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I got a video from THUMPER Denise, which had recorded our last year adventure. The title of the video is
"Desperately Seeking Sturgis".
This video is splendid. I really appreciate her sense of humor and creativity.
Now I am looing forward to having many lessons from my American Harley family. |
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The 1st day From Tokyo to Rapidcity (6000mile)
While one of the biggest typhoon is on Japan, one of the busiest man on board. I have had the busiest time in my life. I had to work just two hours before I left home. That was why I met an happening. Too long flight and too much fatigue caused me to oversleep at Denver airport. Can you imagine how lonely I felt there alone?
Anyway I managed to catch the last airplane. When I saw Pat & Penne, I ran up to them and jumped to hug them. Pat said to me,
"Welcome home."
I was relieved.
In the cottage, everybody waited for me. I felt surrouded by last year usual smilings. I have to apologize for my fault again.
Let's get a kick out of life with a Harley Davidson!
Lesson 1: Sit in front of the gate while waiting at airport.
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The 2nd day From Rapidcity to Buffalo (280 miles)
Ann, Lynn, Pennie left for Cody where it is near Yellow Stone National Park. Pat and I went to meet Bill and Denise at the airport. Billl's and Denise's Harley had already been at the airport parking lot. We were waiting for them and suddenly we realized the most important thing. We didn't have the key of Denise's Harley.
Lesson 2:Look before you leap. |
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Denise didn't carry any extra key. We were confused. Pat called Pennie, who had the key, "Hi! Pennie! I have good news and bad news. Good news is I have three keys of Pennie's bike. Bad news is I don't have a key of Denise's. Call me back soon. Bye" After that, he walked to under the small tree and said to us, "Now Shiny motorcycle tour rents a shade. " What a big ball this CEO has! Everyone smiled a usual smile.
Lesson 3: Carry the extra keys while adventure. |
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We needed a tow truck. and went to the nearest Harley dealer, Black Hills Harely.
To tell the truth, I don't care. This is adventure.
We decided to wait for Pennie to bring it back at Black Hills Harley Dealer.
Lesson 4: How heavy a locked Harley Davidson is! |
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I was very glad to see Denise ride her own Harley by herself. In my rear view mirror, Bill and Denise were smiling. It made me feel cozy. We straigtly headed for Buffalo.
Lesson 5: Hard time made our bond strong. |
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Today was the last day of this year Sturgis Rally. That was why Black Hills Harley dealer wasn't crowded and we had much time to shop. Bill said to me, "You are the number 1 Harley Davidson shopper." In fact, I became the last shopper of this year rally.
Lesson 6: Don't tell my wife on me, if you are a real friend of mine. |
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At Sundance. We saw a beautiful spectacular show which were performed by Sun and Cloud in Big Sky. Sundance stands for a kind of dance by American Inidians. I couldn't help but think of how ancient people had lived on this mother earth.
Lesson 7: No other artisit is better than Nature. |
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I am sure that today's ride was the most wonderful I had ever had. I took 244 pictures from the suddle of my Harley. I rode faced stright to the sunset and I could see a full moon in my rear view mirror. I really wished Carol, one of the last year member, would be here. I miss her, Carol!
Lesson 8: Whenever we see something romantic, we think of our beloved. |
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At Buffalo, In front of Motel 8, Ann, Lynn and Allan waited for us. Lynn said to me, " I have Dr. Perer for you." Ann told me the same thing. They remembered my favorite. I was impressed by their sweet heart as well as sweet sunset.
At night, we got together at one room and talked, talked talked... I understood 70% what they said. Especailly Bills talk about his family tatoo was funny.
Lesson 9: Friendship is not to be seen but to be here.
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The 3rd Day From Buffalo to Cody (240 miles)
Early in the morning, in front of motel, ladies are chatting about a cow boy guy. "Look, that man! wearing a cowboy hat, driving a pick up truck, towing a horse trailer, a dog beside his seat."
Lesson 10: If you want to be a hit with girls, learn about a cowboy lifestyle. |
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We went to Big Horn National Park. We rode through the valley. I believed yesterday's ride was the best but soon I realized it was mistaken. We enjoyed today's gorgeous ride. Ann taught me a good saying. "Yesterday is history. Today is mystery."
Lesson 11: Yesterday is history. Today is mystery. Shiny Motorcycle Tour is satisfactry. |
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We arrive at Cody. We enjoyed a lakeside riding. Ann's bike has a frog on the top of her bag. She said, "You can see my frog dancing during riding." Yes, but it appeared to me that the poor frog was made to do yoga.
Lesson 12: No two minds think alike. |
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My room mate Bill said to me, "Riding a Harley is a kind of meditation." He is meditating in my rearview mirror. At first I didn't understand what he said. He said like this,
"What do you mean Jerry beans? "
"Looking good neighborhood."
"Good bye, violin."
Finally I understand what it is like for him to meditate.
Lesson 13: When in America, do the Americans do. |
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In the center of the parking lot, where it was almost empty but Lynn's bike was hit by a car. She could not grab the break bar.
Lesson 14: Park your bike between other bikes. |
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We walked down the center of the city to have dinner at the finest restaurant. We could not enter it but we enjoyed talking. Especially, a real story of Bill and Denise about "A Cup of tea between Hot Pot" was too fun to share you here. Ask Bill in details.
Lesson 15: Let's speak English clearly. |
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The 4th Day Yellow Stone National Park ( 200 miles)
We went to Yellow Stone National Park. Yesterday's thunder caused a forest fire. Rangers tried to put it out using 3 helicopters but it was bigger and bigger. It looked like a kind of movie film, but this is real wild life.
Lesson 16: Something is gone, something new is coming soon. |
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Pennie knows a lot of things well. This year was not so cold and not much snow. That is why buffalo had many kids. We could see many buffalo but they cause traffic jams. She gave me a private lesson.
Lesson 17: When animals have much comforable time, they make love, just as humans do. |
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We visited Old Faithful Geyser. We waited about 45 minutes and could see a spectacular show presented by Our Mother Earth. We could feel the breath of our earth.
Lesson 18: We have to know our earth lives without being noticed. |
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We visited Gibbon Falls and Grand Canyon. We really enjoyed ourselves. We realized that forest fire was worse and worse. We could not go back to the motel at Cody. The road was closed due to the fire. We had to stay at Yellow Stone Hotel. We rented a cabin, 2 beds a shower. This was the last room. 3 ladies and 3 beasts sleep a room? This is a real adventure.
Lesson 19:This is life. This is Shiny Motorcycle Tour. |
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The 5th Day Yellow Stone National Park
I survived. Last night, I slept on the floor. I zipped up my leather jacket and put on my boots. It was so cold that I woke up early in the morning. Before dawn, Bill woke up and put his blanket on me. It gave me another dream of looking for an empty restroom. And I woke up again.
Lesson 20:When you have a dream of a restroom, you had better wake up and go to restroom before you wet your bed. |
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We headed for Big Sky Country, Montana. This is "the top of the world". Once a month, even summer time, they have snow. But Big Sky was welcome to us. We enjoyed riding around mountains. What a beautiful sky it was! Everyone looked more beautiful and brilliant than usual.
Lesson 21:Because our heart are beautiful, everything we see is beautiful, too. |
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This morning I couldn't brush my hair. My hair was in tangles. But under this big sky, I enjoyed riding with my hair waving in the wind.
Lesson 22: It's not a road we're riding on, it's a path to freedom... |
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The 6th Day Yellow Stone National Park ( 200 miles)
Ann, Lynn, Denise, Bill went to see wild horses. Pat worked in front of computer. (Maybe he is tired?) Pennie and I rode to Yellow Stone National park again.
Lesson23: Americans respect individual opinions.
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We visited a hot spring garden, Mammoth Hot Spring. This year there was not so much snow. Because of this, there is water shortage. We could not see so many pool filled with water. But we stood as if we had arrived at Mars.
Lesson 24: It is time to think about our one world together. |
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We went to Yellow Stone Falls. First we saw it from the top of the hill. After that we walked down to the falls. It was worth seeing it from there. It was hard to return to the parking lot, though. That is why we left another route to the falls for next time.
Lesson 25: We can't get everything in our life. |
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To tell the truth, we lost our way. This is another adventure. I've already gotten used to it. Anyway that was why we could see two wild elks, though.
Thank you Pennie!
Lesson 26: We have to look on the sunny side of our life. |
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The 7th Day From Cody to Gillette ( 240 miles)
We enjoyed riding as a pack. Today there was no cloud and too hot hot hot. We need water for all our body. As soon as I drink it up, I want another bottle. I felt as if my body could turn water into energy.
Lesson 27: Nothing is gone, just changes its shape.
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We had lunch at small local resturant, "Red Arrow".
There was a sexy lady who told us some funny stories like this.
A man and his wife were working in their garden one day and the man looks over at his wife and says,
"Your butt is bigger than the barbecue."
With that he proceeded to get a measuring tape and measure the grill and then went over to where his wife was working and measured his wife's bottom.
"Yes, I was right, your butt is two inches wider than the barbecue!!!"
The women chose to ignore her husband.
Later that night in bed, the husband is feeling a little frisky. He makes some advances towards his wife, who completely brushed him off.
"What's wrong?" he asks.
She answers,
"Do you really think I'm going to fire up this big-ass grill for one little weenie?"
Lesson 28: This is another adventure.
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Wyoming is famous for its coal mine. Three of us went there.
Guess who did that?
Do you know the price of this tire?
$38.000, almost my annual income except tax.
Lesson 29: This coal mine is huge, but we'd better know its limitation. |
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We threw a reuion party in the room at Motel 8. Bill was happy to get dressed in Japanese traditional SAMURAI underwear. He could read that Japanese printed in front of it. He said
"Big one."
No way!
Its meaning is
"Fighting Spirit".
He really loves this underwear so much so that he went outside to have cigarette with it on.
Lesson 30: Crosscultural experience will broaden your outlook. |
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I am glad to see Pat happy to have a picture of Pat and his ex-Harley FLSTS painted by a Japanese famous Harley painter GAO, who is my best friend.
Lesson 31: What is the happiest moment is seeing my beloved smiling. |
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The 8th Day From Gillette to Rapidcity ( 179 miles)
We went to the first national monument, Devils Tower. It was mysterious and filled with holy atmosphere. I couldn't help looking up to the sky. Blue sky seemed to send us a message.
Lesson 32: We need some time to listen to the voice of Great Spirit.
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I requested that we should go to World Famous Sturgis Harley Dealer. They were kind enough to accept my request. Before I entered the shop, I had decided to buy souvenirs for my friends, but on my step in, I changed my mind. I pick up my own stuffs. I bought two FLSTS diecast models. I needed another rope to pack them on my rear seat.
Lesson 33: Before you enter a Harley Dealer, list up what you really need. |
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Another adventure we had. We loaded our 8 motorcycles on the trailer. We started at 5:00 and ended at 10:30. I really envy American life style. They play with real Harleys and a real Ram 3500 and a real trailer, not diecast models.
Lesson 34: Vacation with Harley is planning it, preparing for it, enjoying ourselves, putting things in order and dreaming next year vacation. |
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Thank you very much again, Pat & Pennie!
I really enojoyed this year adventure. Before I leave here, I want to make a reservation in 2004.
Anyway, please enjoy your Saturday night as you like. See you on our next adventure.
Lesson 36: Life is too short to do everything. That is why we must choose the best. |
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The Last Day "SAYONARA"
Everybody won't go home. Everyone goes back home one by one. I've already missed them a lot. We enjoyed last conversation for a short second at Best Western. Bill tried to bring an iron, which was at our room, back home for Carol. Because she said she needed new one. What a sweet heart he has! If he did that, he wouldn't go back home, but go to jail.
Lesson 36: There is no other place like home of Harley, "Sturgis".
See you next year! |
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