"The Road To Nowhere" Ends ... Somewhere

Devils Lake, ND

The Topper, at $32 per night, is another fine choice, Old Danny, my Boy. Way to pick ‘em. When it comes to motorcycle parts, money is no object. When it comes to spending a couple of bucks on a motel room, one would think you were destitute. Hmm, that rhymes with prostitute. And THAT might explain what happened again early this morning in Pierre, South Dakota.

Selden, Kansas Thursday. The highway
 to the sun was ours alone.

Mr. Miserly Motel Mogul was dressing me for the morning’s ride. It was still dark and I was parked near the motel office door but in the shadows. A small bus pulled up – I’m guessing a casino shuttle. The sole rider got off and walked toward the motel office. She spotted You Know Who and sauntered over. “Aren’t you George Clooney?” She asked. No, no, no! That’s a joke. She sauntered over and informed my rider that she was in room 215 if he needed anything.

This time Old Danny Boy did NOT ask if she was looking for her vacuum. He’s learned a thing or two along the way. He just said “No thanks” and went on about his business. I’m thinking that what is nice and early for a motorcycle and rider is getting along toward the end of the shift for ladies of the evening.

The Topper here in Devils Lake, ND features a dusty gravel parking lot. The room is old, dingy and small but hey, it’s free of random dog food.

The day’s ride was incredibly beautiful. The weather was perfect, the roads were great, just a few construction delays, and just one short stretch of missing pavement where we had to ride on gravel. Other than that, it was a superb ride on a gorgeous day.

ODB owes the state of South Dakota an apology for saying it doesn’t take care of its roads. The highway north of Pierre was first rate.

The big event of the day was making a U-turn . . . at the Canadian border. What a grand celebration. Not! ODB gets off, snaps one picture, waves to the guard, and off we went . . . southbound, for a change. US 83 is called “The Road to Nowhere.” I’m sure a hundred small towns and cities along the way would beg to differ. We traveled all of US 83’s1885 miles and have now accomplished one of his stated goals.

From here, we’re on to Cedar Falls, Iowa on Saturday. Due to that extra day in McAllen, TX the plan to ride across Minnesota then down along the Mississippi River on the Wisconsin side and then to Iowa has been scuttled. We’re going straight to CF from here but it’s still a long, 615-mile ride. After three days with my namesake, THE Mighty Mary Ellen Dreier (ODB’s mother), we’ll go back up north as we head for Maine to visit a friend for two days. The plan from there is to visit friends one day in Framingham, Massachusetts, then pick up US Hwy 50 in Ocean City, Maryland. We’ll ride the 50 all the way to Sacramento before heading home to Salem and She Who Rides the Lime Sherbet Vespa. Doing US 50 from one end to the other was the ride we failed to make last year.

George Clooney

There, all you (n)ever wanted to know about what’s on tap for ODB and me.

(Google Map Update)