Black Hills - WOW!

Got here in time to see the evening program at Mt. Rushmore.  Quite an experience to sit in the amphitheater, right below the monument.  Warmed up by some visiting barbershoppers.  Those geezers were having a great time - got the crowd singing along.  Next a ranger gave a talk on the L & C trip which was followed by a film describing the construction and the meaning of Rushmore and ended by the lighting of the faces.  Was very moving and was very glad I made the effort to see it.

The following day I headed for the Crazy Horse memorial which honors the Native American people.  It was begun by Korczak Ziolkowski  and has been continued by his wife and 10 children after his death.  The site, which is privately supported, also includes a museum, cultural and education center and restaurant. It's huge,  the faces from Mt. Rushmore would fit into the head.  Several artisans were also there with hand-made crafts.  I'm going to regret not buying those earrings.

Went back to Mt. Rushmore thru the "eye and ear poppin' Wild Mouse" ride thru the Peter Norbeck  drive.  10, 15 & 20 mph hairpin and pigtail turns.  No railings.  When an engineer asked if it could be built, said all he needed was plenty of dynamite!  It was quite a thrill and found out Patience is great on the curves.

Explored Mt. Rushmore again and this time took the ranger tour.  Interesting story of how Gutzon Borglum  became the sculptor.  Seems the local politicians wanted to find something to bring people to the Black Hills after the gold rush fizzled.  They asked Borglum to talk to them about the possibility of doing a tribute to western heroes. He suggested something with more national appeal and drew a couple of pictures of Washington and Lincoln.  Unfortunately, he already had the Stone Mountain contract to do a tribute to confederate generals and couldn't do both.  He'd done a prototype of General Lee, seated on a horse, wearing a hat.  The good southern ladies (who were financing the endeavor) told him that NO southern gentleman would wear a hat in the presence of ladies and insisted it be removed.  He told them to shove it - literally.  He pushed the prototype off the mountain so it couldn't be duplicated and headed for South Dakota.

Off the Spearfish thru Spearfish Canyon.  It was spectacular.  Just when I thought I was going to run into a 200' wall, the road would make a sharp turn.  Paid my respects to Wild Bill and Calamity Jane in Deadwood.  The reality of their lives is quite a bit different from the Doris Day & Howard Keel rendition. However, Calamity did get her wish to be buried next to him.

Had a bit of a scare when leaving Lead.  Pulled off to the side of the road to take a picture and heard a scraping noise from Patience's tummy.  When I stopped for gas, saw a green liquid on the pavement.  Thought coolant so stopped at a auto repair place on the road.  Turns out Patience's coolant is PINK.  The mechanic refused to take anything for checking her out.  That's something else I want to mention.  I've stayed off the interstate and stuck to the back roads so I've gotten to see lots of lovely small towns.  People have been so kind and helpful with directions, recommendations, anything I need to know.  Food has also been outstanding.  Had the best BLT with home-grown tomatoes, smokey bacon and thick whole wheat bread at Cindy B's and home-made rhubarb pie at Penny's (from her garden).

Next was Devil's Tower - came up over a hill and there it was.  Nothing in the landscape to challenge its power.  Had no idea it was a solid piece of magma formed underground and millions of years later, water and wind removed everything from it.  Learned that from the ranger's walking tour around the base.  It's a huge attraction for climbers (record is 18 minutes- must've been part squirrel).  As you see, I didn't get very far.

A little more Wyoming, then Nebraska and a more extensive stay in Colorado.