South Dakota

On Sunday August 12th we took off for South Dakota which offered the Badlands, Wall Drugs, Sturgis, Crazy Horse Memorial and most importantly to us: Mt. Rushmore. Little did we realize that this was the last day for the Sturgis/Harley Davidson motorcycle Rally. This attracts over a half million cyclists to Sturgis, South Dakota, and has been doing so in mid August since 1938.  We drove right through the middle of town and the rally was closing up so traffic was not bad (plus the fact that it was over 100 degrees probably helped). We stayed in Rapid City, SD, which is in the middle of everything we wanted to see and on Monday morning we went to Wall Drug (unimpressive) and the Badlands (very impressive).  If I die and go to hell I will be shopping in Wall Drug daily. However, this exit off I-90 also served as the gateway to the Badlands National Park--yet another WOW moment when we drove through the sandstone park--the topography showcase beautiful upside down mountains. The temperatures dropped to a very pleasant 80's so we decided to make a full day of it and in the afternoon went southward to the Crazy Horse Memorial (sad--70 years in and they only have his face and hole for his arm) and then for the evening show at Mt. Rushmore (WOW--. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln in beautiful granite). 


They say they have good donuts....

The Badlands are awesome

 

Crazy Horse Memorial

Mt. Rushmore

Fitz and Teddy in downtown Rapid City

Me and my favorite Pres.--Ron

After a sorta down day spent taking in the President's statues in downtown Rapid City and getting in some groceries, washing the car, we went to Spearfish Canyon and Deadwood. Deadwood is known for being the place where Wild Bill Hickok was shot in the back by Jack McCall and died. Calamity Jane and other notable cowpokes lived there and they do tributes to the Gold Rush and Cowboys there. Fun day.

Spearfish Canyon

 

Bill Hickok lived his last 6 weeks here and was shot in the back

 

Love their Cowboys

 

You can always find a shootout