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Serious Saddle Time Part II A little History: I was inspired last year by an issue of Hog Tales Magazine entitled “Serious Saddle time.” Since then this magazine has traveled with me and Pete on long rides totaling 9330 miles thru 37 states and 2 countries (US & Canada) in 3 weeks of time. It has really become a novelty and is now retired, framed and on display at my home surrounded by choice pictures from around the country. It is in every non-moving picture I take on my rides. Always remember, “It’s not the Ride, It’s the Adventure” The Plan: Ride from Ocala, Florida to Mt. Vernon IL. Meet up a couple of friends from West

Virginia then ride to Sturgis South Dakota and over to the Pacific Ocean and loop back thru the southern part of the United States back home. The ride would encompass 27 states and 10,000 miles is 18 days.

The Ride: On Wednesday July 31st at 3:45PM Ken Peakman (me) and Pete Ice left my

From left to right Pete Ice and Ken Peakman just before leaving for the trip

(Notice the Hog Tales Magazine on the front of my bike) home and rode to Ocala Harley-Davidson. We left there right after signing up for HOG’s mileage program for our first leg of the adventure. We rode into Georgia and stopped in Byron for gas and realized that a heavy rainstorm was imminent. So we elected to get some food at a Waffle House and wait out the storm. The storm never quit so we elected to don our rain gear and ride thru it.

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We started to ride and actually went thru about 2 miles of heavy rain and then 142 miles of dry weather with our rain suits on. Our first real stop was just west of Chattanooga Tn. at 2AM ended the first leg for a total of 490 miles. Thursday Aug 1st at 6AM left rest area and rode straight to Mt. Vernon IL. Arrived there at 2PM. At 7:30PM David Hall and Travis Wilson arrived from West Virginia. We settled down in a motel and drank some well-deserved beer and called it a day after 353 miles. Friday Aug 2nd rode into St. Louis Missouri and toured the Arch.

From left to right Travis Wilson, Ken Peakman, Pete Ice and David Hall

Ken Peakman with Hog Tales magazine We then rode thru Missouri to Independence for a total of 379 miles. Saturday Aug 3rd, rode thru Kansas City and North to Sergeant Bluff Iowa. Just a short 280 miles for the day. Sunday Aug 4th, we rode into Nebraska then North to Minnesota and West thru the Badlands into Rapid City SD. 487 Miles later. The ride thru the Badlands was great!

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Ken Peakman in the Badlands

Left to right – Travis Wilson, Pete Ice, David Hall and Ken Peakman

We arrived at the motel in Rapid City and met the rest of the gang. Bill and Cathy Hall and Bob ???

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Bill Hall suiting up for a misty ride

Went out for some great Mexican food and beers and returned to the motel and shared some great camaraderie with many other folks. Monday Aug 5th, we all rode to Black Hills Harley-Davidson

Pete and Ken

and then into Sturgis. Had a great time and met some great people.

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Ken and a Great Beer Babe

Ken surrounded by women born to be wild

Later Pete and I broke off separately and rode to Hog Heaven campground and met up with some friends from Silver Springs Florida. Then we rode South on 385 almost to Mt. Rushmore and ended up in the worst thunderstorm imaginable. After 2 hrs under a canopy at a gas station

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Pete in the foreground held hostage by torrential rainstorm

(at 3 forks) we elected to limp on back to the motel in Rapid City some 40 miles away. With Lightning striking almost everything around us but us we made the 40-mile trip back in only 4 hours time cold and shaking on the brink of hypothermia. After a long hot shower and some sleep we were in good shape again. About 120 miles for the day. Tuesday Aug 6th, we all got together to ride by Crazy Horse and thru Custer State Park. Needles Highway and Iron Mt. Road are some of the best rides we have ever had. Simply gorgeous territory. If we never rode thru this area you should it is a real treat.

Pete with a wild Buffalo

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Ken leading the pack thru a tunnel on Needles Highway

Another short but very rewarding 200-mile day. Wednesday Aug 7th, we rode a loop to Devils Tower Wyoming. Truly a gorgeous place we took many pictures.

Ken thinking wow what a great wall photo this will be

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What really turned me on though was the kids sitting in lawn chairs beside the roads waving at the cyclists (the most excitement since this time last year) Riding thru small towns with a population of 15 and seeing thousands of Harley’s outside the only bar in town was really cool too. Today we rode only 250 miles but it was great. Thursday Aug 8th, David and Travis headed back East to West Virginia and Pete and I went West. We stopped in Gillette Wyoming as my bike started to make a whining bearing noise. After 5 hrs at the Harley Shop we were back on the road again. We stopped in Sheridan Wyoming just before dark. Some 500-miles later. Friday Aug 9th, Pete and I rode thru Big Horn Basin.

Ken and Pete at Big Horn Basin Wyoming

and on into Montana. Stopped at Bear Tooth Harley-Davidson in Red Lodge Montana then rode thru Bear tooth pass. Simply incredible scenery.

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Switchbacks on Bear-tooth Pass

It was 65 degrees at the base and 33 at the summit with snow capped mountain peaks. It was Beautiful and to think in Florida we are at 90’ above sea level and sitting on our bikes here we were over 2 miles high from our home (by the way at a constant 10% grade it would take 20.8 miles to attain 11000’ in elevation. The bikes also sound funny at this altitude (kind of like a stock Volkswagen beetle running on two cylinders) until you swallowed or your ears popped then the bikes made really wild sounds for a second or two.

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Ken on top of the world

Rode thru the top section of Yellowstone

Deer in the wild at Yellowstone National Park

and out the West entrance and into Idaho. Made plans for the trip back to Florida and shot down to Ogden Utah. Another 500-mile day. Saturday Aug 10th, Rode like a bat out of hell thru the desert on highway 70

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Pete wondering if he has enough fuel to make it

clipping along at a very hot 80-100+ mph

Ken can’t drive 55

into Farmington New Mexico another 650 mile day. Sunday Aug 11th, Rode hard again thru Arizona, Colorado, 4 corners and onward to Oklahoma City. Another 650-mile day.

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Ken standing in Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico simultaneously

Monday Aug 12th, Rode thru Little Rock Arkansas to Jackson Mississippi. Another 650-mile day. Rode thru Louisiana Alabama and into Florida and stopped at the first Sonny’s BBQ we could find and ordered sweet tea (a precious commodity that cannot be found in the west) then on to Pensacola Harley Davidson then blasted all the way back home. Another 650 mile day.

Pete and Ken with what is left of our cheap rain suits when we arrived home safely

Total trip statistics:

6-Wal-Mart Rain suits (they do not survive 80+ MPH) Many new friends Memories that will last forever 24 states racking up 6031 Miles in 14 days.