>>Dad toured all over the US and some Canada. One thing Dad had that I have not inherited was his steel butt. He could put 600 miles a day on the bike and not show any ill affects. We took a tour of the US together in 1991 and on the first day we did 587 miles. Man it was all I could do to get the tent up and crawl in an collapse.
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>That takes a bit of getting used to. Each year my wife and I find the first few rides tough on the butt. But by the time the Laconia rally comes along we're ready. This year we're hoping to do Sturgis. That will be a test.

My Dad did Sturgis (by himself) a year before he passed away. When he got back we asked him 'well was it worth it?' and he stated he was glad he went, but he would never do that again. I asked him why and he said it was too crowded, too costly (Sturgis and the whole area excalate cost dramatically), and bike riding safety was non existant. He is a firm believer in staggered formation when riding. He hates it when a biker comes up right beside him and rides. He has seen more accidents when two bikes collide just because one or the other had to swerve to avoid something and swerves right into the other biker. Just a word of warning. I have been through that area several times and it is a beauty of a place to ride. But if it is crowded it really takes your eyes off the area and onto the road more. Which is not too much fun. I would recommend that you take a road trip to Glacier Park in Montana. That was the most spectacular ride I have ever done.