STURGIS, SD

Sturgis is a sort of Motorcycle Mecca. An annual convention for bikers, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, has been held here dating back to 1938. It draws over 500,000 to a town of only 5,000. Some of the motorcycle shops and tattoo parlors in town allegedly earn 75 to 90 percent of their annual income during the week-long rally. There is also a Motorcycle Hall of Fame and Museum in Sturgis.  Luckily for us, the annual rally is still about a month away (held in the first full week of August) so we were able to look around Main Street and not be blocked by half a million bikers and their bikes.


Besides our peek around Main Street, we found the local post office and mailed home a bunch of the souvenirs we've been toting around for a week. Then we headed out to our primary destination for the day, Mount Rushmore.

The entry to Main Street

A closer look at the lampost banner

A month from now, Main Street will look like this

I was expecting this place to be blasting Motorhead & Black Sabbath

Instead, I heard Journey! WTF? Do they serve Corona, too?

Maybe they're saving the good stuff for the rally next month

The Raider fans go here. Niner fans go to the place playing Journey songs

This place should be hopping next month

Do bikers really buy that Betty Boop junk? Maybe those who listen to Journey.

There won't be any cars or vans parked here a month from now