Almost Made the Pig Roast This Year (cont.)

[tcsmpsi]

Unfortunately, I had class scheduled for the first part of August at DPS Academy.  The way it had all worked out, we were all 'off' for a few days, so the family went with me and stayed in the motel, while poor ol' dad was out in the hot sun. 

But, while we were out and about, after I got done with training, we all decided to take a jaunt.   The children were intriqued to go somewhere where ol' dad had spent time when he was a bit less 'civilized'.   :D

Being there were a few other things up that way they all wanted to take a gander at, we loaded up and took off to Spearfish (SD).  I had left up there in '73, and this was my first trip back since then.  Now, to me, the highlight of it all was Spearfish and Spearfish canyon, where I had spent all the time I could, back in the day.

Meandering down toward Spearfish creek, I came a across sign.



As I came to the creek, where things were a bit more clear, I stopped a moment to sniff the air for more current detection.



It seemed quite positive that the direction was going to take me right up through here:



but, I rather quickly decided to take a detour and come up from a different side.  It is good to follow one's instincts, 'cause the rascal had made a detour, as well, and sure 'nuff, I caught up.



Though the temptation was great, not in small part were the pleas from my photographer successful to help me decide against the closer visit in the tree.

Oh.  And, one more little piece of information, that one may or may not know (though there is another leg or two of the journey, I am being called away at the present), ya'll may or may not have buffalo grass where you live.  But, the buffalo grass down here in East Texas, ain't like this at all.

[tcsmpsi]

We had the opportunity and all the peripherals in place to go off on a jaunt rather early in the summer, and were considering very favorably on the pig roast, then they came and presented the training date right, slap dab in the way.

Anyhow, there are some pretty stubborn pines up in the Black Hills.



Continuing on through Spearfish Canyon, and one can find themelves right in downtown Deadwood.



One of the places the family wanted to see in Deadwood,



Now, though they advertise eating and drinking, there seems like other activities might be available upstairs.



I explained to them that Deadwood had burned almost completely twice and that most everything had been rebuilt at least once.  It had definately changed since I was there last.  The gold mine (second largest production gold mine on Planet Earth) closed not long ago, and Deadwood voted in gambling to help offset the devastating loss of jobs/income.  The 'nice, little quiet' places, had become little mini casinos with all the noise and activity.
In that area of the Black Hills, there is not any notable room for expansion, so they squeezed a lot in a small space. 

Now, adding to that, was the fact (which I didn't know until I was well on the way) (had I known, before we hung a hard left, we might just had gone to Jeff and Tammy's to see if there were any scraps left ;D) that it just happened to be the same time as the Sturgis Rally.  So, we had thousands of 'others' in every nook and cranny, which are all pretty close in the Hills.





And, of course, no trip to the Hills would be complete without at least a trip on one of the gold mines.



Old and new mining tools.

[pigman]

  tcsmpi, this may be a little better picture of the upstair ladies
Bob

[tcsmpsi]

Thanks, Bob! 

Where and when I took that, it was very difficult to stand still in one spot for more than 1.0652 seconds without being abrupted.   :D

And, of course, no family trip to the Hills is 'complete' without a trip to see the guys.

[WDH]

So that is what you were up to ???.  Looks like it was a fine trip for both the body and spirit.