From my perspective

I have to think that as you folks started reading this journal about Sturgis, it just might have contained photos and stories from the Rally. I hope I haven't disappointed you, but this blog has been about my time here at Nemo with a mini Sturgis thing happening. Believe you me from the stories I have heard, I am glad that I didn't have to pay $10 for parking and walk 1-2 miles to What I have tried to offer you is a glimpse into what happened from the perspective of the folks taking the side trips here in South Dakota during the Rally. As exciting as that thrill of adrenaline is as you hear 50-100 bikes motoring down the highway, or see 100,000 bikes lined up on Main St, Sturgis, I assure you from my perspective Nemo provided me with enough memories and stories to have felt like I had been there. Everyone's experience is a different from the next. Mine was totally different from Marilyn's as she worked every day from 9:30-6 in the Corral Bar, while I walked around taking pictures, smooshing folks about Reflexology or just people watching.
Thursday Day 4 and unofficial Day 5 of the Rally, started off like normal. Marilyn and myself can't seem to stay up late enough to sleep in so we have been rising around 5:30 am, get dressed and mosey up front to visit with Jimmy and his son Keith. Both hail from Las Vegas and are here trying to procure a new product of engraved photographs. Jimmy has the percolator and since there is no where on the ranch to get coffee until after 8am, Marilyn and I knew we would have to befriend Jimmy for our caffeine fix. That wasn't a tough thing to do as Jimmy is pretty laid back and listens to some really good music. By 8am the pot is gone and we all go about our day. Every morning we discussed the past days events, what we hoped for the present day listening all awhile to the campers discovering that they had to walk up the hill to the Fire Station to get a cup-o-joe. There were futile attempts on our part to sell a cup for $10, and I know some fools that would pay that much for the 'brew of life' first thing in the morning if that were their only option. With our brains functioning maybe not properly but well enough to move on to the next task, Marilyn would go get ready for her day in the corral and I would go try and do something constructive towards selling my service or just relax into the morning and enjoy these gorgeous surroundings.
Fast forward the day to noon and Krissy wife to Tony the son of the owner of the Branding Iron, asked if I would work on her as her back was bothering. My champion, Marilyn, telling every person that would listen helping me sell my service, brought me and my chair into the corral and I worked on Tony's gorgeous wife while many folks proclaimed, 'I'm next'! After helping Krissy with her back I hung around for about an hour and realized no one was really going to take off their riding boots and let me work on their feet and most too busy or too unaware to have my help them with their 'throttle hand'. I felt uncomfortable working right where the line forms for beverages and food, but this was nearly a last ditch effort to build some interest. I had set up the previous day back by the restaurant in a cozy corner in front of the gazebo where couple and riders seemed to linger longer and enjoy the view of the ranch. Ultimately what happened with my experience of Reflexology at Nemo with few exceptions, was that I ended up working on nearly everyone that worked at the restaurant and the staff of Nemo Guest Ranch. This service most always sells the best by word of mouth so I figure a good foundation has been laid if and when I come back again.
I will say that Thursday was a good day all around on the ranch. The Corral bar was rocking, the gazebo beer garden served many groups, the restaurant had a great lunch/dinner crowd, there were no deaths that I am aware of and I meet and worked on several folks.
My experience here on the ranch was different from everyone else. I had the opportunity to walk around and met people from all over the country, I got to photograph and film motorcycles in mass and on a very small scale got to have a small Sturgis experience.