Gremlin's Tall Stories

I try to rise early, at 8.30am, but end up getting distracted by crap on TV, so I don’t leave Rapid City until late in the morning.

The plan is to speak to Sturgis BMW after the emails we sent back and forth prior to the trip. Get the bike booked in for a service and tyre change, and she’ll be sorted for the rest of the trip. I don’t even leave the Hotel before running to another GSA rider, David, who was going to head north to the Ukon, but staying in Rapid City for as long as us. He had some really neat accessories, I fancy a few of them. He in turn likes a few of mine. I finally leave Rapid City, arriving in Sturgis around midday using the street address this time, no problems finding the dealer.

They’re busy, the street is busy, and there are even crowds in the gas station. Before I even walk in, I’m chatting to people, asking if I am from NZ, and a local says the state’s population doubles each year during the Sturgis Rally. I find the Parts Manager, who confirms that they can’t get the PR3 tyres, the date has now been pushed back to the end of August (so may be out completely now). Instead, he has a selection, and I choose the Continental Trail Attacks, as they’ve been spoken of highly before, and I may as well try.

Speaking to the Service Manager, they can’t take the bike today, as they have work booked right into the early evening already, and would like it Tuesday night. I let them know I need to get 30 miles back to Rapid City for my accommodation, so we agree early on Wednesday instead (last day in the area), and since the bike will be warm, the oil will drain faster anyway. They will also stick a different weight oil in, due to the higher temperatures I will experience from here on in.

I spot a cool gadget called the Farkle Bar installed on a R1200GS (http://farklebar.com/ ) … it appears I am not alone in my quest for lots of gadgets. It’s too large for my liking, but very functional allowing you to hook 5 gadgets into one bar, and the extra space is used to tidy up the excess cable.

Back to the Hotel then, I return around 2pm. It’s only 30 miles, roughly 30 minutes between cities. I will visit Sturgis properly while the bike is in for servicing. I spend some time planning a route out to Deadwood, as Ken says you have to go and have a look. I figure it’s probably going to be some kind of one horse town, but hey, any excuse for a ride (or no excuse at all).

I head out along Nemo Rd to Lead and Deadwood. A reasonably nice run, bit of traffic (almost all bikes) and I finally see an accident (they’ve been extremely rare for the trip) with the cops already in attendance. It looks like a simple case of skill being exceeded by what look liked an easy corner, but who knows.

Approaching Deadwood I hit stop start traffic… no idea why but soldier on… figuring out precisely why as I get into town. This is no one horse town… it’s bike parking only in some streets… and the place is packed with bikes. Now I start to get the idea of this Sturgis stuff… check the pics for an idea of just how many bikes could be in a random city in the area (not even Sturgis itself). I manage to double park in an area where you’re supposed to pay, but I’m only stopping for some quick pictures then I carry on.

A cute girl a few streets over offering free parking gets me all tangled up, and I head up a gravel section too rough for any Harley to head up, I think to myself. It turns out it wasn’t the road at all, just unused, but squeeze through a gap and head up a bit higher to get a slightly more aerial shot. On the way out of town, a quick stop at Coyote Ugly to photograph it and the bikini bike wash. A stop in Lead, viewed the big mining pit, I can’t find too many nice photos.

Back on the road, for the return trip I used Highway 385, which definitely had more traffic than Nemo Rd. Detouring to Silver City, it’s a series of buildings down a tiny road off the beaten track. There wasn’t anything to photograph, but as I was about to turn around, I spied a gravel road that sounded like it would also go back to the main road. I took that instead of course.

It was in good condition, despite the bit of rain that had fallen. Narrow enough to be cautious, I’m making my way along it, until I see a track heading off to the side, through a creek and onward. A U-turn after the briefest of thoughts over whether I should explore, and the creek was easy to get through. It was a real pity the road ended soon after in dense bush, so back onto the gravel road. A few more trails beckoned, but time was marching into the late afternoon.

Eventually another trail, heading uphill, caught my eye and I couldn’t resist. It went for a nice while into the trees, but I turned around when it looked a bit too steep to tackle by myself. Still took a great shot however.

Continuing down the road it eventually widened and a sign announced it was a private area, but passage on the road was permitted, and I was surprised to come across trikes and Harleys heading the other way. Who would have thought you would see them on gravel roads?

Back onto 385, immediately there were long lines of bikers winding their way through the roads. It was amazing just how many bikes could constantly be around, either riding, or stopped taking in the sights. Onto 44, the road was quieter, and I stopped a few times for photos, along with a brief walk to shoot a canyon.

Returning to the Hotel just after 8pm, the space outside the Hotel was full, so parked in the parking building down the road, provided free by the Hotel. Most of the others were probably out having dinner and I didn’t feel like anything flash. The hotdog stand on the corner provided a perfect answer, a couple of those in front of the Hotel, chatting to Ken and Jan. A little while later I was still hungry, so had a third.

Gary, our waiter from the Silverspoon the previous evening was also there, and after a while we decided to check out the rooftop bar, that had just opened months previously. A fantastic view, I took some pictures then tried to head for bed. Murray was having none of it, wanting to explore some bars, so we went looking.

Down the Alley covered in graffiti art, we saw a couple of guys starting a new one, and another group deciding what they should make. Murray thought there was a bar at the end of the alley… nope. Instead, we headed a street over, to the former Fire Department building, which was now a bar. It was much quieter than earlier in the evening… we had a drink, took some photos, then back to the Hotel, and we headed for bed.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/FLcx3rRGdQV1TFnB7