While Barack Obama talked about tapping the nations oil reserves at a campaign stop in Michigan, John McCain said he'd rather start offshore drilling, revving up the crowd at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.

Said the Arizona senator:

We're not gonna pay $4 a gallon for gas because we're gonna drill offshore and we're gonna drill here and we're gonna drill now.

From the cheers that went up, bikers liked the idea. After all, when you're commuting between Sturgis and the new Harley museum in Milwaukee, even the most efficient motorcycle can rack up a substantial fuel bill.

Related Stories:
· Oil Drilling a Potent Rallying Cry [NPR]
· Sturgis Motorcycle Rally [Official Site]
· 2008 Candidates Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: John McCain 2008]]]> pbb 2008-08-05T12:45:05-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/7/15/172859/011

South Dakota may be a quiet, dusty state 358 days a year, but next month, from August 6 through 12, engines roar, black leather abounds, and hogs take over.

And no, we're not talking about pork and bacon.

Since 1938, Harley Davidson fanatics from across the country and around the world have been flocking to the unlikely town of Sturgis, South Dakota for one of the largest motorcycle rallies on the globe. It ain't for the faint of heart.

The weeklong wonder includes 12 biker-themed events, like a half-mile race, road tours and hill climbs, with more than 6,000 spectators. World-class tattoo artists line the streets for those looking to get inked, and hundreds of leather and t-shirt stands open for the once-a-year event that takes over all of Sturgis's streets.

Sturgis rally party planners even have lovebirds covered, with Harley-themed wedding packages for the happy day.

Hotel rooms go fast, so it's best to book now. And based on the looks of this crowd, we say it's best to arrive on a Harley, not a Honda.

More Summer Vacations With An Edge.

Related Stories:
· South Dakota Travel [Jaunted]
· Hotels in South Dakota [HotelChatter]]]> jnaw 2007-07-16T10:00:39-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/