RV REPAIRS - SPEARFISH - LEAD - DEADWOOD

Left our lovely site at Rushmore Shadows early this morning to get to I-90 RV Repair for 8AM.   Both our radiator and Splendide washer have leaks.  The mechanic was strongly hinting that he didn't want us hanging around and suggested we take a drive along the Spearfish Canyon National Scenic Byway.  We were planning on doing that AFTER he made the repairs but decided it was a good idea because the weather was so nice and what's the point of hanging around the garage?!

We ate breakfast at Spearfish.  Made a quick stop at the visitor's center for a map and suggestions on what to see. We took Highway 14A and stopped at the interpretive overlooks along the way.  Due to all the rain, we didn't see Spearfish Falls because the bridge washed out.  When we got to Roughlock Falls Trail, again, the road was closed and one of the bridges were out.  We found a detour for the two-mile round trip trail to the falls.  Glad we did, because the walk and the falls were very pretty especially with the strong running water from all the rain.

Notice the spear through the fish

The cleaning crews were out shoveling  rocks and debris from the walkway here at Roughlock Falls

Pretty birds

Roughlock Falls looked prettier than this photo

End of the trail - picnic area and campground

Next stop was the town of Lead with a population of about 3,000.  Founded during the great gold rush of 1876 and sustained for 130 years by one of the richest gold veins every unearthed. What's interesting is Lead is building its future in the very same deep underground tunnels that sustained it until the closing of the Homestake Gold Mine in 2002.  The Homestake was recognized as the oldest, largest and deepest mine in the Western hemisphere, reaching 8,000 feet below the town.  In 2007, the National Science Foundation choose this deep mining shaft for their Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory.  Hopes for its science-based future have enlivened the town's atmosphere.

First-time visit to Lead

Original entrance to the mine - the equipment at the top of this photo is explained below

This explains the equipment at the photo above

Looking down into the Homestake Gold Mine

Yeah, right

With time running out and hunger setting in, we arrived at Deadwood, population 1,380.  Pulled into the visitor's center and got a coupon for two dollars off the trolley bus tour that was leaving in a few minutes.  For $16 we hopped in and an hour later we finished a wonderful tour of the entire town including the Mount Moriah Cemetery .. the final resting place of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane.  Then we took a stroll down Main Street to Kevin Costner's Midnight Star casino and restaurant.  The tour guide described it as Costner's memorial to himself and it was, filled with photos, costumes and movie posters.

Another first-time visit

I think there was an entrance fee but we pulled right through on the trolley

Wild Bill bust

Midnight Star interior

The only two wooden structures left in Deadwood

Last stop was for a bite to eat at Buffalo-Bodega with live music and too much food.

The restaurant has a over-sized garage door that they open up to the street  - that explains the coat

I have enough pulled beef with gravy for 2-3 meals - Denis ate all his veggie burger and fries

That's all folks - thanks for stopping in.