I really should be on the road by now, but this place was so nice I had to stay an extra day. It's now noon on my 3rd day here, and I'm on my way out, really. I got to knitting, and I could not stop. So Christy, your hat is all done! I really wish I had a digital camera like Rachael, so I could post a pic. It is the cutest thing in the world! And I made up the pattern, all on my own! Sort of. I kind of adapted Kira's basic hat design, since I wanted it to be pointy. When it was time to decrease, I divided it into 4 sections and went back and forth, then sewed them up, with the seams on the outside and so they end in a little point. Then I added ear covers, which are a bit too big, but not bad. And I did my first color work! Just diamonds, again since I didn't have a pattern, but I think it turned out darn tooting good.
Deadwood is a cool little town, full of wild west history. The first night I got here I ended up hanging out at the Saloon 10 for a little while with a couple of guys I met here at the hostel. There was a local cover band playing songs from Nirvana to Seal. Way fun. Turns out the original Saloon 10 is where Wild Bill Hickock met his end. They even had the chair he was sitting in when it happened, entombed above the entry.
Steve and Urban stayed out a bit longer than I did (like 4 hours!). I had only come out for 1 beer though, so I headed back after 3 or 4. (Attention to anyone in SF - these guys are pretty cool, and coming your way, so show 'em a good time). The next morning I wandered Deadwood some more, checking out all the old buildings that now hold casinos. They legalized gambling here in '89, which probably revived the town a bit, but now you can't swing a cat without having 3 guys bet on where it's gonna land.
I'm sorry, I just love my hat! I keep reaching up to touch it. I think I'll wear it till I have to mail it.
That afternoon I saw the giant heads. Woo hoo. Decided not to pay the 8 bucks for parking, so I snapped a few pics en route. Also hit Crazy Horse. That has got to be the biggest white elephant in the country. 50 + years, and they still only have the face. Hmmm. And yet they charge 9 bucks. Really not exciting. Or maybe I just wasn't in the right mood. I did have a great time at Thunderhead Falls. In the mid 1850's a gold mine suddenly turned into a rushing underground waterfall and river. They aren't really sure what
happened to cause it, but they speculate (hee hee, get it?) that the last blast may have accidentally bust in on a river above them. It went unnoticed until 1940-ish when someone passing by on a train noticed a river pouring forth from a mountain side. It's creepy, and loud, and drippy, and spectacular. The sounds were the most amazing part. You can't even hear yourself think, but the way the water reverberates makes you swear that someone is speaking right above you, behind you, next to you. Creepy. But great!
Well, I guess it is finally time to leave this little wonderland. Goodbye shower. Goodbye TV. Goodbye free internet. Goodbye kitchen. Goodbye cool travelers. Hello... carhenge maybe? We'll see.
Several things, if you get back to Montana, you
may wish to go see the beginning of the Missouri
River.
When you get to Kansas, you may wish to see the
Kansas Pyramids in Gove County near Quinter,
which is a neat little town.
Finally, when needing a place to spend the night,
and nothing seems available, consider a Hospital
parking lot. Many even have guards, but even
without, should be about as safe as you could
find.
I just remembered Wyoming, but assume you've
been there already? If not, look for the cars
planted on their nose!
While in South Dakota, a neat town is Ipswitch. And when you get to Nebraska,
check out Hays Springs, its where the movie that was made about the girl and her
father that were hustlers was filmed. I cannot think of the names right now. Damn!
Don't get old, your memory may be the first to go, but I can't remember for sure!
;<)
Posted by: Wayne Mann | September 29, 2003 at 02:26 PM
Several things, if you get back to Montana, you
may wish to go see the beginning of the Missouri
River.
When you get to Kansas, you may wish to see the
Kansas Pyramids in Gove County near Quinter,
which is a neat little town.
Finally, when needing a place to spend the night,
and nothing seems available, consider a Hospital
parking lot. Many even have guards, but even
without, should be about as safe as you could
find.
I just remembered Wyoming, but assume you've
been there already? If not, look for the cars
planted on their nose!
While in South Dakota, a neat town is Ipswitch. And when you get to Nebraska,
check out Hays Springs, its where the movie that was made about the girl and her
father that were hustlers was filmed. I cannot think of the names right now. Damn!
Don't get old, your memory may be the first to go, but I can't remember for sure!
;<)
Posted by: Wayne Mann | September 29, 2003 at 02:27 PM
my hat my hat I'm trying not to think about my hat....impossible!! I just keep thinking about it.
You can give it to me when I come to visit you in December if you want. Or, and I say this in the spirit of generous sisterdom, you can keep it and I can just borrow it. and maybe it will inspire me to make my own hat.
I had heard the Crazy Horse thingie was supposed to be more inspiring than the giant heads. just shows to go ya. did you re-enact the Hitchcock fantasy? i.e., did you climb up to the tops of the heads and then scramble down to the bottom, pretending you were Eva Saint Marie being chased by a murderous art collector? how did she do that in one of those little tight-waisted dresses from the 50s? that's what I wanna know. maybe it helped to be able to cling to the manly Cary Grant. oh boy. talk about your Hitchcock fantasies....
miss you and talk to ya soon -Krysteeee
Posted by: krysteee | September 29, 2003 at 03:23 PM
I would've, but I didn't want to pay. Or get arrested. I probably would have broken Linc's nose off and had to pay reparations for the rest of my life.
Wayne - was it Paper Moon? Unfortunately I am already past that town, but everything out here looks like that movie anyway. Saw Carhenge - I'll write about it. Hospital parking lots are great! I got that tip from a buddy, and they are a mainstay now, if I can't find anything else, I can always follow the H signs.
Oh and Christy - you're hat is in the mail! Yay! Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Bethany | October 01, 2003 at 08:42 AM