From Wyoming to South Dakota

We arrived this afternoon in the capital of South Dakota, Pierre (pronounced PEER).  We drove the final 200 miles (322 km) today and arrived in the center of the state.

FOUR OF SOUTH DAKOTA'S GREAT FACES.

Saturday, we drove 558 miles (898 km) from Evanston,Wyoming, to Deadwood, South Dakota. 

OUTSIDE GREEN RIVER, WYOMING.

That was added to our 268 miles (431 km) Thursday and 489 miles (787 km) Friday.  We surprised ourselves... and everyone else by taking only four days to get here.  We stopped often.  When the gas tank would get down to half, we'd stop to fill up and clean the bug guts from the windshield... and make potty stops and get treats for Jerry.  I don't know how we survived before GPS.  My iPhone worked overtime finding Starbuck's (few and far between in these parts).  (We'd be going to Peet's, but there aren't any out here at all.)

PRONGHORN GRAZING OUTSIDE A MORMON CRAFTS CENTER.
WE WERE NEARLY POUNCED ON FOR THE ADMISSION BEFORE WE TURNED AROUND.

We had amazing sightings of pronghorns along the way and I wish I had my camera to get better pictures.  They're commonly called pronghorn antelope, but it turns out they're not really antelope at all since there really is no native species of antelope in North America.  So much for "where the deer and the antelope play." We'll all continue to call them antelope.

SOUTHERN WYOMING.  LOOK CLOSELY FOR THE PRONGHORNS.

As far as spending the night in Deadwood...  It's a gambling town.  Linda and Tom drove 2-1/2 hours to meet us there and also spent the night.  We gambled.  Those "earnings" Jerry had from our stay in Vegas (the ones that were supposed to pay for our drive from Irvine to Pierre) were re-invested — badly — in Deadwood.  Oh well.  Easy come.  Easy go.  The story of of our lives.

FULL THROTTLE SALOON IN STURGIS.  IT WILL BE HOPPING DURING THE RALLY.

After leaving Deadwood, we passed through the town of Sturgis — famous for the annual motorcycle rally.  From my perspective, it's a real cowboy town, but not a very pretty one.  And it's especially scary around the time of the rally.  We stopped for gas, cleaned the bug guts off the windshield and headed for Pierre.

We feasted on steaks; skewered peppers and onions; and asparagus.  All barbecued.  The car is unloaded and the camera is unpacked.  And the car sits in the driveway covered in bug guts.