Wednesday, July 22, 2015
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Alberto’s tale… DAY TEN - BILLINGS
We did not set up Alberto’s tent, it was too late last night. Instead We al slept well, if you can call it that. We all crowded into Chris’ tent. I told you could accommodate 400, that tent is huge!
We slept rather well, if you can call it that. See, we are right next to the road and the railroad track. Speaking of railroad track, the train went by every two hours. Like clock work. Not just a little train, think of 100 cars going by, steel wheels on steel tracks. It gets loud. Very loud. Do you think that was a problem? Not at all! I know, because what kept me awake was Chris’s snoring. Now, that was a challenge!
Late, but up and and about. First things first,that means laundry! Wholly smokes, we are ripe! To Walmart to get some detergent and a laundromat. Charged the phone, camera battery and iPad. One hour later we are ready for breakfast. It now is 10:00 am and hungry.
Drove to downtown Billings in search of a family style place… Found it. Harvey called Randy just to keep him informed, and headed for food. After a proper pig-out we all felt better.
Back to the fairgrounds where the rally takes place. Need to register, and sign up for volunteer activity. Chris is big on volunteering… Guess, I’ll volunteer. You know me, lazy as ever… Happy to help, but volunteer?! You have to be kidding me. So, here I am helping my buddy Chris.
Some time around 2:00 pm after registration we went to the campsite. Randy communicated and due to arrive sometime. Also the rest of the group is already here. Yes, the rest of the group”. By 3:00 pm we are now eight of us. Eight men ready to tell every tall tale men are capable of telling. These are people who have not seen each other since last year’s Rally and they have pent-up story telling.
We also were joined by a man and a woman riders. Not a couple. Just that we have such a great camp set-up that it is a genuine envy. Every where else they have hundreds of campers one on top of the other. We, have lots of land… But we have the train and highway to contend.
Everyone now is teasing me because, as the woman, Linda, a nurse from Florida, was setting up her tent I kiddingly said, “hey, no need to set that tent, plenty of room in mine!”. Oooops! Now I have done it. She got the joke and expanded on it. Alberto now is in trouble, sure thing. I wished I had said nothing, but my big mouth got ahead of me. Too late now. Men and their humor. Women jokes, divorce humor, real or not, and motorcycles for this group. That’s it. Limited.
This afternoon we had a sand or dust storm. Severe. High winds, I and checking the weather report, rain increasing to 60%.
Dinner at Applebee’s proved the company to be quite good. The newcomers, well, new to me but old timers when it comes to motorbike get or BMW rallys. Most of the have experience with motorbikes to when they were teenagers, and now they are cranking late 50s or 60s.
At this minute, back at the camp. Amusing to see, they all pulled out their cel phones … reporting home. It is amusing because of the recognition that technology has taken over their lives. Think everyone of it, go back 75 years… Why 75. Just in the mid 80s having a cel phone was for the rich or the highly techy. Today, it is taken for granted.
We have drunk enough beer and chit chat the night away. It is now almost 10:00 pm.
We have decided to ride the “Bear Tooth Mountain, some twisting road that is supposed to be very challenging including the possibility of rain and lightning on account of the elevation, some 10,000 feet high or more. We will get up at 5:00 am. Simple for me, but, better make sure by going to bed now.
They are still talking.
Normally I re-read the text before sending. I am short for time so off it goes without checking. If something reads goofy is because, IT IS goofy. So extrapolate and get the best of the story.
Good night all.
Day 10 Pictures
Just got here… laundry! Pheww!
Alberto and Chris
Setting Camp in Billings
Harvey… take a break
Campgroung Billings …. we are growing
and growing…