When Ash announced we were going to Sturgis the weekend of Aug. 6 to fulfill one of the items on his “bucket list,” I thought he’d finally lost it completely.
“What on earth could you possibly have on your ‘must do before I die’ list that is in Sturgis?” Especially since he and our daughter had already gone to the Sturgis Bike Rally less than 10 years ago. “I am going to parachute.”
The only response I could give was asking if he planned on parachuting off a motorcycle.
However, knowing that once he’s made up his mind, there’s no use arguing. I realized we were going on a road trip to a place I’ve never had an interest in seeing or participating — but what the heck.
MORE THAN I EXPECTED
The infamous Sturgis Bike Rally nestled in the scenic Black Hills of South Dakota is billed as such and in every sense of the word it surely is appropriate. Nowhere else can one find so many “regular” Americans, wild party goers, Hells Angels members, DEA agents and well known celebrities all sharing events and moments of “giving back” with hundreds of thousands of dollars donated to national programs that literally give the gift of life to those in need.
The Sturgis Bike Rally is not for anyone affected by massive crowds, slow traffic, skimpily clad babes — of every age and size imaginable — or incessant and extremely loud noise. But if you can handle all that, Sturgis is a worthwhile spectacle to behold and enjoy even for just a one-day event. It is a place anyone can go to be whomever they wish and behave however they choose. In short, Sturgis is an adult make believe camp for anyone interested in shedding the dull-drums or weighted responsibilities we each face day in and day out.
Not everyone is a biker, and many bikers don’t even ride their motorcycles. For those who do, it may be the only place on earth a motorcyclist is “King of the Road” and no one walking or driving automobiles will argue about it.
Major events draw in nationally-known celebrities such as Megan McCain and Lorenzo Lamas to celebrate as well as lend their names to charitable causes benefiting children. One such organization is the Limpnickle Lot Footprint, a national marrow donor program. Another is the Annual Sturgis Legends Ride that pairs celebrities with everyday riders on a run from Deadwood to the Sturgis Buffalo Chip Campground. The proceeds from these two events is huge and is all donated to local and national organizations.
There are many other events scheduled during the week that we didn’t stick around to see, such as Midget Bowling, Fire Dancers and Coleslaw Wrestling. There is also a replica of Vietnam Memorial in Sturgis called the Healing Wall that is heart rending. It is something those have never seen the memorial in Washington, D.C., should see if you ever have an opportunity to go into the Black Hills.
MEETING FRIENDS IN STRANGE PLACES
Ash’s scheduled Bucket List jump was a couple hours away, so I went to find my buddy Road Runner who was heading up security for a new saloon and steakhouse in Sturgis called The Easy Rider. The Easy Rider is more than just one steakhouse and saloon — it’s an enormous complex combining three separate facilities that encompasses an entire block. The Easy Rider is a work of art in itself. Connected to it is another saloon and the third section is an outdoor cabaret stage in a bar called The Broken Spoke. Rumor has it the owner is actually from Fargo, North Dakota!
Inside the Easy Rider, a nifty souvenir and gift shop called The Alley Shop is run by Jean Stuart, a local North Dakota gal, with promotions and marketing managed by other Fargo locals, Rick and Pat Krone. The day we arrived, Dan Fuka of Neptune Men was checking out the sound equipment for a gig they were playing, along with Kerry Fernholz who manages Fargo’s very own Playmakers. We ran into Dan Vogel also! Just goes to show what a very small world it really is.
The Easy Rider has not been completed as it has three levels. The second level is near completion and even Road Runner was doing some guitar playing up there.
I wondered what happens in Sturgis when the rally is over and all the folks go home? Road Runner (aka, Tom Blair) told me Sturgis is “open” year round with more and more people stopping in throughout the year to check out what is new and has been added. The Easy Rider is definitely a place I’d like to see again, especially the top level where there’s an outdoor balcony to look out from and enjoy the surroundings — preferably when the crowds have all gone away and there’s a level of sanity to enjoy it all.
ELEVEN HUNDRED MILES
We drove nearly 1,100 miles so that my husband could take one “MUST DO” off his Bucket List , but in reality it was a fun trip, albeit a short trip. But, to say the least, a trip to Sturgis during Bike Rally week is an adventure in people watching — if nothing else. It makes me wonder why we have so much strife in the world when watching thousands of people with so many varied backgrounds, values and lifestyles all crunched together in such a small town can get along so fabulously. Maybe what we all need is a make believe hiatus to retreat to once a year.
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