Diary for Harry and Judy's RV Trip


Day 70-August 3, 2016-Deadwood, SD casinos and bighorn sheep

2016-08-03

Day 70-August 3, 2016-Deadwood, SD casinos and bighorn sheep

Got up to 88, the clouds and intermittent rain kept the temperature down.

Drove 20 minutes into Deadwood Gulch, which still resembles a wild west town.  It only has one street, Main St., because it’s in a deep canyon and there’s steep hills on both sides of Main St.  Just as we entered the busy town a herd of bighorn sheep were on the edge of the road heading for the top of the mountain.  What a sight!  In town we stopped at The Lodge at Deadwood Casino but had no luck.  Drove down Main St., I mean we crawled down Main St., the town is clogged with motorcycles because the Sturgis Rally is next week and some events start early.  For example, Willie Nelson will be in Deadwood on Friday.  Wild Bill Hickok was killed in a saloon in Deadwood on Aug. 2, 1876, 150 years and 1 day ago.  In The #10 Saloon there’s a poker table set up with wax figures depicting the game and it’s re-enacted during the day.  Hickok is holding black aces and eights, now known as the “dead man’s hand”. He’s buried in Mount Mariah Cemetery (Boot Hill) just out of town up a steep, steep hill. Calamity Jane and other famous (or infamous) wild west people are buried here too.  We have already been there so we didn’t go back today.  A lot of gift shops, saloons, gaming rooms, restaurants, etc. on Main St., all filled today.  Stopped at a park for lunch then went to Cadillac Jack’s where we came out about even.  Back to the campground, we read for a while and listened to more thunder, waiting for the storm that never came.  But there was a wonderful breeze all afternoon.  Read, had dinner then took a walk around the campground and down to the river.  Not many campers here, those that are here are mostly bikers here for the rally.