Musings from the Road // Black Hills Edition.

“Take wrong turns. Talk to strangers. Open unmarked doors. And if you see a group of people in a field, go find out what they are doing. Do things without always knowing how they’ll turn out. You’re curious and smart and bored, and all you see is the choice between working hard and slacking off. There are so many adventures that you miss because you’re waiting to think of a plan. To find them, look for tiny interesting choices. And remember that you are always making up the future as you go.”

-Randall Munroe

We spent a full week this summer in the Black Hills of South Dakota riding before rally time. Staying in @visitrapidcity as a home base and dancing with some of the best roads in the country (not to mention off-road trails, shoutout to our friends at @revermoto) before the masses get to ‘em.

What we found was, of course, 99% of the rally traffic wasn't on the roads. It was like in 2020 when the roads we were so used to sharing with masses were just kind of...empty. This observation resulted in some reflections for breaking habits and shaking up traditions. As our childhood classroom hero Bill Nye used to say... "Consider the following." 

It seems that too often, we flow in accordance with what we’re “supposed” to do.

Who we’re “supposed” be.

Where we’re “supposed” to show up and when.

We love the #SturgisRally because of the role it played in our upbringing and the culture of what started it - escaping, racing, camaraderie, community, unity, finding ones edge and living there, even if just for a week.

That said - as we spent the week exploring the Black Hills and Badlands and in between from an incredibly hospitable homebase in Rapid City, a few weeks ahead of the massive crowds - we’re realizing that showing up before you’re “supposed” to has put us EXACTLY where we’re supposed to be.

There's a personality that the Black Hills has that's often overshadowed by the big, loud, unapologetic personality of the rally. There's a magic in there where you don't feel like you're just riding on epic roads with endless landscapes and trees and inviting bodies of water - you feel like you're in a sacred capsule of historic significance. And like this is your time and you chapter to take part in that history. The Lakota say that the hills are "Paha Sapa", or “the heart of everything that is.” We highly recommend you educate yourself on the historic significance prior to and while riding. It changes the experience entirely, and those types of spiritual endeavors, will change you. 

@sethgodin said in his book #Linchpin - “Your art is the act of taking personal responsibility, challenging the status quo, and changing people.”

Explore whatever, whenever, however with whoever lends themself to add to the story of you.

Your life is your poetry. Write something that means something. 🏴

Love you all,

-FAST POETS SOCIETY


PS- If you're looking to replicate our week spent, here are our suggestions: 


1.) Stay in Rapid City. Hotel Alex Johnson or Rushmore Inn are both downtown and walking distance to the surprisingly great food options Rapid hosts. 

2.) Eat breakfast at Tally's Silver Spoon, Lunch at Bokujo Ramen and dinner at Juniper at Vertex Sky Bar with optional drinks at Windsor Block Bar. 

3.) Ride everywhere the hills have to offer. The obvious options are Needles, Iron Mountain Road, Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Pactola Lake. Feel free to hit us for more if you fancy some lesser known or off road options. 

S/O to Visit Rapid City for the love for the brand and the incredible recommendation and hospitality, they were awesome. They have a spot right downtown and they'll tell you anything you want or need to know.