Deadwood

Last weekend, Gary and I spent four fun days in Deadwood.  This year it was decided to have two groups of bikes leave because there were so many.  It is safer to ride in a group with smaller numbers.  There were 20 bikes in all.

The first group left Billings at 8:00 am.  We met with them in Hardin as they stopped for gas here.  Our neighbors also went with us and we met at McDonald's for coffe while waiting.  It didn't take long for the group to get into Hardin and there were only 4 bikes.  The weather looked very promising this year and we were all keeping our fingers crossed that no rain.  It was blue sky and very sunny in Hardin.

This year the original route was to take Highway 212 to Broadus for lunch and gas, then we would continue on to Alzada, turn off to head to Hulett to Sundance for gas.  From Sundance we would continue south to Four Corners then head into Deadwood.  This route depended on weather and it looked like we would take the scenic route.

At Lame Deer we picked up a couple who live in Colstrip and on our merry way we went.  As luck would have it, we ran into rain 15 miles west of Broadus.  It wasn't too bad here, but as soon as we got into Broadus and gassed up the down pour started.  The restaurant for lunch was a half block away.  We were hoping that the storm would blow over while we were eating, but it just stayed.  We get rained on every year for this ride.

After our lunch as we were getting our rain gear on, the second group caught up to us.  They were drenched.  Because of the weather, it was decided to just head into Deadwood by quickest means, so we went through Belle Fourche.  We arrived in Deadwood around 2:30 and that gave us plenty of time to get checked in and our clothes spread out in the rooms to dry.

When the 2nd group arrived in Deadwood, they said the rain stopped so they were able to take the original route as planned.

We always stay at First Gold and they treat us good.  We get coupons for breakfast but that is included in our price.  They also give us $20 in promo cash and have a slot tournament for our group on Thursday.  This is always a fun thing, but we never win.  Somehow Gary and I always end up with $25 extra in promo cash, that we get $45 each.  I usually play with our promo cash on the machines, in fact that is how I won big last year.  However this year Gary played his promo cash.  I won enough the first night to pay for our dinner.

Friday morning we woke up to blue sky and sunshine, which is a welcomed sight.  For the past couple years it has always rained in Deadwood that we just spent time touring the town.  This year we rode to Keystone and Hill City.  A very enjoyable day.  Still didn't win on the machines.

Saturday we rode to Sturgis and Rapid City to the dealerships, then back to Deadwood for a look around in the afternoon.  Ate lunch at a place called the Stockade.  They had live entertainment, just one guy singing cowboy songs and he was a comic.  He said that this was his family hour, but the jokes were a bit on the naughty side.  To be fair, no families with young children were there eating.  Enjoyed ourselves.  We both made good donations to the state of South Dakota.

Got back to First Gold so that we could do the gathering of the group.  This is where they draw for prizes and the grand prize is a leather coat.  I won the leather coat this year.  Now all I have to do is go to the dealership it pick it out.  Last year the winner had to go through hoops to get her coat.  In the past a coat was picked out and brought along for the trip.  The winner was awarded the coat and if it didn't fit, just take it to the dealership to be exchanged.  Gary won a t-shirt,  it is not really appropriate to wear in public but he can wear it around the house.

I hope I don't have to go through hoops just to get this coat but will see.  Will have to check on it this weekend.  I don't think I will have much trouble because the owner of the dealership was finally able to participate in this event this year.

Yesterday I had a dentist appointment so stopped by the dealership to see about the leather coat.  I came home without a coat.  The owner was gone yesterday and the second man in charge again said that he didn't know which coat was to be awarded.  He was not happy.  I did tell the guy in charge of the coat that I would be in town on this day, that gave him 5 days to pick one out.  Looks like I'm going to have to jump through hoops to get this coat.  Not happy about it but what do you do.  I was at the meetings when the dealership said to pick out a coat and take to the event.