Deadwood, SD

Sep 17     Wall - Deadwood, SD     108 miles  2 1/2 hours

We drove out to Deadwood today and staying at the Steelwheel Campround. Very busy this weekend but they had 1 site left. Passport America rate for 1 night only $19.00, the other 2 nights at $38.00 each. The campground is located a few miles from Deadwood, it's nice here but a lot of ATV's around. There's a popular trail right behind the campground. There's the Deadwood Jam this weekend. Music all weekend in downtown Deadwood. Should be fun.

Our site for the next 3 nights

 This afternoon we took a walk around Deadwood, lots of history....
Though many gold rush towns died almost as soon as they started, Deadwood was different. The nearby mines went through boom and busts, but the gold kept coming. Generations of miners toiled underground, and when their shifts were over, they came to Deadwood saloons, brothels, and gambling halls to unwind and relax. It didn't matter that this was all mostly illegal; Deadwood had always been a town on the edge of the law, and the people who came for a good time didn't mind bending a rule or two.

Downtown Deadwood

Things changed in 1989. After more than a century of gambling on the down-low, Deadwood became the third place in the US to allow legal gambling. The card tables and slot machines came out from the back rooms, and the town boomed. Fueled by the new tax revenue, the town began an ambitious historic preservation effort that continues today.

Brothels....see the ladies in the windows

What's on your head

Sep 18  Deadwood

It's real cold and rainy today. We stayed in most of the day. Last night dropped to 38 degrees. Today the high was about 58 degrees. We bundled up and headed to town late in the afternoon. Walked around, gambled a little, won a little, and had some dinner. When we got back at 9pm the temperature was 35 degrees. We're making good use of our electric blanket!

Saw these babies in someone's yard

Sep 19  Deadwood

Boot Hill Tour Bus

The weather was very nice today. When we got up this morning it was 30 degrees but sunny. It warmed up pretty quickly and the high was around 75. We went on the Historic Boot Hill Tours. A one hour narrated tour of Boot Hill (Mt Moriah), city landmarks plus visited the graves of infamous outlaws Wild Bill & Calamity Jane.

Grave of Wild Bill Hickok

Although Wild Bill Hickok is Deadwood's most famous resident, he was in town less than a month before he was shot down by Jack McCall on August 2, 1876. The former gunfighter and lawman was famous long before Deadwood. He arrived by wagon train from Cheyenne in the company of Charlie Utter and Calamity Jane. Despite talk of prospecting for gold, Wild Bill didn't stray from the Badlands, a section of Main Street known for its bars, brothels, and gambling houses. He was playing poker in Saloon No. 10 when McCall walked in and shot Wild Bill in the back of the head. Jack was first tried by a miner's court in Deadwood and found not guilty. He was later tried and executed in Yankton, the territorial capital, and buried with the noose still around his neck.

Calamity Jane's headstone 

There were so many stories about Calamity Jane that were exaggerated or downright false -- especially the ones Jane herself told -- that it's hard to get a true picture of the legendary character. Martha Jane Canary was born in Missouri in 1852, the oldest of six children. By 1867, both parents were dead, and 15-year old Jane, living in Wyoming, supported her younger siblings as a dishwasher, cook, nurse, ox team driver, dance hall girl, occasional lady of the night and later Army scout. In 1876 she joined Wild Bill Hickok and Charlie Utter traveling by wagon train to Deadwood.She was a wild, hard-drinking woman who dressed like a man and swore better than most. But she had her compassionate side, tending the sick. Calamity Jane died in the nearby town of Terry in 1903, and was buried at Mount Moriah next to Wild Bill.

In the afternoon we took a drive on the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. Very nice drive along a creek that winds thru the canyon. Fall is definitely here....the leaves are changing, my favorite season.

Bridal Veil Falls

Wall & Badlands, SD

Sep 15   Chadron, Nebraska - Wall, South Dakota       145 miles   2 hours 45 minutes

We're staying at a campground called Sleepy Hollow Campground in Wall, SD. They have a
Good Sam rate, full hook ups $33.00 per day. We'll stay for 2 nights. This location is perfect for visiting Badlands National Park.

We came through here 5 years ago with Mama Janet & Papa Rudy. Back then we rushed through everything so now we'll take our time and explore the area.

Wall is home to the world famous Wall Drug Store, which is the #1 Roadside Attraction in America. Wall Drug has been entertaining and educating the traveling public since 1931. In 1936, Dorothy Hustead came up with the idea of advertising free ice water on signs along the highway. Since then, Wall Drug has evolved into a 76,000 square foot wonderland of free attractions including a restaurant that seats 520. There is something for everyone at Wall Drug.

Riding a "Jackalope"

Sep 15   Badlands National Park

We spent most of the day at Badland's National Park. We drove the Badland's Loop Road, a state scenic byway. Made a lot of stops along the way, and did some short walks to see the sights.

A mama deer on the hillside 

Then the babies came along

This is a herd of deer.....have to look good

Not a very good picture but it's a prairie dog

Having lunch

Looking for rattlesnakes

One of our short walks

Deer on the mountain

Travelers come to Badland's National Park for many reasons. Some are lured by the unusual rock formations, others come to camp, photograph wildlife, or search for birds or flowers. Many are paleontologists who come to study fossil remains of Badland's ancient life. For all visitors there is much ground to cover, for the park consists of more than 240,000 acres.

Fort Robinson, NE

Sep 11     Scottsbluff - Fort Robinson State Park   120 miles   4 hours

On the way to Fort Robinson, we did a little detour and made a stop at Carhenge in Alliance, NE. It's a replica of Stonehenge, England's ancient alignment of stones that chart the phases of the sun and the moon. Created from vintage automobiles, the dimensions of Carhenge replicate Stonehenge.  The cars are primarily from the 1950's and 1960's. They are planted trunk down and rise 15 to 17 feet. The cars are approximately 7 feet wide, the same size as the standing stones of Stonehenge. There are other artwork around the grounds, everything made out of car parts. We enjoyed our visit. 

Spawning Salmon

Dinosaur

We had lunch in the parking lot and continued our journey to Fort Robinson.

 

Fort Robinson State Park was one of the highlights of this trip but our plans got messed up when our radiator decided to take a crap on us. Our original plan was to stay at Fort Robinson from Sep 1-7th. It's a historical park with lots of activities. Unfortunately for us, most of the activities close down after Labor Day. 

We got some interesting literature about the campground that we're staying in for 2 nights......

"You'll be surrounded by history as you set up camp at Fort Robinson State Park. These very grounds once held the quartermaster corrals and stables, cavalry stables, butcher shop, and lumber stores. In 1876, Moses Milner, General Custer's favorite scout, was shot and killed under the cottonwoods in the center of the campground. One of the most tragic events in the history of Ft Robinson occurred right here...the Cheyenne Outbreak. Forcibly sent to Indian Territory in Oklahoma, a band of Northern Cheyenne, under Dull Knife, escaped and fled across the plains of Kansas and Nebraska, pursued by thousands of soldiers. Captured finally by troops from Ft Robinson the 149 men, women, and children, who had survived the ordeal, were imprisoned in a log barracks on the grounds. Told they would have to return to Indian Territory, Dull Knife said they would rather die here in their old hunting grounds. The Army attempted to starve them into submission, and on the bitter cold night of January 9, 1879, they tried to escape. With the few guns they had managed to hide, the braves opened fire on the guards. As the women and children ran toward the White River, the men fought a running battle with the hastily  awakened garrison. Many Cheyenne fell between the parade ground and the river, where the campground is located today. It was one of the last battles of the Indian War. As you turn in tonight, don't be spooked by unfamiliar sounds. It's only the breeze rustling through the trees or a coyote on a distant butte, or is it?"

Joe fixing the vent on the roof

Nice site

Cooking dinner and enjoying some wine

Sep 12

So much history here at Fort Robinson State Park. We spent the morning walking all over the grounds. We really should buy bicycles, we walked a lot. All the officers houses and soldiers barracks can be rented out. Lots of people have family reunions here because the houses can sleep a lot.

The light poles are still being used

Officers houses

Fire Station

Soldiers Barracks

A woodpecker

A dead snake on the road

Sep 13     Ft. Robinson - Chadron State Park     36 miles      1 hour 30 min

We decided to move a little ways down the road to Chadron State Park.

Just taking it easy for the next couple of days. It's nice here, electric sites for $20, then another $5 for the Nebraska Park pass.


Sep 14

We took a long walk this morning around the campground and office area. Then we washed the Kia, it got hit with some bad stuff on the drive over. We took a drive on the scenic byway around the park, pretty nice. When we got back, 3 motorhomes were pulled in around us. They have a big group coming in this week. Had a nice visit with them.

Joe and his new friends

Scottsbluff, NE

Sep 09  Loveland, CO - Scottsbluff, NE        168 miles   4 hours

Picked up the RV this morning. New radiator is in and everything seems to be working good. Set us back a few bucks but that's just part of owning and maintaining your own motorhome.

Entering Wyoming

This morning we started out in Colorado, drove through part of Wyoming, and ended up in Nebraska.This is the life!

Our site at Riverside Campground

Our first trip to Nebraska, pretty cool. We're staying at the Riverside Campground, it's part of the city park here in Scottsbluff. Rates for full hook ups is $20.00. It's located right next to the Discovery Center, part of which is a zoo. This evening as I was walking around the campground, I heard animals roaring. Made me walk faster!

Sep 10   Scotts Bluff National Monument

Drove out to the Scotts Bluff National Monument
this morning.

View of Scotts Bluff

We rode the shuttle to the top and hiked down the Saddle Rock Trail. The trail gradually descends the steep slopes of Scotts Bluff. Eroding layers of sandstone, siltstone, and volcanic ash are exposed along the way. Took us about an hour.

Hiking along the edge

The only pedestrian tunnel in Nebraska

View from the tunnel

Halfway down the trail

Beautiful

Finally......level ground

As we were getting ready to leave Riverside Campground, I noticed this nice view of Scotts Bluff in the background.