A week or so later I ran into Ernie at work.  When I told him I was going to Sturgis he said the words that would change my life forever.

“Well, then you have to stay at the Buffalo Chip campground.  I’ve never been there but a friend of mine has and he says it’s the best party anywhere.”   So I did the research.  As soon as I got home I got online.  When I saw the musical lineup I was blown away.  If you buy your tickets early it’s an incredible bargain.  I didn’t wait for a second.  I bought 2 tickets, printed out the invoice and put it in a fire proof box with my other valuables.  Now I had a place to stay, plenty of camping gear, a trailer to store it and a bike that would haul everything where I had to go.

Saturday, July 27th was a beautiful day in 2002.  That morning I rode west on Interstate 90 out of New York with high hopes and a full tank of gas.  It only took an hour and a quarter to get to the 1st rest stop in Ohio.  I took a leak and stashed my helmet.  All of the states the remainder of the way to Sturgis have reasonable helmet laws and I prefer to ride unencumbered.

I only rode 360 miles that first day.  Between Toledo, Ohio and South Bend, Indiana there is a little town in Michigan just 3 miles north of Interstate 90 named Sturgis.  I wanted to stop there so I could always say that I rode from Dunkirk, NY to Sturgis in just 1 day.  I found a campground, took a swim in the pool and tried to get some rest.  I didn’t think about it at the time but Michigan law requires everyone to wear a helmet.  I rode in and then back out in the morning without one.  If you don’t get caught is it still illegal?

Interstates 80 and 90 join together about 30 miles west of Cleveland.  That 2nd day when they separated near Gary, Indiana I stayed on 80.  I had plenty of time and wanted to stay away from Chicago.  When I crossed the Mississippi River into Iowa I decided that 600 miles was enough Interstate for a while.  I got off the highway onto the Great River Road for a sweet ride to Dubuque.  This was Sunday and I enjoyed my own religious experience with fantastic weather, moderate traffic and beautiful views.

When I got to Dubuque the weather was beginning to look a little threatening so I got a room.  I was lucky camping the night before and it seemed a wise choice at the time.  I got unpacked, showered and walked to a restaurant to get some chow.  There was a motorhome in the motel parking lot.  I’d noticed it when I pulled in thinking it was curious to see one there.  If you have a rolling house why would you need a motel room?

As I walked back to my room fat and happy I noticed a poster on the back of the motorhome that was a picture of a guy swimming.  The Wing has a radio.  During the afternoon as I was riding north along the river I’d heard that this Austrian dude was swimming the entire length of the Mississippi River.  This was the guy! 

I ran to my room, grabbed the camera, a Sharpie and a small pad to get his autograph.  As I approached there was a tall, thin guy talking to a young couple.  I figured it was him but it turns out the swimmer, Martin Strel, has a big entourage.  They weren’t back yet and I was talking to the cook.  The young couple live in a town a couple of hundred miles upriver.  The husband’s grandmother emigrated to America from the very town that Martin calls home, which happens to actually be in Slovenia.  When he swam through there, the town upriver had a little shindig with Martin the guest of honor.  The couple had driven down to present Martin with a scapbook and pictures of the event.  Unfortunately they had forgotten to bring a camera to record the occasion I was about to witness.

Before long Martin showed up with a tired crew and as folks began talking and getting ready to eat I took a few pictures.  The camera I had then uses 3 ½ diskettes for storage.  I got an idea and popped in a fresh diskette.  Then I started taking a bunch of pictures.  Got the young couple with Martin and everybody.  Some good stuff.  Then I handed the diskette to the young couple.

That was the birth of WBNB.  We do favors for our friends.

The point is, try to pay attention to instances when you can help out.  Most times you have to do something first.  You can’t just sit around watching a pseudo world on TV.  Get out and do something.  It might just be going for a ride on your bike.