Spearfish, SD

Fri (8-26-11):   Travel day today up to Spearfish, SD.  We are camped at Chris' Camp (Good SAM) [800-350-2239] for the next 4 nights. There is a Walmart Supercenter here at 2825 1st Ave and a Culvers nearby too. After we checked in, we drove over to Sturgis to see what Buffalo Chip looked like after bike week and also went thru the motorcycle museum in town.

Entrance to Buffalo Chip in Sturgis, SD

Then we headed into Deadwood where the action was--it is Kool Deadwood Nites Car Show Weekend in Deadwood, SD.  We ate a buffet dinner of - guess what - crab legs.  Not quite as good as the ones back at the Terrible's Casino in Iowa, but good enough.  Then we walked down the street to where the bands were playing.  The street is closed off to traffic and people had set up their chairs to listen to the bands.  You could buy beer and take it outside and drink it as long as you stayed in the event area. The hit of the night was "The Spinners".  There are still two of the original singers still performing.  Saw a guy dressed in "Crown Royal" pants so had to take a picture.  We (Patty and I) had a great time dancing on the sidewalk to all the old tunes the bands played.  Some folks even sat in the windows on the second floor of the businesses up and down the street.

The Spinners

Crown Royal Pants

Our View of the Stage in Deadwood

View up the Main Street in Deadwood

Sat (8-27-11):   Drove out to see Devil's Tower today with some other stops along the way.  As we drove into WY, we stopped at the Wyoming Visitor Center and picked up some brochures for our sightseeing there.  Wyoming's State Flag has a bison on it.

WY Visitor Center

We noticed that there was a Vore Buffalo Jump just up the road so we decided to stop and take the tour for $5.00 each and we sure are glad that we did!  Today was the perfect day too because the owner of the land was there to give the tour so we got to talk to him about his huge family ranch and hear about his grandfather and grandmother, who had homesteaded the land there.  This jump is a natural sink hole.  Different Plains Indian tribes used it as a bison trap throughout the 1500-1700's.  They have discovered that there are 22 layers of well preserved bones and artifacts. 

Amazingly Preserved Bison Bones at the Vore Buffalo Jump

When we left the buffalo jump, it was time to find a picnic spot for lunch.  We drove into the little town if Aladdin, WY (population 16) and had our lunch across the street from the Aladdin General Store.

Aladdin WY Country Store

Devil's Tower from a Distance

Prairie Dog Town below Devil's Tower

Can You Find Me?

 

Two Women Climbers Almost to the Top

After we left Devil's Tower, we stopped in Sundance for Happy Hour.  Saw the jail where they locked up the Sundance Kid.

Sun (8-28-11):  Drove the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway today and stopped for lunch where we got another Indian Fry Bread.  The picture in the middle of this website looked just like what we had.  This one was even better than the one we had back in the Badlands.

Mon (8-29-11): My Birthday! Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Mrs. April SMITH!

 

Checked out the town of Spearfish, SD today.  Few neat shops but not much more.  Decided to try the  Spearfish Chophouse and Whiskey Bar for dinner which we had noticed yesterday as we drove down the Spearfish Scenic Byway, and the food was wonderful. Didn't expect such a wonderful meal out here in this area. Mojitos were to die for and only $3.00!