Sturgis, Deadwood, Spearfish Canyon.

Our last day in Rapid City required ticking off what we had done and trying to prioritise what we wanted with the remaining time.

Before leaving Mark took some photos of  graffiti in a nearby alley way. This photo is relevant because two officers lost their lives in the past week here, shot by drug dealers. The locals are stunned.

We got up early and rode out to Sturgis with Gary and Barbara.  The trip doesn't take long as its the 80mph dash on interstate. Va-voom!

We got in at 8am to beat the traffic and we think it worked well. Easy getting in, finding a park and having breakfast without queuing.

After breakfast we agreed with the others that we would spend two hours looking around and meet back at the bikes.

It was a great way to take in the activities, and see more than the tacky T shirts. We had a great couple of hours pottering about, bikes and any imaginable bike related activity everywhere. Just avoiding the bloody t shirt and patch vendors it became very samey.

Some T shirts to appeal to the parents out there:

This poor girl couldn't afford a T shirt and the nice man painted on on her.

Harley were there of course and had a very professional corporate exhibit. Much to Marks delight they had a Road King set up with the handlebars and seat arrangement he had been hoping too see. Bloody ripper-it fits! I sense a plot being formed.

Does my bum look big in this?

Also Brett we know how you covert a Harley Lava Lamp. Well we couldn't find one, but we did find this. A Harley letter box!

Speaking to local cops they expressed the opinion the British riots where caused by Muslims and that they hoped Obama was voted out before the same happened here.

You get a real feel that the Americans are used to being the big kids on the block. Its not hostility, just taken for granted they are no. 1

We meet the others and decided to split up, they where happy to stay in town. We headed out for a medium sized loop around the towns of Deadwood and Spearfish.

Deadwood was pleasant enough but essentially a casino town. It was brimming with bikers, We rode around it without stopping and onto Spearfish.

Onto spearfish the land was rolling green countryside. A pleasant enough ride then through the town onto Spearfish Canyon.

 It is a state park so you are only allowed to travel at 35 MPH. Its par for the course. In this area you are either thundering along the interstate about to take off or puttering about in a National or State park. The reason for the restrictions is usually critters.

We stoped at a little place named Lead. Gerry said enough fun! Time to do some chores. She arranged some lunch and asked me to clean the bike. I can't tell what that woman wants some times. I did what she asked and she got angry with me!!!

Any way I found some interesting bikes there.

Opps- wrong photo- this ones a Guzzi

The roads were full of Harley's, it was a beautiful hot summer day.

We arrived back in Sturgis and had a last look around, cold drinks and a walk.

Any Army service is worn as a badge of honour

We had a great time but it was getting later. We pushed on to have a look around the famous Full Throttle biker bar. Its huge. Its quite well set out with quiet corners and larger noisy areas. The bar girls are bikini clad so men old enough to be their Grandfather can kid themselves they are re living a life they may or may not have ever had. Still its a fun place and was well set out. The camera died about then so not many photos.

This was in the Car park. Grahame have you been snobbing us???