Buffalo to Sturgis

Well it was supposed to be an 0830hrs start today for our short hop into Sturgis but one of the bikes wasn't running well and had to be left behind to be recovered by the bike shop. We finally left at 0900hrs headed for Gillette to rendezvous will the second half of the group who stayed there. From Gillette it was to Walmart to purchase camping supplies and then refuel before heading to Deadwood and Sturgis.



Deadwood is a pretty famous town in its Wild West days but today it relies on the tourist dollar. Riding into Deadwood was to give us a taste of what was to come. Coming down into Deadwood you could look across the valley and see hundreds of bikes moving down the road like ants and then you turn right to head into town and then it starts, stalls, pubs, casinos and hundreds and hundreds of bikes. Deadwood has one casino for every 72 permanent inhabitants and several bars, a kiwis dream come true!

We had a couple of hours to explore and have lunch before we headed to Sturgis and Buffalo Chip. Sturgis was/is everything that I have ever been told; curb to curb bikes, footpath to footpath people and a huge amount of stalls selling everything from t shirts to motorcycles.

After a very hot ride through the Main Street it was onto Buffalo Chip (which took a while due to everyone else having the same idea) to put up our tents and blow up our mattresses. Buffalo Chip is this huge camping entertainment centre; it stretches for miles and even has its own beach! Bikini Beach. You have to see it to believe it. There is wall to wall RV's, caravans and tents; heaps of bars, eateries and stalls. The food is shite (we will never ever complain about NZ takeaways again) and it is expensive. The entertainment hasn't been too bad; we had The Dobbie Brothers and Kid Rock the first night.



It is busy and the service people haven't a clue. You have to wait in line for sometimes up to an hour to be served and when you finally get it, it is cold and something we wouldn't be served at home; oh for a roast dinner!



Tuesday, tomorrow, we have a free day so will go into Sturgis to have a look and shop.