milod Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 FYI, I had a day off last week and visited the Deadwood Mountain Grand hotel, event center and casino. A big batch of black Gibbie LPs greet you at the main doorway and around the corner is this black "LP" Harley. The place is a new venue with plenty of music - and with some pretty big names, and there are pro musicians in ownership. Good food too. Deadwood in general has had some pretty high end names as has Sturgis during the rally. In fact, some of the music is a big enough deal that the hotel has concert overnight deals with other area hotels. Deadwood is known for great fun and entertainment year-round, by the way, although it's far different from what I remember there as a kid. http://www.deadwoodmountaingrand.com/ Hi Brad... Interesting too ... Down Boulder Canyon, btw, at the Legendary Buffalo Chip at the edge of Sturgis - as in bike rally - they've a deal with Epiphone. http://www.buffalochip.com/NEWSINFO/News/SturgisRiderNewsBlog/tabid/992/ArticleID/141/ArtMID/2002/Default.aspx Hi Rod! Although this part of the country isn't crowded - one of its main appeals - there's plenty happening this time of year. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Isaac Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Gibson also made a black Harley J-180. Nearly bought one. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Looks like a very beautiful setting....are you going to go see anything there, Don Williams sounds good. Nice bike! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RevDavidLee Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Very nice Bike! Haven't been to Deadwood for about 10 years - had a blast there and the people are the friendliest I've ever encountered! Good to see more cool stuff going on there. Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVIL Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 WOW!! Love that Bike! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted July 30, 2013 Author Share Posted July 30, 2013 Rev... Yeah, Regardless that there's been a lot of population turnover, a small town environment encourages a habit of courtesy. Folks there are quite aware that being nice is not only good business, it helps make the icy winter a lot more enjoyable for locals. For what it's worth, my Dad lived there prior to the legal gaming "thing" that probably has been a big help in promoting and expectations of live music in the area. I'm in awe of the number of really talented and skilled musicians who mostly are weekend warriors. As for Harleys... Hey, Dad had a dealership in the '50s before it was a big deal as today. I think Deadwood and the S.D. Black Hills in general are kinda a hidden treasure. Some years during Sturgis Rally Week it gets a bit crowded, but if you're the type of person with a bit of adventure in you and like people, it's a pretty good place to be year-round. Just take it seriously in winter if they say "no travel advisory," 'cuz that means you could end up stranded for a cupla days, and better in town than 30 miles from town. OTOH, that snow makes for good local skiing - near Deadwood. Stevil... Yup, and it's a prettier bike in person. That's just a cell phone photo - I left the Nikon in the Jeep. For what it's worth, I about dropped my teeth when I saw the line of nicely-polished black LPs lining the way into the venue. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aster1 Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Man, I'm already going thru SD withdrawals as we won't get to be there this year with the southern trip to the Grand Canyon. Just love it there in the Black Hills. Little Yellowstone kinda. If put on my luggage rack & bungee my SG onto my rack then I'd have a HD Gibson bike wouldn't I? Wish I was riding the Black Hills & Devils Tower area before or after Sturgis M I would like to have one of each of those 50's bikes your Daddy sold for sure!!! With 50's price tags would be the only way I could have 'em too. Aster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted July 30, 2013 Author Share Posted July 30, 2013 Yeah, all I have from Dad's bike era is a cupla his-hers leather jackets and some smaller trinket stuff. Dad was about the size I was when we were 35 or so - now he's gone and I ain't close to 35 any more. <grin> Anyway, steal some time in Sept. Check the Grand or other Deadwood stuff. Holler and we'll have a beer or three at the literal Center of the Nation. Weather's usually far better than Des Moines in September. Been there, done that. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Me and the wife and the kids did the "drive out west" vacation in the Caprice Wagon in about '86 and we showed up at Sturgis (or somewhere near there) on Wednesday night before the rally. I didn't know anything about the bike rally or Sturgis or anything. So I'm like "Wow, there's a lot of bikers here! People around here must really be into bikes!" By about four the next morning the whole town was a gigantic rumbling mob of bike noise and beer sweat. I'm like "You guys have your vacation here - We'll have our vacation somewhere else." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Mrs and I consider ourselves very lucky and fortunate to have been in Spearfish and over in Keystone around the 2003 rally, and on 90 headed somewhere or back around the 2010 rally. Both times we got to stop along the way, or crest a rise, and there'd be literally 10s of miles of bikes on the interstate. Awesome sight. We've never rode bikes, we use the auto. We admire the cut of their jibs getting out there on that road on them things. It's a thrill to see them all winding along, and since they are made right here in U! S! A! damn Harleys the 100 watt all tube hand wired true bypass vintage original spec rumble and thunder is a beautiful sound. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted July 31, 2013 Author Share Posted July 31, 2013 For all intents, the rally is on now in Sturgis. I'm seeing a lot of it currently. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aster1 Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 I would really enjoy some of the events at the big bike rally's, but it's the crowds I can't handle too well! 600,000+ bikes/people is a radical population explosion for Sturgis & surrounding area, Dayton 500,000+, Laconia 400,000+, and Myrtle Beach 300,000+. I will say I almost like nothing as much as being out on the road on a long trip, backpack tent camping, and just tooling down the roads. The most fun almost of all is the wonderful people you meet along the way. Having breakfast or lunch in the little towns, visiting the the "salt of the earth" seniors & being asked to join all the "boys" having coffee at the cafe. They're always so interested in our bikes, where we've been, where we're going. What it's like to be out riding free. THEY make the ride for me. Love them all. The sounds, wind, challenges, scenery is right on you, all of it. We've been trapped in a Bison or Elk herds walking the roads in Yellowstone. You don't make eye contact with large beasts and then you're okay. Been snowed on, within 4 miles of a tornado setting down, big rain storms, strong winds, mountain roads (Chief Joseph Byway or Beartooth HiWay are 2 of my favs). But the people are so fascinating when you're on the bikes. I could be gone most all summer just riding across the country, stopping to see the worlds largest ball of twine, or such oddities to enjoy. (sigh) But alas, work won't wait for me. And oh yes, never want to hear any music other than the sound of a beautiful V-Twin playing thru it's two pipes. The shake, sound, and look are music enough for me. A whole concert even. Aster Father & Son w/ my other two from the stable. (Yes, helmets in hand too!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 We've been trapped in a Bison or Elk herds walking the roads in Yellowstone... mmmmm...Yellowstone... ... mountain roads (Chief Joseph Byway or Beartooth HiWay are 2 of my favs). YaY! Planning drive from Milwaukee to Yellowstone next year after we do some stuff in beer town. Bear Tooth again. Awesome. Chief Joseph too, Wyoming 296. Ever been on Going To The Sun or Trail Ridge? US 2 up by the border with Cannuckistan? Awesome drive. I could be gone most all summer just riding across the country, stopping to see the worlds largest ball of twine, or such oddities to enjoy. (sigh) But alas, work won't wait for me. Oh man so true. You been to Death Valley? Saw lots of bikes there in February of this year. Can't wait to go back. It's a beautiful country, flying is the worst thing ever happened to 'Merkins. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aster1 Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Only been on "Going to the Sun" in Glacier with the Dodge Rambo (w/o the 5th wheel ) and it was terrifying with the traffic. Don't know if I could do it with the Road King or not with the SUV's flying thru. We did some of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Tail of the Dragon, & the loop around Smoky Mnts last fall for 2 weeks. Didn't like the wild drivers in Tenn now a days. Saw they have one of the highest traffic death rates in the country in TN. I can believe it. Had to ride thru the scattered mess of two cars that crashed right in front of me in Pigeon Forge. Didn't have time to stop just swerve back & forth to miss the bumper & body panel parts that exploded from the cars. I needed a quick stop to change my pants before diner. Those people there have no value for their lives or anyone else for that matter and are in a HUGE HURRY!!! Not been to Death Valley or Grand Canyon on the bikes yet. I do want to take a ride from Missouri out thru Arizona on as much of Route 66 that I can do someday soon. M, I will get to the Black Hills on the bike and have that beer with you for sure ASAP. Getting closer to more time away from the office next year as I want to be handing off most of my day to day work to others now. Aster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RevDavidLee Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Yeah, all I have from Dad's bike era is a cupla his-hers leather jackets and some smaller trinket stuff. Dad was about the size I was when we were 35 or so - now he's gone and I ain't close to 35 any more. <grin> Anyway, steal some time in Sept. Check the Grand or other Deadwood stuff. Holler and we'll have a beer or three at the literal Center of the Nation. Weather's usually far better than Des Moines in September. Been there, done that. m Hell yeah! Next time you're in Des Moines - give me a shout out brother. We'll hook up. You look familiar to me.. ever been to Crazy Horse guitars here in Des Moines? I swear I've seen you there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aster1 Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Me and the wife and the kids did the "drive out west" vacation in the Caprice Wagon in about '86 and we showed up at Sturgis (or somewhere near there) on Wednesday night before the rally. You know Blues, there was just something way cool about station wagons to travel in (SUV's & Minivans don't come close for me anyway!). Esp. a Caprice wagon with the wood grain look! Or a Buick/Olds that had the Vista Cruiser window roof too. Those fold open back seats looking out the big picture back window made the view quite special. Also rode nice and smooth too. Ah, a wagon pulling an Airstream with the family, there's a site to me. Man, life is sure good, esp. when you can still remember things!! Funny on the Sturgis trip you took. That happened to a friend of mine in the early 90's and she & hubby didn't have a Clue why the hell there were all these bike everywhere when they went to see Mount Rushmore & the Black Hills. They stayed as somehow, they had booked rooms early. Maybe she just thought "man the rooms are a bit pricy here, but I guess that's what they go for." Aster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted August 1, 2013 Author Share Posted August 1, 2013 Actually I think this might be a good year to do a spur of the moment run to the rally. I know there have been various cancellations of "regulars" at some motels here. As for me and Des Moines... The last time I was in a music store there, it was the summer of '65 at Des Moines Music when it was downtown across (east?) from Yonkers. That's a long time ago. I was working at Meredith Printing in the "new" plant toward the airport. I'm so old I remember touring the "old" plant downtown - and even the cupola on top of the state capitol dome. Actually I have family connections there dating back to the CW era and a Walker family that had a farm chemical (?) business. Grandpa got his degree from Highland Park College as I'm told. Also living there was a great-great aunt who was an author more than a century ago. http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&field-author=Margaret%20Coulson%20Walker&page=1&rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AMargaret%20Coulson%20Walker Problem to me is that it turned into a city rather than a big farm town. Ditto the rest of Iowa. That's why my Dad's side of the family all left, continuing a tradition dating back to before 1700 in the US. <grin> m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 The last time I was in a music store there, it was the summer of '65 Might want to stop and pickup a setta strings or two. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted August 1, 2013 Author Share Posted August 1, 2013 <grin> I doubt the store is still there in a depleted downtown. And... I really stocked up on strings in a big way last fall. Stuff for regular use and sets for some experimentation. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RevDavidLee Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Actually I think this might be a good year to do a spur of the moment run to the rally. I know there have been various cancellations of "regulars" at some motels here. As for me and Des Moines... The last time I was in a music store there, it was the summer of '65 at Des Moines Music when it was downtown across (east?) from Yonkers. That's a long time ago. I was working at Meredith Printing in the "new" plant toward the airport. I'm so old I remember touring the "old" plant downtown - and even the cupola on top of the state capitol dome. Actually I have family connections there dating back to the CW era and a Walker family that had a farm chemical (?) business. Grandpa got his degree from Highland Park College as I'm told. Also living there was a great-great aunt who was an author more than a century ago. http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&field-author=Margaret%20Coulson%20Walker&page=1&rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AMargaret%20Coulson%20Walker Problem to me is that it turned into a city rather than a big farm town. Ditto the rest of Iowa. That's why my Dad's side of the family all left, continuing a tradition dating back to before 1700 in the US. <grin> m Wow the good old Des Moines Music store. I remember that Cream played in Des Moines and I saw Ginger Baker at the store signing autographs. That's a long time ago and yes - that music store closed many years ago. It was one of the last great music stores here. The other great one was the Professional Music Center located by Drake University. A gentleman by the name of Fred Boresi ran that one for over 40 years until he retired and sold it. They've since tore down the old building. Great man. Great deals. Great store. If your amp broke down and you had a gig that night - Fred would tell you to grab what you needed off the showroom floor and pay him later. Those days are long gone for sure. I guess I'm old too brother. A handshake used to be a contract. B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted August 1, 2013 Author Share Posted August 1, 2013 Rev... BTW, my Dad was a "Rev" for real for that summer of '65 in Des Moines as I recall. Anyway... I do recall in the '50s a music store along the east side of the Drake campus, but I don't recall any guitars or amps there. It was, as I recall from prior to '58, it was pretty much band instruments and piano stuff. ??? I think there was an art store in that same area too. You'll get a kick out of this - by the time I was 12, I'd read all the books on archaeology and paleontology in the old Drake library and relaxing and reading in the old Jewett Student Union on campus if I wasn't sitting in on my Mom's classes on history or lit. <grin> Try this one - Remember the old Victoria Hotel? m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aster1 Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 I remember DSM Music having a big moving sale (from Downtown to Merle Hay Road area) and getting my Guild F-47 from them new. Still have that baby too. Man, I was so broke then I just don't know how I scraped up the cash money to purchase that. Had started my Skateboard Shop (1st business I did that "didn't") and think it was about $700 at 1/2 price. The Victoria sounds familiar Milod, was it around 5th Street or 6th Ave or something. Something looked kind of like a Castle with spires or the like. Don't know, maybe too young at the time as I haven't broke 60 yet. Yeah DSM grew up and I do like smaller cities for me. I still hope to move to WY & NM (summer & winter homes) someday. Cowpoke on my iron pony all summer, and similar all winter in Alamogordo NM all winter. Liv'n the dream if I can make it. I do remember Pro. Music in it's old Drake location. Got busy with business years ago after closing my Skateboard store & High End Audio Store. Just like Walt Disney, Closed two, third one stuck. Not the cash like the Disney endevour, just closing two business before the third time charm. Aster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted August 1, 2013 Author Share Posted August 1, 2013 Yup on the "castle like" hotel. We stayed there one summer - my little sis and I and Mom probably about '55 or '56 - while Mom went heavy class load at Drake. Dad'd bring one of his bikes for most weekends that summer. I'm so old I remember the Tribune (the afternoon version of the Register) in a letterpress 8-column broadsheet format and when they popped from roughly 8-point type to about 10-point type that was a lot easier to read. <sigh> A long time ago, eh? They still have a butter calf at the state fair? <grin> RE: That summer of '65... there was something of an informal folkie-bluesie bunch, but little opportunity to pick outside... @#$% I think it was the Mary Jane Chin (spelling correct) show, though, that I did my first TV guitar solo gig. Was that KRNT or WHO? I really don't recall. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aster1 Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 Man, M, You can really remember some good stuff. Yes MJ Chin was on the TV for sure. Russ Van Dyke for the news caster on KRNT TV at night (Now KCCI call letters). Butter cow carver lady just retired (maybe last year) that had been doing it since before 65 I think it was. She trained a new gal to take over for a few years prior to her exit. My daddy would tell me how people before & after the war II, would go and spread blankets on the Capital grounds and sleep all night there as it was too dang hot in their apartments. Not riff-raff people, just you regular Joe types. A bit before your day maybe to recollect. Aster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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