My first visit to South Dakota ever. I wish I had an image of the border crossing but it was raining, and with a T-Storm chasing me I failed to notice if there even was one. So here I am now in Spearfish Brewing Company, Spearfish SD. It’s Friday night so, the main str is blocked off for an evening of music in the street. It’s a very nice town.
When I arrived I was wet and cold. Cold might be a strong term. The wind was blowing me favorably, but the rain had soaked me fairly well, so unless I was moving, then it felt cool. At the base of a climb through Spearfish Canyon, it seemed like a place to stop, and I had decided the other day that the beard had run its course and there was a shop that did shaves on the North side of town. I figured wrong that my route into town actually took me past the place, when I realized my mistake, I was South of it, and had to double back. Glad I did, because the woman who took me did a great job. She cleaned up my mop quite nicely, and then the real magic began. The Shave. I haven’t had a shave that memorable since I walked into a Turkish barber in London back in 2013 when I was there for Corinne’s graduation from Kings. That was special, and this was special as well. Trimmed me down first with the electric trimmer, and then it was moisturizer, hot towel, hot shave cream and then the persistent scraping of a single edged blade that makes a great shave. I puckered when told, tongue supported mouth hole areas when told, and over the course of 20 minutes the facial hair was removed. After shave, then another hot towel, and then a facial massage. Fuuuuuuuuuck that was awesome. So Special! 25% tip earned!!!!
4:45 Alarm went off and I snoozed it once but again arose before that fired. The wind was blowing all night, and I was sure it was going to rain, but it never did. I broke down camp, and made a cup of coffee to consume while I packed up. Not a long day ahead, but I wanted an early start. Wanted and had are can be quite different. Good thing I was up early because I dawdled longer than I should have. No one else seemed up, so I was good. I had a couple of pop-tarts (Strawberry iced) and a cream filled croissant and I was on my way. Into the wind. Strong WNW wind which I had to fight, sort of, until my route turned more due East into Huelet. Now, experience has taught me that in these small American towns there isn’t usually much in the form of choice, and I really should have consulted the google, because instead of the convenience store sandwiches I could have ridden into the actual downtown and enjoyed a proper breakfast. Opportunity lost.
Out of town the next hamlet was Alvin, and then Aladdin (of all names). The rollers were long and gradual, and wind aided so not really all that difficult, but when you have ridden your bike 24 of the last 25 days, there is a certain level of muscle fatigue that is always present. Up and over and down, up and over and down. There was one kind of giant up and over and then a huge 7% descent that was fantastic, and just as I was about to reach the oldest General Store in Wyoming still operating, I turned South on 111 to connect with old 14 as 90 frontage road.
Turning onto the frontage road I came across the Vole Buffalo Jump, an archeological site where indigenous (Souix) peoples before the Euros brought the horse back to North America used to coordinate hunts and force Bison into a sinkhole where they died of course, and provided the much needed resources that the tribes needed for survival. They estimate that the tribes coordinated this for around 400 years which would imply that before that they either didn’t know about the sinkhole, or they weren’t here yet. You won’t find the answer here.
The next town was Beulah, and I had been rained upon by the time I reached there, and stopped a wee early at the bar in town and not the convenience store/gas station 90 resource at the top of the hill. By that time I was committed to Spearfish, and just started riding. Pushing. I was wet, and as long as I was moving I was warm, so I kept moving.
The route enters at the North end of North Spearfish with a Right onto Evans Lane which happened to host a brewery but it was only noon and I had shave on my mind so right turn executed and onwards I rode. Past some university I rode until I figured I should check my position and as written, I missed my mark.
After my shave I was very hungry, and there was a subway next door so I got a Friday meal for 6.95 and froze while I ate it as their AC was cranking!! At that exact moment, it was still overcast, cold and although the forecast was for clearing, I just couldn't see taking a camp site so I checked into the Best Western, de-clothed turned up the temp on the AC unit, and crawled into bed for a nap. A couple hours later I showered properly and dressed to go downtown and explore.
First stop was the Spearfish Public House, read the first review and was sold. Sat next to Rick and Kate who have lived in the area for years, and this was their favorite watering hole. Rick worked in Architecture, and was semi retired. We talked for an hour about the area and areas where i had ridden. Being a Harley guy he knew all the places I had been. Fun convo.
As I type now I am enjoying time at the Spearfish Brewing Company doing a “Flight” of six beers. How have I lost so much weight? You can see it in the images.
Tomorrow. Well I could shortcut to Rapid City along Frontage road, but I think not. Up the Spearfish canyon gorge I will ride to Lead, and then through the Black Hills proper and I will plan on the Mount Rushmore side trip. Should be a good day yes.
Cheers