Just to get you thinking about Butt Lite 6IX...

http://livinglurleen.blogspot.com/2011/08/firsts.html

partying in Sturgis before heading to Niobrara to help out, took the scenic route to Niobrara thru the Bear Tooth Pass Fried battery for the second time in a month near Murdo, met Coons cat before he did Hit Niobrara just in time to see Bart pretty hammered Then the following day I can't count how many people came up and asked me if I was Lurleen and I had to point them in your direction He He He!!

Five years later, my memories of BL IIII have not dimmed much at all. Yes, I did get "pretty hammered" at Two Rivers the night before the rally finish. I'd arrived early because of a problem with my hack: I couldn't shut the engine off (the problem turned out to be with the starter button) and so headed for the barn. I'd had enough anyway, and parked right in front of the saloon. Drinking that night (even Eddie had one!) with the rally staff was as fun as it gets.

When I got to Jack's in Nashville, the server - seeing my Aerostich - assumed I only wanted a bottle of water and the receipt. Hell no, I'm here to eat! I still don't know anything about BBQ, but I did enjoy that meal. Thanks for sharing the story, Lisa.

After posting that blog I realized that that was the first time I met Bart. I remember being fascinated by the hack. I really did feel a bit like Alice in Wonderland that weekend.

entry to your blog

I know a lot of people,including Teresa who were thrust into the bizarre, yet somehow very satisfying world of the LDR faithful.

Lisa, you were taken to the Holy Grail,from out of nowhere,and now it looks like you are going to stay right there. Pretty Darn impressive!

I really enjoy your memories shared with us, great stuff!

Life is real,enjoy it, no where better than the 2 lanes across this nation!

Bob

... I needed that.

Jim

BL IIII was one of the, if not the most memorable experiences of my life. The intense highs and lows of the event are like almost nothing I've ever experienced.

Funny thing is, I was very close to rolling into Niobrara the night before when Bart did. I'd lost a ton of points at the table in Atlanta and was no longer in the running for a top ten. I'd had a total meltdown in St. Louis when the zipper on my Stich broke in the rain (I almost went Led Zeppelin on my hotel room) , and so I let the Hansons and Paul Sundet go on without me. To top that off, I found out the next day I was running on a fried ignition coil (likely the result of being parked in a downpour), so I was riding on only 3 cylinders, so my fuel range sucked, and the bike reeked of raw gasoline from St. Louis to Niobrara.

I regret not coming in that night after hearing the stories about Eddie having more than a few drinks and all the fun at Two Rivers. I kind of felt like it would be wrong to come in that early, and I didn't want Eddie's ridicule. Plus I wasn't sure I'd have a place to stay (which was stupid, because I'm sure a Stranger would have had mercy on me). Instead, I spent the last night in the single worst motel on earth - the Super 8 in Vermillion, SD. Victor and Howie can confirm how pleasant that place was as they rolled in a few hours after I did.

Loved your story on this Lisa - it brought back some great and not so great memories!

"Eddie had a few drinks"

Eddie didn't drink, smoke, do drugs, chase women, or snore. He was addicted to motorcycles and junk food. No wonder I thought he was a gift from the boyfriend gods.

As I sat in the Two Rivers that night with Tammy, Adele and some of the locals I was shocked to look up and see Eddie behind the bar smoking a cigarette and slamming down Jager Bombs.

Eddie: "I'm goin' to Flavor Country! I just love it when a rally comes to an end!"
Adam: "The rally doesn't end until tomorrow."
Eddie: "Oh. Well in that case fix me another exploding Jager thingy."