Last few days ...

One of the reasons we stayed a little longer in the Black Hills - apart from just loving being there! - was the Annual Blue Wing Recreation Bob Wessel Memorial Picnic and Party which was held on 18 August.
It is an opportunity for the community at the Blue Wing resort to get together and party. As our South Dakota number plates attest - Great Faces Great Places - so Sheridan Lake is a place to celebrate!
I spent the morning trying to create 2 pavlovas in the microwave/convection oven ... still don't know if that is possible as I finished up with an Eton mess!!!  Go look it up - it is delicious but I clearly need to perfect the pavlova in the oven!!
Ron prepared tri tips - beef sirloin which has been marinaded for 4 days in a variety of marinades - mild to hot - and then cooked in a heated barrel.  Wonderful!!

 

A great night was had by all.  There was a local band playing and dancing after the feast.
Next morning a breakfast of eggs, bacon and pancakes was cooked for allcomers.

Some more memories and happy snaps ...

And then we were off!!

Final days in the Black Hills
Mt Rushmore has been an American icon since it was completed in 1941.  The sculptor and his team took 14 years to carve the heads of presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt and created an inspiring monument and one of the most visited attractions - Mount Rushmore National memorial.  we have visited it on each of our previous visits to the Black Hills and it still stops us in our tracks.

We had breakfast in the great dining room at Mt Rushmore with Ron and Mason on one Sunday. It was a beautiful sunny and clear morning - perfect to mingle with hundreds of others to take in the view.





Another place that I especially wanted to return to was Harney Peak. I have hiked it on previous occasions but it has been a number of years since I last stood on the highest point between the Rockies and the Alps in Europe. It is 7242ft, just a bit higher than Mt Kosciosko. The hike is almost 8 miles or 13 kms.
Ron put his hand up to take me on the hike. We left the lake early and arrived at the car park for the trail head about 8.15am. There was no one else on the trail for the first part of the hike - a cool start but it certainly warmed up.  The view from the top was spectacular especially as it was a clear morning. The hike took about an hour and a half each way - give or take - with about 50 minutes on the top. Fabulous!!

Come with me!






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One little bit of history ... this guy called Valentine McGillycuddy (1849-1939) a controversial pioneer of the effort to build a sustainable relationship between the United States and the Native American people was the first known person to climb Harney Peak. His ashes are entombed at the top of Harney Peak behind a plaque that reads "Valentine McGillycuddy, Wasitu Wacan" - Lakota, translates as Holy White Man

Hope you enjoyed the trip!!!

Black Hills continues ... 

Sheridan Lake is quite large. It is a popular fishing spot and enjoyed by many different style of water craft including pontoons, jet skis, power boats and row boats.  Not many people swim in the lake  - but then came Trevor!!

As part of the rally week Trevor and Ron helped out
with the Lions breakfast at Three Forks on Saturday
11 August.  Each day of the rally Hill City Lions
provided breakfast at Three Forks.
Many other organisations also provided breakfasts
for bikers in a number of places around the Black Hills.

Margaret and I went to Three Forks for breakfast and caught a bit of the action!!!

We were also invited to a hay ride with friends of Ron, Rod and Marion. 2 wonderful horses were harnessed up to a large hay dray and took our party for a ride in the hills.

And then there are the usual everyday jobs that just never go away!!

A man of action ... it's a hard life!!!

And there's more ....

During our first 10 days in South Dakota, the Black Hills area was taken over by motor bikes - mainly Harleys - here for the Sturgis rally.  This year was the 72nd annual rally. The rally proper started on 6 August with the Mayor's Ride the proceeds benefiting the Sturgis Volunteer Fire Dept.
The first rally was held on 14 August 1938 by the Jackpine Gypsies motor cycle club - it was then called the Black Hills Classic and consisted of a single race with 9 participants and a small audience. The focus was originally on racing and stunts.
In recent years the revitalization of motorcycles has led to increased attendance to the point that Sturgis, population 6442, swells to in excess of 550,000 in the week of the rally.
In fact Sturgis lasts much longer than a week for many bikers come to Black Hills days (even weeks) before the rally to enjoy the Black Hills before they are taken over completely by the huge numbers that eventually gather in Sturgis.




They say that the Black Hills is one of the most beautiful places to ride a motorcycle - scenery, great roads, wide open spaces and incredible views.

On Thursday 9 August we went to Sturgis with Ron and Margaret.  It was quite something.  I have not seen as many motorcycles in one place before!  We parked the car about 11 blocks from the centre of town and walked in.  Our route was lined on both sides by motorcycles and then 2 rows in the centre of the road for about 8 blocks!  Have a look ...

Yes - we wore the t shirts - thanks to Ron.

There were visitors and bikes from Australia. We saw several bikes with an Australian flag on the back ... even a couple of boxing kangaroos!!!



Just a great day - my ears are still throbbing!