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Hill City has bears — lots of them
We were talking the other day about roadside attractions on the odd side of the road -- at least the unusual side -- when Deb Casey at the Hill City Chamber of Commerce sent me the following note: Don't forget about our Guinness World Book of Records Teddy Bear Collection here in Hill City."
The Black Hills are greeeeen
My friends John and Mary took a drive up Vanocker Canyon west of Sturgis a couple of weeks ago. They said the wildflowers are truly wild this summer. The meadows and fields are afire with color. Indeed, the Black Hills are greener than I've ever seen them. We've had 14.08 inches of precipitation this year, about 4 inches above normal. It has resulted in an unbelievably lush countryside. We're no where near a rain forest, but at least the Black Hills don't look like a forest fire waiting to happen.
Prairie dogs, jackalopes & corn, Oh my!
A while back, we talked about "Weird America," the list of 12 strangest roadside attractions compiled by MSN website. As you recall, Dinosaur Park in Rapid City made the list. Readers of this blog added a few more oddities, including Cadillac Ranch in Texas and a Mount Rushmore carved from a big lock of cheese in Wisconsin. This week, AutoWeek has released what I consider to be the definitive list of whacky roadside attractions. In a recent online story, AutoWeek showed us some true "Roadside Oddities." South Dakota's own Mitchell Corn Palace and Wall Drug made the AutoWeek list of "Roadside Oddities." And it listed an oddity in our own back yard that I've never seen -- or at least not noticed.
Astraware Brings Mount Rushmore Fireworks To YouHolidays inspire all kinds of gimmicky things. Peeps, for instance, are at the top of my list of favorite holiday tackle, as are those chalky Valentine's Day hearts, thanks mostly to this episode of Futurama. ("This concept of 'wuv' confuses and infuriates us!") It doesn't really matter that even the most entertaining of this stuff is pretty useless for 364 days of the year. Somehow, we think it's cool anyway, and new holiday paraphernalia pops up every year. Enter Astraware, a software publisher for mobile devices. They've released a pretty hokey little application just in time for Independence Day. Like Peeps and dancing Santas, I'm not sure what its purpose is, so let me tell you what it does: when you start the program - aptly named "Fireworks" - you're given the option of choosing from four backgrounds and three patriotic songs. When you make your selection and hit the 'launch' button, animated fireworks buzz around your chosen picture as the music plays.
New Indian to debut at Sturgis
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, perhaps the largest collection of bikers in the world, has long been a magnet for motorcycle manufacturers to show off their new models. Every year, Harley-Davidson Motor Co. rents the entire Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City to show off its new models and entertain its most loyal customers. In 1996, the Hanlon brothers unveiled their prototype Excelsior-Henderson motorcycle, reviving an old brand name that, unfortunately, didn't survive its own revival. Another classic motorcycle name, Indian, is about to make another run at the motorcycle mainstream. And it's no surprise that the company has chosen Sturgis to roll out its debut bike. The first 2009 Indian Chiefs will be unveiled to the public during the rally, Indian Motorcycle Co. has announced.
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