DHOG Sturgis Adventure - Part 2 Rides, Rain, and a Little Rough Road

After exploring Mount Rushmore, Iron Mountain Road, and Custer State Park, the DHOG crew was ready for more—and Sturgis definitely delivered.

We kicked off the next leg of our adventure with a ride along the legendary Needles Highway, twisting and turning through the spires and tunnels. Unfortunately, a tragic accident blocked the return route, reminding us all how quickly things can change on the road. Out of respect, we rerouted and continued the day with a visit to Black Hills Harley-Davidson, where we wandered through rows of vendors, bike accessories, and souvenirs.

Some of the group opted for a more relaxing day, skipping the ride and joining later at Black Hills H-D to browse and catch up.

Wednesday brought rain to the Black Hills, so most of us took the chance to slow down and rest. One group headed into Sturgis later in the day to hunt for bike parts, collectibles, and special mementos for themselves and our chapter. Another group rode out to complete the Needles ride they had missed and also made a stop to visit the Crazy Horse Indian Monument, taking in more of the region’s history and beauty.

That evening, the entire group reunited for a cozy Thursday night dinner ride—this time to one of our rental homes. On the menu: a hearty spread of spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, and desserts, served up with plenty of laughter and stories from the week.

Friday brought us a new kind of challenge—literally.

We took on the Sturgis Ride Challenge, with stops at:

• Outlaw Square in Deadwood
• Hill City Harley-Davidson
• Black Hills Harley-Davidson
• Full Throttle Saloon
• And the Sturgis Community Center

Our fearless ride captain even led us down a 10-mile dirt road past Buffalo Chip to get to Full Throttle—proving yet again that adventure doesn’t always mean paved roads!

Later, we all met up to watch the Sturgis Opening Parade… which turned out to be a bit underwhelming. But spirits stayed high as we gathered at the historic “Welcome to Sturgis” sign for a raffle, where one lucky winner walked away with a $300 tattoo voucher.

After another full day, everyone headed back to their homes, hotels, and RVs to rest up for more riding and rallying.

Stay tuned for Part 3, where the adventure continues with more epic rides, laughs, and maybe a few surprises!