Even as a pile of ashes and rubble, all that’s left of the Full Throttle Saloon after a fire destroyed it last September, the venue continues to generate a great deal of attention and talk. Of course, most of it was purely speculation. Rumors ranging from probable to utterly ridiculous have passed the lips of not only the FTS fan club, but the legions of “haters” as well, and everyone in between. For the most part, I have held my tongue and waited for confirmation. And confirmation we have, as...

It has been quite a long time since I have written a blog, and for that, I apologize. I have had to deal with a shit ton of personal issues, and sorry to say, but writing blogs that do not produce money is just not a priority. But hey, I’m back. The 75 annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was, as expected, a great time with great people. Because of the expectedly huge increase in number of rallygoers, my husband and I decided to not venture very far from our compound at the Buffalo Chip. We even dec...

  Everyone wants to know what to expect from the weather man during their trip to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The first full week in August can present many different meteorological scenarios, so it can be hard to describe in just a sentence or two.  Afternoon thunderstorms are very common, and can bring hail, high winds, lightning, and flash floods. Guaranteed, there will be at least one thunderstorm during the Rally. If you are out riding the Black Hills, the possibility of getti...

  Face it, we have all fallen victim to a particularly bad piece of advice in our lives at one time or another. Bad advice can range anywhere from “Yes, you should totally go blonde” to “I know he cheated on you in the past, but you should marry him anyway.” This is the reason why I started a Sturgis Rally info group on Facebook. I was tired of witnessing people give others bad advice about the Rally. Some of this bad advice could have resulted in simple disappointment, but some could have...

  What can ruin any experience for anyone? I say it’s when a person’s expectations are way too high, and reality proves it. I have noticed a trend in commenting on social media indicating that a lot of people do not have an accurate picture of what the Sturgis Rally is like, from the accommodations and pricing, to traffic. A very common misconception that I have seen is that people seem to think that Sturgis is a naked free for all. Now while it is true that this type of entertainment can...

There is no doubt that the law of supply and demand is in full effect during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Prices of things like accommodations, prepared food, and alcohol do increase during the Rally, and it is to be expected. For years, I have defended the vendors, campgrounds, hotels, and others who provide services and goods to Rallygoers against allegations of price gouging. The cost of doing business increases during high volume periods such as the Rally. Venues and venders must staff the...

Sometimes we forget to say it, so it's good to have a reminder.  Thank you. You patrol the streets and highways in Sturgis and the Black Hills to help keep us safe. You deal with rude and angry people who give you a hard time just for doing your job. You work longer shifts that take you away from your families so we can have a good time. Thank you to all of the law enforcement officers who work the Rally. Thank you to the bartenders and bar backs! You're on your feet for hours, and many o...

Want to get a free one day pass to the Biggest Party Anywhere? Can you answer a few simple questions about yourself? Do you have a vagina? Yes yes and yes! The Legendary Buffalo Chip is putting on its annual poster model search competition, and with the promise of a free concert just for answering a couple of questions, you can see why so many local women participate. And yes, that includes me. I already have my week long pass, but I like to get the day passes for my friends who would not othe...

When you ask people about what they want to do in Sturgis, getting a tattoo seems to be on many people’s agenda. It seems like a perfect way to commemorate your trip, especially if you have taken the traditional route and rode out. I would advise a little bit of caution. Tattoo shops are set up virtually everywhere in Sturgis during the rally. Tattoo artists from everywhere come to ink up some of the hundreds of thousands of bikers who call the Black Hills “home” for a week. It’s a chance for ...

PHOTOTOONS BY BUCK LOVELL If you see yourself in a Phototoon on this blog or elsewhere, it’s because you came into camera range while riding your motorcycle. Sure, I hide in the trees alongside the road trying to get candid photos. I also keep a camera on the seat beside me when I’m driving to capture bikers as they ride by. I have hundreds of photos in which riders are making faces at me, doing silly things etc. Remember the TV show Candid Camera? That’s me with a still camera, and soon to ...