Thunder Roads Magazine of Oklahoma/Arkansas October 2016 | Page 12

FEATURES

TWO WHEEL JOURNEY
WITH A SIDE OF STURGIS
BY “T” COLLIER

Seven states, seven days and Sturgis were
behind me as I rolled into my garage. Thor, my street
glide, was splattered heavily with heat baked bugs
and road grime from rain soaked highways and
3,000 miles of less than desirable weather. However,
my pearly whites were shining brightly behind my
broad grin as I reflected on a week with a long term
friend of over 25 years. We hadn’t ridden together
too much as she just began riding one year ago.
Now, I must say, that not everyone would attempt
to take someone with such little experience on a
journey this extensive, passing through Sturgis along
the way. Shoot, I myself, have voiced my disdain far
too many times regarding such circumstances in
judging others. Yet, there I was, smiling, returning
home, having successfully completed a full trip with
a newbie!
Our journey began about a week before as we
both reviewed calendars with my impromptu request
to make this trip which we both badly needed! The
stress of the real world is best dealt with on the
long, open road on two wheels. Trying to make it
an inexpensive journey, we started to call folks we
knew along a planned, yet unplanned route, cause
that’s how I roll! I knew I wanted to visit my friends’
cabin in Pagosa Springs, CO, ride the Million Dollar
Highway and end up for a couple of days in Sturgis
before returning home to the grind. On the following
days, we were able to find our first night’s stay with
Beth’s family at their gorgeous home on the prairie
near Beaver, OK. Their new home is built on the
homestead of which Beth’s father was raised. It
was very cool to get to see their old home, hear the
tales of those times and get a delicious farm mama
meal around the family table after our first day’s ride.
Our next day began early and ran long. We
rode from Beaver, OK to Raton, NM under beautiful
skies. There we stopped for lunch and watched
the skies open the water gates on us! I’m thinking,
“Oh no. Can Beth do this? Ride in the rain? Over
Wolf Creek Pass? After a full day?” Let me tell
you. Although it wasn’t pleasant being cold and
wet, the newbie did a great job of it. She and I met
a few cool folks along the journey, stopped a few
times to warm up and made Pagosa Springs just
12

Thunder Roads Magazine of OK/AR

Stoney Pass