Thru the Peephole: Musings on the Strange, Interesting, and Maddening Characters We Meet “On the Road”

Chapter 3: “Doc” from Pittsburg… Kansas

Ah, yes, back again for Chapter 3, and Doug and I are still traveling across South Dakota on our first trip in ’77. We made the traditional stop at Mount Rushmore to stare at the Big Rock Fathers, and then looked at “the new kid on the block”, the big, big Crazy Horse sculpture. Back then, you had to use a lot of imagination to see the Indian in that mountain. I’m sure it’s changed since” has anybody been out there lately?

After Crazy, we traveled east thru the BadLands (we camped on their edge for the night… it sprinkled on our tent at dawn… when we stopped at the general store, the clerk couldn’t believe the “storm” they’d had – the most rain in months!). Then it was miles of green grass and gently rolling hills, quite a change from the BadLands! It was a Cold and Damp ride – rainy and windy all day… had to stop at the Kadoka Cafe to warm up and buy “Burly Bear” work gloves.

We finally reached Sioux Falls and decided that Enough was Enough! We’d x’d the idea of camping in the rain, so we found a motel for the night. The parking lot was nearly empty… the only other vehicle parked was a BMW /6. We parked our bikes next to the Beemer and started to unpack. In a minute, a head popped out of the adjacent room and yelled amiably, “How you guys doin’?… Had Your Drink yet, today?” We shook our heads and smiled back. “Well, as soon as you get settled, come on over and have one!” So, eager to take this friendly stranger up on his hospitality (and desperately needing a few stiff drinks to warm up from the long, cold ride), we hurried to unpack. We strolled over and knocked on the door; a small, graying, middle-aged man with a beard and a smile opened the door and invited us to have a seat and That Drink. Introductions were made and itineraries discussed… our new friend was returning from the Sturgis Hoop-La (being new to street biker lore, I knew nothing of this Mecca for Motorcyclists… of this Penultimate Hog Pilgrimage to Party in west SD!… I just was wondering why we passed so many bikes as we rode down the highway!).

Well, our host began to tell us a little about himself. When he said he was from Pittsburg(h), I thought that was quite a coincidence, but he quickly expanded that his Pittsburg is south of Topeka! During the conversation that followed, we assumed that our storyteller was a Professional man, since he referred to himself as “Doc” once or twice during his stories; anyhow, he just had that look about him. It was quick to see that “Doc” liked to talk… and tell stories, and thru these stories, you could see his love and craving for the excitement that a motorcycle gives. He told stories of the “fun” he had back home. As we sipped our whisky & cokes, “Doc” explained, "I’ve been riding the Beemer for a few years, but before that, I had a Moto-Gazooie. I’d love to take that old Gazooie thru its paces in the street… I’d play games with the local cops… they’d chase me up and down and I’d duck into the alleys and side streets… Yeh, they did catch me sometimes… but I out-smarted them most of the time!” He told the stories with such enthusiasm, you know he loved the Speed & Action! I often have wondered what “Doc” really does for a living… an M.D.? (I guess you realy would have to unwind from that job)… or a dentist, or a vet, or what? From his stories, it sounded as though when “Doc” was ready to unwind… SPROING!!

We talked the rest of the evening, telling tales (all true!) and when we said, “Goodbye, have a safe trip home!”, we knew we’d probably never see him again. That’s the way it goes, sometimes, “On the Road”… I kinda wonder what “Doc” might be riding now…?