Day 60 - Fictional bear and real deer

Day 60 - Thursday - Vacation must go on

Today we are planning on visiting Devil's Tower, an hour across the Wyoming border,  But first we return to the Ford dealer in Spearfish to get the camera, and a few other things, out of the Focus.  As I'm pulling into their lot I get a call from Lance, who has already had them look at the car.

We go inside and he informs us the noise is coming from the transmission so they are going to take it apart and then consult with Ford on what's to be done.  He repeats that it could be a week or two.  We tell him our plans - we'll return to Spearfish about July 9 and if it's still not ready we then have a week in Gillette, WY which is not too far way.  We arrange to return the car on Saturday and then head west.

The Wyoming welcome center on I-90 is one of the best I've ever seen.  Comprehensive displays on all the carious regions of the State, people who know the State and can advise you, and a huge array of maps and brochures.  Did I mention a beautiful statue of a mountain lion in the grounds?  We spend a good hour there, enjoying learning about a new State, and then head to the town of Sundance.

The town is named after dances the Lakota did at sunset, but is more famous because of the outlaw Harry Longabaugh.  As a 15 year old he stole a horse and saddle from a ranch hand in Sundance.  He served 18 months in the town jail during which time he became known as the Sundance Kid.  He later joined the Wild Bunch led by Butch Cassidy and although he became infamous and the name stuck, he never returned to the town of Sundance.

The town itself is sleepy.  We have "the best burger in town" (sic) for lunch and then head off to Devils Tower.

If you believe the Indian legends the rock, which has vertical indentations on all sides got that way because of 7 sisters and their brother.  The brother got somehow changed into a bear and began to chase the sisters.  They found a rock and prayed to their deity who told them to get on the rock.  The rock rose into the air and the bear kept clawing at it, trying to reach the girls.  He didn't manage it but did put the "claw marks" into the rock.  The girls never did get off the rock but rose into the sky where they are now the 7 Sisters constellation!  Don't know what happened to the hungry bear!

The geological explanation is that it's an igneous intrusion - magma from underground pushed up into the surrounding sedimentary rock.  Over time the sedimentary rock eroded, producing the structure we see today.  We take a walk around the base of the rock, and as our photos show, the striations look different from every angle.  We also have an incredible wildlife experience.  A female deer grazing at the base, saunters very close to us, showing no fear.   We're totally charmed.

We conclude the day by driving back to Belle Fourche through the town of Aladdin, WY (population 15, none of whom we saw), which is for sale.  We don't buy it, but did enjoy the day.