Sturgis....

Part of our plan was to ride into North Dakota just to add that state to our list that we have ridden into. The map indicated that this was one secondary road that ran from Miles City where we spent the last night all the way into North Dakota... after about 130 miles we would turn south toward Sturgis.

Google maps indicated this should take 4 1/2 hours, it took us over 6 hours. Neither Google nor the maps warned us about 10 miles of dirt and gravel road in and near the town of Marmarth N. D. On one of these construction delays the route was so convoluted that a pilot vehicle was required to lead while we followed the trail of dust. I know we only passed through a small portion of North Dakota, but I see little reason why a person would voluntarily bring themselves and their families here to live. From the time we left Miles City in Montana until we reached some form of civilization near Sturgis we passed through only one town of any size, Bowman population 1,600. Otherwise it was cattle ranches and hay farms but no homes or other structures could be found with the exception of one bar, a snack stand and a few silos scattered over the 300 mile ride.

We have taken time to visit downtown Sturgis, ridden through the Black Hills and into Deadwood, the town where Wild Bill Hickok lived and died. In Sturgis, Debbie recognized and lady selling water on Main Street who we met a few years ago here and reminded me that her son lives in Clearwater. So when I asked if she had a son there, she refused to sell me water until I explained how I knew her.

The event does not officially start until Monday but the crowds are already substantial, making me believe we made a good choice to be here early and leave before it gets too crazy. Sunday we plan to ride to Mt Rushmore, Custer park, maybe back to Deadwood before we head closer to home on Monday.