I received a nasty message from an old friend I have known over 40 years chastising my selfish, risky behavior for attending the 80th Sturgis Bike Rally. Basically, she was telling me my behavior was suicidal if not homicidal and demanding I not visit our hometown of Pensacola potentially infecting and killing her family.

This is a dear friend who has had some risky viral behavior of her own in her past! Some will probably agree with her. In fact, there wasn’t much mask wearing in South Dakota. The crowds were down but still huge. I can’t really say social distancing was followed at concert venues either. But on a motorcycle, riding the Black Hills, you mostly are six feet from everyone, except Bison! I may come down with Covid from this wonderful time in the mountains. I might have come down with Covid from standing in line at the pharmacy before I left. We used hand sanitizer, wore masks where it was required, but we risked the disease and I will tell you why. Vendors are nearly broke from all the cancelled events. The little town of Sturgis with its 7500 residents and the surrounding small-town USA spots are accustomed to the rallies boost to their income.

The state of South Dakota weighed the risk. We weighed the risk. We suffered the 3-day truck ride. We got on our dangerous two wheeled transport and rode those twisties looking down steep cliffs knowing less experienced riders could take us out at any minute. We came face to face with bison, and in fact one lady who weighed the risk, even though signs posted told her not to, suffered the insult of being knocked out (unconscious) and knocked out of her pants for her bad decision of getting off her bike and approaching a baby bison. We all suffer consequences of our choices in life. My choice was simple. Live life as if there is no tomorrow. If I die of a bike wreck so be it. If I die of a bison attack so be it. If I die of Covid so be it. If you are afraid of normal living stay home, wear a mask, goggles, and gloves, don’t eat out, ask for an absentee ballot, and use hand sanitizer. If all that works you won’t have to fear me or my bad choices. In the end something will kill us, that is just a fact. But if going to one of the most spectacular places on Earth for a trip of a lifetime or standing in line at my local Wal-Mart are my choices…I am choosing the trip!

Get on your bike and find a new highway, use your hand sanitizer, and don’t forget your sunscreen!