DHOG Sturgis Adventure – Part 3 The Long Ride Home

As the week in Sturgis began to wind down, Saturday was a mix of activity and relaxation. Some riders stayed back at the houses to rest up, catch up on laundry, and start packing for the ride home. Others weren’t quite ready to slow down yet—venturing back into Sturgis for last-minute tattoos, some serious people-watching, or to explore more of Full Throttle Saloon and Buffalo Chip.

Sunday marked the start of our journey back south. We added our last stop for the Sturgis Ride Challenge, the Badlands H-D.  We made our way through the stunning Badlands, stopping for a group photo at the entrance sign. From there, we followed the Sandhills Scenic Byway, knocking out another stamp for the Harley-Davidson 50 Rides One Nation challenge. We landed for the night in Holdrege, Nebraska, just in time for a well-earned meal at La Hacienda—because nothing beats good Mexican food after a full day in the saddle.

Monday took us down through Kansas and into Bricktown, OKC. Along the way, we made a few detours for photo ops and challenges:

1. The largest ball of twine for the H-D 15 for 25 challenge
2. The largest belt buckle in Abilene, KS—just for the fun of it
3. The Flint Hills Scenic Byway, checking off another route on the 50 Rides challenge

Once we rolled into Oklahoma City, some of the crew capped the night off with dinner at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar, soaking up those last few hours of travel camaraderie.

Tuesday was supposed to be a straight shot home—but the road had other plans. Construction delays and an accident shut down traffic for quite a while. We made the best of it with a little impromptu roadside dancing, including some surprising moves from an ambulance driver, which entertained a crowd of truckers and motorcyclists alike. It was one of those unforgettable, laugh-out-loud moments that will live on in DHOG lore.

In total, we rode through Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma—with 17 bikes and 23 riders, each with their own story and background but united by one passion:  the love of the ride.

That wraps up our 2025 DHOG Sturgis Adventure. Until next time, ride safe, ride far, and ride together.