Doing Epic Sh*t

It’s go time. Saddle sore run to Duluth, MN (1,140 miles), then up to Angle Inlet, MN to hit the Northernmost Point Buoy — all in 36 hours — to knock out the Bun Burner 1500. After that, I planned to meander toward the World’s Largest Buffalo, cruise through Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and eventually link up with the DHOG crew and my dad on Friday.

Day 1 Recap:

Success! Rolled into Duluth and nailed the Saddle Sore 1000, ending the day at 1,143 miles. I’ll knock out the rest of the 1,500 before the 36-hour clock runs out at exactly 3:52:53 p.m. tomorrow. Along the way today, I picked up 7 Dealer Check-ins across Iowa and Minnesota.   Looking ahead: Tomorrow should be the fun part. Today was just a stupid, grind-it-out kind of ride, but tomorrow I get to enjoy MN 61 along the North Shore of Lake Superior. I’ve done it North to South before, but I’m really looking forward to the South-to-North run. Being a big fan of lighthouses, I can’t wait to get some great shots of Split Rock Lighthouse in Split Rock State Park — right on Lake Superior — which also happens to be the check-in spot for the MN 50 Rides One Nation. From there, I’ll head up to Voyageurs National Park. I’ve heard it’s incredible, and I’m excited to see it for myself (and get some great photos). After that, it’s on to Angle Inlet, MN, for my picture at the Northernmost Point Buoy. I snagged the Southernmost Point Buoy in Key West back in 2022, and I’ve been wanting to complete the set ever since. To get there, I’ll have to dip into Canada.  If time allows, I’ll swing over to Jamestown, ND, to see the World’s Largest Buffalo Statue — one of the Harley Owners Group’s 15 Rides for ’25. From Jamestown, I’ll cross North Dakota and hit Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the ND stop for the 50 Rides One Nation challenge. I’ll probably make it there Friday morning, which will be my final stop before rolling into Sturgis for the 85th Anniversary Rally.

For the inquiring minds:

Mission accomplished — I completed the Bun Burner 1500! Rode 1,597.9 miles in under 36 hours. Got my Split Rock Lighthouse shots, though not quite as planned. With construction blocking the ideal spots and no interest in hiking for a better angle, I backtracked to a scenic pullout with a good view. It was about 6:30 a.m., hazy from the Canadian wildfires. From there, I hit some incredible roads in Northern Minnesota on the way to Voyageurs National Park. It was beautiful, but honestly? I don’t think it’s “National Park worthy.” In the last 4 years, I’ve been to 22 National Parks, and Voyageurs falls in my bottom five. Now, if I could spend a week or two fishing those lakes, maybe my opinion would change. Crossing into Canada, I headed toward Angle Inlet and the Northernmost Boundary Buoy. The last 25 miles were the worst roads I’ve ever ridden on a Harley — a mix of big gravel, small gravel, and sand, with constant rumble-strip-like grooves from boat trailers. I nearly wiped out several times. I even heard a guy on an adventure bike had gone down earlier in the week and was still in ICU after three days. On the way back, I had my own mishap. I hit a funky dip just before a tight curve, the front wheel went loose, and by the time I got it steady, I knew I wouldn’t make the turn. I made a split-second call — instead of risking a pavement crash or drifting off badly, I aimed for the ditch where I saw no fence and landed in a farmer’s oat field. Everything slowed down in my head, but it was over in a flash. Right call — just a dislocated rib, sore neck, sore back, minor bike damage, and one lost tour pack when I hit the apex of the other side. My handlebars were pulled down to the tank, but thanks to brand-new OHLINS suspension up front and a rear adjustment by Suspended By Smarty, I truly believe that’s the only reason I didn’t go down hard. Without that upgrade, I wouldn’t have made it down the NW Angle roads — and I wouldn’t have recovered the bike after she got loose. I overnighted in Roseau, MN, then found a shop back in Canada to tighten my bars enough to ride home. With the lost day and my tight schedule, I decided to skip the North Dakota stops and Sturgis, and just head home. Fargo Friday night, Kansas City Saturday night — where I had to stop at Italian Delight in KCK. Best pizza and strombolis in the KC metro, no debate.  Made it home. I’ll plan another trip soon to hit the Dakotas.

This is one ride I’ll never forget.

Regulator… let’s roll