We have done a fair whack of miles now. After Cody we headed to a western town - Deadwood. Cool place - in a valley where land was stolen from the Native Americans due to the gold rush in the 1800's. It's where Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickock are buried and we had dinner (and a dance - yes I know...great band) in Saloon #10 where Wild Bill was shot in the back of the head in the casino. Dead Man's Poker hand - pair of black ace's, pair of black 8's and a 9 diamonds. We saw the chair he was actually shot in whilst holding that hand of cards.
This place was done and dusted but someone came up with the idea of using gambling and drinking and everything that goes with that (for the oldies reading this) to fund the restoration of the town - and boy did it work. $30 million in 4 years restored the town. Perhaps NZ should try this in the West Coast - we have the history.....
If you want cool wild west - this town will do it for you. Hey Kevin Costner owns a bar here and it has some of his movie hit gear in it (which covers a really small corner actually).....
It rained and rained here.....ug- think Hokitika or greymouth raining nonstop for weeks - at least the $1 old style trolley got us into town and around with a pick up from the campground :)
PS as I write this I am sitting in a cafe in a casino in Nebraska - its 11.30 pm and Mike and Suzy are in the casino playing blackjack - there is a massive screen above me showing really bad western videos and country music is blaring - and we are staying (probably illegally) in the casino carpark which is partially flooded by the Missouri river - but hey the casino goes on!!
 |
| Really - are you kidding? I don't think so.... |
 |
| On the way to Deadwood |
 |
| Deadwood at night - bit dark sorry |
 |
| A town named after the Dedwood Days.... |
 |
| Cool place this ole' gamblin town |
 |
| ha ha |
 |
| yee ha |
Looks very John Wayne wild west. Very cool. Hanging out to see a picture of Mike on a horse!
ReplyDeleteIt is very JW west - in fact we drove past his 'birth place' didn't look interesting enough to stop. You and Ham look like you are hitting Beijing in style - Will do my best with that horse shot - Heading to Indy cars tomorrow - think its more likely you will get the bogun and racing car shots now.....
ReplyDelete