Dead in Deadwood

Visited Deadwood, South Dakota for an overnight at Cadillac Jack's Casino.  According to the web, Deadwood has had a gambling-funded renaissance in the past 25 years.  Maybe we were there at the wrong time of year, but we found Bourbon St without the buzz; lots of slot machines, t-shirt shops, but little energy. Most interesting spot in town was the cemetery where Wild Bill Hickok and his groupie, Calamity Jane are buried. The cemetery charges admission - a first for us - but it is beautifully kept.  A bucket list site we won't have to return to...

Devils Tower

Yesterday we saw Devils Tower near Sundance, Wyoming, before overnighting in Deadwood , S Dakota.  The tower is truly amazing, just as shown in the Close Encounters movie in 1978.  We walked around it twice on the close-in trail and then a longer one - about 5 mi total.  There were two sets of climbers on the face. Huge boulders scattered around the base but not to worry... There have been no big pieces eroded away since it was established as National Monument in 1906!!

Little Big Horn Battlefield

The pix say it best... After seeing movies and reading books about Custer's Lasst Stand all our lives, we finally understand what happened and why.  The Park Rangers take a very nuanced view of the battle ... Everybody thought they were fighting for the right things.  In any case, we are convinced that the only way to really understand what happened in all four battles - yes there were four or maybe five different fights spread out over two hours, with Reno's defense lasting another two days - you have to drive the four miles along  Battle Ridge and see the ground.  Amazing... Worth a visit.

The Crow Dancers

The Crow Fair has a series of drum teams - 5 or 6 guys around a large drum who sing the traditional high pitched Indian chants you used to hear in western films.  The have names like "Bluecoats" and "Blackfoot Confederacy" and combined with the field of dancers it is a unique show found nowhere else.

Indian Country

We are at the big Crow Indian celebration at Crow Agency, Montana, just down the road from the battlefield.  It is billed as the "Teepee Capital of the World" for the hundreds of teepees pitched here. Saw the parade this morning and hope to see some Indian dancers soon.

Campground in Montana

Last night had our first plains thunderstorm. After arriving at our campground late we tried to put up our tent but were foiled by a high wind. Deciding that delay is always good, we bundled everything back into the car and went to Pizza Hut to wait out the storm. Pix are breakfast time this am and the crowd of black rabbits who inhabit the campground. On to the Crow Indian celebration today.

South to the Little Big Horn

Today we are driving south from Glasgow MT near the mammoth Peck Dam, across Montana to a campground near the Custer's Last Stand battlefield.  This week is the big Crow Tribe celebration so all accommodations near the Crow Reservation ( where the battlefield is) are sold out.  Not sure what we will see tomorrow. Pix are from today's drive.