Rose of the Rally

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.