South Dakota

Yesterday we left the campground on our way to the Badlands.  The soft rolling hills on South Dakota were covered in crops of sunflowers, sorghum, corn and wheat as far as the eye could see.  There were virtually no trees except for the few around a farm and/or homestead.

We stopped to visit an historical prairie homestead before the entrance to the Badlands.  There were white prairie dogs all over this farm.  What a hard life these earlier settlers had!

And then we went on to the Badlands--- and what a sight to see
The Dakota Indians labeled them "land bad."  They were just mind boggling to see these outcroppings of land in the middle of prairies. They were truly majestic.

 You can see our RV in the background

We did go visit the Wall Drug Store.  It is HUGE!!   It reminded me a bit of South of the Border.  I think it had 26 venues to buy items.  The neat thing about this store was that it started in 1931 and to get customers coming into their store, the owners offered free ice water.  That slogan and service allowed the store to flourish.  We ate bison burgers and David had to have a homemade doughnut AND cherry pie.

On our way to check in to our campground, we stopped at Mt. Rushmore. We spent a couple of hours there. We climbed 254 stairs to do the Presidential Trail. And then we returned at 8:00 pm to watch the lighting of the monument. I didn't feel the need to return to look at the monument again but I'm glad that we did.  The program lasted about 45 minutes and both David and I so moved by it.  As an added bonus, there was a mountain goat grazing on the hillside.

 Lit up at night

 Look closely to see "my" mountain goat

Today we went to the Crazy Horse Monument.  I remember seeing the sculptor on television documentary when I was young and I wanted to see this.  We spent several hours there too.  It so amazing to see them still working on this and they will continue to work on this monument for many more years.  There is no federal or state money involved.  It is funded through private donations and the money raised at the memorial.

I can't download my good pics of this stop.  Will have to wait until we had "good" internet again.

Leaving the Mt. Rushmore area tomorrow.  We're headed to Sturgis and then we're moving north toward Montana.