Sturgis 2018!

Hey Steemians,
I’ve been super busy dealing with work and motorcycle stuff since I got home from Sturgis, so sorry its taken me so long to put up pictures. Sturgis was a lot of hard work, but it was a blast. I got to meet and work with some really cool tattoo artist, particularly Judy Parker. If you don’t know of her and her work, you should. She is a very talented woman and very well known in the tattoo community.

We stayed in a campground just outside of the town of Sturgis. I already have plans to go back next year, and I will make some different arrangements for my living situation. The campground was just way too expensive, about a grand for the week. I also want an easier place to repair food. I spent way too much money on eating food from the vendors, but I was in such a hurry all the time that it was easy and quick.

My dad’s bike, that my cousin brought up for me, was in and out of the mechanics shop all week. I hope all the issues have been addressed and when I bring it next year I hope to have much better luck!

I worked at Knuckleheads Tattoo, which is right across from The Knuckle Saloon. A lot of fun to be on a main strip and watching the bikes come and go.

I only managed to get out on one ride, but I had so much fun. My bike was in the shop (again) so I rode on the back of my friends bike. We did Needles highway, saw Mt. Rushmore, and did the Wildlife Loop. Didn’t see a single bison, so a little bummed about that. Plenty of prairie dogs and antelope.

I did take one night to go watch a show, and do a little bit of drinking. There are parties going all over, but I am surprised at how quickly it wraps up after the music ends. Also, my buddy Olaf was our DD, and the cops were being real assholes while he was trying to get 6 drunk people into my Jeep. I hope the cops relax a little bit before Sturgis is completely ruined. The owners of the Buffalo Chip are apparently getting tired of all the frivolous laws, and have started working toward becoming their own city separate of Sturgis. That’s the rumor anyways.

Being a tattoo artist, in Sturgis, we all had to get matching tattoos to celebrate and amazing adventure and wonderful week. I did everyone’s, except my own of course, which was done by an artist named Clayton out of Oklahoma.

This one is mine, a burned out stator, which is like the alternator on a motorcycle, in memory of all the shit I had to deal with on the bike:

After all the festivities were over and it was time to head home, I hoped for one last chance at a ride on my own motorcycle. Unfortunately, the brand new tire I had installed the day before blew, and caused me to go down on the highway. Bummer, but I am alive with just a few scratches and a bunch of bruises.

After the bike was loaded onto a trailer, we still made it out to Devil’s Tower. Pretty impressive but I was in a shit mood.

I can’t wait to go back next year. I will get their earlier and work longer, but also I am going to go on a couple of rides I wish I had made this time. But at least I have stuff left to do for next year!

I hope you enjoyed my little tour of Sturgis. If any of you happen to be making the trip next year, stop by the tattoo shop so I can meet you!

Take care friends!