A Drive to Deadwood

The weather looks like it will be decent so we brave a drive up to Deadwood via Spearfish Canyon.







We take some time to Stop at the Rochford Mall - touted as the smallest Mall in America

But then all roads seem to lead to Rochford

We grabbed a bite to eat at the Moonshine Gulch Saloon.

We arrive in Deadwood

Wild Bill Hickock was shot to death in Deadwood. He was in a card game at Saloon No. 10 and had his back to the door he was shot by Jack McCall - he was holdinga pairaces and and a pair of 8's now known as the Deadman's hand





They do live re-enactmentson the Streets and in some of the Historic Buildings all during the day.

If you like gambling this is the town for you - there are 8-10 large Casinos and up to 80 gaming places with Slots. We are not the gambling type so we go to the Adams Museum instead.from there we decide to drive up Boot Hill. Gary spots an ornate house in the distance so we drive by - it turns out to be the Historic Adams House so we stop and do the tour. The Historic Adams House was built in 1892 by Harris and Anna Franklin. Described as "the grandest house west of the Mississippi."Harris and Anna Franklin’s son Nathan bought the house for $1 in 1905. In 1920, Nathan Franklin sold the house to W.E. and Alice Adams for $8,500. Adams' second wife Mary closed up the house in 1936, two years after W.E.'s death, leaving the contents and furnishings intact. It sat vacant for 51 yearswhenin 1987Mary sold the mansion to a couple who renovated the house and operated it as a bed and breakfast inn until 1992 . They sold the home to the City of Deadwood’s Historic Preservation Commission. All of Mary's furniture, personal belongings, toiletries and even a jar of cookies were still inside!

While touring the House another couple asks if we've been to Spearfish, we say it's next on our list and they tell us not to miss the Fish Hatchery. Well we try to follow other's suggestions - especially if they're free!So off we go!

Established in 1896, D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery and Archives, formerly Spearfish National Fish Hatchery, is one of the oldest operating hatcheries in the country dedicated to fish culture and resource management. The hatchery was constructed to propagate, stock, and establish trout populations in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming.

There's an underground viewing station

The original Hatchery and fish runs

a Replica of one of the original Fish Train Carsused to transport the fish to the Ponds

There is also the historic caretaker's house and a Museum in the Old Hatchery



Agreat little hidden treasure. Time to head home and we pass a beautiful waterfall along the way.

Further down the road we see a large brown animal in the road which at firs looks like a statue as we get closer we realize it is an Elk - by the time I get the camera out and on they disappear into the woods but I managed to get a shot though it's not very clear. Now the only animals we haven't seen are the Mt.Lion and Big Horn Sheep!

Settlement

Last weekend I had to confess myself slightly disappointed at the rather poor second half produced by Gold Coast United in Brisbane on Friday night. There was nothing for it other than to get on the bike and find a decent ride somewhere. I set off on Sunday morning for the old fashioned Springbrook/Numinbah/Tomewin circuit. The start was a little slower than I normally like, and I wasn't sure whether that was lethargy or just an early morning westerly wind. Either way, the climb toward Salmons Saddle at Springbrook soon shook that loose.

I was far more concerned with the potentially treacherous descent on the other side. I have ridden up Pine Creek Road a few times and measured 24% gradients there. This sort of thing tends to make one slightly nervous about descending the road -- especially in view of the fact that I hadn't done it since the infamous crash back in July. As it was, the disc brakes on the Salsa Vaya worked beautifully and gave me another of those "what the hell are you worrying about?" moments when I reached the bottom, turned south, and set out on the next part of the ride.



Why did every motor-cyclist on the Gold Coast want to share my ride today? It's enough to make you think disparaging thoughts about people who are too poor to afford a Harley (i.e. all of them) but still want to be "bad dudes". The ride through the southern part of Numinbah valley is indeed, beautiful, but these guys made it a lot noisier than it might have been the day before. A couple of them also saw fit to pass right in the middle of corners on the descent from Numinbah Gap -- again I can thank my disc brakes for making a potentially tricky situation into an easy one. Somewhere near Chillingham I got a little tired of the noise, and decided to head for a dirt road that I've eyed off for a while.

I knew Settlement Road would be quiet. As it was, I didn't see another human along the way. What I didn't realise what just how lovely the switchback dirt road that snaked it's way though Springbrook's southern foothills would be. The forest here was pretty dense for the most part, but it occasionally gave way to some really stunning views. After climbing for a few kilometres, the road deteriorated as it went past a fence line, and I decided to call off the chase here -- but only after admiring the view toward Mt Hobwee and Bald Mountain.
After this, there isn't a lot to tell. The Harley wannabes virtually disappeared after I passed Chillingham (apart from one lot at Crystal Creek). The only thing noticeable out here was the north-easterly wind that had replaced the south-westerly that started the day. Oh well, this bike tends to cope with headwinds better than any other I've had previously, and I still had Tomewin to throw at it. The climb over Tomewin was quite enjoyable, and almost rejuvenating. It left me with plenty of energy for finishing off the ride home, and another 130km racked up.

Another great ride was had. I also now have something to look forward to on the horizon, but I'll reveal that in another post.

Flambé

An almost essential part of making coq au vin is flambéing the chicken (or rooster). Here is my exciting attempt - and by exciting I mean flames that jump out of the pan about 2 feet. Anyone else have experience with flambéing?

Mt Rainier Storm & Flood Damage Photos - Carbon/Ipsut

The NW corner of the park usually has its own share of flood related damage each year. And though it's not unusual for there to be Carbon River inspired washouts, this rainstorm brought substantially more destruction to the area. For example, here is the idyllic Ipsut Creek Cabin. It suffered heavily during the flood. Is it me, or does this place remind you of Yoda's house on Dagoba?

This creek diversion gives literal meaning to the name, Ipsut Creek Cabin. If Yoda did live here, he'd have to use quite a bit of "the force" to fix things.

As for the Carbon River Road, more than two miles of it washed away in at least four separate spots. In some places, the river flowed down the middle of the road (like here). For climbers, this could spell delay in early season attempts of Liberty Ridge.

AND another washout closer to Ipsut Creek Campground.

As for the Wonderland and other park trails, here's a brief run down on the storm damage. Keep in mind, the full extent may not be known till next spring, as these assessments were made from the air. For now, backpackers should probably expect things (bridges) to open up later than normal next summer. There are at least 10 bridges out around the Wonderland Trail. New trail needs to constructed in four other places. That includes a half mile reroute between Lake James and Cataract Creek and another 750 foot section in Stevens Canyon. NPS Photos

Time out

It's been one of those days. At work the boss is away, the clients are moaning for this that and the other. I stay back an extra half hour to finish a set of accounts for a client (who couldn't make up his mind about his deadline), before setting off way too late and trying to make up time, riding really fast down the coast to the latest Bicycle Gold Coast meeting (these things rarely start at the stated time, but I know if I'm late, this will be the one, and in anycase, there's pride at stake). And it had been like this for nine hours straight.

However, alongside the beachfront at Miami, for just one moment, the sky is lit up just so, by a powerful sunset on the opposite horizon (sadly, obsured by suburbia). It's that moment, where the ride reveals itself in all it's beauty. It's that moment, suddenly, everything else seems inconsequential. The evening ski is as soothing as the voice of Sarah Blasko. This is the moment where I take time out.

Celtic Music

Tonight Darcie and I went to a concert featuring the hammered dulcimer.  I LOVE this instrument.   I bought two CD's; one of Christmas music and the other with Celtic.
Several years ago my Mama built a mountain dulcimer out of a kit.  She never played it much, so I was able to beg long enough for her to give it to me.  I've played it off and on over the years.  It's really simple to play.  Of course you can get fancy with it, and that takes more skill.  I think it'd be the same way with the hammered dulcimer.  I could probably pick it up fairly easy since I already play the piano.
I grew up listening to Bluegrass music.  Of course Bluegrass comes out of the  Celtic tradition.  They are very similar. 
All of my ancestors came from the British Isles.  Names like Jones, Collins, Stiles, Deaver, Walker, Barnes, Moore, and Kilpatrick belong to my progenitors.  I am a huge anglophile.
My question is this:  Do I love Celtic music because it was the music of my forefathers? Is it in my blood?  Is that possible?   I don't love Russian, Polish, or Danish music.  I like lots of different classical music from various countries.  But I simply love Celtic music.  It's haunting melodies move me deeply.  It stirs up something in me that feels centuries deep.  Am I crazy?  Any theories?

Bicycle Advocacy Luncheon

Yesterday I attended a luncheon meeting at the UNO Alumni Center. Feature speakers were John Burke, CEO of Trek Bicycles and Andy Clarke, Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists.
John Burke addressed the importance of the bicycle in the solution of the community problems. Big emphasis was on the obesity/health issue and concerns for the environment.
Director Andy Clarke talked about the League's Bicycle Friendly City program and what makes a city bicycle friendly.
The luncheon was sold out. Those that did not have a reservation were able to participate in the meeting.