We left Custer after breakfast and headed for Deadwood and Lead, SD. The Needles Scenic Byway was recommended to us by the owner of the Valley Motel. I could just kiss her for that. This was one of the most beautiful stretches of pavement I've ever seen. As the crow flies, I'm sure it's not nearly as far from Custer to Deadwood as it seemed but no one cared because this was a great place to be. I was even able to forget about the brick masquerading as a motorcycle seat and enjoy the ride. The road was one hair-pin turn after another with all these tall needle like rock formations in the mountains. I'm not sure if the highway is named for the turns or the rocks but either way it is just a little slice of Heaven on Earth. There's not a lot more I can say about these pictures. They pretty much speak for themselves.
These photographs were all taken from the back of a moving bike.
You can see here how narrow the road was with the mountain rock on one side and an opportunity to plunge to your death on the other.
Never mind.
Looking up.
At least we weren't on foot. Look at these brave souls.
There were a lot of tunnels like this. They were one way (at a time) only. You sit on one side and honk your horn to let the other side know you are coming thru and to wait until you come out before proceeding. It's a very hi-tech system.
I took this picture so I would know where to return. Like Hanzel and Gretel. This is my bread crumb.
When we arrived at this spot and I saw this inn and the view that it had to offer, my first thought was that I wanted to stay here for the week and write. I didn't even blog back then. Still, that was my thought. I would stay there and write and MHS, Biker Nazi and The Saint could just come back in a week and retrieve me. Look closely at the little patch of grass there and you can imagine me with my laptop.
And this is why. *sigh*
This particular shot may look familiar to you even if you haven't been there. Have you seen the movie, National Treasure 2 - Book of Secrets.
This is the film location for the scene at the end of the treasure hunt. Imagine our surprise later that year in the movie theatre when that scene appeared on the screen. MHS and I looked at each other and said in unison, "We were there!"
Another possible death plunge on the right.
I had a lot of anxiety about going on this trip. I'm so glad that I didn't chicken out. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I don't regret a single second of it. OK, that's a lie but for the most part, it was pure pleasure and fun, fun, fun!
