2nd Nat'l NT Rally - Jul 12-15, 2012 - Spearfish, SD

Just a little background on this location.

We've been having a National STOC event here for the past 3 years. The riding is incredible, you have your choice of Custer State Park, Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse and even Devils Tower among just a few tourist type areas but also some great roads. Those that attended the 1st National NT Rally also visited many of the same features of this area.

The NT event will be the week after the ST event. I was thinking of combining the two but I feel it makes more sense to have your own so it's more focused towards NTs and this site. Next year I may just take a whole week off and catch both events.

The event is well after the 4th of July holiday so any traffic from that holiday should be gone and it's also well before Sturgis as we won't have to worry about a huge crowd, this has worked out quite well for the ST event. It's been my impression the city likes having sport touring type motorcyclists and will welcome us.

Yes, I highly recommend you all attend. I have gone now for two years and had a ball. first year i moteled it. this year I camped in the city park. (That is were the happings are) and next year I will camp also.

Mellow said:

Just a little background on this location.

The NT event will be the week after the ST event. I was thinking of combining the two but I feel it makes more sense to have your own so it's more focused towards NTs and this site. Next year I may just take a whole week off and catch both events.

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Joe, have them both at the same time. Put the ST guys at one end and the NT guys at the other end of the park. This way the ST folks will be more exposed to the NT and the NT folks with the ST. After all the NT is a Sport Touring machine. This way I can go to both. As it is now you are going to make me choose where my loyalties lay. Or I am going to have to come home change bikes and head back up again.

Chucksklrst said:

Joe, have them both at the same time. Put the ST guys at one end and the NT guys at the other end of the park. This way the ST folks will be more exposed to the NT and the NT folks with the ST. After all the NT is a Sport Touring machine. This way I can go to both. As it is now you are going to make me choose where my loyalties lay. Or I am going to have to come home change bikes and head back up again.

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Sorry, it will end up being an ST even as it has been... I want this to be an NT event. Sorry about the tough choices, you could just stay there 2 weeks.

"" said:

Thanks, Joe. That looks like a great place to camp. Is there a fee to use it?

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Yes, last year they cut it in half for the STO group so I'll be trying to get the same deal as I'll be there the week before. It's normally 18/person which seems high but pretty good for that area and the campground is VERY nice.

It does look like a nice campground. Maybe I'll camp after all. I don't suppose it would hurt me to do that. Just dragging my creaky old body up and out a couple of times a night to hike to the bathroom would be good exercise.

Phil Tarman said:

Just dragging my creaky old body up and out a couple of times a night to hike to the bathroom would be good exercise.

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Phil, they make those 32 oz Gatorade bottles for more than just holding Gatorade ya know.:wink:

LOL! Thanks for solving a problem!

Considering riding my NT to the rally. Would be the longest single ride I have ever done, by far. 3,400+ miles round trip.
I figure my rear would only take about 350 to 400 miles a day before begging for a break. Would be my version of an iron butt. I know I'm a wuss.
That would mean 5 days up and 5 days back. Doable. Just plan on being gone 3 weeks. Sure the wife won't mind.
Would be really nice to meet some of the folks that I communicate with on this forum!

Tim, you might surprise yourself... you may do a couple 700-800 mile days without even thinking about it. It's a great area for riding so if it's possible to endure some pain getting there, you'll have a great time. Custer State Park is a must do..

Every time you stop for gas (220 miles) you rest your butt. It is all about using your stops wisely and getting the most out of them. Gas, pee, food, drink & rest butt and you are back on the road in 15 to 20 min. If weather is nice and you stay on secondary roads to keep your mind occupied you can do a couple of 700 mile days and then drop down to 500 miles a day after that. Interstates is where the butt starts to hurt after a sort period of time. Because you have nothing to take your mind off of it. Just droning out miles and wondering when you will run out of gas so you can stop. It is all a mind game. Keep the mind off the butt and on the sights before you, you will be surprised how far you can ride before you are uncomfortable. Of course you will need a seat that is comfortable to start with.

Chucksklrst said:

It is all a mind game.

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That is so true it's funny.. okay, not all that funny...

It's when you start talking to yourself that things get real interesting.. I can run a whole 300 mile tank out on the ST with one conversation.

Tim, we'd love to have you join us in the Black Hills. We had a good time there last year at the first NT-Owners Rally. We had seven of us there, but never more than six at a time. We even let Chuck (of Chucksklrst fame) join us on his endless ST ride.

That is Great, Now I can go to both. I guess I pitch my tent between the two group areas and take the NT to both events and only have to make one trip to Spearfish.

Rick, They are now the same dates.

I think we need to make a bigger announcement about the date change. Maybe send a personal message to everyone who has RSVPd. I almost missed it. And the replied to messages show different dates on different messages, which confused me for a bit.

Looks like I'll be going as well. any one got a listing of camp sites from florida to there in about 500 mile intervels?

Nicole said:

Looks like I'll be going as well. any one got a listing of camp sites from florida to there in about 500 mile intervels?

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Just some quick planning
1 - St Lucie, FL to High Falls State Park, GA - 496 miles
[GMAP]<iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=St.+Lucie,+FL&daddr=High+Falls+State+Park,+High+Falls+Park+Drive,+Jackson,+GA+30233+(High+Falls+State+Park)&hl=en&geocode=FeuEowEdMhM2-ylXT3AXNfHeiDH9AEIIhOYdvQ%3BFQBO-gEdxAb--iGWbVW9YL3ITQ&aq=0&oq=st+lucie&sll=33.180089,-84.024811&sspn=0.037714,0.084543&mra=ls&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=30.337445,-82.190655&spn=5.68813,3.69685&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=St.+Lucie,+FL&daddr=High+Falls+State+Park,+High+Falls+Park+Drive,+Jackson,+GA+30233+(High+Falls+State+Park)&hl=en&geocode=FeuEowEdMhM2-ylXT3AXNfHeiDH9AEIIhOYdvQ%3BFQBO-gEdxAb--iGWbVW9YL3ITQ&aq=0&oq=st+lucie&sll=33.180089,-84.024811&sspn=0.037714,0.084543&mra=ls&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=30.337445,-82.190655&spn=5.68813,3.69685" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>[/GMAP]

2 - High Falls State Park, GA to Lake Murphysboro State Park - 514 miles
[GMAP]<iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=High+Falls+State+Park,+High+Falls+Park+Drive,+Jackson,+GA+30233+(High+Falls+State+Park)&daddr=Lake+Access+Rd&hl=en&geocode=FQBO-gEdxAb--iGWbVW9YL3ITQ%3BFehwQAIdQAqs-g&aq=0&oq=spearfi&sll=37.677843,-89.180832&sspn=0.285311,0.676346&mra=mrv&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=37.677843,-89.180832&spn=0.285311,0.676346&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=High+Falls+State+Park,+High+Falls+Park+Drive,+Jackson,+GA+30233+(High+Falls+State+Park)&daddr=Lake+Access+Rd&hl=en&geocode=FQBO-gEdxAb--iGWbVW9YL3ITQ%3BFehwQAIdQAqs-g&aq=0&oq=spearfi&sll=37.677843,-89.180832&sspn=0.285311,0.676346&mra=mrv&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=37.677843,-89.180832&spn=0.285311,0.676346" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>[/GMAP]

3 - Lake Murphysboro State Park to Lake Manawa State Park - 514 miles
[GMAP]<iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Lake+Access+Rd&daddr=E+Manawa+Dr&hl=en&geocode=FehwQAIdQAqs-g%3BFSiddAIddl9J-g&aq=0&oq=spearf&sll=41.191056,-95.858459&sspn=0.271273,0.676346&mra=dme&mrsp=1&sz=11&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=41.191056,-95.858459&spn=0.271273,0.676346&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=Lake+Access+Rd&daddr=E+Manawa+Dr&hl=en&geocode=FehwQAIdQAqs-g%3BFSiddAIddl9J-g&aq=0&oq=spearf&sll=41.191056,-95.858459&sspn=0.271273,0.676346&mra=dme&mrsp=1&sz=11&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=41.191056,-95.858459&spn=0.271273,0.676346" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>[/GMAP]

4 - Lake Manawa State Park to Spearfish, SD - 575 miles
[GMAP]<iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=E+Manawa+Dr&daddr=Spearfish,+SD&hl=en&geocode=FSiddAIddl9J-g%3BFUHgpgIdVjvP-SnvpatbWJgyUzGqoF2cYe3d6A&aq=0&oq=spear&sll=41.1249,-96.62229&sspn=8.685909,21.643066&mra=pr&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=41.1249,-96.62229&spn=8.685909,21.643066&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=E+Manawa+Dr&daddr=Spearfish,+SD&hl=en&geocode=FSiddAIddl9J-g%3BFUHgpgIdVjvP-SnvpatbWJgyUzGqoF2cYe3d6A&aq=0&oq=spear&sll=41.1249,-96.62229&sspn=8.685909,21.643066&mra=pr&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=41.1249,-96.62229&spn=8.685909,21.643066" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>[/GMAP]

Now, other thank the Spearfish City Campground, I haven't been to any of the state parks listed so you'd have to look them up and see about hours, facilities, etc but it looks like there are many other options in the beg/end areas of these routes.

Hope that helps for a start.