After several weeks of waiting, the parts for our trailer finally arrived in Indianapolis.  The repair was quickly accomplished (and only $600 more than the estimate).  After a two-day drive out, and two days back, we had our “stuff” in Steamboat.  Of course, the trip was NOT entirely uneventful.  About 200 miles into our return journey, debris in the road left us with another flat tire.  However, this one deflated gracefully.  However, even fix-a-flat couldn’t resurrect the tire, so we made an unscheduled pit-stop.  Fortunately, in one of Tom’s rare instances of foresight, we had stopped at Harbor Freight earlier that morning and purchased a 3-ton floor jack.  So, while Linda went to Chick-filet, Tom unpacked the jack and went to work.  The tire was changed and ready to go before Linda retuned with dinner!  We were on our way and completed the journey without incident.

Next came the unloading.  The trailer was packed in haste when we left VA, so we had to lay eyes on everything to figure out what needed to be retrieved and sorted.  Our Condo in Steamboat is now packed, wall-to-wall with boxes as we slowly sort through.  It’s amazing how much stuff we have that we don’t really need.

The legendary “blue bank bag” holding Tom’s passport has still not been located.  However, upon sorting through files that Tom’s Mom had kept, we found Tom’s original birth certificate and his original Social Security Card.  These had been written off as lost several decades ago, so replacements had been obtained and used throughout Tom’s working career.  Their sudden appearance was most timely, and made possible yet another journey for Tom: back to South Dakota, to get his “real-ID” drivers license, and to register the vehicles in SD.

Tom set out solo, 400 miles, to Box Elder, SD.  Box Elder is a “Satellite City” of Rapid City, SD.  So is Sturgis, SD.  If you have even moderate knowledge of motorcycles, you can imagine what that means.  The place swarms with two wheelers.  That’s not a bad thing.  In fact, the restaurant/bar next to the hotel in Rapid City was having its weekly Biker’s rally.  There was a live band in the parking lot, and the parking lot was lined with motorcycles of every make and description, and many custom machines as well.  The wait staff was suitably inked, gaged, and pierced. 

Tom settled in quite comfortably with an avocado topped burger and chili, with a local brew.  Note: folks in that neck of the woods eat their chili cold.  That takes some getting used to, but it is still quite good.  It just doesn’t suitably melt the cheddar.

Oh, now for the reason for Tom being there: the new license was quickly and easily issued the same day as Tom’s arrival.  However, vehicle registrations aren’t done at the DMV, so that effort was planned for the next day.  Internet sleuthing indicated that the location for registrations was only 2 miles from the hotel, but didn’t open until 11 am.  Time arrived at 10:30 after a leisurely morning (and another trip to Harbor Freight), only to find out that it was the wrong location. NEW registrations were done at the court house down-town.  Oh, and that location opens at 7 am!  Tom went downtown, parked, and was walking to the building when he came across and unexpected sight: a police office carrying a pig.  You can’t make this stuff up.  The officer (female) smiled and just said “I know, how ironic”.  Tom just replied “I’m not saying anything.  I’m not stupid”. Plus, she was armed.

After a half-hour wait in line, it was Tom’s turn to present the documents for vehicle registration.  Turns out that the Virginia Titles listed “Thomas AND Linda Suppan”.  Therefore, Linda’s signature was required to issue the new titles.  Did you notice that Tom set out Solo?  Yes, Linda was back in Colorado.  The clerk was very pleasant and helpful, and filled out all the forms so Tom could take them with him BACK to Colorado and get them signed.  They could then be submitted by mail.  Yay.

A disillusioned Tom set off on the 400-mile return trip to Steamboat.  The journey was uneventful, and the scenery is awe-inspiring.  The deer and the antelope were seen playing on the prairie throughout South Dakota, Wyoming and eventually Colorado. 

Arrival went fine, and the registration documents were signed and expressed out the next day.   

Tom has Whitewater kayaking training (as a student) on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week, which will be great.  We are down to our last two weeks here (for this trip).  It seems like the end is all too quickly approaching.  The odd thing is that previously, two weeks was the TOTAL duration of our longest trips here.  It is amazing how your perspective changes when you don’t need to rush back and resume your job.