Day 8. Deadwood and Sturgis, SD

If you don't already know it Joni and I are pretty big Deadwood fans. We thought the HBO series was one of the best ever made.
The most colorful local characters ever, and the sometime home of Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok. So we spent some time there today and it was spectacular.

I was having a beer in the No. 10 Saloon, which is where Wild Bill met his maker at the wrong end of a six shooter, when a gunfight broke out in the street. (OK that last bit was staged) But seriously, the saloon is in the original location. And it is where Wild Bill was shot dead at 39 years old.

The Bullock Hotel looks like it might be the original, and the Gem, well it all looks new. The town has a ton of frontier charm, even though it has some kitchy tourist stuff. In any case it's easy to imagine Wild Bill and Calamity Jane strolling in the street. Not to mention Swearingen (Swejjin), and Woo, et. al.

Lance got to hang out in an old frontier bar too!

Check out this bloody mary Joni had! It was a meal- bacon, asparagus, olive, mini corn, cheese, carrot, dill pickle spear, lemon and lime!

Fortified with that meal, Joni popped into a casino, took 5 bucks to a quarter machine, and came out 5 minutes later with $19.50. Just about covered the drinks!

Oh wait, more pics of Lance. Just because...well it's my blog.  The old boy is holding his own on this epic adventure. 

Sturgis was kind of just a drive by for us, as it was getting late and the town was pretty quiet. I can only imagine how wild it is during the bike rally!

Alright, it's getting late and we have a lot to do if we're gonna get this wagon on down the road tomorrow morning. Headed of to Chamberlain, SD home of St Joseph's School for the Lakota kids. My mom and Joni's auntie have been long time supporters of the "Lakota School".