy a motorcycle and park anywhere you desire. (except on the yellow line.!)

Lynyrd Skynyrd Plays to a Buffalo Chip Full House

As predicted on ABM, last night's Lynyrd Skynyrd show was an unofficial sellout, eclipsing their previous appearance by several thousand.

Set lasted about 90 minutes, ending just past midnight with of course, "Free Bird".

 

See this trailer. It's not intended for motorcycles at all.
It's an ICE FISHING SHACK!

With a hole in the floor to yank them fat North Dakota Walleye right up and into the damm fry pan.
During the trip to Sturgis, motion sickness hit one chick.  They told her to "open the hatch", and
let 'er rip.

Like we say, you never know what what's next out here.

 

As a footnote, ABM’s blog is solely for entertainment purposes. We don’t mean to denigrate anyone, anything, any possession. In our attempt to write what we hope will pass for humor, we may have inadvertently po’d someone, somewhere, somehow. Although we’re not taking any of it back, if that is you, please accept our apology, for at the end of each day, this is how bikers pass the time.  Our remarks are an accurate reflection. 

A great man once said, (and I believe he’s still saying it),“it’s always funny, until it’s about you.”

This is our final Sturgis report until this time next year.
We'll be riding around Arizona-Colorado-Utah.  

In just 8 weeks, hear our coverage of Florida's brand of fall fun, & beautiful riding along some of the world's most stunning beaches at Biketoberfest 2012!

 

Hear a new American Biker Minute show each day!

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www.americanbikerminute.com

What's that about the shiny side up, rubber side down..Safe trip home, and see y'all at Daytona, or here next year!

American Biker Minute

Your Passport to the Open Road on Two Wheels.