I spent a wild weekend at Little Sturgis, the biggest little motorcycle rally in Western Kentucky.

Far from the Black Hills of South Dakota is a freewheeling, unapologetically hedonistic celebration of freedom, community, and motorcycle mayhem.

There were Harley’s and Hells Angels, beers and bands, lot’s of topless women and more than a few bottomless men. There was also an earnest reverence for the magic of motorcycles, and the rejuvenating powers of friendship and chosen family.

Many riders shared stories steeped in unimaginable pain, tragedy, and abuse. They told me about their struggles with addiction, bouts of incarceration and homelessness. Many found salvation on a bike and in their Little Sturgis family.

Others told stories of raising their children and working hard to get ahead only to see the American Dream slipping further and further from their grasp. They worried about inflation, shared more than a few conspiracy theories, and expressed a healthy dose of disillusionment with politics, the media, and the future. Once again, solace was found on a bike and in the judgement-free confines of Little Sturgis.

It’s not for the faint of heart. And it isn’t everyone’s idea of paradise, but for a few thousand bikers, it’s heaven on earth.

See more from my time at Little Sturgis - but be forewarned, some photos are very, very NSFW.