Black Hills Matter: The Ricochet Meetup Report

 

The whole gang at Murphy’s Pub & Grill

Seventeen of us (mostly Ricochet members, but also some spouses and other guests) met up for a four-day meetup in South Dakota’s Black Hills the weekend before Labor Day. We didn’t all do everything, but among the activities and places we went were Mammoth Site, Mount Rushmore, Sturgis Mustang Rally, the 1880 Steam Train Ride, Bear Country USA, and Reptile Gardens. We had talked about doing a cave tour, but most of the cave tours were shut down due to Covid-19. Most of us also went on a scenic drive through Custer State Park and Spearfish Canyon.  Although we set out at more or less the same time, we did not drive in a caravan.  And I don’t think any of us stayed exactly on the pre-planned route.

Sturgis Mustang Rally

Vectorman and Wife at Mount Rushmore

Stad & Neutral Observer at Mount Rushmore

Bear Country, USA

Bear Country, USA

Crazy Horse Memorial

Waiting to start the scenic drive

Several of us went in together and rented a castle to live in, and each evening we would invite the whole group over to finish off the night. Unlike the Montana Meetup, we actually had quite a bit of liquor left over. I guess we were missing the ladies who finished off all the bottles in Montana.

Welcome to the castle

It was a fantastic time. It gave me a chance to get to know some Ricochet members who I had met before but hadn’t had much time to talk to, as well as reconnecting with established old friends. And I can verify that @concretevol’s car isn’t just awesome on paper, it is awesome in reality.  I actually got to drive the Shelby GT350 on some winding mountain and canyon roads and it was delightful.

Concretevol and I also talked about someday have a weekend meetup in Knoxville to coincide with Ponies in the Smokies. This meetup would also likely include a firearms day. But that’s for some time down the road. Next year we are having a major Ricochet Meetup on Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail. And it’s likely that in 2022 we’ll have a big meetup in New Orleans during the New Orleans Jazz Fest.

When I have some time I will make a slideshow video from photos of this meetup, so stay tuned for that.

Published in Meetups
This post was promoted to the Main Feed by a Ricochet Editor at the recommendation of Ricochet members. Like this post? Want to comment? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

There are 56 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
  1. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Awesome pictures, Rushbabe!! It looks like it was great fun–beauty, creativity and even a castle! I am so jealous! And I recognize most of the folks in that first photo, but not all of the. List, please?

    Edit: oops! I didn’t notice that you’d posted this post, Randy. My comments stand, though.

    • #1
  2. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Awesome pictures, Rushbabe!! It looks like it was great fun–beauty, creativity and even a castle! I am so jealous! And I recognize most of the folks in that first photo, but not all of the. List, please?

    Edit: oops! I didn’t notice that you’d posted this post, Randy. My comments stand, though.

    Sure.

    Back row from left to right:  Shelley (Concretevol’s girlfriend), Concretevol, Katie Koppelman, MushroomAlgae, Ray Kujawa, Stad, Neutral Observer, Miffed White Male.

    Middle row: Rushbabe49, LC, Ann (Vectorman’s wife), Vectorman.

    Front row: Hank Rhody, Randy & Sarah Weivoda.

    Not pictured: OmegaPaladin and his friend, Silence.

    • #2
  3. Seawriter Contributor
    Seawriter
    @Seawriter

    So who was the Ricochetti in the second of the two photos captioned “Bear Country, USA.”? Did @richardfulmer attend?

    • #3
  4. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):
    And I recognize most of the folks in that first photo

    Probably from pics in the Post Office …

    • #4
  5. Richard Fulmer Inactive
    Richard Fulmer
    @RichardFulmer

    Seawriter (View Comment):

    So who was the Ricochetti in the second of the two photos captioned “Bear Country, USA.”? Did @richardfulmer attend?

    No, this bear stayed home.  Sorry I missed it!  

    • #5
  6. OldDanRhody's speakeasy Member
    OldDanRhody's speakeasy
    @OldDanRhody

    I am shocked… shocked to see these pictures in a Randy Vievoda post.

    Randy Weivoda: Sturgis Mustang Rally

    Well, not that shocked.

    • #6
  7. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Stad (View Comment):
    Probably from pics in the Post Office …

    What does your shirt say there? Something about Engineers…

    • #7
  8. Seawriter Contributor
    Seawriter
    @Seawriter

    Richard Fulmer (View Comment):

    Seawriter (View Comment):

    So who was the Ricochetti in the second of the two photos captioned “Bear Country, USA.”? Did @richardfulmer attend?

    No, this bear stayed home. Sorry I missed it!

    It bore asking.  Or maybe it beared asking.

    • #8
  9. LC Member
    LC
    @LidensCheng

    It was my first overnight meetup and it was a lot of fun. Can’t wait to go to another one!

    • #9
  10. Jim Chase Member
    Jim Chase
    @JimChase

    Nice crew there!  Glad to see meetups still happening (been years since the last Nashville one).  But I like the idea of a long roadtrip too.

    • #10
  11. Concretevol Thatcher
    Concretevol
    @Concretevol

    It was a lot of fun!  I can also attest that Randy’s mustang is no slouch as well!  

    • #11
  12. OmegaPaladin Moderator
    OmegaPaladin
    @OmegaPaladin

    This is from another thread, but it is Katie Koppleman, my friend Silence, and Hank Rhody out on the scenic drive.  This is the Needles Highway, Custer State Park, which is some of the most gorgeous scenery I’ve seen.

    The meetup was a blast!

    I am deliberately staying out of pictures to avoid outing my real world name.

    • #12
  13. Cosmik Phred Member
    Cosmik Phred
    @CosmikPhred

    Fantastic!  My wife and covered much of the same ground in the Black Hills region 4 years ago. We also visited my Mom and Dad’s hometowns on the Hwy 12 corridor.

    Custer State Park is the best state park ever!

    • #13
  14. Gary McVey Contributor
    Gary McVey
    @GaryMcVey

    What a fine looking crew! 

    • #14
  15. colleenb Member
    colleenb
    @colleenb

    Thanks to Ford v. Ferrari I actually know what a Shelby is and to look out for them. Looks like a great meetup. Maybe someday.

    • #15
  16. Gary McVey Contributor
    Gary McVey
    @GaryMcVey

    You guys could have starred in Oliver North by Northwest! But we’ll come up with a bourbon-flavored script for next year. 

    • #16
  17. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):
    Probably from pics in the Post Office …

    What does your shirt say there? Something about Engineers…

    I believe it said, “Engineers are not boring people.  We just get excited over boring things.”

    • #17
  18. JennaStocker Member
    JennaStocker
    @JennaStocker

    Looks like a great time!! Thanks for sharing all the pictures. It’s nice to put a face with the names. You all made me jealous – nothing beats a good road trip.

    • #18
  19. Hank Rhody, Badgeless Bandito Contributor
    Hank Rhody, Badgeless Bandito
    @HankRhody

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):
    Front row: Hank Rhody

    And y’all laughed when I pulled the chair over. Tell me that didn’t make a better picture.

    • #19
  20. Dave Carter Podcaster
    Dave Carter
    @DaveCarter

    Man that looks like fun!  Sorry I missed out on it! 

    • #20
  21. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Gary McVey (View Comment):

    What a fine looking crew!

    Been putting off that eye exam again?

    • #21
  22. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Dave Carter (View Comment):

    Man that looks like fun! Sorry I missed out on it!

    My wife and I waved at you as we went around Memphis.  Will do the same on the way back!

    • #22
  23. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):
    Probably from pics in the Post Office …

    What does your shirt say there? Something about Engineers…

    I believe it said, “Engineers are not boring people. We just get excited over boring things.”

    That’s the one:

    • #23
  24. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Well, we’re chilled out in Hays, Kansas waiting for the pizza to be delivered.  I found my missing mask (yay!), so I’m ecstatic I can look cool fighting covid while paying for the food . . .

    • #24
  25. RushBabe49 Thatcher
    RushBabe49
    @RushBabe49

    We had a great time behaving normally, meeting new people, having dinner with the group, going to parks and attractions and  not worrying about infection. Our hotels had open fitness rooms so Ray could exercise. 
    until we hit Washington last night. Fitness center closed. No hot breakfast. Back to depression. 
    Yesterday we went to Glacier Park and drove up to Logan Pass and back. Great pictures later. 
    Thanks to Randy for setting it up!

    • #25
  26. MISTER BITCOIN Inactive
    MISTER BITCOIN
    @MISTERBITCOIN

    I loved season one of Deadwood

     

    • #26
  27. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    RushBabe49 (View Comment):
    We had a great time behaving normally

    Speak for yourself.   Muwuhahahaha!

    • #27
  28. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    MISTER BITCOIN (View Comment):

    I loved season one of Deadwood

     

    I loved Calamity Jane . . .

    • #28
  29. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    OmegaPaladin (View Comment):
    I am deliberately staying out of pictures to avoid outing my real world name.

    Don’t worry, Barack.  Your secret is safe with us.

    Oh $%$# . . .

    • #29
  30. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Spending the night in Nevada, Missouri.  Haven’t wrecked the new car yet!

    Quite an achievement . . .

    • #30
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.