Day 15: Rapid City, SD (100 miles)
Today was a non-travel day that allowed us some rest and relaxation and the opportunity to check out the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. We started the day with a group breakfast and Rider's Meeting at the Rapid City Civic Center where we received instructions for the last part of our journey into Louisiana. We then took a ride to Sturgis, SD, home of one of the largest (and certainly the most infamous) Harley rally in the world. For the week prior, hundreds of thousands of bikers called Sturgis home. We arrived as riders were leaving the area but still got a good feel for what
it was all about. We then rode into Deadwood, a once-upon-a-time sleepy little mining town from the 1800's that is now a bustling Mecca for gamblers and saloon hall regulars. We then rode to Mt. Rushmore . . . a must-see. It is a rather awe inspiring site worthy of the visit. After a leisurely ride through small towns and forests of the Black Hills we headed to the Rapid City Harley-Davidson dealership for dinner and live music with our Posse friends.

Early morning in Deadwood before the town is fully awake.

The entrance to Mt. Rushmore through the tunnel of flags is very impressive, but it's not until you get closer on the viewing platform that you realize the magnitude of the sculpture. Each individual head is over six stories high. You can sit and stare at this for hours.