Jockey's Ridge - Nags Head, North Carolina

 While visiting the Outer Banks of  North Carolina  we took a ride on our Harley-Davidson to visit a sand dune called Jockey's Ridge.  This is the tallest natural sand dune in the Eastern U.S. and one of the key landmarks of the Outer Banks.  There is a lot of history about this sand dune and a bit of controversy as well on how it received its name. The picture of the sign below explains the possible origins of the name. Once there you'll find a ranger station located on site with facilities and a souvenir shop.   There is also a short boardwalk to the dune that is a bit of a nature trail with signs along the way describing local wildlife that once lived in the area. You will be right down the road from where Orville and Wilbur Wright first took their historic flight so if  you are visiting Kitty Hawk it is worth checking this place out. We found hundreds of people hiking and climbing the dune with kids using it as a sand slide.

Sylvan Lake in the Black Hills of South Dakota

While motorcycling on Needles Highway in the Black Hills, we discovered beautiful Lake Sylvan nestled in the midst of the mountains. The huge rocks on top of the cliff looked as if someone had pinched them with their fingers and placed them carefully on top. Around the lake is a park with kayak rentals and fishng.  On this particular day, there was a large cookout that was open to the public. Buffalo burgers and cold beer were the items of choice. It was a great place to stop, relax for a while and meet some great fellow bikers. We were having such a wonderful day already and this stop along the way just added to it. 

Black Hills Sturgis South Dakota

While riding the Black Hills we took this photo as another example of one of the many tunnels that will lead you crisscrossing through the pristine Black Hills National Forest. There are a number of tunnels that were specifically designed to frame Mount Rushmore in the distance as you ride through. The second photo below shows as an example of why they are called the Black Hills. The pine forests are so rich in color that they make the mountains appear black.  As you are riding you will notice the air is fresh and crisp with a scent of pine. It is an exhilarating experience riding the Black Hills.

Laconia Bike Rally - New Hampshire

For nearly 90 years, the Laconia Bike Rally has been a New England tradition.  The top picture (35mm) we took looking back toward the area of Weirs Beach.  This is the main street area where bikers line up to walk the wooden boardwalk along the beach and take in all the festivities.  As with any rally, there are booths set up everywhere with all kinds of merchandise, beer tents and plenty of live entertainment.  The rally is set in the White Mountains of New Hampshire near Lake Winnipesaukee.  It is in early June so the weather is always a gamble. The bottom picture is an aerial shot of the area from 1998. 

Nascar Sprint Series Watkins Glen

We took these pictures of the the Nascar Sprint Series Race in Watkins Glen New York. The day of the race the weather was good initially. We never had been to a  Nascar race before so we weren't sure on what to expect. Once we found our seats we then took a walk around the inside track where all the action is. We soon found out its a big party with plenty of beer and music with even some free give aways like Helluva Good Cheese & Nachos and Monster Energy drinks. Also there were plenty of aromas in the air - a combination of burning rubber and fried foods. While we we waiting for the race to start with anticipation ominous clouds were building. After announcing all of the drivers on stage they finally started their engines and lapped the track and were ready to receive the green flag to race. .Just then the skies opened up with a ferocious lighting and thunder storm. The race was stopped and a few hours later it was called cancelled and rescheduled for the following day. We returned the next day and took in all the sites and the race for a second time. Below right is a picture of a group of "Said Heads", fans of driver Boris Said, who all wear matching shirts and big, bushy wigs. It was an experience.