A night in Sturgis

Sturgis is its own reality.  Kind of the nation’s biggest R rated state fair.  I am sure there are some X rated or illegal activities available if you were to look real hard but in general it is pretty harmless.  It is a huge commercial enterprise.  A way to separate a fool from his money?

 

 

They estimated over 700,000 people attended.  Short of the 1 million some had hoped for.

I headed downtown after getting set up at Hog Heaven. 

Traffic!  I have fucking traffic.  I ride across the country, through fantastic scenery, to get caught in wheel to wheel motorcycle traffic.  It is loud and crowded.  It takes me a half hour to get into the center of town.  Stop go, stop go.  The cops put up a stop sign on almost every block.  It is a battle to get into downtown.

Vendor after vendor is set up in every storefront and empty space.  Harley and Indian have huge areas and facilities to show off their products.  The car companies are also represented.

Most of the vendors are small.  I enjoy a gyro from one vendor. 

Lots of bars.  Some have nearly naked women to lure you in.  I was especially enticed by the topless women wearing only body paint.  Some of the bars are quite impressive.  Multiple stories, racy bartenders, and live music. 

 

I stop in and have a beer. 

I consider fighting the traffic and heading out to the bars on the outskirts like The Buffalo Chip or the Full Throttle Saloon.  Huge complexes. 

I am tired and decide it is not worth it.