Sept 14 Sheridan - Spearfish

Sept 14

First funny incident for the day was breakfast. The motel provided a continental breakfast in a small room. Yvonne and I saw what we thought was porridge so got a scoop each, added milk and sugar. I took the first mouthful and could not believe the taste. By then Yvonne had tasted it and had the same reaction. We put it in the bin. Then an American lady came in and she explained that they were grits and biscuits and proceeded to have them with tabasco sauce!!!

Leaving Sheridan, we were travelling on Interstate 90 through rolling hills and plains where the grasses are turning brown from lack of rain. The speed limit was 75 miles per hour. I was driving and Marg M has the Garmin and checking speed. “Not going fast enough – 65 – 70 -73” . Well!! Next thing we knew, I was being pulled over by the highway patrolman who wanted to know why I was doing 81 in a 75 zone!! In my defence it was down hill! Any way just as he wanted to see my licence and the car registration, the incident was aborted when a car on the went bound highway was trying to outrun a patrol car. He took off! I quickly learned how to put on cruise control!

Passed Gillette, the energy capital of the USA and our first stop was Sundance. The Sundance Kid took his name from here after he was incarcerated. Had a great lunch at Aro’s – my first Rueben – sandwich with corned meat and sauerkraut and a side of sweet potato fries. It was really great. Went to the museum and to see the jail that Sundance was in.

On the road again. Up to visit “Devil’s Tower”, the first national monument in the USA. It reminded me of Chamber’s Pillar  in the Northern Territory but I think this one is bigger. It was formed by molten rock and the tower rises 867 feet above the surrounding countryside and the base diameter is 1000 feet. Marg M walked around it while we watched two climbers scaling the vertical face. As we left here, we came upon a field of Prairie dogs – how cute are they!!!

On then to Hulett, a western style town where we had a drink at the Ponderosa Café. Visited Belle Fourche which is the geographical centre of the USA. Stopped the night at Spearfish.