69th Annual Black Hills Rally

I wanted to update everyone on what is going on ...other than the weight loss (I will not update you on my current weight loss until tomorrow...). We are currently participating in the Black Hills Motorcycle Rally. We are in Custer, SD, not Sturgis and I am really pleased we are in Custer. The people here are awesome and the weather has been fantastic.

Custer is about 75 miles south of Sturgis, SD and is against Custer State Park. The town of Custer has been considered the oldest established town of the Black Hills of South Dakota. It is the site of one of the major encampments of the 1874 Black Hills Expedition of George Armstrong Custer's 7th Cavalry and the location of the first public discovery of gold. The town may have grown up in the 21st Century, but it still has the feel of a small, western town. People that live here are very personable and appear to be willing to help one another. We are currently staying at French Creek RV Park within the city limits and are having a ball.

The manager of French Creek RV Park is "Rock" and is very involved in all that goes on not only in the park but in the town of Custer. If you need to know something, or need help with anything, he is the go-to guy.

Custer puts on an event called Custer Cruisin' which coincides with the Black Hills Rally (most people know it as "STURGIS" or "Sturgis Bike Week"). Custer has vendors (like us) along 6th Street (they acutally close the street down and have vendors and foot traffic only) and sections out 2 of the 4 lanes along the main drag (Rushmore Rd / 16A) to create motorcycle parking. It is really neat to see blocks and blocks of motorcycles parked in the middle of the street during the day. The parking allows bikers to conveniently visit all of the local businesses (and the vendors) during Custer Cruisin' (and Sturgis Bike Week). The town of Custer is within easy riding distance of the Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore, Keystone, Hill City, Rushmore Caves, and more sites that I can't even begin to name.

I realize this sounds like a travel log, but Custer is definitely a place to go see and spend some time at. We have been here visiting over the years, but now that we have spent more than a half a day here, it is amazing to discover how much there is to do around here. We will be staying a few days after the rally so that we can enjoy the local sights too.

The official rally (Sturgis) has started and we are looking forward to seeing more bikers ride here and stop to visit. Things should start hopping in the next day or so. The town is geared up and has it's best party dress on for the riders. Custer has had a lot of rain this year, so the drought conditions that had plagued this town for the last several years is not an issue. Everything is green and ready for bikers to enjoy. Lets let the fun begin....