The plan seemed simple enough: After the cancellation of the BMW MOA Rally in Montana in June where my publisher had planned a Book Launch for a new adventure motorcycle book, go virtual August 11 ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q26uG51xErg ) with a live feed from Main Street at the largest motorcycle confab in the USA, the 80th gathering known as the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.


That plan failed like the proverbial "best laid plans of mice and men..." Main Street in Sturgis was mayhem with the usual loud pipes saving lives and carnival-like atmosphere, but added to the danger this year was CV-19.



I had first attended the Sturgis Rally in 1966, when it was free camping for 50+ of us in City Park. In later years I returned to race my 1936 Indian Sport Scout on the flat track, and once I showed up on my 1960 BMW R69S. In City Park my 305 cc Honda was poked fun at by the small gathering, being called a motorcycle "made from cans." With the Indian racer I received accolades for it's age and the BMW was accepted for being "cool."



This year my HU stickered Kawasaki KLR 650 and my ATGATT self was either an eyesore or oddity, as was I wearing a full face helmet, textile riding gear, and one of a few wearing a face mask. Several "bikers" asked if they could take my photo during the 10 minute adventure on Main Street.


More on my assignment to "capture the essence of Sturgis 2020" can be found here:
https://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-...w-covid.11204/



We scrubbed the live video feed and like a fox on the run from the hounds (err, my trying to maximize social distancing), I rapidly zigged and zagged through traffic out of Sturgis, not stopping in what I perceived to be a Bad Virus Zone until 90 miles away for refueling.


Photo is part of the road I took to Sturgis, seriously social distancing in the wilds of Wyoming.

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__________________
Sun Chaser, or 'Dr.G', Professor of Motorcycle Adventure at SOUND RIDER magazine. Professional Motorcycle Adventurer/Indian Motorcycle Racer/journalist/author/global economist/World's # 1 Motorcycle Adventure Sleeper & Wastrel
Soul Sensual Survivor: www.greataroundtheworldmotorcycleadventurerally.co m