South Dakota by Pictures

Posted on by David Harris

2021 Sturgis

Better late than never post?

Recently, while reviewing some older posts, I realized that after our 2021 South Dakota trip (including several stops in Iowa), I had only included stories about stops we made in Iowa.

So this post is a little different. It will show the SD part of the trip using photos with just captions and short explanations. It won’t be split up by days. Sort of a PPC Tour “dump”.

Dignity, Chamberlain SD over looking the Missouri River
The walk out to the statue. This may be the most effective “Stay on the Path” sign I’ve ever seen.
Quite a beautiful site looking west over the Missouri River
Pioneer Auto Show in Murdo SD. This place was a little different type of a museum. There were a few nicer cars inside the main building but almost all the other displays were in barns and sheds spread out over a couple acres.
Hey, there’s a Marlin.
There were also tractors and equipment. I read a couple reviews that weren’t glowing. They mostly complained how the vehicles were not being maintained and cleaned. From my perspective that might have been true but it gave the appearance of barn-finds and as things were 50-80 years ago.
Admission was $12.00 ($14.00 now) and if it’s cold wear your coat. If it’s warm bring water. Only the main building is climate controlled. If you’re looking for a shiny pristine display of restored cars, this place is not it. If you’re looking for 100’s of cars and other stuff in it’s more natural state, this place is worth a look.
The Black Hills of SD are beautiful
Then there’s the not so beautiful part. The damage from wild fires mostly from 2017. This photo doesn’t do the view justice. The grass has grown back but the trees are just dead sticks.
We practically lived at Sturgis Coffee. Photo: Greg Gieger
Stockade Lake Custer SD
The Bicycle Sculpture in Pringle SD. We didn’t stop but we should have
The view from our AirBnB. Right in the middle of a forest of tall pines that literally whispered when the wind blew
We ran into this on most of our trips out of trips. There are so many access points and curves, there is no way to safely control traffic in a construction zone by radio or signs. So all intersections in a zone required you to wait for the pilot car-a vehicle driving back and forth in the zone. You waited until the line of cars came by heading in the direction you needed to go and you joined the line. We never had to wait longer than a few minutes-they were very efficient
Belle Fourche SD. The geographic center of the United States
Devil’s Tower WY
If everything is ready on the Dark Side of the Moon, play the five tones
The debris field from centuries of erosion. You can actually request a permit to climb out on the rocks. I think I might even consider doing that
You can’t really make them out but there are at least four climbers, likely descending at this time of the day
We just happened to catch these two along the path. They started their climb around 4:30 AM and were back down by 10:45 AM. They happily answered lots of questions from those who had gathered.
Stunning view
Almost no shade or ground cover. But very beautiful.
The 100 degree heat didn’t seem to bothering her.
After completing the short trail around the base of the mountain, we chose the red trail. It was close to 100 degrees. If we had known then what we know now, we would have brought more water. That was without a doubt the toughest hike we’ve ever done.
One of many buffalo herds we saw. We stayed in our car as instructed. We didn’t want to be “that tourist”
I’ve seen this image a thousand times but experiencing it in real life was amazing
The George S Mickelson bike trail near Deadwood SD. This trail was either going up hill or down. There were no flat areas at all. And while the trail was always a 3% or less grade, the grades lasted for miles. Plus it was around 90 degrees
There were a few tunnels along the trail. They did give us a break from the heat
food It was a good time to stop for ice cream. This town was in seemingly the middle of nowhere but there was a steady stream of customers
food We had to stop here
Fort Hays Old West Town and Dinner Theater. We had a cowboy supper: BBQ, cornbread and beans served up on a pie tin from a chow line. The entertainers sang, danced and told stories.
The MC of the Fort Hays show announced that we were at the second hottest location in the world that day-second only to a location in the Sahara. Here’s the proof
A very cool (especially since they had the AC running full blast) air museum near Ellsworth AFB in Box Elder SD
The Corn Palace in Mitchell SD
The Palace auditorium
One of many murals around the Palace-all made of corn

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