DAY 13

Today was a very relaxing day with very little trike time. We even slept in till around 8:15. The only plan we had was a visit to Sturgis which is only about 15 miles away. So we checked around and found a nice breakfast place and then finally hit the road.

 Sturgis was almost like a ghost town. With the rally over and all of the bikers gone, the streets were empty as well as the stores. Some of the bigger bars were still open for business but there was nary a soul to be found.

Even the famous Broken Spoke was closed and probably will be until next August.
It was a beautiful sunny day but the temps were climbing and the sun was just plain hot!
So we walked around a bit and then stopped at Sturgis Harley Davidson. After that it was time to head back to Deadwood.
The plan was to just spend a leisurely afternoon walking Main Street and making it an early night because we wanted to be on the road early for a long ride to Thermopolis, Wyoming.

 Before parking the trike for the rest of the day, we rode up to Mt Moriah Cemetery to visit the grave of "Wild Bill" Hockok. The cemetery is high on a hill just a few blocks from downtown Deadwood and it's something you should check out if you're ever in town. The plot next to "Wild Bill" belongs to "Calamity" Jane.

 Back downtown we stopped in quite a few of the bars and casinos along Main Street. Some are done in a more modern motif but the really cool ones are those that make you feel like you're stepping back in time to the old west days. This particular bar had the look and feel of the old west right down to the sawdust on the floor. And the food wasn't too bad.

This is a shot of our hotel just when the skies got a little dark and the streetlights were coming on. Mondays are a very slow night in Deadwood. As we read some of the event schedules, we saw that a lot is happening in town from Tuesday thru Sunday. I thought it was great because the street was very calm and the casinos and restaurants were practically empty. Did some slot play and then had a light dinner and now it's time to turn in so that we can be on the road early. We've got about 300 miles waiting for us tomorrow...


Thanx for stopping by and we'll see you tomorrow.

DAY 12

 We didn't plan for it but we ended up doing 219 miles today. We got an early start and rode from Custer to Deadwood. It was too early to check in at our hotel so we figured that we'd ride out to Devil's Tower in Wyoming. I'd done the ride before but forgot just how far it is. It really didn't matter much because we left Deadwood around 11 so we had basically had all day to do whatever we wanted. And it is definitely worth the ride. If you've seen Devil's Tower in the movie "Close Encounters", you might have thought that it was kind of interesting. But when you stand at the base and look at this mountain of rock, it is truly an awe inspiring sight.

We have more pics that we will post later where you will see people who come to Wyoming to climb the tower. We sat for a while and watched a couple of them and then we read about how many people try to scale the tower every year. They come by the thousands and there are signs all around telling you that if you want to go above the fallen rock area, you need to sign in.

 There is a trail around the tower for visitors to walk for some great photo ops.We started out on the trail but only got about a quarter of the way. But the views of the tower changed from each angle and it was worth the walk.

As I said, we weren't expecting to be out as long as we were but when we got back and checked into our hotel in Deadwood, we were pleasantly surprised to find a very quaint room that almost made you feel like you are back in the old west. Rather than stay outside of town, we decided on the Hickok Hotel which is right Main Street in Deadwood. So we got back around 5 and spent a wonderful evening walking down Main and checking out the shops and doing a little slot play.

Had a nice dinner in a bar with a really good singer and then hit a few more gaming establishments before we called it a night..

DAY 11

 We decided to take a break today from all the riding. After breakfast we rode 4 miles out of Custer to a little cowboy town very aptly named Four Mile. What we found out was that back when these small towns were popping up as the settlers came west, the main post office was in Custer. This particular settlement was four miles from town so it was simply called Four Mile.

The settlement had about 50 buildings from living quarters to a jail and butcher. Most of the buildings were standing just as they were many years ago. We took the self guided tour and it was a very nice morning.

 Here is the small church of Four Mile. Next to it is the cemetery. It was like a step back in time as we went into all the buildings and saw how these people lived as they tried to find a better life by settling where the supposed gold rush was taking place.

Then we stopped for a visit at an old friends house. Gary Cleveland lives in Custer and he spends his winters in Arizona. He has a very large lot and during the Sturgis Rally every August, you may find anywhere from 10 to almost 50 people in tents and sleeping bags sprawled in his front yard. A great guy with stories that will keep you listening with interest.
He looks forward to having another crowd next year.


When we left Gary we took a ride to Hot Springs which is about 30 miles south of Custer. Unfortunately, the small town wasn't what we had in mind. There was really not much to do and it really wasn't much of a town to just park and window shop. So we found a local watering hole, had a bite and a beer and headed back to Custer.
We had laundry to do and I wanted to get the trike packed and ready because we were leaving in the morning to go up to Deadwood. Definitely looking forward to that. Hope you are too.

So today was a mere 76 miles but still beautiful weather and we're still having a ball.

DAY 10

Today brought a huge change in the weather and we were a little hesitant about heading out for what we had planned for the day. The weather channel called for possible thunderstorms and highs of only around 66. But the weather around here can be very fickle and even when it does rain, sometimes it will last only a short time and then pass.

So after breakfast we got ready for our day. Our first stop for the day was the Crazy Horse Monument. Since it is only about 6 miles from our hotel we used this ride as a gauge for what to wear and how far to go for the rest of the day.

 I must admit that although I usually don't overdress when I ride, but the light jackets that we wore to the monument were not going to be sufficient for the ride that I had planned for the rest of the day.

We did the 6 miles and had a wonderful time during our visit to the Crazy Horse Monument. We watched the short video and learned a lot about the origin and progress of the ongoing project.
The way that the sculptor started the carving and what he went through to make his dream a reality is truly an inspiring story.

We took the bus ride that takes you much closer to the mountain than you are at the visitor center. Faith got some great pics and you can see more of them on my facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/rvaracchi

 It's amazing to think that the mountain in the background will someday look like the statue pictured here. It is a family operation with most of the children carrying on the process. But all of the planning and sketches were done in the 1940s and it is truly unbelievable when we learned how the sketches were painted on the mountain with a paint brush while hanging from a rope on the side of the walls.
The final project will dwarf Mt Rushmore by more than 10 times.
The final projected date for completion is 2036.

So the clouds were blocking the sun and at times the mist was rather heavy. We decided to go back to the hotel and gear up for our ride through the mountains.
We got the leathers on and Faith even wore her helmet to keep her head a little warmer.
The plan was to head north on 89 and then take the Needles Highway around and then we wanted to go through Custer State Park on the wildlife loop again.

 We weren't on the road long before we came around a curve and I happened to see some horns rising from the grass in a field. As we got closer we realized that we had come upon a half dozen long horn steer lounging in the grass.
I pulled over and Faith walked back for some photo ops.

Then we got to the Norbeck Byway. this has to be one of the greatest motorcycle roads that we've ever been on. The climbing and the curves and the tunnels and the switchbacks are both exciting and quite a challenge. Although you can drive the "pigtail" bridges along 16A near Rushmore and view the monument through bridges carved in the mountain, The Needles Highway is a ride that makes The Tail Of The Dragon look like a Sunday morning ride.

 To start off when you get on 87 from 89 you come to this fantastic tunnel that is a one car lane cut through the mountain.
A huge tourist stop and there are usually a lot of cars and bikes parked here for pics and just comparing notes about where they've been and where they're from.

Again, I've posted only a few of the pics and none of the video here. you can check out more on my Facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/rvaracchi

I hope to have video up soon.

 Now that we've driven some of the best roads that a motorcyclist could want, Faith wanted to go back to the Wildlife Loop Road to see if we could find more buffalo.

As luck would have it we came upon a herd of buffalo very early along the road and then we found another on 16A right outside of the park.

 Here is a Marmot that we saw earlier in the day along the road near the Crazy Horse Monument. All of the animals that you come upon seem oblivious to the humans gawking and calling and photographing. I guess it just becomes a part of their day.

And of course along the Wildlife Loop you're bound to meet the donkeys. We had to stop again for more pics. Here we found a mom being very protective of her young.

So all in all a VERY nice day. The rain never came and the sun actually peeked out a time or two. The temps really never got very warm but it was a welcome change from the sun beating down on you all day long.
The trike also likes this cooler weather.  She ran great and we did 82 miles before calling it a day and going for a buffalo steak dinner...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Tomorrow should be a relaxing day with no definite plans....They are calling for another weather day like today so we're just hoping that it doesn't rain...Tune in tomorrow to find out how we did.

DAY 9

 What a fantastic day!!  Temps in the 80s, very low humidity and lots of great riding. About 5 miles outside of Custer is the Crazy Horse Monument so we passed that on our way out of town to start our day.We'll probably go to check out the monument tomorrow morning.

 But first I wanted to take Faith to a place called Cosmo's where it seems that the laws of gravity don't apply. Tennis balls roll uphill, short people look tall and you can go into a cabin and feel the forces pulling you in very strange directions

 We got through the first part of the tour which was an outside demonstration but when it was time to go inside the house, Faith was affected by the force and started to feel a little queasy so she opted out and went back to the gift shop. I stayed for a few photos but then figured that I would go and see how she was doing. They were very nice and refunded our fee and we were on our way.

The plan for the day was to go to Mount Rushmore and then take the scenic route back to Custer. After the trip to Cosmo's we headed to Rushmore. What a nice ride. The road we took isn't even the most scenic in the area but it was an amazing ride with bridges carved through the mountains and long sweeping curves that climb the sides of the mountains and then wind down again.

Mount Rushmore is a magnificent sight and we had a great time there.

 Clear skies.......

 Wonderful photo ops.....

And even when you leave Rushmore, you can see it from lots of different vantage points.
We took Iron Mountain road and there are a few tunnels cut through the mountains that were so well planned that you can see Rushmore through the tunnel.

 Iron Mountain Road is a great motorcycling road. lots of curves and fantastic views. It even has a couple of "pigtail bridges' where you go round and round and over or under where you've just been. So much fun!!!

Then we drove through Custer State Park. Not long after getting into the park, we came across two herds of buffalo. One was off the road heading to the mountains but the other was wandering down the road and we had some very close encounters.
Faith had been saying all day that she wanted to see buffalo so I was relieved when we found these herds. These might have been the only two sightings of the day. We might go back tomorrow as part of our sightseeing trip because it won't take us too far out of our way and we're hoping to see a lot more wildlife.

 Besides the buffalo, while driving through Custer park, you can see quite a few Pronghorn.
We found this one that came very close to the road even though we were sitting there with the trike running. It seems that they've gotten used to the visitors.

And then there are the donkeys. There is a section of the route that is a very popular stop for both tourist and donkey. At the stores near the park entrance you can buy donkey food or they will eat just about anything.
Here they are coming in from the fields because they heard a bunch of vehicles in the area. It was really something to see as they seemed so tame because they expected to be fed. Lots of people were there and the feeding frenzy began. Then the donkeys headed up the road.

 A very nice shot of some wild donkeys and my trike.

Faith always has to get that donkey shot.


So it was only an 86 mile day but we had no interstates to deal with and lots of really cool stuff to do and see so this was truly a wonderful day..

Hopefully the first of many.

DAY 8

Before leaving Wall and starting on our way, we took one more ride down main street fro another picture. It was a little early and yet the street was filling with visitors. We really enjoyed our stay but it was time to move on.

 Just up the road is the sign that we were looking for. We had decided to take the Badlands Loop out of town and then back up towards Rapid City. This was the first day that was more sightseeing and liesurely driving than trying to get to a destination. We had plenty of time to get to our daily stop.

What a fantastic place!! The Badlands are absolutely breathtaking.

 As far as the eye can see, the scenery is awesome and the road wasn't very crowded so we were able to stop for photos along the way. There are plenty of turnoffs but sometimes there was that perfect shot that you just have to pull over to get.

It reminded us somewhat of the Painted Desert in Arizona but this seemed to cover a lot more area. It seemed that we drove for many miles and we were still loving the drive. There are times when you're down in the valleys looking at the mountains and then you climb and look down from atop them.

Along the way you will find a restroom here an there. Usually in a beautiful area that doubles as a rest stop and a photo op.

Taking a little break along the Badlands Loop.

 After the Loop, we got back onto I90 for a bit and then turned north up to Pierre SD. Besides being the state capital, we had a dealership to visit.
The ride up to Pierre was not a very enjoyable one. We were getting buffeted by the winds as we drove along 90 but when we turned north towards Pierre we were heading directly into the wind.
Between the winds and the upgrades along the highway, I was fighting all the way. By the time we got to the shop, we were both tired and windblown.

But we made it to our hotel in Custer and relaxed a bit before going down onto Main Street for a well deserved dinner. Just knowing that we were going to be staying here for a few days was a relief. We had put in some long days and now we get a chance to take in the sights and start slowing the pace down a little.

172 miles and hopefully the last rough day for a while...

DAY 7

 Before leaving Canistota we took a ride down Main Street to get a shot of that great little bar in town.
The day started out kinda misty with a very slight drizzle now and then so we donned the rain gear and started our day. The skies stayed cloudy and a bit cool but the rains didn't come.

First stop of the day was at The Corn Palace in Mitchell SD. This is a tourist trap that keeps Mitchell on the map. It's been around since the 1800s and attracts a steady flow of travelers as they cruise down Interstate 90. We spent some time inside and even sat fro the 15 minute video about the origin of the palace.

 The murals are changed frequently and they are made entirely out of corn grown specifically for the Corn Palace.The corn is actually grown in the five colors that are used in the murals. The picture is sketched on building paper and then workers attach an ear at a time to make the mural.

And what would a tourist trap be if not for a mascot ???
So here is Faith posing for a photo op with Cornelius.
But again it was time to leave the fun and games behind and push on.
The ride from here was a combination of good and bad.
Good because the weather turned and it got sunny and warm. Perfect for riding. But there was a brisk wind from the north and when you hit those vast open spaces that wind can really knock you around and it was affecting the speed and the mileage of the trike. We both took a beating from the wind and it just takes a lot out of you. 

 Also, it seems that we were traveling right at the time that the grasshoppers in the area mature and it seems that they like to jump up and smash themselves into your motorcycle. we noticed just a few at one of our gas stops but by the time we had to stop again, they were all over the trike, some on our pants legs and even one that smashed into Faith's neck.
When we got to our hotel, it was quite a job scrubbing them off the fenders and fairings but Faith did a great job.

 We were able to get to our daily destination at a reasonable time thanks to gaining an hour in a different time zone. so a refreshing dip in the pool and then we washed the trike. Again on a suggestion of the hotel clerk, we walked a few blocked to Main Street for a nice dinner at the Cactus Cafe.

 We had planned to check out the famous Wall Drug in the morning but it was still early after dinner so we crossed the street and spent some time in this touristy spot that has become one of the more famous stops along the interstate in South Dakota. They still offer free water and 5cent coffee.
It's chock full of shops and you can buy just about anything you need in Wall Drug. The signs advertising Wall Drug start over 300 miles away along the highway and they tell you what you'll find at the store.

All in all, a nice day and the hotel is very comfy. Found this unique sign posted on the bathroom mirror. Thought it was rather interesting. It's not that the water comes out of the tap at 100 degrees but it does not get cold.

So a rather long ride at 328 miles but we're finished with the long days for a while and looking forward to a week in the Sturgis area to do some sightseeing and relaxing.

Check back again because I'm sure the posts will get longer with more pics and some great stories.