Roads, Rock, and Divine Appointments

A nice, slow start to the day was just what we needed. After so many early mornings and long days on the road, it felt good to take our time. I showered, made coffee and pancakes for breakfast, and we sat down to plan our route for the day.

It had rained through the night, but thankfully everything stayed dry. We cleaned up from breakfast, packed everything away, and climbed onto the bikes around 9:30 a.m.

Today was going to be another one of those days filled with roads we had dreamed about riding.

We headed down Route 16A toward the south entrance of Custer State Park and then onto the famous Needles Highway, SD-87. This is truly a bucket-list ride for any motorcyclist!

The 14-mile stretch was thrilling from beginning to end, with hairpin turns—some nearly 180 and even 270 degrees—steep grades, narrow roads, and oncoming traffic. Towering stone pillars rose above us as though they were reaching to pierce the sky. We rode through narrow, rock-hewn, single-lane tunnels that made us feel like we were traveling through the mountains themselves.

The road wound through dense ponderosa pine, Black Hills spruce, and bright birch groves. Around every curve was another breathtaking view.

It reminded me of Psalm 95:4–5:

“In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.”

Standing among those massive rock formations, it was hard not to think about the One who created them. We can admire the work of human hands, but the Creator’s handiwork is far greater.

We stopped to take a picture at the famous Needle’s Eye, a remarkable rock formation that looks just like the eye of a needle. The entire scenic route through the Black Hills took us about an hour, even though it is only 14 miles. We rode slowly and carefully, taking in every moment.

Sometimes the best way to enjoy the journey is to slow down.

We came off Needles Highway just before Hill City and picked up Route 244 toward Mount Rushmore. We arrived just in time for lunch, but as usual, God had something else on the schedule first.

A couple was standing near the monument, and I offered to take their picture. That simple offer opened the door for us to share the Good News with them.

Then three men from North Carolina offered to take our picture in front of Mount Rushmore. Once again, we found ourselves talking about our travels, our mission, and why we are on this 66-day journey.

We shared the Gospel with them, and they were especially excited about what we were doing. We talked for quite a while about our adventure and gave each of them one of our stickers so they could follow along with us.

Another divine appointment.

It amazes me how God can use something as simple as taking someone’s picture to open a door for a conversation about Jesus.

Jesus told us in Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations.”

We may not always know what the next divine appointment will look like, but we can be ready when God puts someone in our path.

After our conversations, we finally headed to lunch at Caver’s Café, overlooking Mount Rushmore. Melvin had a bison burger, and I had a turkey wrap. It was delicious, but honestly, I think I enjoyed slowing down even more—sitting there, enjoying the mountains and taking in the view.

And of course, lunch had to end with ice cream!

We stopped at Memorial Team Ice Cream, right next to the café. Their vanilla ice cream is made from an authentic 1780s recipe attributed to Thomas Jefferson, and it was some of the best vanilla ice cream we have ever had.

Afterward, we went through the museum and learned more about how Mount Rushmore was carved. It was incredible to see the process, including the use of dynamite and air hammers to remove massive amounts of granite.

The famous sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, led the project, working with approximately 400 workers from 1927 to 1941. Those men worked high above the cliff face, using steel cables as they carved the granite down to the smallest details.

Not a job I would want!

But what an incredible piece of work they created.

From there, we continued onto Iron Mountain Road, even though the sky was beginning to look like rain.

Iron Mountain Road is only 17 miles long, but it contains 314 curves, 14 switchbacks, and three unique wooden pigtail bridges. It is another bucket-list motorcycle ride.

One of the things I really wanted to see was the famous tunnel where you can get that iconic view of Mount Rushmore framed through the opening. Unfortunately, traffic was too heavy for us to stop safely, so we pulled out the GoPro and hoped we captured the view on video.

Sometimes you just have to keep moving and trust that you got the shot!

The scenery along Iron Mountain Road was beautiful—vast stretches of pine forest, open meadows, and sudden grand vistas of the Black Hills appearing around the curves.

And then, just when we thought the day couldn’t get any better, we saw a large herd of elk along the side of the road!

I quickly turned on the GoPro, hoping I caught them before they darted away.

There is something about seeing wildlife in its natural surroundings that reminds me once again how detailed and intentional God’s creation is.

We eventually made our way back toward Custer when we noticed the clouds were getting darker. We decided to stop in town for a cup of coffee and wait out what looked like another storm.

We stopped at Custer Wolf Food & Drink and ordered cowboy caviar, which was basically corn tortilla chips with a delicious corn salsa. Then our waiter convinced us that they had the best bread pudding, made from a secret recipe they had perfected.

Well…he was right.

It was some of the best bread pudding we have ever had!

And the best part?

It never rained.

False alarm!

But I’m not complaining. It gave us an excuse to slow down, enjoy some coffee and dessert, and simply rest.

Back at camp, we started making a few changes to our plans.

Tomorrow, we’re moving into a cabin at the KOA so we can get an early start on Wednesday. We have more than 400 miles to cover, so getting on the road early will be important.

Then Melvin found the noise I had been hearing.

My front sprocket has two bent teeth.

That means Gracie is going to need to be babied the rest of the way back to New York.

So tomorrow, instead of taking both bikes out, we’ll be taking just one bike to do some sightseeing while we figure out the best way to get Gracie safely home.

And once again, I am reminded that our plans are not always God’s plans.

Proverbs 16:9 says,

“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.”

We can make our plans. We can map out our routes. We can decide where we’re going to sleep and how many miles we’re going to ride.

But ultimately, God is the One directing our steps.

Sometimes He directs us down a breathtaking mountain highway.

Sometimes He puts a stranger in our path so we can share the Gospel.

Sometimes He tells us to slow down.

And sometimes He puts a bent sprocket in the middle of our plans and reminds us that He is still in control.

We made it back to camp early, which gave me plenty of time to relax, change some equipment around, upload footage, and work on today’s blog.

After 60 days on the road, there is still so much to be thankful for.

We’ve traveled thousands of miles.

We’ve crossed mountains, rivers, borders, and countless winding roads.

We’ve experienced rain, wind, heat, cold, mechanical problems, long days, short nights, and moments we never could have planned.

But the greatest part of this journey has never been the miles.

It has been the people.

The conversations.

The prayers.

The opportunities to share Jesus.

The divine appointments that God has placed along our path.

And after 60 days, we’re still trusting Him to direct every mile.

The journey isn’t over yet.

There are still roads to ride.

People to meet.

Prayers to pray.

Stories to tell.

And divine appointments waiting around the next curve.

So we keep riding.

We keep trusting.

We keep praying.

And most importantly…

We keep following where He leads.

Because this isn’t just a motorcycle adventure from New York to Alaska and back.

It’s a mission.

And we’re still Wrights on a Mission.