Minot, ND >> Bismarck, ND >> Deadwood, SD 502 miles ridden/7.5 hours
Got my new headlight installed today so I’m off to Sturgis tomorrow… I’m actually taking a break from my vacation! (Never thought I’d write those words.) I’ll get a new rear tire, oil and filters – fuel, air and oil – on my way back through. Then, to the east coast of Canada!
It was 30 degrees Celsius (almost 90 degrees Fahrenheit) in Canada the last two days and 100+ in North Dakota… What was that about “The only weather I’m not prepared for is good weather”? I shipped a double-stuffed box of nick-knacks back home and now have space to store my thermal layers, which I’m sure I’ll need at some point down the road…
Strolling around a somewhat deserted downtown Minot, I stumbled across a photographer’s studio and chatted with him for a while, asked his advice on where a good camera store was. He directed me to a place in Bismarck, which is more or less on my way to Sturgis. After all, to paraphrase Steven Wright: “Everywhere’s within riding distance if you have the time.”
Arrived in Sturgis today. Detoured to Bismarck and swung by the camera store to pick up some replacement remote controls. They didn’t carry Pocket Wizard – the brand I use – but of the equipment in stock, the salesman assured me: “They work 50% of the time,” a slightly less stellar deal than the “Anchorman” promise: “60% of the time, it works every time!” To ensure I could beat the odds and always have a working system available, I bought two kits. While my order was being rung up, I swear I heard the ghost of P.T. Barnum whispering in my ear: “There’s a sucker born every minute.”
The setup at Sturgis is so huge, sprawling and ridiculous – hundreds if not thousands of acres – and there are sooooo many bikes, and the roads out here are perfect: either squiggly strips of spaghetti or straight runways. I’m sure the cops come out at night. Tonight I’m taking the campground shuttle into Deadwood to eat and explore, tomorrow I’ll check out the main drag of Sturgis and try to meet up with Alan.
The campground I’m at is certainly looking to maximize revenue, they’ve crammed people into every available square foot of space… there are even two tents pitched on the pool deck! The guy next to me has a Rune. Looks unbelievable; can’t wait to hear it start up tomorrow.