Deadwood

Many of you wrote to us regarding today’s local news story of our celebrated arrival into Deadwood, SD, this evening.

We can affirm it is true.

Our route today took us through three states; Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota. Given the size of those states, it’s fair to say we made good time, but much of today’s success is also due to our early departure from Broadus, which we estimated to be 9:03 am, much better than our recent average.

We continued traveling down MT 212 (the section referred to as The Warrior Trail Highway) and had we followed it to its eastern terminus we’d be in Edina, MN but instead we exited at Alzeda, MT southbound towards Hulett and Devils Tower.

A word that comes to mind regarding the drive between Alzeda and Devils Tower is a synonym for fantastic. Not only was it incredibly scenic but it was as if a meandering, rolling parkway had been placed on top of a plateau with meadows and valleys and other geographical pleasantries which could involve rainbows. And the reward at the end is another geographical feature many people became aware of from a 1977 movie but in reality had been known by Native American tribes well before then and the first documented “discovery” by Caucasians was in 1859.  The road is also a suitable place for additional future-Model T-driver training, were people to be so inclined.

After departing Devils Tower we continued south to Old Route 14 which runs through Sundance and Beulah (pop. 33) and provides a few early vistas before becoming the frontage road for I-90.

After passing through Spearfish, we headed south again into the Black Hills National Forest via the CanAm highway and climbed over the initial pass leading to Deadwood.  It’s common knowledge that Deadwood is where James Butler Hickok was murdered while holding “aces and eights”, but what’s not widely known is that Wild Bill was killed only 37 days after George Custer and his brothers were killed at Little Big Horn.  Martha Jane Canary also lived there, but you probably know her as Calamity Jane.

Finally, as an aside, what might commonly occur every day during vacation travel involving five males happened only for the first time for us this evening.  While wandering aimlessly among the shops, bars and casinos, continuing the summer education series for the younger ones in our group, we found ourselves for the first time during the journey to be unable to decide what we wanted to eat for dinner.  Ice cream satiated several of the group, while others were holding out for pizza which, it turned out, was no longer being offered by the slice.  A conundrum, indeed, but which was quickly resolved by some retiring to the room while others retired to the bar, where  tomorrow’s voyage is being planned albeit among the many houseflies which outnumber the patrons.  We’ll soon have more to report, specifically about our trip to Mount Rushmore and the Badlands, plus possibly a stop at Wall Drug but only because there is lodging nearby.  In the meantime we hope everyone has a wonderful and happy Fourth of July, celebrating everything that makes this country great.  We know we will.