ABOVE: From left to right, Dev Warmelink, Chad Barker and Mark Thompson stumbled across El Agave on Downtown Plaza in Fairmont on Thursday en route to the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

FAIRMONT – Inclement weather created new opportunities Thursday, causing some motorcyclists to make a brief pit stop in Fairmont at El Agave on the way to the Sturgis Motorcycle rally in South Dakota.

Seasoned rider Dev Warmelink currently buys and sells heavy machinery for Affordable Machinery for 15 years and is the only woman in her industry. Accompanying her is Chad Barker, a maintenance technician for the pharmaceutical company Corium for 22 years. Last but not least on the ride is Barker and Warmelink’s best friend Mark Thompson, who is currently an electrical inspector for Barry County in Michigan.

Growing up, Warmelink’s father and grandfather were both involved in racing. Her grandfather Norm Brown was an Indy car racer up until a terrible accident at the Rex Mays 150 in Milwaukee in 1968. Her father raced locally around Michigan and became well known in the region over his 20 year career.

“I was born to be involved with something that has engines,” said Warmelink. “I raced half-scale stock cars for a time, but then I began transitioning to my life-long love of motorcycles.”

Warmelink has been showing Thompson, who took up riding in the summer of 2023, the ropes over the course of the summer. Hailing from just outside Grand Rapids, Michigan, this is the group’s second long trek of the year, with the first being 5,000 miles long.

“I bought it [motorcycle] on February 29. And I already have almost 8,000 miles on it,” said Barker “Yep, our last trip was 5,000 miles alone.”

Warmelink brought Barker out from Colorado on that 5,000-mile ride where they explored Yellowstone, Beartooth National Forest and Teton State Park, all while enjoying the company and breaking in the new motorcycles.

Usually making the trip on her own, Warmelink said she was happy to have a few good friends with her this year.

“It’s having good company. I usually do this solo,” said Warmelink. “This is my first trip with friends, so I’m really excited to have people with me.”

The changing weather brought the trio to Fairmont for some rest and food. According to Warmelink, the stop was random and the restaurant they found was none other than El Agave.

“We’re like, ‘We need a break. It’s starting to rain,'” said Warmelink. “We were hungry, found this place and it was amazing.”

The group of riders have plans to explore the region on their way to Sturgis. They intend to take in as many of the sights as possible.

“We’re gonna stop at the Badlands, we’re gonna do all the good rides, Needles Highway,

Spearfish Canyon, go out to the Devil’s Tower in Wyoming,” said Warmelink. “See all of the bars. There’s the Dungeon downtown Sturgis, really famous bar underground.”

The annual motorcycle rally held in Sturgis draws riders from all across the country, even reaching across the border into Canada averaging 500,000 riders every year. Occurring every August in the Black Hills of South Dakota, the rally continues to be the go-to event for new and veteran riders who come for the comradery and community of their beloved hobby.