Born to be…routine?

What normal person goes through life without a craving to break free from the monotonous daily routine forced upon them? Whether it’s office politics, annoying in-laws, or paying on a borrowed dream, don’t we all face some sense of readiness for new adventure?

Yours truly left “routine” on the doorstep in a Kansas suburb last week and headed North to experience the adventures of a lifetime in the small town of Sturgis, South Dakota. That’s right, the Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

What began in 1938 as a weekend celebration with a few motorcycle races and a small audience is now, without a doubt, the granddaddy of all biker events. With a population of 6,300 residents, this small town seated just North of the famous Black Hills became the epicenter of biker culture with more than a quarter million motorcycle enthusiasts converging together with a common goal - to be free from routine.

Except for the non-stop rumbling of motorcycles, I struggled to find anything routine at this year’s rally. Harley Davidson clearly out-rumbled the other motorcycles and could be seen on every street in and around Sturgis. Custom built “choppers” appeared to be a growing choice for the younger riders, even with an average price exceeding $29k. Nevertheless, riding any kind of motorcycle throughout the Black Hills of South Dakota is priceless.

Upon staring up at the presidential faces on Mount Rushmore it seemed as if time had stood still since 1941. How could so much time pass with little or no visible aging from these symbolic faces? At 5700 feet above sea level it’s as if they will forever chaperone this countryside.

Campgrounds, on the other hand, were free from any chaperoning and served as the place to wind-down, or wind-up depending on your mood. Something for any mood was available including live music from bands like Daughtry or ZZ Top, to crazy motorcycle stunts by Robbie Knievel, to Miss Hawaiian Tropic beauty pageants at midnight.

And now today, I found routine right where I left it. Now with a cleanly shaven face, a freshly pressed shirt and polished loafers, I took my step back into routine. However, the craving to break-free will never go away and has only been temporarily satisfied until next year’s rally. Until then, I’ve got pictures to remind me of life without routine, and a career that enables me to experience it.

RED