Even though the weather didn't cooperate at all on July 3rd, when the Fireworks at Mount Rushmore were almost cancelled due to pea soup fog, and clouds so low you couldn't see the Memorial Arches much less the faces. We rode down and they announced a "test" launch at about 9:30pm and all you could see was a slight red glow in the clouds. we hung out for another 1/2 hour and they still hadn't decided if there would be a fireworks show or not and we decided to go to dinner. We found out the next morning they did shoot off the fireworks but you couldn't see much but colored clouds... Last years were killer, we'll hope for better next year.

Smiling faces from folks who did the Mt Rushmore ride. The two ladies on the left were hitch-hiking their way across the U.S. and showed up at the Days End Campground looking for a ride down to Mt Rushmore. You can see how poor the visibility was with the fog and mist.

July 4th we did a 185 Mile Poker Run. Sturgis to Montana, then Wyoming, and back to Sturgis on some really nice roads. The comment most people made was that it was the first poker run they had been on that took them somewhere and everyone said they would do it again.

After the poker run we had a great time at the Days End Campground Bar for the raffle and the band. A few of us rode over to the Sturgis City 4th of July Fireworks and watched a very cool display. Sturgis puts on a great 4th of July Fireworks show and then back to the Days End.

A few folks were hanging out in Sturgis longer and we went on more rides with a few of them like Gary and daughter Lesia from Indiana who were in the Black Hills on a family riding vacation.