Aug 31 2017 - to Hulett,WY

So did we win at the Casino last night?  Well they 'gave' us $45 in credits for the slots. - we managed to get  $24 out of that in cash.  Unlimited free drinks while doing this, and another half price one later.  $20 credit for breakfast that more than covered it.  So it ended up costing us  close to nothing.


Deadwood has a great downtown that is often used to host large rallies.  Today 100's of Mustangs were in town.

Yep - Wild Bill was shot here.....

Then a brisk stroll up the hill to take in the Cemetery.  Lots of famous folks are resting up here - but the most famous are probably Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane,

A pleasant drive down Spearfish Canyon Rd  brings us to Spearfish (surprise!) then on to Belle Fourche for lunch

Belle Fourche  (pretty fork)  was a railhead at the end of a cattle drive.  It also became the geo-center of the country when Alaska was added.  So now you know.

Then in to Wyoming

 

The tiny town of Aladdin   (pop 15) This town sold recently at auction for $500,000
The store is 120 years old and fun to poke around in.

We stopped for the night at Hulett.  Nothing much there except for glimpses of tomorrows adventure.

A distant Devil's tower thru the haze.....

Aug 30 2017 - to Deadwood,SD

First order of the day - back up to the viewpoint we at in failing light yesterday.  Much better today.

Then back to Mount Rushmore to poke around in sunlight. There is an easy trail that gets you up close to the base of the mountain.

Then off along the Needles Highway.....

To Custer.....

The Purple Pie Place!

Crazy Horse monument is a work-in-progress  - we skipped this.

Tonight we are in a Casino in Deadwood.  Will we win?

Aug 29 2017 - to Keystone,SD

First stop - Hot Springs SD.  Nice resort town. Local stone used to make the buildings.  Hot spring still works - the swimming pool is filled straight from it.  But not its more famous for its VA hospital.  A splendid building.

Used to be the hotel - now a convalescent home

The amazing VA hospital. They dont build them like this any more

Next stop - Wind cave    There over a hundred miles of charted caves in here - but obviously the guided tours only show a small part.  Buts its worth it.  We took the 'fairgrounds' tour.  Takes about 1.5 hours and start by going down a few hundred feet by elevator.  There are then some 450 stairs to negotiate  - but it doesn't seem hard when you are down there.  The cave is famous for its "Boxwork" formations...

Next stop Custer State Park

Tonight's stop is Keystone.   Rushed back to Mount Rushmore (see what I did there) to catch the lighting ceremony.  Well call us cynical but we though a lighting ceremony would be more than turning on a light.  Oh well - its still worth seeing.....