July 12, 2025 (Sat.) – Sturgis & spearfish

With tomorrow earmarked for travel prep, we treated today as our unofficial last hurrah in Custer—and what better way to spend it than a scenic ride to Sturgis and Spearfish on the bike? The sun was shining, and the open road was calling.

First stop: Indian Motorcycle in Sturgis, where Kirk finally gave in to the raincoat he’d been eyeing (thanks to all the recent downpours). That “just one thing” idea quickly spiraled into a full-blown shopping spree—two jackets, two shirts, and a hat later, we’d shelled out over $450. But the win? Lynn now rides in proper Indian gear instead of repping her old BMW jacket. That brand mismatch simply wouldn’t do!

With our wallets lighter and stomachs growling, we headed over to The Loud American for lunch. The food hit the spot, and the town was clearly gearing up for Sturgis Rally prep—more shops and restaurants were springing to life. As much as we’d like to check out the rally, which is shaping up to be the largest one yet, we need to hit the road to eventually make it to Wisconsin for Indian Bike Week.  We would like to see the craziness and people watch at the rally, but the timing isn’t working out for us.

Next, we checked off one of Lynn’s quirky bucket list items: a visit to the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery in Spearfish. It wasn’t quite what she envisioned—less behind-the-scenes hatchery magic, and more ponds and strolls—but still enjoyable. Feeding the fish was fun, and wandering the grounds made for a peaceful break. Sadly, the museum was closed for renovations, which left a bit of a gap in the experience.

As daylight started to fade, we began our return to Custer. Kirk initially voted to skip Spearfish Canyon, worried about the time and Otis waiting patiently at the RV. But at the last second, he flipped the plan and took us through the canyon—worth it. We cruised past Bridal Veil Falls again, soaked in the sweeping scenery, and (predictably) took a wrong turn. Let’s call it another “scenic reroute.”

Being lost on a bike? Very different from being lost in the truck. Miles of gravel roads, no other vehicles, and a GPS with questionable judgment had us wondering if we’d wandered into a plot twist. Navigating the terrain was slow going, and knowing Otis was waiting didn’t help the nerves. Eventually, we hit pavement, found our rhythm, and got back on track.

The detour cost us a little over an hour, but Otis was perfectly content and greeted us like conquering heroes.

All in all, a fitting finale to our Custer chapter—full of adventure, spontaneity, and just the right amount of getting lost.

Weather – High 77*, Low 43*. Winds up to 11 mph. Spearfish was a bit warmer in the 80s.

Traffic – None. 

Food – Loud American – ok.

Notable – Fish hatchery.