The Rally is coming...

Less than a week.  No one knows what the numbers will be, or what to expect.  This is going to be an unusual year.

On a Vespa forum where I occasionally participate, some seem aghast that the Sturgis Rally is "still on."  Oh, they are coming.  It may not be in the huge numbers that were predicted (the 80th Anniversary this year) before the pandemic changed everyones' lives.  But, they are coming.

Of course, there is some discussion of "wild biker rallies",

Here's a response I made on that forum...

<<  It will be interesting. For the last couple years, we have been in the Black Hills during the Sturgis Rally - I may have had the only Vespa there the last two years...



With this being the 80th Anniversary, we were hearing crowd estimates of over 800,000... before the pandemic. Now, everyone is predicting a smaller crowd; but even at half that size, 400,000 people in a relatively confined area is going to make "social distancing" impossible. There are serious concerns locally about the crowds not wearing masks.

We used to live in the Black Hills - this area has spectacular riding - the reason we are here with our scoots again. Yes, the roads are crowded during the Rally; we are fortunate to be able to be here a month or so before and after. We have always gone to Sturgis during the Rally (lived there for a few years and had a business there) when we're here. This year? We may do a "ride through," but I don't expect we'll be walking Main Street or taking in any of the concerts and events.

The RV resort where we are staying (member/owner resort) has always been packed during the Rally. This year, occupancy for that 10 day period is at 65%. Significantly lower than right now. As such, the resort is opening to non-member reservations for that Rally period - a first. While many people go to Sturgis and stay at the Rally campgrounds just outside of town (for the whole "Rally experience"), this resort has been a lovely get-away from the constant roar in and around Sturgis during that time. Sturgis is a relatively quiet farm town during most of the other 50 weeks of the year.

Wild? If you know where to go, you can make the Sturgis experience as wild or tame as you like. I consider it "Mardi Gras on motorcycles", and if you've ever been to New Orleans during that event, you know what I mean. In spite of what you may read or hear, it isn't "a bunch of posers" or wild biker gangs... it is a mass gathering of people who love the two-wheel lifestyle. Sure, some people trailer their bikes in... I get that: we trailered our scoots here from south Texas. Time off, logistics, distance, and comfort have to be considered. Get here in a way that best suits you, but Sturgis is an event that should be on any motocyclist's bucket list. What you've seen on reality shows is only a small part of the real Sturgis experience.

There is a reason that HOG (Harley Owners Group) consistently puts the Black Hills on their list of best riding destination. I've had 9 Harleys over the years. 4 Goldwings, and a bunch of other bikes. My wife and I love to ride - the reason we are here right now. We've done many of the other "have to" riding areas, like Tail of the Dragon, through the mountains of Colorado, over Bear Tooth Pass, and Ruidoso, New Mexico in the fall. The Black Hills is where we return to spend some summer time on the scoots.

In another week or so, a WHOLE BUNCH of people will be joining us.

Have fun, stay safe.  >>

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Take 12...

I set up my recording gear for another vocal track today.  This is Mark's project, and he envisioned specific timing with the lyrics.  It helped to have his "vocal cues" in my ear while I recorded this track.  This project is taking a while, and I imagine it will be longer still before we have a finished product.  We are very close to being done with the music portion, but there is an intended video, yet to be done, to go with it.  It should be fun.

Recording in the motorhome isn't as easy as at home or Mark's place.  We're in an RV resort, so there is almost always the life noises of that.  Loud diesel pickups may drive by at any time.  Kids playing.  Dogs barking.  I can close up the motorhome, but it isn't insulated like a house.  Today, I had a good track going and then a significant "roar."  Seems that someone was flying over the resort it what sounded like a radial engine airplane.  A relatively "low and slow" radial engine airplane.  It took a few tries to get a track with no background noise.

That's OK - Rufus likes it when I sing.  Yes, he was right there with me the whole time; never made a sound.  He's such a good boy.  :-)