Deadwood, SD to Billings Montana, (American Journey).

The next stop was in Deadwood, SD in the Black Hills. The Indians named them the Black Hills because they are full of pine trees and looked black when they saw them. Yes, this is the same Deadwood that Wild Bill Hickok was shot and from the HBO show Deadwood. It is truly the historic "wild west." I left Deadwood with 2,611 miles on the bike so far for this trip.

This is the spot in the bar (saloon # 10, now called Wild Bill's), where Wild Bill was shot. He was holding a pair of aces over eights that has hence been known as the "dead mans hand."

This is the location of the famous Gem Theater owned by Al Swearengen. He was an early entertainment entrepreneur in Deadwood. The Gem was a notorious brothel for 22 years. He had a reputation for brutality with an uncanny instinct for forging political alliances.

Washing the bugs off the bike.

The Celebrity Casino in Deadwood displaying lots of movie memorabilia (and some Elvis).

Evel Knievel's jump bike, helmet and jump suit.

Smokey and the Bandit 2, Trans Am.

Jackie Gleason's Buford T. Justice uniform.

I didn't know how desolate the road could be until I got to Wyoming and Montana. Picture this, I have well over 1/2 tank of gas, no need to stop. It's about 5:00 PM. I remember the winds and lack of hotels in SD so I am keeping an eye on the gas and time. I decide to top off the tank at the next gas station. I see antelope and coyotes on the prairie I am riding through. About 40 miles later gas is getting low and there are no stations in sight. There is no cell service or GPS. 50 miles, 60 miles, Oh boy! I'm on E and I slow down to about 50 mph to conserve as much as I can. Am I going to run out of gas in the middle of this prairie, God knows how many miles from anything, in the pitch black night with no cell service and coyotes running around? I'm on fumes... 65 miles... I see an exit coming up. The last exit I tried that said "gas" was on an Indian reservation. When I got down that beat up old road off the highway, the station was closed. I am hoping this one is open. 70 miles after I start looking, I find a gas station. I had 2/10ths of a gallon left in the tank. I would have made another 5-7 miles before I ran out. Time to get a spare gas can!

Closed!