THE MAKING OF A BIKER CHICK - Devil's Tower

I know that I keep saying this about every stop along our bike trip out west but Devil's Tower was truly at the top of my list of favorites.
If you're wondering, yes, this is the location from the movie, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Mashed potatoes, anyone?

Looky what we saw along the way to the tower. You might want to click on the photographs to enlarge them and see the aminals. *wink*

We came upon these wild turkeys and couldn't resist stopping to take a closer look.

The Saint and I chased them until they lined up in a chorus line and did a little dance for us.

Just as we were leaving the turkeys behind, I looked up and caught my first glimpse of our destination.

Here we go.................Aren't you excited?

Pretty impressive, wouldn't you say?

The Biker Nazi and My Harley Stud (wearing long-sleeved pants!)

There are a lot of stories about how Devil's Tower came to be but my favorite is a Native-American tale about six Sioux girls who were picking flowers. A bear appeared and chased them. The Great Spirit saved the girls by raising the ground beneath them. The bear tried to reach them by clawing his way up explaining the "scratch marks" in the rock.

Devil's Tower is considered sacred ground to many Native American plains tribes. This is a photo of a prayer cloth tied to the tree. We were told that they will also leave prayer baskets although we didn't see any on our visit there.

The Saint held up this boulder so we could pass underneath. Sure glad she ate her Wheaties that day!

Click to enlarge this photograph and you will see two climbers. Yikes!

We walked all the way around the tower. All these rocks that are on the ground have fallen from........up there. Keeps ya on your toes.
See how MHS checks to make sure that I didn't get eaten by a bear or hit by a falling rock.
He's my hero!

On the road again, the Devil's Tower is behind us.
You have to look closely and even then, you can only see two but this whole field is filled with prairie dogs. They were so cute. I swear that a few of them raised up on their hind legs and jumped up and down and said, "Pick me, pick me! Take my picture, Smart Mouth!"
And so I did.

This photograph is my pride and joy. MHS noticed the view in his rear view mirror. He told me to take a picture. But he didn't stop and I couldn't get turned around to get the shot. I just turned the camera around and took it without looking. I think it turned out really well if I say so myself.
And I do say so myself.

***Note***
I don't want you to get the false idea that I'm this really cool biker chick so.........................

It was bound to happen. Even though this was a great day. Something happened to my psyche on the long ride back to Deadwood that night. I had what you might call a little melt-down. I was cold, my butt hurt, the trip was starting to wear on me and I was seriously doubting that I would be able to go many more miles. And there were so many more miles to go. You know how when you're in the middle of "it", things just seem so big, overwhelming and tragic! No? Well, that's where I was. It didn't help that we were returning to my least favorite lodging of the entire trip. It was no place to look forward to, believe me. I don't want to mention any names here but the motel's initials were "Golden Nugget", I think. It's been awhile and I could be mistaken. It's definitely something I try to forget.

By the time we made it back, I went straight to the shower and cried for an hour while the hot water thawed my bones.

The Biker Nazi and The Saint stopped by to get us for dinner. MHS told them I wasn't feeling well and to go on without us. We ate a bag of sour cherry balls for dinner while lying in bed and watching tv.

Morning's light brought me a new attitude and I was ready to once again face the world......and the bike.

Just keepin' it honest.