Travel day to Custer

July 23, 2025

Custer's Gulch RV Park site25

Custer,  South Dakota

On our way to Custer, Dad spotted a pronghorn enjoying a late morning meal on the grassland.  That became the focus...spotting the pronghorns off in the distance on our journey.  They were too far for  photos but these are the areas that they were enjoying.

The black angus herds of cows were much easier to spot than the pronghorns whose coloring blends with nature.  That fluffy white rear end tends to give them away.

Dad pulled into a truck stop with a huge parking lot just before Sturgis for a travel rest break.  He started our generator and proceeded to make a cup of coffee....but what he received was half a cup, which needless to say, was VERY strong...and barely warm.  Can you tell where this tale is headed?  Yep, the coffee maker was sending a definite message.  'I'm old and worn out.'

We had stopped right up the road from Sturgis High School:  Home of the Scoopers. 

Traveling from 'cowboy country' and across the grasslands, the first thoughts were a shovel full of ....animal waste.  So Momma did some research:

"The mascot's name is Scooper Sam. The name "Scoopers" is derived from a nickname given to the city of Sturgis in the late 1800s by cavalrymen stationed at nearby Fort Meade. The cavalrymen referred to Sturgis as "Scooptown" because they felt the town's merchants "scooped" their money on payday. The nickname was embraced by the townspeople, and eventually, the school adopted the name "Scoopers" for its sports teams." 

Of course, in the present day, most people think motorcycles when they think of Sturgis.  There was quite a bit of activity in the town as we traveled through.  Preparations were in progress for the Motorcycle Rally that will kick off next week.  Some early attendees had already arrived.  Banners had been hung and extra outside seating was being set up, getting ready for the swell in population that will fill up the city's coffers.

We made a stop at Bass Pro in Rapid City to kill some time.  This park has a pretty strict arrival time of after 2 pm.  Dad found some items to purchase so it was a win win.  Time well spent.

Internet at this location is weak via cell as we are located outside of town, not far from Custer State Park.  The campground's internet was doing great until everyone got on line this evening.  Or maybe it is just the effects of this miserable thunder storm that is currently raging.  I keep getting a 'failed to update message' on the blog site so it looks like this won't go out until tomorrow.  But with a early morning schedule set for Mount Rushmore in an effort to beat the 'crowd of people', the blog launch will be late afternoon tomorrow.

It is what it is!

Momma's a tad bummed out as she had visions of visiting the Wildlife Loop in the State Park tonight at dusk, but with this heavy downpour, you wouldn't be able to see a foot in front of you.  Tomorrow, Momma.   I need you close by my side right now.  You know I don't like these storms.

I'm Chloe