Three days in the Black Hills
I decided to dedicate a whole blog entry to my time in Sturgis, South Dakota. Between the day rides and the events
of the bike rally, I felt it didn't belong crammed into another entry. I showed up in sturgis on Thursday and
decided to set up my camp. Most of the camp sites near the front of the establishment were already taken so I
meandered my way toward the back and found a field that was mostly empty. My only nighbors were two brothers that
had met there, one from Galveston, TX and the other from Fresno, CA. They were nice guys and made good neighbors.
I quickly got my campt set up and unhitched the trailer and ventured into town. I didn't quite have the lay of the
land yet and ended up at the Full Throttle Saloon, which is maybe two miles north of downtown. Hung out there for
a bit before heading back to my camp and having a few beers at the bar there. It was a little difficult finding my
way to my camp in the dark, but I eventually made it.
of the bike rally, I felt it didn't belong crammed into another entry. I showed up in sturgis on Thursday and
decided to set up my camp. Most of the camp sites near the front of the establishment were already taken so I
meandered my way toward the back and found a field that was mostly empty. My only nighbors were two brothers that
had met there, one from Galveston, TX and the other from Fresno, CA. They were nice guys and made good neighbors.
I quickly got my campt set up and unhitched the trailer and ventured into town. I didn't quite have the lay of the
land yet and ended up at the Full Throttle Saloon, which is maybe two miles north of downtown. Hung out there for
a bit before heading back to my camp and having a few beers at the bar there. It was a little difficult finding my
way to my camp in the dark, but I eventually made it.
The next morning I got up early with Devil's Tower (DT) in Wyoming as my destination. I came on the exit for
deadwood and figured I might as well see it while I was there. Deadwood was a cool little town and I almost never
made it out of the casino. I was committed to getting to DT, though, so I cashed out the original $20 I had bought
in with and hit the road. The ride out to DT was nice, and you would catch a glimpse of it every now and then as
you would come around a corner. It was pretty cool from a distance, but really staggering when you got right up
under it. I got to use my national park pass for the first time and saved the $5 admission. On the way, home, I
stopped in the town of Alladin, population 15, for a late lunch. From there it was maybe 40 minutes back to
Sturgis and the afternoon thunderclouds were starting to brew, so I jumped on the interstate and raced back. I
stopped downtown to have some patches sewn on my vest, and no sooner had I stepped in the tent then it started
pouring rain, and hailing ping-pong ball sized hail. The bike made it through just fine, though I heard stories
and saw a few examples of cracked mirrors and dented gas tanks. I met some fun people at the firehouse saloon and
stayed there for a while before heading back to camp to clean up. When I arrived at camp I met two young women who
had just showed up on a 1200 sportster from Los Angeles. Since it was dark I offered to show them some of the
empty camping areas near me in the back field. The ride out to the cmapsites was pretty hairy, as the dirt roads
had turned into mud bogs. The bikes were fishtailing all over, but we made it through safely and got their camp
set up in the dark.
The next morning I headed off to Rushmore and Badlands National Park. I was lucky and just missed some hail on my
way to Rushmore. I also stopped at the crazy horse memorial which i still under construcion. When it is complete
it will be the largest man-made monument on earth, including the pyramids. I thought it was much more impressive
than Rushmore. On the way to Rushmore I stopped in Wall, SD at Wall Drug, which is a famous western roadside
attraction. AS a veteran I got a free donut and coffee before heading out to the Badlands. The Badlands, by far,
were my favorite part of the trip so far. It was late in the day, the park was empty, and I had a lot of fun
tearing around the dirt roads of the park. The loop also went through Buffalo Gap national grassland, or something
like that. I stopped for a beer on my way out of the park and got back on the road after dark. I had about 90
miles to go to get back to sturgis and did about half of them in a thunderstorm. I stopped downtown for some food
and wandered around taking in all of the end-of-rally sales. Nothing really caught my eye, though, so I headed
back for camp. The next morning I broke down my campsite and hit the road.
deadwood and figured I might as well see it while I was there. Deadwood was a cool little town and I almost never
made it out of the casino. I was committed to getting to DT, though, so I cashed out the original $20 I had bought
in with and hit the road. The ride out to DT was nice, and you would catch a glimpse of it every now and then as
you would come around a corner. It was pretty cool from a distance, but really staggering when you got right up
under it. I got to use my national park pass for the first time and saved the $5 admission. On the way, home, I
stopped in the town of Alladin, population 15, for a late lunch. From there it was maybe 40 minutes back to
Sturgis and the afternoon thunderclouds were starting to brew, so I jumped on the interstate and raced back. I
stopped downtown to have some patches sewn on my vest, and no sooner had I stepped in the tent then it started
pouring rain, and hailing ping-pong ball sized hail. The bike made it through just fine, though I heard stories
and saw a few examples of cracked mirrors and dented gas tanks. I met some fun people at the firehouse saloon and
stayed there for a while before heading back to camp to clean up. When I arrived at camp I met two young women who
had just showed up on a 1200 sportster from Los Angeles. Since it was dark I offered to show them some of the
empty camping areas near me in the back field. The ride out to the cmapsites was pretty hairy, as the dirt roads
had turned into mud bogs. The bikes were fishtailing all over, but we made it through safely and got their camp
set up in the dark.
The next morning I headed off to Rushmore and Badlands National Park. I was lucky and just missed some hail on my
way to Rushmore. I also stopped at the crazy horse memorial which i still under construcion. When it is complete
it will be the largest man-made monument on earth, including the pyramids. I thought it was much more impressive
than Rushmore. On the way to Rushmore I stopped in Wall, SD at Wall Drug, which is a famous western roadside
attraction. AS a veteran I got a free donut and coffee before heading out to the Badlands. The Badlands, by far,
were my favorite part of the trip so far. It was late in the day, the park was empty, and I had a lot of fun
tearing around the dirt roads of the park. The loop also went through Buffalo Gap national grassland, or something
like that. I stopped for a beer on my way out of the park and got back on the road after dark. I had about 90
miles to go to get back to sturgis and did about half of them in a thunderstorm. I stopped downtown for some food
and wandered around taking in all of the end-of-rally sales. Nothing really caught my eye, though, so I headed
back for camp. The next morning I broke down my campsite and hit the road.
Overall, I'd say sturgis was worth it solely for the day rides. The partying didn't do much for me. Partly
because I was there alone I think, and also my campground was 9 miles from downtown so I wasn't too up for partying
there and riding back to the camp. Since I've done all of the good day rides (except needles highway), and don't
like to drink and ride, I'd say I probably won't be back to Sturgis anytime soon. I did it, got my patch, and that
is all I need.
because I was there alone I think, and also my campground was 9 miles from downtown so I wasn't too up for partying
there and riding back to the camp. Since I've done all of the good day rides (except needles highway), and don't
like to drink and ride, I'd say I probably won't be back to Sturgis anytime soon. I did it, got my patch, and that
is all I need.
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