Back in 1970 I was stationed in Denver at Lowery AFB with the U.S. Air Force for munitions training (aka ordinance to you Army types). While there I drove all over the Rockies (against the rules I might add), especially the eastern side. Since I had a couple of weeks of vacation to burn this year I decided to combine a trip down memory lane with a tour of the Black Hills of South Dakota where a retired friend of mine lives. Below is a *very* short commentary on the trip that I wrote the day following my return as well as some pictures.

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9/25/03

I got back last night (Thursday) from a nice weeklong trip to the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, and the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota. The executive summary is that the eastern side of the Colorado Rockies suck and the Black Hills rule.

When I was stationed in Denver in 1970, I use to drive around the mountains. At that time, there weren't near the cars on the road as you see today. While up there on this trip I felt like I was on a very twisty and crowded Houston freeway. It was hard to pay much attention to the scenery because of having to keep on top of the traffic. As a result, I didn't take a single picture there. After seeing what that area is like now, I would never want to live there. Western Colorado, yes... anywhere near Denver no.

The real discovery of the trip was the Black Hills...absolutely gorgeous scenery and excellent riding roads. (At the bottom of this letter are several pictures of the Black Hills.) And before the question is asked, no I didn't go to Sturgis. Went everywhere else but I didn't want to carve out an entire day just to see Harley Heaven. I'll be going back to the Black Hills some day and maybe I'll catch it then.

* Total miles 3437

* Highest miles in a day... 887 miles yesterday as I rode from the Nebraska-Kansas state line

straight through to Houston. Almost did a Saddle Sore 1000 and didn't know it.

* Best gas mileage - 44 mpg as I did the speed limit through the Colorado Rockies.

* Worst gas mileage - 32mpg as I kept the ST on it's sweet spot while battling very strong and

gusty winds going across the Wyoming plains north of Cheyenne.

* Most Beautiful Scenery - Needles Highway, Black Hills, South Dakota.

* Cheapest Motel Room - $24.99 in Childress, Texas (you wouldn't want to go in the place with a

black light but it served it's purpose)

* Most bizarre tourist destination - Wall Drug, South Dakota

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ST vs. Devil's Tower, Wyoming

Closer shot of Devil's Tower

Needle's Highway, Black Hills, S.D.

Needle's Highway, Black Hills, S.D.

Mt. Rushmore, Black Hills, S.D.

This cabin belongs to a friend I use to work with. He and his wife are retired now and

live in this cabin during the warm season. In the winters, they live on a lake in Texas.

The cabin is way back up in the Black Hills, 15 miles away from the nearest anything.

Rough life!

I spent the night with my friend and his wife Tuesday night. When I got up the next

morning, a herd of Big Horn Sheep were chowing down in back of the cabin.

My ST at the Badlands N.P., South Dakota

The famous Wall Drug in South Dakota. Biggest darned curio

shop I've ever seen.