Blogs from Spearfish, South Dakota, United States, North America

Today is the birthday of the United States. It marks the day the Declaration of Independence was presented in public for the first time (it was actually signed on July 2nd). I deliberately chose to take this day off. I left my accommodations only to buy food. I need to talk about Mount Rushmore today. It seems obvious that such a patriotic site would have a huge July 4th celebration. They used to, ending with a giant fireworks display over the monument. They have cancelled it the last two years. The official reason is that pine beetle damage in the surrounding forest (see July 1st) makes anyt... read more

Ok...so stopped about 1 hour before Spearfish to buy gas. I had been driving with the gas light on for a while. Then as I am coming to a stop the check engine light comes on. I fill it and check all the fluids and everything is fine. Check engine light goes off and comes on again about 5 miles later. I get into Spearfish and decide to call Penske. They are going to send over a mechanic to the hotel to look. Here come the mechanics in a worn out beat up Chevy. Blowing smoke as they come up the road, my faith is not restored. They climb out of the truck squishing their Marlboro cigarette with their steal toed boot as they step. Jimbob (name changed to protect the "guilty but had a good ... read more

DAY THREE Today we all woke up and what a pleasant surprise to see the sun and blue sky. We knew it was going to be an awesome day of riding to the Big Horn Mountains and then to Spearfish Canyon in the Black Hills of South Dakota. This morning we had a devotion about light and darkness...we do not have to do anything for the darkness to be there - it simply exists and it takes no energy or effort for it to be dark. But it does take energy and effort for there to be light and light pushes out the darkness. But it has to be an ongoing effort. The minute the light goes out, darkness encroaches. In our homes we can have light at the flip of a switch. You can do ... read more

Strange Vignettes... As a group, we do tend to confuse people. In response to a query about Ruth by the FBO counter staffer in Sheridan, Dick declared, "My wife? No, that's not my wife. Her husband left her in Portland..." Thursday 29 May: Sheridan WY to Black Hills / Spearfish SD Bob Hawkins awoke badly in need of chiropractic help. His back had been putting him in a lot of pain, and how do you find a good nearby chiropractor on no notice in a strange town? Judy mulled this matter while she headed out on an early run to buy postcards at Wal-Mart. It was remarkable how often our accommodations were near a Wal-Mart...and how often we really needed things and could get them conveniently! Time after time, this King of the Big Box ... read more

Countdown to Departure Well, only 10 days until I fly out of Denver International Airport. I have been busy reading about what to bring/not bring and taking care of the things that I need to get done before I leave. I have found lots of websites that document other peoples travels around this region and the more I read, the more I get excited about my trip. For a while I was questioning whether or not I should take my bike for my mode of transportation, however, the more I read other peoples accounts, the more I became convinced that biking was the way to go. It seems to have so many more advantages over being "just another tourist." This is going to be a unique trip, filled with surprises and unexpected experiences. I look forward ... read more

Spearfish Canyon is listed in the book "1000 Places to See Before You Die". I had visited the Canyon a few years ago but hadn't taken the time on previous recent trips to Rapid City to do the drive which can add at least an hour to your drive depending upon how many detours you take. Had some time this trip, so took the Canyon route. The sky was a very pretty blue with white fluffy clouds but it was a very hot day hitting 102 degrees before it was over. The Canyon is home to three waterfalls although the most popular is Bridal Veil Falls. Located just off the road with a nice drop down to the river below. The prettiest part of the drive is the 15 or so miles directly south of Spearfish. ... read more