Destination Sturgis: Joining the motorized river

That's a John Deere tractor trike belching smoke on Main Street at the Sturgis Bike Rally (Photo: Ken Bingenheimer)

Think of yourself as a raindrop. A single motorcyclist on a single motorcycle, headed for Sturgis. That was me this morning, 450 miles ago, leaving Denver early in the morning. Heading north on I-25 there were soon two Harleys behind me, then ahead of me, and then there were more who we passed. At Fort Collins I passed the two Harleys and started riding fast. Today was a day to use the interstate for the purpose it was built. The Sturgis Bike Rally is on!

Passing a few camels grazing alongside the highway down by the state line, I pulled off for a break at Cheyenne. The station I pulled into was crawling with bikes, as well as riders hauling their bikes. Blasting north again on 25 my Concours ate up another 100 miles and I pulled off again at a rest stop. There's something about a parking lot filled with motorcycles that suggests something is going on. No one even asked where you were going.

On up to Orin and east then on U.S. 18 and 20 to Lusk, WY, with plans to take a break and get gas. At Lusk, however, the trickle had become a stream, and there were long lines for the gas pumps. No problem, with my 7.5-gallon tank I can get the rest of the way to Sturgis if need be. I just wanted to stretch. At Mule Creek Junction I was surprised to see just a few bikes at the rest stop. Last time we came this way headed for the rally it was jammed with bikers. This is where the road splits and those going to the south end of the Black Hills go east, while those headed to Sturgis, Deadwood, or Spearfish continue north.

Another 80 miles north and I reached Newcastle. I'd been on the bike for 160 miles non-stop and I really wanted off. At this point waiting in line was a pleasure. Then it was just 25 miles to the state line, and another 35 to Sturgis. Long before reaching Deadwood the road was packed with motorcycles going both directions. Passing became irrelevant long ago; get ahead of that guy and there's 150 more ahead of him.

I rolled into Sturgis around 2:30, headed straight to my campground, set up camp, and headed downtown. Yes, the rally is in progress! And yes, the sun is beating down. Can we please have some clouds tomorrow?

So. Just a few initial observations.

• It appears that chaps with short shorts is out of style for female bartenders. Last time we were here it was de rigueur.
• Also, the Christian Motorcyclist Association, always a presence here, is truly out in force this year. As well as other, similar groups.
• As always, Harleys predominate but there is a respectable showing of other bikes, including a surprising number of BMW F800GS bikes. And I've already seen two other 1999 Kawasaki Concourses like the one I came on.

OK, enough of this rehash. You're really intersted in the photos, aren't you. They're in the slide show below. And there will be a lot more to come in the next few days. Check back often.

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Destination Sturgis: Joining the motorized river
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