Day 3 Mount Rushmore and more - Summer 2013

Thursday I was showing the owner pictures and he said he saw the most beautiful sunrise a few days ago, that he has ever seen. I told him I would set my alarm and see if I could get a nice picture. 5:30 my alarm went off and it is thundering and lightning so I went back to sleep. Last night around 8:00 I was thinking I should make sure I set my alarm for the next morning, and by 9:30 it is storming like crazy. I was talking to a native American this morning and ask if all this rain was normal. He said it hasn't rained like this in a few years. According to him, the past 2 years at this time it was 104 degrees and the grass and leaves are dead. I'm not sure if me visiting is a good thing or not, but rain has followed me throughout this trip.

Headed down Highway 44 to visit Mt. Rushmore and other spots along the way.

Pyramids of South Dakota?? 

I didn't realize the bird was in this shot when I took it.

Made my way to Rapid City and then south to Mt. Rushmore

For those of you without Facebook, I returned to my car

to find a couple pointing and staring at the front. As I 

approached, they smiled and started to walk away.

I ask if they liked my bug shield or my Steeler license plate.

In broken English the lady pointed to my Steeler plate

and said "Interesting.... what is this?"

I explained what the insiginia and everything else was,

as they smiled and nodded. I ask where they were from,

and they told me Germany. They told me this was their

first day in the U.S. (and the picked South Dakota??)

We spoke a few more minutes and the lady asked if she 

could take a picture of my Steeler plate. I found it more

than a little amusing that there could be anyone, anywhere

that didn't know who the Steelers were. LOL

Parking level where I met the German couple.

Headed out to see the Crazy Horse Memorial, with a

trip through part of the Black Hills.

Not sure if this is wrinkled rock, but it was just around the bend.

Arriving at Crazy Horse to rumblings in the distance.

They dynamited a section shortly before I arrived.

An estimated 8,000 tons of rubble removed to carve

the top of his finger pointing.

Just as I walked in the Welcome Center, a lady asked,

"Are you just arriving?" I nodded yes, and she said follow

him outside, he will be doing a ritual dance in 5 minutes, 

and you can see the other things anytime.

He is the grandson of Crazy Horse on his mothers side,

and the little fellow on the left is his grandson. 20 months old.

This man was also the grandson of a Lakota Chief, but

I can't remember which one.

Daughter and grandson of the first man above.

Exiting the visitor center, I see this in the parking lot.

If it's "nada bus" what is it??

I left Crazy Horse, traveled south to Custer State Park to drive

through the Wildlife Loop. It was scenic, but I didn't get the 

opportunity to get any photo's. The bikers I encountered here

were the most inconsiderate people I've run in to so far.

I won't vent, but of all the bikers, this lot are the ones to

give a bad name to others.

It was about a 100 mile drive back to the campsite, but first I stopped

at Cedar Pass Lodge for some real food. Sandwiches were starting to get old.

I'm all caught up with my blog, taking the day off, and will see what I can get 

in to on Sunday. Maybe another day of rest.