City Councilor Larry Mack stands besides a lake near Hill City, South Dakota, during a vacation last week.

NEW ULM — Taking a simple vacation is less simple during COVID-19. City Councilor Larry Mack’s recent motorcycle vacation through South Dakota has some New Ulm residents concerned.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota held Aug. 7-16 was one of the largest mass gatherings in the United States in months and is estimated to have drawn 460,000 vehicles.

Minnesota Health officials worry this could cause a spike in COVID cases in this state. In Minnesota, at least 15 people who have attended the rally have now tested positive for COVID.

Fourth Ward City Councilor Larry Mack was on a motorcycle vacation in South Dakota and Wyoming Aug. 12-17. His vacation included time in Sturgis on August 13.

Mack said most of his vacation was spent in Lead, South Dakota, about 25 miles west of Sturgis. Mack along with family, friends and neighbors had rented a house in Lead. Mack said he rented the house on March 10 before the pandemic had greatly impacted the country.

On July 7, Mack voted against the 2020 Minnesota Amateur Baseball State Tournaments coming to New Ulm in light of the COVID pandemic. Opposition to the tournament was based on health concerns linked to bringing over 60 baseball teams to New Ulm in late August. During the initial vote, only Mack and Councilor David Christian voted against the tournament coming to New Ulm.

Mack said the decision to vote against the baseball tournaments was difficult, but he had to represent the citizens of New Ulm and he believed public response was against it. The council later rescinded the decision and prevented the tournament from coming to New Ulm.

In light of Mack’s vote preventing a mass gathering in New Ulm, some residents were surprised he choose to travel through Sturgis.

Mack said he knew beforehand he would face backlash for this vacation but believes the response was blown out of proportion and was based on a misconception of his trip.

“People have to know the facts before they can say there was wrongdoing,” Mack said. “People need to be able to enjoy their hobbies safely and people need to be mindful of personal views.”

Mack said he and his travel companions left New Ulm on motorcycles early Wednesday, Aug. 12. They stopped in Springfield due to rain. They reached Balaton for breakfast. The group stopped for the night in Pierre, South Dakota, at a Super 8 Hotel.

On Thursday, Aug. 13, the group reached Sturgis. Mack said they walked down Main Street in Sturgis, but spent limited time in the city. Mack estimated he and his group were in Sturgis for two and a half hours before leaving for the rental house in Lead.

Some New Ulm citizens were concerned that Mack had visited the One-Eye Jack’s Saloon in Sturgis. This bar was linked to at least one positive COVID case. Mack clarified that he never entered the One-Eye Jack Saloon, but was outside it. There was a misconception that he entered this saloon because older photos of him in the saloon during a 2014 vacation were posted on social media. Mack asked people to look at the dates the photos were originally posted.

On Friday, Aug. 14, Mack traveled to Spearfish Canyon and later traveled to Sundance, Wyoming, and Devil’s Tower National Monument. From there, Mack traveled to Hulett, Wyoming, and then back to the rental house in Lead.

On Saturday, Aug. 15, Mack visited Custard State Park and Hill City. On Sunday, Au. 16, he visited Crazy Horse Monument and Miner Brewing Company. On Monday, Aug. 17, Mack and his party rode back to New Ulm from Lead and returned home in the evening.

“I am doing my responsible part,” Mack said. He is trying to distance over the next few weeks in case of an infection. Mack was back in New Ulm on Monday but did not attend the Tuesday city council meeting in person, instead attending through a conference call.

Mack said during his trip, he and his party wore masks when required and spent the majority of the tour outdoors enjoying the parks and views.

“We weren’t really hanging out with people,” he said. “I didn’t go anywhere busier than Menards in New Ulm.”

Mack noted that attendance at most of the places he visited was down. He had made similar trips in previous years and saw significantly fewer people.

Mack’s vacation began the day after the Minnesota State Primary. During the primary, he received the most votes in a three-way race for City Council president. Mack will face Andrea Boettger for council president seat in the November general election.