| Although we thought it would only take a couple | | | | the original music. The little restaurant served a |
| of hours to ride from Devils Tower to Sturgis, | | | | pretty good breakfast in the mornings too. |
| SD, we were wrong. During Sturgis Bike week, | | | | After riding for many miles, your motorcycle is |
| the traffic is multiplied by the sheer number of | | | | bound to be dirty. One of the things that is not |
| motorcycles infiltrating the region. It was almost | | | | hard to find at Sturgis Bike week is a place to get |
| time for Sturgis Bike Week, and motorcycles had | | | | your motorcycle washed. We were fortunate to |
| been filing into the area for about two weeks | | | | find a group of CMA guys (Christian Motorcycle |
| now. | | | | Association) at a local church. They were offering |
| I had reserved a campsite for Sturgis Bike week. | | | | a free bike wash, fresh coffee and snacks, and |
| There are several to choose from. The one I | | | | were even blessing bikes. |
| thought I had reserved was on the east side of | | | | The town of Sturgis South Dakota is very small |
| town, forcing us to ride right through the thick of | | | | and normally very quiet. The first week of |
| traffic. A word of warning - riding through the | | | | August every year, however, that scene changes |
| main part of Sturgis during Bike Week can be a | | | | dramatically. Thousands and thousands of |
| challenge. The Bikes move slowly. It was also | | | | motorcycles arrive every year for one of the |
| very hot when we were there, which means | | | | largest motorcycle rallies anywhere. |
| your legs are going to get very hot!. | | | | Some of the attractions that bring motorcycle |
| I had actually ridden to the wrong campsite. The | | | | riders from all over the country are things like the |
| one I actually had reserved was just south of | | | | Motorcycle Museum. There are some great |
| Sturgis - on the way to Rapid City. We wound up | | | | vintage motorcycles to peruse in the museum. |
| having to ride back through the traffic again to | | | | The downtown strip has just about anything you |
| get to our campground. Needless to say, after a | | | | can imagine. Food, festivities, all sorts of biker |
| good bit of time on the road, this was a little | | | | gear and apparel can be found. You can even find |
| frustrating. | | | | parts and upgrades for your motorcycle. You can |
| The campsite you choose for Sturgis Bike week | | | | get a custom paint job or lights too. There is a |
| really depends on what your plans are. If you | | | | small stairway with an elevated platform you can |
| prefer a quiet, relaxing camping adventure, you | | | | pay five dollars to go up and get some great |
| will want to bypass some of larger sites like | | | | pictures of all of the motorcycles that are parked |
| Glenstone. For us, we decided to go to the Bulldog | | | | in the downtown strip. |
| Campground. It was relatively quiet compared to | | | | One of places to stop for lunch is the Knuckle |
| some of the others. | | | | Saloon. It's not a real big place, just off the main |
| The campsite offers live music. They also had | | | | drag. The food is really good and not too |
| good restrooms with showers, and a place that | | | | expensive. Don't be surprised if a Wet T-Shirt |
| served food. It turned out to be a good choice | | | | contest breaks out while you're having your lunch. |
| for us. The band that played there was really | | | | These are just a couple of the places to stay and |
| good. They did some cover tunes, but I preferred | | | | things to see and do while at Sturgis Bike Week. |