2 weeks, 3 Provinces, 6 States, One Mega,3 oldest caches..Part 5 - Cowboy History

When traveling and tenting I tend to wake early in the morning and eager to hit the road.  So after rousting my partner out of his toasty sleeping bag we packed up and headed for breakie where we planned our day.  Plans BTW never turn out quite the way you think they will.  Even after breakie we were still to early to take a side trip to Theodore Roosevelt National Park so we took the turn south again and headed for South Dakota...
The landscape was typically grasslands that provided few caches along the route although we did manage some along the highway.   We stopped in Belle Fourche SD for visit to the visitors info.  Grabbed a couple of caches and got directions to a great  coffee/eatery that also had wifi so we could readjust our route and queries.  A stop for gas and food in Spearfish and we were off to Deadwood, SD which was on the bucket list.
A beautiful drive through the canyon and hills into Deadwood.

A very popular and quaint little town that has sadly become very touristy and commercial.  But historically wise it intrigued us so we managed some interesting geocaches. 

GC2CWEY ▼

Homestake Mine-Open Cut

Mount Moriah Cemetery

 Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane rest here.

GC8DF2 ▼

Right, Centaur, and Rear

There was a lot of traffic, including motorbikes gearing up for the upcoming Sturgis week.  It was hard to juggle a parking spot so we didn't stay long.  We had been told by countless people that Mount Rushmore was a must but we made an executive decision and headed back towards Spearfish.  The clouds were already darkening and rain was starting as we headed out and we did want to get west before the next big onslaught of this weather front that we seemed to be in.
We turned west at Spearfish onto I90 and Whoa!! speed limit 80?  Can make pretty good time doing that.. The goal for the night was the Sundance WY area but first we had to outrun the storm.  Heavy rain all the way so we only managed an earthcache

GC2MPGY ▼The Vore Buffalo Jump: Chemistry at Work and a nearby traditional before stepping inside and chatting with the volunteers while trying to outlast the downpour. 

We arrived in Sundance as the sun was popping out of the clouds.  

Sundance after the storm and yes that is hail

Not sure if we should risk a night in the tent with the inclement weather we started looking for a place to stay.  One place actually told us that their basement was flooded and the wifi was down.. Oh No!   that won't work...We had to work fast as everyone had the same idea so we grabbed the last room at a major chain and settled in for the night.  Thinking we probably didn't need the room it was nice to spend some time in the pool and about 11 that night the storm picked back up so it was a lucky escape..