***Miles travelled today: ...just a few miles to the old town...
***Total Miles:
***States travelled through: ...still in Keystone...
Right-we've just got back from the 'spit & sawdust' saloon and boy, what an evening ! Talk about real macoy Americans in the Black Hills of South Dakota-the kind that wear their Stetsons all day and are able to 'Two-Step-Country-style' to bluegrass music. Trig and his wife Shelly (bar owners) made us feel very welcome and made sure we were fed and watered throughout the night. The locals (and a couple of tourists including the one who was wearing the cartoon t-shirt in the photo) were all friendly and only too willing to dance and have a good time. One of the guys kept on saying he 'I'm looking for a red-head (and Linz was the only one in the bar)' and kept buying Linz drinks throughout the evening whilst a youngster, at least half my age [he Actually arrived on his horse complete with chaps,boots, spurs and hat-with cigarette tucked into hatband-I kid you not :) ] thought his luck was in when he started chatting me up. He did say that although he arrived on horse, he could drive a car (he barely looked old enough to do so and Linz said he's probably young enough to be my son) as I keep reminding myself that I Am nearly 40 !
But now, to the music.....you could hear the roots of Ireland whilst listening to the fusion of country and jazz, with a unique Jolly Llama twist to it. One of them played a washborad with an egg whisk whilst another played base sounds on a 'washbasin and broom' - but these combined with guitar, fiddle, cello, banjo and Irish drum; made for good vibes. We actually bought their CD although we drew the line at the t-shirt. Everyone clearly enjoyed the evening and so did we.
Thinking about it, this is exactly what I had hoped for, that very real experience of just blending in (as much as one can when you're a tourist), of being with the locals and there being no 'frills and lace'. Here's to more of these experiences.
(PS: The buffalo in the first picture is not real... just all adds to the atmosphere of where we are!!!)
Hallo there lovlies, just read your blog after missing a few days. Oh how the flowers brought a little tear to the eye. I will show Susie the donkey this afternoon and will read her your blog. I love the pictures of all the jolly,hairy looking blokes. It is amazing being looking at your pictures of this huge and interesting country and certainly makes me want to explore it. The scenery from the Badlands was amazing and just imagine meeting Mr. Seigal and him singing you an African song. It certainly seems as if God is sending you signs what with African songs and Bobby flowers. We miss you terribly now and look forward to when we are all together again. Have a good time lovelies. Mwah, mwah, mwah!
ReplyDeleteOh my it looks like I've had too much to drink when I typed the message above!. Not sure what I was trying to say with some of the grammer..... Sorry it was meant to read "It is amazing looking at your pictures..........."
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