Mt Rushmore and lots more-June 5, 2012

Beautiful Mt Rushmore

There is something so special about this place and no words to tell you what it is. We just sat and enjoyed the spectacular beauty. Well, we had to hold onto our seats as today's wind is the worst we have experienced in many years. It is really starting to affect everybody. But we were determined to enjoy the day. Since we saw the movie "American Treasure" with Nicholas Cage in 2004, we have wondered if there was really a lake behind Mt Rushmore. There is! The last time we were here we left the way we came in. Today we left on a different route and saw Horsethief Lake. It's really pretty. It also gave us a chance to see George Washington from a different side.

Doesn't George look magestic?

 We also stopped at Crazy Horse. Not a single thing as been done to the mountain since we were here last. However, the improvement to the Visitor Center was startling. It used to be just a rock pit with glass around it. Now it is full of tons of beaded Native American clothing that has been donated for displays. Such incredible beadwork. There are hundreds of family photos and lots of original letters that families have given to be put in huge diplay cases. It was really nice to see all of it. But what a waste that mountain is. It will never be finished because the owners are making a big living off of the visitor center without having to work on the carving.

It's only a 6 miles walk, one way, from the visitor center to the top

of Crazy Horse's arm. No thanks.





Then we drove to Hill City to have lunch. We ate at the Mangy Moose. Now I ask you what are the odds we could go to Hill City, SD and encounter a singer from Pensacola, Florida? It only happens to us. So when he sang his first song that had LA in it, he added "Lower Alabama". And who ever heard of live music on a Tuesday afternoon? Tim was a good piano player and a decent singer. We had a great time talking to him.

Doesn't look fancy, but it was good.

Then we walked through town and encountered two of these unusual horses. I think they qualify to be called artwork. It sure made us smile as we figured out all of the everyday pieces that it took to make the creatures. Here's one.

Sorry, this one is not a horse. It's a mule. But fun anyway!