Greeting to all my fellow riders. I hope this correspondence finds all of you safe, sound, and in good spirits for the upcoming Holidays. As some of you may know, I returned to Sturgis, South Dakota back in August 2013, because, as Tupac Shakur said in his song “My Ambitionz as a Ryda”, I am a straight rider.
However, 2013 was the year of the trailer, XR 1200 Sportster, tents and cabins. Nonetheless, my friend Yasmein and I had an awesome time with some 750,000 bikers in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It is an awesome experience to ride for so many miles in the Black Hills never seeing a red light. As always, it is the trip there and the trip back that is so exhilarating, especially the sight of so many bikers from so far away traveling to the “Mecca” of motorcycling. Every motorcycle enthusiast should make Sturgis a “to do” “bucket list” event. We left Stone Mountain on a Friday and our first stop was in St. Louis. While at a St. Louis hotel we met bikers as far away as Key West, Florida and Maine (and they were riding it!).
The next day we traveled all the way to Sioux Falls, Iowa, and could not find a hotel room anywhere (and it’s a relatively large city) because bikers filled up every hotel/motel there. Yasmein began smart phone searching and found the nicest bed and breakfast house about 20 miles back south on I-29 and about 10 miles off the expressway exit. Pictures of the house are posted with this article.
John- Owner of Steever House
It’s called the “Steever House”, in Lennox, South Dakota. Each room has queen bed and old style porcelain bath tub that sits on the floor and the house is run by John and his wife who makes the best fresh blueberry pancakes breakfast (with eggs, sausage and fruit) you will ever eat; all for $100.00 a night with no taxes.
The next day we rolled into Rapid City and concerts and events were everywhere beginning at Black Hills Harley Davidson. Of course, in case you did not know it, as noted by many motorcycle publications, the hallmark event was the roll-out unveiling of the 2014 Indian motorcycle which was at a venue next door to Harley. In past years Polaris set up Victory at the end of Main Street in an unknown corner. This year Polaris set up Indian and Victory next door to Harley and they had some of the largest crowds ever known to frequent a venue at the Sturgis Rally.
Full Throttle and Buffalo Chip were rocking 24-7. Hill City, Rapid City, Deadwood, Custer and Keystone were all full of bikers at every stop and every saloon. The weather was awesome as it only rained two (2) nites for the entire week and the next morning you would not know it. It was not too hot and not too cold (perfect riding weather).
Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse were awesome too. For those who are going in 2015 (75th Sturgis Anniversary) I suggest we stay at Hillside Cabins on Hwy 16 East near Rushmore. The cabins are under new management and rates are very reasonable (2 bedroom/1 bedroom/3 bedroom’s available). We will be posting information in 2014 in an effort to nail down the trip by spring of 2014 for the journey in 2015. Ride hard, ride safe, but ride.