How quickly a place can change. On my walk to work I see that tents have disappeared overnight. They've taken down the barricades on Main street; about 80% of the motorcycles are gone and large cars fill the streets ready to pack up the remaining merchandise. There's about 50 people walking on the street in clumps of 2's, 3's, 4's...It's overcast and humid after a short cloudburst. Sturgis is starting to look "normal" again.


But this is where the jerks and grumpy cads come in. Everyone is looking for a deal and they get upset when they don't get it. I had a man come to my booth today wanting to buy a $14 hat that was half price. He gave me $7 and I rung it up of course figuring in tax: 53 cents. "Tax?!" he exclaimed, "give me back my seven dollars." Really? You don't have 53 freaking cents in your pocket. I heard some people were switching the price stickers on hats at the store. You have to watch for thievery too.


The top is winding down. By 5 o'clock today most of the bikers are gone. I walked across Lazelle (a major street) and it was empty. We closed up early and packed in most of the merch from the booths. A stroll down Main street reveals boarded up booths, tents lying on the ground to be folded, trash in the gutters and sidewalks, old posters advertising bands on the sides of fences, and trampled grass where you can find it. The 2011 rally is over and the town seems tuckered out.


I, on the other hand, feel as though I have just exhaled after holding my breath for two weeks. It's over. That summer adventure is now past and I can look to the future again tucking my experience in my tool belt. Was it as crazy as I expected? no. Did it challenge my perspective about the rally? yes. Maybe not so much "challenge" as "educate." I know what my town is about now. I've gleaned the knowledge about what exactly makes it tick in its unique way. That's great, and now I'm moving on. The sprint is over and I'm the better for it.

The Bike Show

For some reason I decided to take lots of pictures of bikes today. So there.


An unusual looking bike that parked in front of my booth. So I took a picture. Apparently.

Here's a BIKE. And by "bike" I mean a vehicle with two wheels usually propelled by pedals connected to a chain.

I feel like this isn't the kind of bike you ride cross country on. Probably if you went over 30 mph your alligator would fall off. That's right; I said "alligator."

 Also, isn't that shirtless man in the background a dream? *ahem*

This is a cute 1940's (I'm guessing) bike with a sidecar! Vintage.

Lastly, a Sturgis sunset. That Buddha silhouette is lovely, don't you think?

In case my observations didn't explicitly show it, this rally (the 71st) has been a pretty tame rally. Traffic and congestion have been pretty mediocre and definitely not unbearable. Overall this hasn't been a very negative experience for me at all. Granted, I haven't experienced it in the most raw places (bars, the late night, concerts) but I also haven't been totally sheltered working on Main Street. I get the impression that this is group of ordinary people (who are sinners just like the rest of us) that happen to have a common interest in a particular culture (the biker culture). The most fascinating part is that this culture attracts such a variety of people. People from London to Australia to Canada to Texas, California, and Maine. Gang members, faithful Christians, and people of no particular religion who all enjoy the grit of being a biker. It's true that the ways of this culture don't always draw out the best in people, but every culture has their darker side and many of these people have a heart of gold beneath that brawny exterior. Their desires and misconceptions about happiness, beauty, love, and life aren't all that different from the rest of the world. My favorite part of this experience is that I have seen so many kinds of people under one sky.


Three more days. I've started counting down and to fatigue a bit, but I'm not totally worn out yet. Choosing not to work double shifts definitely has a factor in that I think. But all the same, I'll be happy to have my summer back and time to do the things I want to.


Recap of yesterday: two more Parisians graced the store with their presence as well as a few more Aussies (with an accent so thick you could cut it with a knife), I found Waldo (twice!) wondering about, I was complimented by a man that I was reading (I'm reading while I man my booth to help pass time), and I feasted on Indian tacos for dinner. I'm reading the Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis and I guess the biker crowd isn't very learned of C.S. Lewis, at least no one seems to know the name when I tell them what I'm reading. I suppose I didn't expect it. My complimenter was impressed by the fact that I am old fashioned enough to enjoy reading. Thank you. And I'm enjoying the seasonal food! After all, the way to my heart is through my stomach. There's this place with Indian tacos, roast beef sandwiches, hand dipped ice cream, and espresso, all for reasonable prices. Mmm!


Here is Hell fighters (Christian motorcycle ministry) at work:

Here is a man that likes to make his rounds on Main Street blasting oldies with a little shoulder dance to boot. He's wearing those slit style sunglasses; in the second photo he's posing for someone. Wish I could have gotten better photos, but I'm in my booth!

Recap of today: met three Greeks. They were speaking Greek (obviously) and all had a very confident look about them, like they were very settled in their skin. I made some conversation with one of the men for a while in his broken, but good English. I love finding foreigners from other countries. They are so captivating to me.

Here is a picture of a man riding a buffalo motorcycle I saw today. Again, I took the picture from my booth so it's not the best, but you get the idea.

And the week ebbs on...

Three customers came in today, a man and two women, and they were speaking a foreign language. I thought it was French, but I wasn't positive until they bought some postcards and a souvenir thimble. The women counted out her money: un, deux, trois... I asked them where they were from and they got very excited saying, "France, Paris! Tu parle Francais??" "Juste un peu..." "Oui! moi aussi, juste un peu l'anglais." They left with a smiling "au revoir!" That was the first time I've spoken French to a real French person, and they understood me and I understood them!! Definitely the best part of the day. 


At 11:45 a B1B flew over Sturgis. No, we are not under siege. I was in the store at the time and it sounded like the end of the world. In case you were wondering, it wasn't.


Remember the guy with the cross that said "Jesus loves you" ? Well, he and a few of his friends paraded up and down Main Street today. At least 4 had crosses they were bearing and the others had placards. Here's a poor picture. They were on the other side of the street:

Walking home, I came across this little traveler:

A coppula pictures

Yes, that is an enormous inflatable Buddha on top of that building. Charmingly, there is also a bubble machine that shoots out of that top right window!

Postscript: As I was walking to work today, a biker passed on the road blaring music as many bikers do, yet he was blaring Mumford & Son's "The Cave." What the heck, classy biker?!

Events of the day

The sights of today are as follows:


There were two Vikings in Sturgis today. One wore a helm on which two enormous horns (probably 3 feet long) were attached. The other also wore a helm with horns (of smaller length) to which was attached shaggy hair coming all the way down his back to his knees. This man was very hefty, huge muscles. I guess I didn't know Vikings biked.


More body paint girls! except I think they were wearing only body paint on their top half. I couldn't inquire too closely from across the street. There was also a group of young hippy people (I surmised "hippy" because of the bare feet, strong odor, dreadlocks, tattered clothing, two dogs) and two of the girls had duct tape over their nipples and a long flowing skirt. That's it. Also, the cantaloupe women came again and had a photo shoot in front of my booth. People were stopping her all over the sidewalk to take pictures with/of her.


I got a humungous corndog! It was delish. They are actually two hot dogs on top of each other and hand dipped in the batter. Heavenly!

Lastly, here is a before and after picture of Main street in Sturgis. (from opposite sides of the street)
before:

after:

Not too much difference, eh?

1 day

Highlights:


I sold a $100 silver dollar today. Why is a dollar coin not a dollar? Ha ha. That was a funny one; I could see that one coming. Well, the answer is because silver is ridiculous expensive now-a-days, that's why.


A man came by my scanty booth making a little conversation today and he was wondering what kind of music I liked. First try: hip hop and rap? eh. Green Day? eh. I told him Alternative/folksy/indie. He asked my favorite band and of course I answered "Mumford & Sons" fully expecting no recognition. On the contrary, he informed me that he is actually Marcus Mumford's father and asked me if I would like sing with them, maybe move to London. Winner.


I saw a girl with no top on today, just body paint and some flesh colored something over her nipples. She was contentedly eating an ice cream cone.


Two men mistook me today for a mannequin in my booth. I'm not sure if that's a insult or a compliment...

There is a vender which creates footlong corndogs. I am FOR SURE needing to try one of these pieces of heaven.


Yesterday and today the man who bears a cross (like literally a large wooden cross he drags over his shoulder) walked down Main Street telling people that Jesus loves them.