Hot Springs S.D.

    We had intended to camp in the Wind Cave N.P. but after a sunny morning, the afternoon and evening has been lightening, hail and pounding rain --- so a motel it is.  As a small aside, after reading all of the scare stories du jour concerning bedbugs, we have been checking the motel beds for the critters.  It seems they don't carry any diseases, but they still are nasty bugs -- as I know from Mexican experience (with a nod of the head to Bob D. who is smiling to himself right now)
   We stopped at Devils Tower this morning -- took the short hike around the base  (note to David N. :  there's STILL a line of climbers waiting to ascent the Durrance route) -- watched several groups climbing, saw a bunch of birds -- including the wily Assup Woodpecker -- and I recieved several compliments on my bravery for doing the hike on crutches.  I am always suitably modest. 
   After the Tower, we continued on a scenic drive through Hulett (paralleling I-90).  East of Hulett, we passed a graveyard for giant (6'+) tires.  At the end of the drive in Aladdin (pop. 15) we stopped at the 110 year old general store.  It was full of assorted food stuffs, clothing, and junque.  Both Dianne and I wanted one item, but at $100 we passed.  It was an old print of bambi nursing with bambi's mom sniffing bambi's ass.  Now, bambi's mom was really rooting around there -- it looked like she had nosed bambi's butt clear off the ground.  Priceless, but not quite $100 priceless.
  And after that we stopped at the Vore Buffalo Jump which was mildly interesting but not nearly as good as Head Smashed In in Alberta.  We also stopped at the Wyoming info center which, among other things, had a life size, saddled, statue of a horse wading belly deep through a green mat.  Should one choose, one could mount the horse for a photo op.   
--- A shout-out to Dennis S --- Cows with horns were on the move.  Walking and running towards the east at 1:11 P.M.  Should we be alarmed? ---
   Drove through Deadwood where Wild Bill Hickok was shot in 1872.  It's perhaps apocryphal but supposedly Wild Bill (after lying doggo for several years) decided to go to Deadwood to take advantage of the gold rush.  He sent ahead a wire to friends and enemies that he was coming to town, and that "I still wear my hair long."  Meaning that though older he was still Wild Bill, and one tough dude.  Naturally, like Samson, his hair, long or short, didn't do him any good and he was shot in the back while playing poker and holding the subsequently famous dead man's hand:  aces and eights. 
   Went on to Lead (pronounced leed) and meaning not lead (as in pencil) but lead (as the first showing of a gold seam).  But if I can find a --I (heart) LEAD-- bumper sticker like we saw in Idaho, it'll always be lead (as in pencil) to me. 
   North of Hill City S.D. we passed the "world's largest quilt store", and south of Hill City we passed a sign advertising Red Ass Rubarb wine -- as chilling as that may sound. 
   In the Wind Cave Park, we got up-close with a giant buffalo (we DEFINITELY stayed in the car, although I might have driven a bit too close) The great beast was scratching it's head on a stone sign and licking its nose. 
   Approaching Hot Springs another thunderstorm front moved in and the largest raindrops in the world started hitting the car.  Threatened to break the windshield.  DA