June 29, 2025 (Sun.) – Hail!, Custer Skywalk.

The skies weren’t bluffing last night—and by 6:00 AM, the storm rolled in loud and proud. The thunder was unlike anything we’ve heard before—cracks so intense it sounded like the sky was tearing open. Naturally, we scrambled out of bed to soak it all in. Coming from Southern California, where “weather” usually means sunshine, this was a real treat.

Then came the hail, pounding the RV roof like a rock concert gone rogue. Lynn was snapping pics and rolling video like a storm-chasing paparazzi—probably has hundreds of clips by now. The hail was about gravel-sized, stinging if it hit skin but luckily not large enough to dent the truck. Like most summer storms out here, it made a dramatic entrance and a quick exit—gone by 6:40 AM.

Cue coffee time: Lynn by the fireplace, mug in hand, skies still gray and moody. Kirk, on the other hand, snoozed peacefully till about 9:30 AM.

We tried to grab breakfast at HJEM in Custer but bailed when we saw the 45-minute wait. Our backup spot? Maria’s Mexican Kitchen—round two. Sadly, not quite as tasty as round one.

With fuel in our bellies, we hit Ace Hardware for some serious moth defense. Target had come up short, but Ace came through big-time—cedar blocks, hangers, and balls galore. Moths, be warned.

Next stop: Custer State Park Visitor’s Center, in search of a Needles Highway sticker. No luck, and to our surprise—no gift shop! We gave it one last shot at the Legion Lake General Store, but still no sticker. Lynn did score a new purple hiking stick, though, which almost made up for the sticker drought. Note to selves: maybe don’t give away all your gear before hitting the road!

Armed with new shoes and Lynn’s shiny hiking stick, we tackled the Custer Skywalk to Big Rock Observation Point. It’s a short hike but steep and rocky, and we definitely felt it. Halfway up, we paused to catch our breath—only to be passed by two little boys bounding uphill like mountain goats. Then their entire family (family of 6, oldest looked about 9 years-old)—including a tiny 3-year-old—breezed past us. At that point, pride was out the window, and we powered forward determined not to be shown up by toddlers.

The view from the top was well worth the effort. Custer spread out below, framed by the Black Hills. We pushed on to the historic Custer sign, and Kirk played part mountain goat himself to climb higher for a better photo. Otis tagged along like a champ, getting his steps in for the day. Lynn’s hiking stick and new shoes were lifesavers—this trail would’ve been a beast without them. Final stats via Lynn’s Apple Watch: 1 hour 10 minutes, 1.23 miles, 392 feet of elevation gain. As we descended, more dark skies rolled in—another storm teaser.

On the way back through the park, we hit a wildlife traffic jam—Big Horn Sheep in the road! Cars were slowing, and the one in front of us had a girl popping out of the sunroof for photos. Cue lightbulb moment: we have a sunroof too! Lynn went full rooftop photographer and got some great shots—thanks, kid! Six months driving this truck and we forgot that feature existed.

By 3 PM, we were back at the RV. Ten minutes later: hail round two. We hunkered down for lunch and TV, riding out another short burst of chaos. Then the sun broke through… briefly… until the clouds returned with a rumble. Kirk squeezed in a walk with Otis during a dry window, but as soon as they got back, the skies opened up again.

A day filled with weather dodging, wildlife surprises, and a few lessons from younger adventurers. Not bad for a Saturday!

Weather – High 70*, Low 54*. Thunderstorms. Winds 4-8 mph, gusts 21 mph.

Traffic – None, other than a few cars slowing for sheep.

Food – Nothing to report.

Notable – Custer Skywalk, Hail

Screen time – The Hitman, National Treasure 2