Nicole and Ingrid are speeding things up.  This week they have arrived in the 4th state in the United States : South Dakota, Deadwood.  A very apt name, because there are scorched pinetrees all over the place.


‘ The Penny Motel in Deadwood is a typical casinohotel, Nicole tells us.  We ended up in this motel after being exhausted from our trip.  Here you find one gambling den after the other.  You occasionally win - only in the movies you are lucky.  Roulette, gambling tables.
The atmosphere was allright.  After we had a shower, we decided to explore the town.  You really walk from casino to casino.  In the saloon you can not only take a refreshment, there is spectacle/showpiece too !  At a fixed hour the show begins - a real sheriff complete with a star on his jacket comes in with his deputy.  He catches the supposed thiefs and put the handcuffs on.   Meanwhile the dancing playgirls have turned up and a simulated fight begins.  Bottles, chairs flew around the place, it was like being in the middle of a fight.  There were gunshots, breaking of window glass, everything !  Ingrid had an uneasy feeling with the whole set-up.  The actors really took their roles very literally.  I doubted whether I could join in, but Ingrid held my hand firmly.

We afterwards took a ride on a covered wagon.  After a bumpy trip we were invited at a cowboy-barbecue.  We were offered a hot potatoe on a dagger and a bowl with hotchilli beans and some cornbread.  I can't say that it tastes nice but it certainly was nutritious.  
The beans gave us a lot of pleasure.....         for a very long time........