He's a Marine!

Buffalo jump site

BFT at USAF campsight

Here we are!

A little B-52 on the way in!

More buffalo jump site - amazing!

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY COLORADO SPRINGS (IN THE WOODS)---Well....In my father's eloquent words, it was a "major brain fart!" The Dinger and I are currently in residence at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. While we were totally aware that we could access military bases across the country for various goods and services, we came to the party a bit late on the fact that the government offers its warriors amazingly cool - and CHEAP - camping. After being told by a Vanessa at Fort Carson that it would cost $75 a night to camp there (Ding paid $125 a MONTH to camp in Twentynine Palms back in the day) I called the Falcons. Michelle said "come on down" and we did. In fact, I can honestly say it's the prettiest camping we've done so far. There are views of the Rockies and Pike's Peak, big timber trees, large spaces and liberal neighbors (liberal in the dog-not-on-a-leash, cribbage board competitive, explicative yelling sense). We spent two nights at a nice KOA in Fort Collins, where the Dinger reshod the BFT. We have bigger more bad-ass tires and wheels now - much safer! I've reached another level of maturity and invited an ex to supper at KOA. Naturally, the Dinger and Steele got on very well. Never hurts when you pair two gun and rare red meat nuts. We stopped in Denver and brew pubbed and supped with cousins Kit and Ariel and our webmaster Bear before landing at the USAF. I made the Dinger stop at the gate so I could shoot a photo and document our adventure. As a former tree hugging, bra-burning third-wave feminist, I was surprisingly proud when Albert Donald Dailey showed his credentials and the young man in uniform thoroughly saluted my long-haired, bearded, grease covered Harley officer husband. We should have bugged out today after getting my military spouse ID (for those who know my history, this is an epic turn of faith) but, instead, we sat inside the BFT and listened to the rain, the silence and our computer key tapping. I've contacted cousin Don Clark, formerly of New Mexico, now of Colo Springs, and we will meet him for coffee in the A.M. He's helped us map a route to Cortez, where we will meet up with Dad, Fran, Bobbie and Mike. I've got jumbo shrimps and lobster aboard for the KOA DCC Seafood Boil 2012 and plenty of lox and bagels for Pop. Seeing the Dinger slow down for a couple days has been glorious. He's sprawled in the Cal King now with Thumper, watching a movie. We do Cortez for a couple of days and then onto Ignacio. Send up those supplications folks.....More soon....Hol, the Dinger, Thumper Woo and Bob "I'm no longer Bob Marley with dreadlocks" the Dog.

We're Alive

RIVERTON, WYOMING---It took three days but we finally broke camp in Belle Fourche, paid the tax man and headed west. We've landed in Riverton, Wyoming to do some BFT maintenance and repairs, inspect and expand on signage, defrost fridge, waterproof the BFT roof, mount a stereo and prep for the Four Corners Rally in Ignacio. It's been 73 days since we left Wyoming and then returned. We are nearly halfway through the tour, which amazes me. Ding and I are at our best when there is a lot of work to do and plenty of customers but, like many, we struggle when weather and other delays force us inside the box to stare at movies for too long or ride in the big truck with the dogs for days on end. The partnership instruction manual should be clearer on those topics of discussion that are mandatory before the nups. It's not enough to come to terms of agreement or disagreement on religion, politics, money and kids. One needs to consider and plan very carefully a life that has you spending every hour of every day together. It takes patience, consideration and knowing when to take a break by yourself. We are getting better at this....
I'm currently holed up in a nice room at the Sundowner Station - one of those style properties that seem to be fading away with the onslaught of corporate chains. The rooms are big with comfy beds and a sliding door leading onto a nice lawn and patio with flowers for me to smell and grass and ponds for Thumper and Bob. There is a good restaurant and bar on site. The weather is sunny and only 75 degrees and there are no flies. The plan is to leave here by Monday or so, hit Denver for supplies, mail and a visit with cousins and the webmaster Bear. We will blaze south into New Mexico and come back up into Colorado on the western slope. No way in h-e-double hocky sticks are we dragging the BFT over any mountain passes. Looking forward to a brief camping trip near Mesa Verde with Dad, Fran, Bobbie and Mike. I hope to fish a little, play some cards and eat well. We will head to Ignacio after that, around the 28th and set up for rally. As we did in Belle Fourche, we will be away from the action (I'm not paying 5 grand for a booth spot). This time, we found a landowner with a lot on the main drag in town (rest of action is at Ute Fairgrounds about two miles away). Our camp will be across from the Teepee Lounge. Still no leads on a crystal ball for my fortune-telling business but I am considering a rickshaw to shuttle people over to other food and drink sites, as well as a popcorn maker and hot dog cart. Check out the website for more pictures and tour update soon. Take care and thanks again for all the well wishes....Hol, Ding, Bob and Thump

Long way round - This guy flew from Australia to Cali, bought a Harley, came to Sturgis, had us do a tire and then was heading east to find a boat or plane to get his hog home.

Sturgis was busy this year but not near as much as it has been. We rode in one night - should have been crazy busy - and were able to park right in front of a bar we wanted to go to. Normally, one would park and walk for blocks to get here.

Sturgis on days before rally started.

Seth Bullock's place in Deadwood.

One of several photos Ding shot last Sunday while riding in Black Hills with John and Mack.

Falls in the hills during Ding's ride.

Turn out the lights, it's time to....

pico de gallo and guac

margarita glasses for carnies



deep fried cheese and shredded beef tacos




Men and snacks- Ding to the right and John assessing guacamole

DATELINE---BRANDING IRON SALOON SOUTH OF BELLE FOURCHE SOUTH DAKOTA---I woke at 3:23 a.m. last night and the rain was pouring. I put some towels near the front door and watched another episode of Carnivale. We lowered the canopies and have basically started to break camp. It was a slow, meandering day that was really nice. Cool breezes and more quality time with new friends. Terri and I pulled down the shower; Mack took a putt over to Spearfish; and Ding and John tinkered with John's motorcycle. We came together early and suppered inside the tattoo home - very comfortable seating, big windows and a nice television on which we watched movies. The deep fried tacos, fresh gauc and pico de gallo and margaritas were a good call. We guilded the lily when Ding dug out the dark chocolate-covered pomegranite seeds. We spent more time talking and hatching future plans - laughing at the week's bizaareness- then anything else. Bob and Thumper are beyond swell. They rolled in mud; ate the fat and au jus from the meat and played all day with Mack and John. It's not the rally we thought it would be...Maybe better in some ways, eh? More soon.....Hol, Ding, Thump and Bob

Carnivale ala 2012

BRANDING IRON SALOON PARKING LOT SOUTH OF BELLE FOURCHE SOUTH DAKOTA--- I know, I know. I'm best served, and moreso our supporters, by blogging daily or at least every couple of days. For those who really know me, this technology, social media gig has been slow on the get-go and I have more days than not when I could absolutely give a rat's-a@@ about using the tools. That said, right now, with my hubby napping and my dogs snoring, inside of a meat locker cool trailer that has clean dishes and 10,001 dead flies hanging from the ceiling on sticky paper - I'm in the mood to write. What comes to mind most immediately is how utterly clearly you experience firsthand the on-going recession and rocketing unemployment rate while on the road. Sturgis - the grand-daddy of all rallies - is not the same run it used to be. I remember coming to this rally even five years ago and seeing a lot more people on the move, camping, spending money and partying. We had spells of time today in which the road was silent. This is a very eerie occurance as carnies. Normally, the roar of the road is constant, morning, noon and night. Business has been steady until this afternoon. We've made our nut but we are not on profit, yet. The TNT tattoo crew - wonderful folks named John, Terrie and Mack out of Illinois-ish - have been dreadfully slow. They are seasoned pros at this and take it in stride that some rallies and locations pull it in and some don't. In an effort to kick-start TNT, Ding and I did what our parents hoped we wouldn't and GOT TATTOOS! This time, I went with a small but brillantly colored sprig of holly. It's subtle, not in eyesight and very nice. It resides on my back with the others. After four combat tours that saw Ding wrestling the Middle East, he went with the Old English font of the word INFIDEL. He says the enemy wanted to "Kill the Infidels" so he believes branding himself clearly on the arm was a good way to let them know who to shoot at. It looks good and boy did he earn it. We will wrench a couple of more days and then likely take up residence at the Sunset Motel down the way. Ding's buddies Rob and Patty own it and they will give us a good non-rally rate, starting Monday. Since we did bring in a couple of bucks this week, I splurged and bought a huge hunk of meat for the crock. I will sear and then stew overnight in good beer and then tomorrow at the end of the day, I've promised homemade guac, pico de gallo, fresh-squeezed margaritas and shreadded beef tacos for everyone. The road has brought back my desire to cook. Now if only the magazine and book writing urge would reappear. That's about all I've got. We had breakfast for dinner last night - my egg, potato, bacon and grilled onion burritos - and then blazed into Sturgis for a look. You know it's a slow year when you can pull up and park right in front of your favorite rally bars. Didn't buy any rubber drums or tomahawks. I think tonight will be steak tips and salad from the Branding Iron and then maybe a nice shower in the rain tank Terrie and I built yesterday. Thumper and Bob swell. More at some point....Hol, Ding, Thumper and Bob

Food vendor fire

Forgot to post last week. Ding was in Rapid City at the Harley dealership Friday, I think, and went across the street to get a sandwich when he saw a fire start at the food vending booths. No one was injured but a propane tank was part of the problem. Bunch of food booths burned. Naturally, the food vending area is back up and running. Such is business on the road.

Sturgis-First official day

BRANDING IRON SALOON SOUTH OF BELLE FOURCHE, SOUTH DAKOTA --- Well, the first official day of the rally is almost in the books. We were steady for most of the day but by no means busy busy. Sunday was our best day so far. The TNT Tattoo crew got here last night - really nice people and a very nice shop, top-of-the-line seating and tools and they do excellent work. It was a warm one today in the 90s and more hot weather is predicted. The wind, thankfully, has calmed a bit. Not a whole more to report. Top photos are some of our first customers and bottom two show this stitch of a gal named Mo who takes a week off every August to stop working and mommying so she can come to Sturgis and let it all hang out. Nice gal. Thumper and Bob need baths but otherwise they are swell. Tattoo crew loves to play ball so those two are staying busy. Ding and I need baths, which we will do later tonight or tomorrow. Otherwise, keep your eyes peeled for a crystal ball. My father thinks I should don a turbin, hang a sign that says "Holly Tells All" and pay people to come sit with me whie I read their future. It's starting to sound like a fun sideline for when business is slow. Cheers!

T-minus three days until Sturgis starts

Borrowed sign with back lighting. Ding and the boys will attempt to hoist onto roof of BFT. We need the signage.

Our view of the Branding Iron Saloon on Highway 85 in Belle Fourche. I want to see rows of motorcycle, soon.

BELLE FOURCHE, SOUTH DAKOTA - We sit inside the BFT at the moment, waiting for a sizeable thunderstorm to come crush us. Had a customer this morning for some minor repairs and her husband is coming back tomorrow for a tire. Ding's new buddy Shaky is out on his bike, posting more fliers and business cards for us. Some of the fellas are supposed to head over soon and help Ding hoist a borrowed sign onto top of BFT. The wind and that idea do not seem to jive so think positive thoughts for us. Headed over to Slow Mike and Shell's tonight for barebecue, homemade German potato salad, corn and, I believe some decadent chocolate cake that Shell described as like eating fudge! As soon as the patrons show, and when I can get into Sturgis, more pictures will be posted. Thanks for the support. We're hanging in there....Hol, Ding, Thumper and Bob