Todd's visit

Todd arrives in the Black Hills on 25 July. His flight is early, but his luggage is still in Denver and will arrive later in the evening. We collect it the next day.

I think he is manic!!!

It is so good to see him! He is very tired but manages to keep us up into the early hours of the morning!! I think there will be a few late nights to come!

And we have a great week! Ron takes some time off work; we go sightseeing - this time through Todd's eyes. Crazy Horse and Mt Rushmore of course.
Crazy Horse Memorial, which depicts Crazy Horse, an Oglala Lakota warrior riding a horse and pointing into the distance, honours all American Indians. It will be the world's largest mountain carving - 563 ft high and 641 ft long - when, and if, finished. It has been in progress since 1948 and is far from completion!

Crazy Horse

I have referred to Mt Rushmore in a much earlier post. It still takes my breath away!!



More than 3 million people visit Mt Rushmore each year.







We spend some time gazing at the National Memorial - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln representing the first 130 years of the history of the US.








Todd meets Sic Vic, a guy who customises Harley Davidson motor cycles. Sic Vic lends Todd a Harley to ride to Sturgis, the location of one of the largest annual motorcycle events in the world, held each year on the first full week in August.

We were in the Black Hills last year during the week of the Sturgis rally. Todd is here during the week prior to the rally but you would think the rally has started already by the number of bikes in the Hills.
In 2000 the Sturgis Rally had the largest attendance of more than 600,000 people.

Trevor and I follow Ron and Todd as they ride to Sturgis,  a round trip of approximately 110 miles. Todd is riding a customised Harley Davidson Chopper - no helmets!! He said after, that if he was going to ride a Harley in the Black Hills then it needed to be something like the Chopper; he also said it was about the most uncomfortable ride he has had!

Todd and Ron are caught in rain just before they arrive back in Hill City.

All that aside I think the ride is a highlight for him???

It is also a bit hairy for the mum following behind!

We have lunch in Sturgis. The best time to be in Sturgis is the week prior to the Rally. You can still move around!

Ron's birthday is on Tuesday. A party evolves at the Lake. Wonderful food! We have a fish fry. Stevie has caught a bunch of fish in the lake. Ken has control of the fish fryer.
The result is a taste sensation!!
Home made blueberry pie for dessert.

Todd decorates the shelter with balloons and streamers. I must remember those balloons that light up - they look great!










We have another wonderful evening with Rod and Marion the next night. So many thank you's!! Such wonderful hospitality!

On Todd's last evening in the Black Hills we have dinner on Ron's deck overlooking Sheridan Lake. It is such a nice evening. We go on to a Brule' concert. We saw Brule' playing when we were in Colorado Springs - a multi award winning Native American group based in South Dakota. It is a great show and includes traditional dancers who represent several tribes.

We finish up the evening at Three Forks tavern - another late night!!

We are flying to Las Vegas with Todd tomorrow.