Colt03
07-27-2008, 08:28 AM
While we were in South Dakota, I noticed that a town not far from Spearfish claimed to be the geographical center of the USA. This was definately worth the trip and a picture or two. We saw what looked like a marker in the town of Belle Fourche, Fred went into the library we were in front of, and asked the Librarian, ( they know everything. ) She said it was right up the street behind the Chamber of Commerce.
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337664200_yXhb9-L.jpg
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337665237_Uw54Z-L.jpg
This was a pretty fancy work of art.
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337664458_zdaxT-L.jpg
How did the Geographical center of the USA end up in the middle of a town next to the Chamber of Commerce ?
Most people probably would have gone on the Devils tower after snapping the above pictures, but I was traveling with Sandy Becker, Sandy and I have competed in several short IBR type rallys- a Few MinuteMan 1000's and Green Mountain 400s .
The Garmin GPS said the center was over 28 miles away. We did some inquiring and found directions to real center. So we just had to have the real thing. It was like we were in a rally, this was a trick, every one would take the in town fancy bonus but the rally master knew that the real site was almost 30 miles away.
Rob Nye had trained us to cover all bases !
So we headed north on 85 until this dirt road.
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337666775_nFrr3-L.jpg
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337646363_A6ked-L.jpg
]
This dirt road had large pea size gravel it was like riding on marbles, one of the guys with us turned back.
after 7.8 miles and opposite a pole barn we looked to the right and found this.
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337665447_dsDRk-L.jpg
Paydirt
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337666293_yGREk-L-1.jpg
We walked over to the flag and here was the official marker we were looking for.
the USGS stamp.
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337665666_JncWR-L.jpg
A self portrait leaving the USGS marker Sandy on the left, me on the right
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337665826_Vzg7a-L.jpg
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337666874_SL3Hx-L.jpg
Fred Kolack smiling after returning from riding over 15 miles on marbles on his big K bike.
We were pumped, now knowing we had bagged the center of geographical USA.( note that is after Alaska and Hawaii are figured in. The center of the lower 48 is in Kansas.
But we had one problem. Mr Garmin said it was still 8 miles away. at this point we said to bad and headed for Devils tower.
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337668510_Mc9bn-L.jpg
That night after a few beers
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337670177_LoRAf-L-1.jpg
We developed phase two of the plan, An assault on North Dakota, I have never been to ND and it would retrace some of yesterdays ride and we could check out the location that Garmin says is the Center.
We stopped on Route 85 where Garmin says it is the center.
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337647623_YoAoR-L.jpg
This is all that marks the spot.
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337647511_AeM7Q-L.jpg
Sandy found the same thing on his side of the road.
Next stop ND
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337671314_DwJWU-L.jpg
Thanks for coming along.
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337664200_yXhb9-L.jpg
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337665237_Uw54Z-L.jpg
This was a pretty fancy work of art.
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337664458_zdaxT-L.jpg
How did the Geographical center of the USA end up in the middle of a town next to the Chamber of Commerce ?
Most people probably would have gone on the Devils tower after snapping the above pictures, but I was traveling with Sandy Becker, Sandy and I have competed in several short IBR type rallys- a Few MinuteMan 1000's and Green Mountain 400s .
The Garmin GPS said the center was over 28 miles away. We did some inquiring and found directions to real center. So we just had to have the real thing. It was like we were in a rally, this was a trick, every one would take the in town fancy bonus but the rally master knew that the real site was almost 30 miles away.
Rob Nye had trained us to cover all bases !
So we headed north on 85 until this dirt road.
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337666775_nFrr3-L.jpg
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337646363_A6ked-L.jpg
]
This dirt road had large pea size gravel it was like riding on marbles, one of the guys with us turned back.
after 7.8 miles and opposite a pole barn we looked to the right and found this.
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337665447_dsDRk-L.jpg
Paydirt
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337666293_yGREk-L-1.jpg
We walked over to the flag and here was the official marker we were looking for.
the USGS stamp.
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337665666_JncWR-L.jpg
A self portrait leaving the USGS marker Sandy on the left, me on the right
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337665826_Vzg7a-L.jpg
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337666874_SL3Hx-L.jpg
Fred Kolack smiling after returning from riding over 15 miles on marbles on his big K bike.
We were pumped, now knowing we had bagged the center of geographical USA.( note that is after Alaska and Hawaii are figured in. The center of the lower 48 is in Kansas.
But we had one problem. Mr Garmin said it was still 8 miles away. at this point we said to bad and headed for Devils tower.
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337668510_Mc9bn-L.jpg
That night after a few beers
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337670177_LoRAf-L-1.jpg
We developed phase two of the plan, An assault on North Dakota, I have never been to ND and it would retrace some of yesterdays ride and we could check out the location that Garmin says is the Center.
We stopped on Route 85 where Garmin says it is the center.
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337647623_YoAoR-L.jpg
This is all that marks the spot.
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337647511_AeM7Q-L.jpg
Sandy found the same thing on his side of the road.
Next stop ND
http://www.clc.smugmug.com/photos/337671314_DwJWU-L.jpg
Thanks for coming along.