sturgis rally safety (semi long)

[BCDIRECT@enetis.net]

One the more serious side of the Sturgis Rally! This is my 5th year living between Rapid and Sturgis. Each year the Highways are litered with crome HD parts. BE CAREFULL! This year is the 6oth anniversary. There is expected to be over 600,000 people coming this year. Expect over 400,00 bikes. Most of the riders have been drinking, going drinking or drunk! It gets ugly and each year many are killed. Be aware of this. This year you also have to contend with Interstate construction! Rapid has closed exits going into Rapid and I -90 is closed on the eastbound lane for about 5 miles in the middle of Rapid. North of Sturgis is under contruction also towards Spearfish. Head-on traffics for miles. There will be bottlenecks everywhere. Weather. Sturgis and Spearfish got hit with strong t-storms night before last. All the vendors in Stugis has big tents put up that blew away in the 85 MPH winds that were recorded. Careful buying stuff, much was soaked in the rain (leather goods). The super 8 hotel in Spearfish had part of the roof blown off. Expect the unexpected while your in the Black Hills. The weather can change rapidly. On the lighter side there are more concerts than any other year! All in Sturgis this year. None in Rapid (construction). Also Wrenchhead.com has events all week long including Robby Knevel jumping over something. Motorcycle flat track racing, hill climbs, etc. Plus all the freaks to watch (not you Gino) Sturgis does have a main street cam website for all that can come. WWW.STURGISRALLY.NET Main point of my post is to be careful! We all know that people don't see us on bikes and to times that by 400,000 is dangerous at best. Good Luck! Barry A-7