7/20/13 Update

Hello!

This has been a great week.  We are enjoying South Dakota.

We spent an entire day at the DC Booth Fish Hatchery in Spearfish SD.  Fish Hatcheries were started by the National Government in the early days of western migration.  Fish hatcheries were used to grow fish to plant into waterways, rivers, creeks, streams etc.,  as a food source for early settlers.  Fish were planted in areas where there were no fish or where the fish numbers had declined significantly due to overfishing.

The Booth hatchery in Spearfish was established in 1896, and is one of the oldest hatcheries in the country. The hatchery is staffed with full time employees from the National Park Service as well as volunteers.

This hatchery is beautifully maintained.  In addition to the ponds, and fish runs, this hatchery has a small museum, the original 1905 home for the Superintendent of the hatchery (DC Booth and his family), an Ice house and the most fascinating thing, a reproduction of one of ten original "Fish Cars".

Ten fish cars were built and used for 66 years.   The government built these cars, to transport the fish throughout the country.  The fish cars were staffed with a cook, three fish handlers and the captain.  They would travel from hatcheries to the railway stations in towns around the country.  Town leaders would make a request for the fish and in a few days they would meet the fish car to take position of the fish to plant in their local waterways.  By the early 1900's fish cars were crisscrossing the country en route as long as 10 days (with fish losses held down to only 1 percent).  They generally operated from April to November.  During the winter months, the cars were laid up for repair and maintenance.  The US Government has never charged for the fish.  Hatcheries are still used in much the same way today.  Fish are now transported by refrigerated trucks.

Deadwood...........  Well, I have seen a couple episodes of the HBO TV Series "Deadwood:, but that was my only introduction to the town and history of the area.

Deadwood is full of history.  It appears that the residents relish in their colorful history.  The entire town is on the National Historic Register.  You can't walk five feet without seeing historical markers.  Jon and I stopped into Saloon 10 to have a drink.  Saloon 10 is where Wild Bill was shot in the back and killed.  As we were sitting in the bar enjoying our beer, a local comes in with two tourists.  He was telling them the history of the Saloon and of Wild Bill.  He stopped where Jon was sitting and he said this is where Wild Bill was sitting when he was killed.

The saloon is on the other side of the street and down a bit from the original site of the Saloon 10, but it is a replica of the original.  

We visited Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood.  This place,  is more like a park / town than a cemetery.   It is absolutely beautiful.  

 Deadwood had a strong influence from early Jewish settlers and it is very apparent in the cemetery.  There are roads (lanes actually) and they are named.  A couple of the names are Solomon and Boaz.  I could have stayed in the cemetery for hours.  It doesn't look like a cemetery or feel like one either.  It is a bit morbid, but I felt very peaceful here.  The cemetery is closed - no new burials here.  Some of the famous residents include Wild Bill, Calamity Jane, Potato Creek Johnny, Preacher Smith and Seth Bullock.

Calamity Jane, used to tell people that she and Wild Bill were lovers.  But in truth, he hardly knew her.  She was enamoured with him and was a constant pest.  Wild Bill remarked that he had a hard time keeping her away from his whiskey.  Jane's dying request was to be buried next to Wild Bill and she is. 

We also took some nice motorcycle rides.  I love to ride and I enjoy the scenery.  I think South Dakota is a motorcycle enthusiasts dream.  Here are some pictures that I hope will capture some of the beauty of the area and give you a sense of what it is like.

Until next week!