Jun 09, 2010
About 2 hours to the west is Rapid City, the second largest city in SD. Another pretty cool place. A bustling downtown area with lots of stores/restaurants (some geared toward tourists, some not), and a real-life quality to it. Laura perked up at the sight of Target, Michaels, and other chain stores lining the highway into town. In town, we saw some people clothed in wearing western wear (10 gallon hats, flannel shirts, Wranglers), others in the Indian garb I associate with the earth mother types living in Santa Fe. Also a bit strange/cool for me to see American Indians walking around town. I’ve never spent time in any city where they make up any part of the population.
Found a great looking spot – Firehouse Brewing Co. – with a good reputation and a sweet patio. Arrived just in time for happy hour beer(s) and sorta-disgusting-but-huge appies. I grow ever-doughier with each passing meal.
From Rapid City we drove through Keystone toward Mount Rushmore (see http://www.nps.gov/moru/index.htm). Despite the mild rain, we were blown away. The structure appeared out of nowhere as we were driving toward the park entrance, startling me and eliciting a loud “WOOAH.” 10 minutes later we were standing directly in front of the four Presidents, posing for pics and taking it in.
The size, scope, and beauty of it all is something to behold. I was also quite struck by the detail – the eyes on all four (what pressure Borglum must have felt working on the eyes; a screw-up would have ruined the whole thing, right?), Teddy’s wire rims, Abe’s facial expression – conveyed. To me, Rushmore is the ultimate sign of human ingenuity and industry. Man conquering nature in the boldest, most patriotic, uncompromising way.
Also happy to report that the park facilities were very impressive. National monument construction/maintenance/etc. is something the federal government does quite well. Rushmore was well-managed, clean, and good looking. The walk around the structure and to the base of the mountain was informative and quite cool. Hundreds of thousands of pictures document from every possible angle, with varying camera settings, and emphases, a visit that wasn’t much more than two hours or so.
We couldn't go cold turkey from all the fried foods, now could we?
Even though this was our first stop, I was already faling for Sioux Falls. Or at least finding it way better than expected.
Hoot.
Josh convinced me to go for more of the half-priced happy-hour appetizers rather than fish tacos or the salad I was eyeing.
That's all we ate. Just to show that we don't have to devour a pile of crap just because it's placed in front of us.
Run, deer, run! Phew.
We saw a bunch of signs for Bear Country. But none of the signs features bears.
Side of the road on the way to Rushmore. I don't even want to do research to find out what's happening here.
Despite the no Scotty dog thing, it's a really nice park overall.
I'd just step to the left a bit and view the real thing.
Go ahead: say his name. It's pretty fun. And I think this was sculpted by his son. I think.
George, Thomas, Teddy, and Abe
Self-portrait of the six of us.
Combo from earlier that day in the Badlands. The g-daughter thought I must be a Tea Partier because of my "Taxation w/o Representation" DC plates.
Hello, Abe.
The entrance to Crazy Horse.
Sadly, the only view we got of Crazy Horse since we fled the area early the next day do to rainstorms.
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