Spearfish, South Dakota
Finally, I know what I want to be when I grow up...a meteorologist!!! I am so fascinated by the cloud formations in this part of the country. Although the storms themselves scare me to death!
Anyway, we're here in Spearfish at Elkhorn Ridge RV Resort...I highly recommend this resort if you're ever in this part of the country...just batten down the hatches if you're here in the spring and it's around 6:00 p.m. We spent day one getting caught up (with laundry, grocery shopping, and taking pictures of the clouds)! Now for some more sightseeing:
Saturday, the first day with no forecast of severe thunderstorms, we traveled the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Highway which is located in the northern part of the Black Hills National Forest. The mountains here are more rocky and there are more pine trees growing right out of the rock than what Ken and Susan and Bob saw in the explorations at Custer.
This is Bridal Veil Falls, seen from the highway. We then went to Roughlock Falls where there is new construction of beautiful walkways along the Spearfish Creek and the Falls. They must get all the money from those people who are South Dakota residents but don't use any of the state's resources 'cause they're out and about the country in their motor homes!! This is also the area where winter scenes in "Dances With Wolves" were filmed.
Further down the Highway we stopped at Broken Boot Gold Mine which was established in 1878. The mine produced only 15,000 ounces of gold over the 26 years of operation (as compared to the Homestake Mine in neighboring Lead, South Dakota, which produced over 40 million ounces and did not close until 2002). Broken Boot, however, did make profits from mining fool's gold which was used in processing real gold.
After leaving the mine we went to Main Street, Deadwood (believe it or not, named after the dead timber on the surrounding hills!!!!!). In the 1870's Deadwood was the site of the last big frontier gold rush in North America. The entire town is a national historic landmark. Today the streets are lit by old-fashioned street lamps and carefully restored architecture. Every building you pass on Main Street either contains a casino/restaurant or gift shop.
The last stop on our day's journey was to Boot Hill, Mount Moriah Cemetery, final resting place for many of Deadwood's "characters" including James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok and Martha "Calamity Jane" Canary.
I took the next day off and Ken went to visit Devil's Tower and Tatanka: Story of the Bison. First stop: Devil's Tower in eastern Wyoming. The "rock" can be seen from miles away. It is best known for its role in the 1978 movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". It is the core of a volcano exposed after millions of years of erosion. It is 865 feet high. In 1906 President Theodore Roosevelt designated Devil's Tower as the first national monument. As imposing as it may be, there is absolutely nothing else to be found around Devil's Tower.
Next stop: Tatanka Story of the Bison. Apparently when Kevin Costner was here to film Dances With Wolves, he became enamored with the area. His introduction: 30 million bison (or buffalo) once roamed the Great Plans of North America. By the close of the 19th Century, it is estimated that fewer than 1,000 of these animals survived. The story of the bison is captured in Deadwood's newest attraction. The centerpiece of Tatanka is a larger-than-life bronze sculpture of 14 bison being pursued by three Lakota riders on horseback.
We leave tomorrow for a two-day trek to Yellowstone National Park. We'll meet Susan and Bob there for dinner before they take off for Glacier National Park where we will again meet up and join them for the remainder of our trip to Arlington, Washington and meeting up with Joe, Kathy and Katie. What an adventure this is!!!
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