June 30, 2025 (mon.) - A low key day, Hill City
A fairly low-key day overall. Lynn was up early—before 7:00 AM—and ventured out with her coffee despite the morning chill. Her peaceful moment was cut short thanks to a buzzing bug brigade that quickly sent her back inside.
The bulk of the day was dedicated to chores and adulting. Kirk spent hours wrangling with the California DMV—trying to confirm address changes after receiving renewal notices for vehicles already sporting South Dakota plates. Meanwhile, Lynn tackled bills and blog duties, and Kirk gave his motorcycle a much-needed wash in town after the recent storm dust-ups.
By mid-afternoon, the weather was just too good to ignore, so we hopped on the bike for a scenic ride along the Needles Highway and surrounding areas—still on the hunt for that elusive Needles Highway sticker. The route eventually landed us in Hill City, where we impulsively set our sights on lunch at Alpine Inn, famous for its schnitzel. Of course, they closed at 2:30 PM, and we rolled in at 2:50 PM. Classic Kirk & Lynn timing!
Plan B took us to the Bumpin’ Buffalo, where we sat on the rooftop deck. The food? Eh, passable. But the views were nice, and we got a kick out of leaving our mark—literally—by ‘carving’ our names into a wooden panel. Thankfully Lynn still had her trusty blue ballpoint pen from her work days. Never underestimate a good pen!
We wrapped up with a visit to the Everything Prehistoric Museum at the Black Hills Institute. Dinosaurs? We’re in. The museum was packed with prehistoric relics—but seriously packed. About 1½ rooms of fascinating chaos, crammed so tightly that it was tough to take it all in. The entry fee was $13.50 (for both of us), good for a full year, though chances of a return trip are slim. Cool concept, but there was almost too much to absorb in such a small space.
A day that started slow but still managed to pack in a bit of adventure, missed food opportunities, and plenty of sunshine…but still no Needles Highway sticker!
Weather – High 76*, Low 46*. Sunny. Winds 2-14 mph.
Traffic – None.
Food – Bumpin’ Buffalo in Hill City – so-so
Notable – Just a beautiful day for a ride. Interesting bones (Lynn’s favorite is the giant fish).
