2009 Summer Motorcycle Trip: Day 33 – The 7th Ranch RV Park near Custer’s Battlefield to Deadwood SD for 2 nights

Woke early and had my shower, breakfast, and packed before most of the camp stirred. On the road at 7:15. My intent was to beat the possible winds by riding early. I headed south and alternate east on I90, riding comfortably. Stopped in Buffalo WY for a second breakfast at McDonalds, and met a much older guy on a 1994 Goldwing who was heading home to Colorado from Alaska. He was 76 years old and very hard of hearing. His former occupation was a US Border guard, the old type hardnosed ones he said... lol. We talked for a bit and he had lost a side cover somewhere on a construction stretch in the Yukon. It was a painted one, and he said the cost to replace was $250. I got out my computer and found the name of a guy I know who buys and parts out wrecked Goldwings (only) and he might have the part. I think the rider was very surprised to get that information in the parking lot of a McDonalds... my laptop computer perched on top of a newspaper box... lol. He thanked me and I went inside for breakfast as he prepared to leave.

I gassed up, early, but knowing everything is a long distance apart here, I kept my tank full. Again, the adage, you can’t have too much fuel, unless you are on fire. Besides, I had lots of time, and my right hand was cramping a little, so extra time to recover. I did this a few times during the day, get a little tired of the highway, cramped hand, and fill the tank, take a bathroom break, maybe buy a 5 Hour Energy drink or snack and head on down the highway for another 90 minutes. I finally came to the SD state line and stopped again at a store for a ice-cream. There I met a guy who knew the area well, and suggested roads to ride around the Black Hills area. The next exit was the one I wanted, to Spearfish, and then ride the Spearfish Canyon Road – very twisty and somewhat scenic. Soon after I arrived in Deadwood and sought out the Visitor’s Centre who directed me to a reservations office for accommodations. I went and checked out one campsite they recommended, the other was a little too far from Deadwood to interest me, and then decided I would check out a KOA they did not handle reservations for. It was a little more expensive, but had more convenient facilities, and a hot tub which the other did not.... so I took a site for 2 nights here. The wireless works at my site too, which the other did not, to far away for the signal to reach. This KOA is strange as all the sites are on roads cut into a hill, the roads are terraces. I am at the top, furthest from the office, and it is a nice hike down the hill to the office, but a longer one back up.

This KOA also has a free shuttle that runs hourly into Deadwood, so no need to ride and park. I took the 6 pm shuttle, and arrived just in time to watch a main street gunfight enactment. It was fun, even if a show for the tourists. The main street is generally done in the decor of the 1896 time of Wild Bill Hickok and he was shot dead in one of the buildings downtown. The enactment was supposed to be the apprehension of his killer... and intended to sell tickets at a nearby theatre where you could watch the trial for the accused.
I wandered the main street and realized the main business in Deadwood now was gambling. Poker tables, slots and card games everywhere. I was looking for a good meal.... but most the menus I saw were burgers and that type of fare. Then a steakhouse sign attracted me and I had a fine meal with efficient service too. I was back on the street wandering and looking into the shops, then I found a shop with a car museum inside, of cars from old TV shows and movies. Rockford files Firebird, Burt Reynolds personal Bandit car, the Magnum PI Ferrari, a Yenko 427 Camaro from Fast and Furious movie, Aston Martin from a James bond movie, a Jeep for Mash 4077, #53 Herbie VW Bug, and more. Interesting to find this on display here I thought. A few items were on loan, but most were owned by the shop, which was also a casino like my other shops. There were several motorcycles too, a Ducati owned by Sylvester Stallone, a couple jump bikes of Evel Knievel, a James Bond movie bike, and a Fat Boy from the 1990 first years’ production that was a gift to Peter Fonda. Took photos of many to remember them.
After the shuttle ride back to camp, changed and had a long soak in the hot tub, while a fellow from Wisconsin and I talked. He was a very interesting conversationalist and we covered a lot of topics in 90 minutes. It was dark when we headed for our respective camps and I am ready to call it a night.
Tomorrow, I have local route laid out that will cover everything of interest to me, which is primarily a series of roads with interesting features. It should be a good and leisurely day tomorrow. Looking forward to a day off riding to make a destination. The weather has been very fine, perfect really. Even the wind was not bad on the ride today. There was some, but mostly it was a near headwind and I only experienced a couple gusts.

Waterfall in Spearfish Canyon

Deadwood - A hokey gunfight staged to sell tickets to a show (a trial)

Deadwood SD

a car museum - interesting - all movie or TV cars - not shown - MASH 4077 Jeep, Magnum PI's Ferrari, James Bond motorcycle, Slyvester Stallone's personal Ducati

a Yenko Camaro from 2 Fast and 2 Furious