The Bitch Seat

Even as a pile of ashes and rubble, all that’s left of the Full Throttle Saloon after a fire destroyed it last September, the venue continues to generate a great deal of attention and talk. Of course, most of it was purely speculation. Rumors ranging from probable to utterly ridiculous have passed the lips of not only the FTS fan club, but the legions of “haters” as well, and everyone in between. For the most part, I have held my tongue and waited for confirmation. And confirmation we have, as...

I know a number of you have been wondering where I have been, and why I have not been writing blogs. Let me address that and get it out of the way.  I have had some health issues that sapped my energy and creativity, and the desire to write. That's no fun, but those issues are now being resolved and I am ready to write again.  Also, after last year's Rally, I discovered that someone had hired a private investigator to follow me arround, sit in front of my fucking house, and take pict...

Yes, I know it has been for freaking ever since I have written anything, and for that, I apologize profusely. Life sometimes kicks your ass. Anyway, here is what's on my mind.I'm always surprised at how many people come from other parts of the world to visit an event in a tiny little town in a state that probably has more cows than people. Even though I met and married one such a foreigner, and open my home every year to several others, it still blows my mind.  Having lived in two differen...

  I’m old enough to remember the days when bikers were not welcome in most businesses during the first week of August anywhere in the Black Hills. They were dirty, smelly, uncouth, they stole gas, dined and dashed, drank and fought. People who enjoyed riding motorcycles, but were not part of the “biker” lifestyle distanced themselves from the “biker” title. “Oh I have a bike, but I’m not a BIKER.” As with most American icons, over the years Sturgis went from being a dirty little secret kn...

In the wee hours of Tuesday, the eighth of September, 2015 a fire was reported at the Full Throttle Saloon. By the time fire crews were able to respond, the fire had well engulfed the complex. The situation was made more complicated by the lack of fire hydrants and running water at the site, dry conditions, high winds, the wooden structure of the compound, and 500 gallons of explosive grain alcohol on site.  All of these factors combined to render the ten million dollar property a total los...

It has been quite a long time since I have written a blog, and for that, I apologize. I have had to deal with a shit ton of personal issues, and sorry to say, but writing blogs that do not produce money is just not a priority. But hey, I’m back. The 75 annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was, as expected, a great time with great people. Because of the expectedly huge increase in number of rallygoers, my husband and I decided to not venture very far from our compound at the Buffalo Chip. We even dec...

I thought it was high time to address a few issues that have been popping up, and since the vast majority of you reading this are from my Facebook group, why not do it here. First, I would like to explain the nature of my Facebook group. Let’s start with what it is NOT. It’s NOT a fan group. It is assumed that we are all fans of motorcycles, the Sturgis Rally and the like. It’s not a place to impress people or prove how badass of a biker you are, or old school, or cool, or any other descripto...

  Everyone wants to know what to expect from the weather man during their trip to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The first full week in August can present many different meteorological scenarios, so it can be hard to describe in just a sentence or two.  Afternoon thunderstorms are very common, and can bring hail, high winds, lightning, and flash floods. Guaranteed, there will be at least one thunderstorm during the Rally. If you are out riding the Black Hills, the possibility of getti...

  Face it, we have all fallen victim to a particularly bad piece of advice in our lives at one time or another. Bad advice can range anywhere from “Yes, you should totally go blonde” to “I know he cheated on you in the past, but you should marry him anyway.” This is the reason why I started a Sturgis Rally info group on Facebook. I was tired of witnessing people give others bad advice about the Rally. Some of this bad advice could have resulted in simple disappointment, but some could have...

  What can ruin any experience for anyone? I say it’s when a person’s expectations are way too high, and reality proves it. I have noticed a trend in commenting on social media indicating that a lot of people do not have an accurate picture of what the Sturgis Rally is like, from the accommodations and pricing, to traffic. A very common misconception that I have seen is that people seem to think that Sturgis is a naked free for all. Now while it is true that this type of entertainment can...