Day 17 1st August 2010
Deadwood Tour day 162 miles 261klm
A sleep in day, clutch out at 9.00 am and head out on a clear sunny morning towards Mt Rushmore and ride through Keystone as we were coming back there for lunch at ‘Ruby’s’ one of Alan’s favourite restaurant.
We arrive at Mt Rushmore and walk to the viewing platform of the four presidents which proves to be much more than any photos can do justice. The sculptor Gutzon Borglum and 400 workers started working on the faces in 1927 and completed what we see today in 1941. It is a magnificent sculpture. (Saw a Marmot here).
From there we go to the memorial sculpture of Crazy Horse, a great Indian Chieftain. The sculptors, Ruth and Korczak Ziolkowski, started in 1947 at the suggestion of local Sioux chiefs. Whilst it still has a long way to go, even now whilst only the head has been finished, it is amazing. The visitors centre is a large complex which has numerous halls dedicated to the Indian history and arts, and stalls of local crafts. Whilst we spent a better part of an hour there, we could have spent much more as there was so much to absorb.
Headed back to Keystone and lunch through the Custer State Park hoping to see some bison but only seen where they had been on the road. The roads were great as usual and in places we passed through several one lane tunnels with spectacular views of Mount Rushmore framed in the tunnel exit. There were also sections of the road that were a 15 mph spiral, an interesting way of quickly coming down a hill.
After we all had an Elk burger we left in a thunderstorm which cooled things down and sent most of the HD riders scurrying for shelter. Travelled about 60 miles to Sturgis where we had a visit and beer at a tavern, did a bit of shopping and sightseeing then went to the Knuckle Saloon and decided to have dinner here as it was a fascinating place with memorabilia, the meal was excellent.
Travelling back to Deadwood a deer sprang out and went across in front of Alan, luckily the second one decided to stop.
Another m a visit and beer at a tavern
Another Magical day.
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