Deadwood

This has been the 5th year that we have participated in the HOG Chapter's Deadwood Gambler's Run.  We have a great time on this ride.  We spent Thursday through Sunday riding in the Black Hills and then gambling at night.

The best part was that we didn't get rained on this year.  It did rain in Deadwood on Friday night but we had finished riding in the afternoon.  Hope this trend keeps up.

We stayed at First Gold again and we get a pretty good deal on rooms.  The casino gives us coupons for a free breakfast buffet every morning and this year we each got $10 promo cash on our player cards.  We were charged $311 for 3 nights stay. On Thursday evening they have a slot tournament for our group which is fun.  We didn't win this year, but there is always next year for the tournament.

Gary and I both came home with money.  I won on the promo cash we got all weekend.  Gary doesn't like playing the machines, so I get to play with his money too.  Gary came out even on playing cards.  I even tried my luck at cards, wasn't doing well on the machines on Saturday.  I won on cards.  Seems like since I won $1100 two years ago my luck has vanished.
 
Friday we rode to the dealerships in Sturgis and Rapid City.  In the afternoon we walked downtown Deadwood and ate lunch at the Bodega.  We get live entertainment there.  This year we went up to a different casino on the hill called The Lodge.  I got a players card there and since I had a birthday during the week, I got $5 promo money on that card which I turned into $60 on a machine. 

Saturday we rode through Needles Highway.  Our friend Marty was leading the way and he goes by GPS, swears by it.  We stopped in Hill City for a bit, then made our way.  He missed the turn off to Needles and we continued south to Custer.  He had to pull over to read the paper map that he had to find Needles.  I didn't bother to tell him that he missed the turn.  So we went up Needles from the south and made our way up.  It had been many years since I have been on Needles, but I don't remember paying a park fee to travel.  We were charged $10 and it was good for 7 days in Custer Park.  It was nice riding up the highway, very scenic.  We did stop at a pull out at the Needle's Eye.  I will be getting my photos on picasa soon.

We made our way to Keystone, found a place to park but was limited to three hours.  Parking in Keystone is at a premium.  Downtown limits you to 3 hours and so does the city parking lot. The lot at the Borglum Museum charges $5 for all day parking.  We ate lunch in Ruby's Saloon which is always good, then walked up and down the boardwalk looking in the shops.  It was a very nice day.

Made it back to our casino and rested up before the chapter get together.  This is where we get our patches for the event and also we get small prizes.  I won last year for the jacket so was not eligible this year, but if my ticket was drawn I would have given it to Gary.  We didn't win this year.  We did win small prizes, Gary got a t-shirt and I got a bandana.  I won the 60-40 raffle.  I won the 60 portion of $130 and another guy won the 40 portion of $80.  We used this money to gamble on.  I gave Gary $50 and I used $50, this way I still came home with $30.

We went back to The Lodge and I played 3 card poker.  I played $20 and walked away with $24, cashed in so that we could make it down to First Gold as they were drawing for a 65" HD 3D tv that we were all entered in.  Nobody from our group won.

We played Mississippi Stud, we both played $40.  Gary promptly lost his money, but I was winning.  I walked away with $102.  Started losing so I stopped playing, better to stop while I was ahead.  It was a fun game.  Think next year I will play cards, money goes just as fast as the machines.

We had a great time, it went by fast as it always does and we are looking forward to next year.