We have arrived! Motorcycle USA dropped its kickstands this afternoon in Laughlin, Nevada, in preparation for the 27th Annual River Run. We made the final descent with a convoy of about 30 H.O.G. members as we rolled into Laughlin. White tents dot the parking lot below as we look out our hotel room at the Edgewater as vendors do the last minute scramble to get set up. A couple of reps from Vance & Hines hit us up when we parking after they saw that we were riding the 2010 Honda Fury. They were curious how we got our hands on the new chopper when it hasn’t hit the dealers yet. Seems like V&H is anxiously awaiting the arrival of their own Fury so they can do what they do best – pump up the volume! The 2009 Big Dog Coyote we’re riding already has a set of Big Radius pipes that rock. Just ask security at The Excalibur in Las Vegas, who got an earful of the Big Radius’ boom.

It’s been a circuitous route to Laughlin. Rolled out of LA on Monday aboard the choppers, crossing the desert on a day of record heat. Got into Vegas late and then couldn’t find a room because there was some freakin’ convention in town. The valet at the Excalibur said “Sure, we have rooms” and directed us to a remote parking garage. After unpacking our bikes, we walked about a quarter-mile, only to get up to the check-in counter for the girl to tell us that they were booked and we’d be lucky to find a room in town. After hundreds of miles in desert heat, that’s the last thing we wanted to hear. Needless to say, the Big Radius pipes helped me vent my frustration coming out of the parking lot.

Yesterday we toured the Valley of Fire State Park on the Fury and the Coyote. The ride rewarded us with red desert rocks carved by wind and water into some of the coolest geological formations around. Beehives, natural arches, 4000 year-old petroglyphs, and cactus in bloom – the desert yielded its treasures to us as we rumbled through the Valley. Lots of people stopped to talk to us about the choppers, both motorcyclists and cagers alike.

Today we made the trek down to Laughlin. We got here early so we took a trip back in time to the old mining town of Oatman, Arizona. I got in a traffic jam, stuck behind two burros in the middle of the road who just glared at me. Got it on GoPro video, so maybe it will make the video feature of the travel feature I’m working on.

Three days, two choppers, 800 miles, one desert, and record-breaking heat. Tomorrow, though, it’s all about the River Run. Will be pounding pavement and shooting pics all day and start putting up reports tomorrow night, so Climb On with Motorcycle USA. It’s River Run time, baby.