South Dakota Super Spreader…Part Deux

Friday night’s street dance in Spearfish was called off due to Mother Nature. I was checking the weather radar on the smart phone and could see the squall line headed for town. Severe thunderstorm blew in just before start time and began dropping sheets of rain and frequent lightening strikes in town.

The bike stayed put in camp and we took the pickup to a local craft brewery that also serves pizza. We arrived just before the storm hit and we’re fortunate to find a table indoors. Within minutes the folks on the patio were bee lining it inside due to the storm. Everyone seemed to find seats and the place was packed. Families were enjoying each other’s company and as they say life was good. Never saw a mask on staff or guests.

Saturday morning after waiting out a brief rain shower in camp we finally climbed on the bike and headed up Spearfish Canyon. Traffic was heavy both directions and we stopped halfway up at Savoy for a beer break and listened to a little acoustic guitar live in the beer garden. We then finished our way up the canyon to a crossroads known as Cheyenne Crossing. Quite the crowd present for a little crossroads bar and restaurant and once again no masks. We grabbed lunch and then we were back on our way.

We wound our way over the top of the Black Hills through Lead and Deadwood. It was then down Vanocker Canyon to Sturgis itself. The little town of 6000 residents was a zoo and had been turned into the annual circus that it becomes during the rally. Thousands of folks lined the sidewalks and filled the shops and bars. Live music was playing at several venues and the beer and liquor flowed. The restaurants were packed as were the street food vendors.

The whole time we were there I only saw 3 masked individuals. We made the walk down and back along Main Street spending some time to watch some of the creatures that come out only for the rally. It makes Admin’s Sunday Walmart Creature Feature look tame to say the least. Having had my fill of the crowd and the freaks it was time to head back to Spearfish for some more craft beer, excellent Barbecue and a little R and R, whiskey and a cigar at camp.

Sunday we were up early for a long day of riding. First went to Deadwood and stopped for a coffee and some people watching. Back on the bike and on to Hill City for a beer and sweet potato fries and again more people watching which never seems to disappoint. I’m generally quite averse to crowds and am more at ease alone on the motorcycle or in the woods or a goose pit. I get my allotted dose of people interaction at work and it more than suffices.

However, if I can sit quietly in a crowd and just observe I find that the best free entertainment one can ever obtain. The rally is as one might say a target rich environ and the mix is always very eclectic. One thing about bikers that is an almost 100 percent surety, whether they be Doctor, Lawyer or Blue Collar, they are true American Patriots and very often wear that fact literally on their sleeve or vest. The rally is always just more proof of that fact from no masks to the Trump flags and hats that are to be found everywhere.

Next stop, the “Needles Highway” through Custer State Park.Two reasons I love to ride a motorcycle on the highway is first of all the challenge and the constant attention to the moment of what you are doing, where you are, and how that changes second to second in the blink of an eye. Second, is the vast beauty of nature around you. Most of the best Motorcycle rides are here in the Western Mountains. I’m privileged to have the canyons of the Colorado Front Range and it’s mountains and passes to ride at my leisure. The roads of the Black Hills of South Dakota are a close second and provide both challenge and beauty.

From the needles we dropped onto the rolling plains of the southern half of Custer State Park in search of “Tatanka” and we found them. This area is where the Buffalo hunt scenes from “Dances With Wolves” was filmed. To stand within a hundred yards of several hundred Bison is a humbling experience. To see the size and obvious strength of a herd bull is awe inspiring and if you have even a modicum of sense in your head you watch from a distance and show the power of nature the respect that it deserves. The folks that were there watching along with a ranger offering insight to the Bisons’ way of life were cautious and respectful. No repeats of a “Karen” trying to get a selfie with one of the shaggy beasts.

From there we headed north to Keystone and Mount Rushmore. We did not enter the park, we’ve been at least half a dozen times but, did stop where allowed along Highway 16 and took in the monument from there. As one continues past the entry point for the Monument you make a hairpin curve that allows you to see George Washington in profile. I stopped and took a photo and wondered what he would have to say today about the Nation that he gave the vast majority of his adult life to build. My guess is that he would not be very happy.

We finally made our way back to Deadwood for dinner, homemade pizza and beers at The Nugget Saloon, a walk down Main Street that is a history lesson of the Old West in situ, at least built over the top of the remains of history in situ, since Deadwood has burned to the ground and been covered in flood and mudslide several times since it’s founding in 1876.

Once again never a mask to be seen. Bars and sidewalks filled with bikers,tourists and, if you had never heard of Covid-19, you’d have no idea we are in a scamdemic.

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