Scootin' to Sturgis (No, not that one!)

 Thursday, October 1st, we ate an early lunch so we could get started on a new adventure.  We were both excited that the weather was great and it hadn't rained in a few days because we were going to ride the Chickasaw ATV Trail!!!  This is a 12 mile loop that is strictly for off road vehicles such as 4-wheelers and motorcycles.  What a great way to test our off road scooter skills!

Naturally our trip started on the Natchez Trace but this time we headed south.  We took the Davis Lake exit and in a few miles we were at our destination excited to ride the trail.

Only to find the gate closed 😒

Well, phooey!  Double phooey!  Now what?  We scooted up the road to Davis Lake where we took a break, pulled out a map and discussed our options for the afternoon.  Hmmmmm......we could take that gravel road back there and just see where we end up.....

It was quite pleasant at the lake because we were the only peeps there but for a park worker on a mowing tractor and he was no problem because he was parked and poking his phone, hahaha!

But where to go?  What to do?  We hadn't even considered the trail being closed because the website said open until November 1st.  Apparently they close it if the trail is in bad condition or wet.  Granted several days ago it had rained a significant amount so our guess was the trail was closed due to wet conditions.  Poop.

I suggested we go to Sturgis.  We'd been through there before but didn't stop or look around and I liked the idea of riding our scooters to Sturgis, hahahaha.  Yeah, not that Sturgis but tiny little Sturgis, MS.  So we programmed the GPS's and off we went.

We didn't get far.  Maybe two miles when we took a side trip to view the Owl Creek Mounds.  A beautiful place to explore.  Again, we were the only peeps there and took some time reading the various informational signs and walking around.

There's Eric at the top of the largest mound!

I did take photos of the information signs but honestly the photos on the website are so much better. If you're interested click on the Owl Creek Mounds link above.  Good stuff!

Such cute little scooters!  And so much fun to ride!

After taking in the Owl Creek Mounds we got back on the Natchez Trace still going south.  At some point I saw an animal in the road and asked Eric if he saw it and what was it?  I thought a deer and he thought a dog but as we got closer we could see it was a COYOTE!  Our first Mississippi coyote sighting.  I didn't even know they lived in this area but apparently they do and are a problem at times.  Mississippi Coyotes  Side note - Beaver, coyote, fox, nutria, skunk and wild hogs are considered nuisance wildlife in Mississippi and can be hunted with appropriate license or exemption.  Hmmmmm.

We eventually took an exit and then followed small two lane country highways.  The weather was perfect for our mesh riding gear.  Sunny and warm but not HOT.  And bonus, very little traffic.  No surprise really, after all it's a Thursday early afternoon in the country 😊  Being retired certainly has it's benefits.

Before long we were in the bustling town of Sturgis, Mississipppi.  Not to be outdone by Sturgis, SD, this little Mississippi town puts on a motorcycle rally every summer (well except 2020 because - you know - effin' COVID).  We parked the scooters for a few minutes while we perused main street and snapped some photos.

Sturgis has a population of about 300 so there isn't much to see.  However this display of trophies and awards in a storefront caught my attention.

See all those little piggies on the trophies?  Well apparently this dude is a champion of the BBQ with all kinds of different awards from Best Whole Roasted Pig to Smoked Butts and all kinds of crazy things.  Who knew?

Sturgis is big enough to have a Police Car 👮😃🚓🚔

And a very tall water tower with the town's name emblazoned across the front.

We also rode through the Memorial Park which is where they hold the Sturgis Rally but forgot to take a picture.  You'll just have to put it on your must do list when riding through Mississippi 😹

Now Sturgis really does have a must go to place.  It's called Bench Mark Works, LLC and is known world-wide for BMW service and repair, especially vintage models.

They have an incredible museum with something like 29 vintage BMW's on display.  They all run. I know this because I saw battery tender cords on every bike and I asked about that. Unfortunately because of  EFFIN' COVID the museum was closed.  However, the owner Craig "Vech" Vechorik and his long time employee, Richard both came out to greet us.  The business is located on his home property and is simply fantastic!  Beautifully maintained, tidy, clean, log home with quiet pond, large metal garages housing the business, museum and his fantastic Model T's and restored vintage pick-up truck.

Dang, although we couldn't go to the museum, Vech took pity on me and showed me all his photos of the vintage BMW's.  Several side car rigs and many extremely rare models.  Including a 1921 model that uses a BMW engine mounted sideways, that pre-dates BMW actually selling their own motorcycles in 1924.  Drool..........

Then he told me to follow him and we went to a different shop/garage.  He went around the side and pulled up two of the large bay doors.  What did we find?  Oh yeah, good stuff!

Vech restored this truck not once but twice!  I didn't get a picture but the bed is all wood.  Gorgeous!  

Look at that wiring!!!!  Amazing.  The other side was equally impressive with it's banks of fuses all appropriately labeled.  Meticulous!

Now, look at those horns, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

This is a 1947 Ford pickup with a '46 grill and 70's Nissan running gear!  He has power windows but you would never know because the window cranks are the power switch mechanism!  Hahahaha.

Vech also likes Model T Fords and has three.  One was loaded in a trailer heading to the Gulf Coast for a rally.

The other two Model T's were in the same garage as the pick-up.  He regaled me with everything about the Model T and showed me how to start and drive one!  He described all the cool, innovate farkles he added that are too numerous to mention, electric start being only one of them.  So much fun!  This one is fully restored.  The number of man hours Vech has put into these Model Ts is amazing and certainly the work of an enthusiast.  He makes them better than they were new, and to suit his tastes and needs.

LOL, it has a BMW air cleaner!  He also vented a hose to inside the cab that takes the engine heat and brings it inside 😆😛  No cold toes for Vech!

Vech showing me how the pedals work and how to start the Model T.  It's very complicated!  The accelerator is on the steering column like an old tractor and manual timing.  The left pedal is to go forward and change gears.  The middle pedal is reverse and the right pedal is the brake.  It has a hi/low transfer case and an emergency/parking brake.  And aftermarket disk brakes!!  This Model T stops!

When he ordered the glass for the windshield he had them cut a hole so he could mount his period perfect old new stock spotlight.  So cool, hahaha.

We didn't discuss this Model T but I suspect it is his next renovation project.

You can see some photos and fun stuff at Vech's facebook page.  Bench Mark Works FB Page

It was getting late in the afternoon and time for us to head home.  We just backtracked our route, got on the Trace and headed north to home.  Of course we had to make a stop along the Trace 😏

Riding along the Trace about 5:00 pm or so and traffic had picked up because lots of folks use the Trace for their commute.  We were cruising along at 55 mph in a long line of vehicles when I looked to the right and WOOHOO I could have reached out and smacked that damn deer in the face!  YIKES!!!  It was a BIG deer.  I beeped my horn - no, not really - Eric replaced my little beeper with a big old air horn!  I laid on the horn and that deer turned around and bounded back into the wood where she belongs.

Fortunately we made it home safely and before dark.  We rode about 175 miles.  Our adventure today was not at all what we intended.  However, it turned out to be a wonderful, awesome, fun adventure of another kind.  Hopefully, sometime soon, COVID will slow down and Vech can open his museum again.  I know I really want to see those vintage bikes in person.  He and Richard were so accommodating and kind to us.  I'm smiling just thinking about our visit.

So, yes, Sturgis, MS is a must see especially Bench Mark Works, LLC.

Thanks for following along.  Who knows, if the weather stays dry we may still get an opportunity to ride the Chickasaw ATV Trail before they close for the season.  Sure hope so and you know if we do you can read all about it here!

Cheers my friends!

Cletha