Day Five - First Day In Sturgis

The weather on the first day at Sturgis was really beautiful. Up early we got going around ten ish. Our first ride out here too us through Spearfish Canyon, about five minutes away. Beautiful winding roads shadowed by tall ledges of sandstone and precariously placed ponderosa pines. The road follows along a creek, through the Black Hills. The pines just cling on to the edges of the erroding sedimentary rocks with their shallow roots. As you glide through the turns signs warn of fallin rock,I ride on the back of the bike wondering where are the signs warning of falling trees. I can just imagine them tumbling like a spear into the roadway.
(photos to come)

After the Spearfish Canyon ride we took a left onto highway 89. This lead us the backway through the legendary historical town of Deadwood, we followed on through to the Town of Sturgis. With a stop along the strip we wandered through the many shops and vendors set up for bike week. Had a bit of lunch, and a beer, then headed on over to Full Throttle Saloon.

Now the Full Throttle is the place to be. Saloon up front opens up to an open arena of which you can ride your bike into. Two steel bridges grace the left and right of the open area. Off to the left two painted school buses stand on end with signs on the top. (pictures of the will also be posted). A up a few steps to the left brings you to a vendor's area with an old bus that doubles as a bar. Just a really cool place to be. Another beer and we were off to the Broken Spoke Saloon.

Now in my opinion this place takes the Cake. A ride through 2 storied bar, opens to a parking lot. Off to the left is a pool bar, in front a stage was being set up, to the right vendors, and off in the distance under Bear Butte is where the campground is.



















nother beer and back to Deadwood to check out the tower.

Deadwood the legendary town of Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane... Who ever they were. Hell who am I kidding? I know know nothing of the old west, the first pioneer towns, the gold rush. I was never much an American History buff, except for the history that surrounds Massachusetts. Do me a favor and look up the history of Deadwood and send it too me. That was my thought when I first arrived here, but now writing this on Thursday, four days later I'm intriuged, I want to know more. Deadwood is a Valley town, much like the layout of Horb an Neckar. Houses cling to the hillsides lookin over the main strip lined with authentic stone buildIngs with switch backs leading up the hillside to them. The country's first gold was found here. I can imagine the snow covered wooden shacks perched alonglvwhere these houses now stand, with gambeling and bothels at every doorway. You can feel something here I. Deadwood, and it's just a magical feeling.

After leaving here we took a chilly ride back down 14a through Spearfish Canyon and back to camp.

-- Sturgis Here We Are!