MOUNT RUSHMORE & A DRIVE THROUGH THE BLACK HILLS… WHAT A NICE AREA THIS IS

THIS IS FRIDAY’S POST…HAD SOME KIND OF LOG-IN PROBLEM & COULDN’T PUBLISH THE BLOG…HAD TO WAIT TILL SATURDAY MORNING WHEN KELLY GOT UP TO FIGURE IT OUT…………

How nice to wake up under warmer conditions.  With electric we can run our little ceramic heater & that does a nice job of keeping the chilly stuff out.

We loaded up Pheebs & were on the road this morning before 8 o’clock heading down I-90 for MOUNT RUSHMORE.  Cloud & sun & a touch windy.  It’s been twenty two & a half years since I was last at Mount Rushmore & aside from the faces on the mountain I hardly remembered one single thing but that is because it has changed radically since 92.  Surprised to to see a 3 level parking garage for example & I don’t remember the walk-way of flags or the big information building or viewing area.  I did remember Gutzon Borglum’s studio though….well sort of.  .

 

We listened to a Park Ranger give an informative 20 minute talk on the history of Mount Rushmore.  It was then inside the building for a 15 minute video on the mountains construction & a look around at a lot of exhibits.  Back outside again we headed off on a path called, The President’s Walk.  I felt fortunate to be here at this time of year for several reasons.  The off season meant it was not bumper to bumper traffic or shoulder to shoulder people & the Autumn colors just put the icing on the cake so to speak.  Still lots of people there of course but I had expected & accepted that before we arrived there.  Still managed to get myself a little crusty a couple times though.

 

FORGOT HER NAME BUT SHE GAVE A GREAT TALK…I DO REMEMBER HER TELLING US HER DAD WAS A BLUE EYED BLONDE HAIR GUY & HER MOTHER WAS APACHE

KELLY AT MOUNT RUSHMORE…SHE WASN’T FEELING SO SWELL TODAY SO WASN’T TOO KEEN ON MY TAKING PICTURES OF HER

Say what you will about touristy or whatever but Mount Rushmore is what it is.  Truly a monument to man’s perseverance, dedication, & ingenuity.  It was as impressive to me today as it was over 22 years ago & I think the Park system has done a fine job in making the area as easily accessible to people as it has.

 

WE DID THE ‘PRESIDENT’S WALK’ TO MOUNT RUSHMORE SCULPTOR GUTZON BORGLUM'S STUDIO

 

THE LARGE VISITOR’S CENTER AS SEEN FROM THE PRESIDENT’S TRAIL

THE 4 PRESIDENT’S CAN BE SEEN AT THE TOP OF THIS PHOTO

A few hours of walking & looking at things brought on our appetites so we headed off along a gently winding highway through forests of tall Pines to the town of Custer.  Nice little place & it has that old West feel to it.  Someone had recommended a burger spot called ‘Burger & Buns’ but it was closed in preparation for a wedding this week-end.  Another recommended spot on the main street was closed for the season.  Spotted a Mexican red wagon eatery but we just couldn’t get ourselves in the mood for Mexican.  I’ve never cared much for Mexican food but Kelly likes it.  Spotted the ‘Baker’s Café’ down the street.  Outside menu board special looked good so in we went. Can’t remember what we had but we both agreed it was darn good.

MAIN STREET CUSTER SOUTH DAKOTA 

HEY HARRY, SIGN SAID THIS WAS AN ANNIVERSARY EDITION WINCHESTER

  

A FEW SIGNS ON CUSTER’S MAIN STREET & WE ATE IN THE ‘BAKER’S BAKERY & CAFÉ BOTTOM 2 PHOTOS

Clouds had moved in dropping the temperature a bit as we cruised up the highway by the Crazy Horse Monument.  Kelly wasn’t feeling the best & volunteered to stay in Jeep if I went in to see it.  Figured it was best we head back to the rig, crack on some heat for Kelly’s cold & relax for the afternoon.  Maybe I could come back in the morning if the weather’s decent. 

INSIDE GUTZON BORGLUM’S STUDIO WHERE HE USED THAT LARGE MOCK UP TO AID HIM WITH HIS MOUNT RUSHMORE PROJECT

  

This sure is nice country here in the Black Hills.  It has an Alpine feel with it’s log cabins, A-frame chalets & small hamlets.  Just as we approached an especially pretty lake the clouds broke up & we were again bathed in a warming sun.  Nice to see old Sol’s sunny rays bringing such vibrant rich colors out of the surrounding rocks & forests.   

GUTZON BORGLUM’S STUDIO

Kelly saw a sign for ‘Red Ass Rhubarb Wine’ in a little place called Hillside so we pulled in for a look see.  Kelly slipped inside while I took Pheebs for a walk.  She came out with 4 bottles of Red Ass which is made from rhubarb & strawberries.  Maybe that’s how the color got into it’s name.

 

THIS IS VERY TYPICAL OF THE BLACK HILLS FORESTS

Came through another little mountain town I had been to once before called Deadwood.  It was here WILD BILL HICKOK was killed.  The town seemed a lot bigger than what I had remembered it.  Certainly a lot to see in this area.  Don’t know if we will make it over to the Devil’s Tower in Wyoming.  We’ll see how Kelly’s feeling in the morning.

 

DEADWOOD SOUTH DAKOTA

By the time we arrived back at the rig we were in full sunshine & the motorhome felt warm & relaxing inside.  Weather was nice enough for us to leave our side door open.  Due to the nice weather & the fact we pretty much have the whole place to ourselves we are really enjoying our quiet surroundings.  A bit of road noise but I don’t mind that.

LAKE PACTOLA

 

I THOUGHT THIS WAS A NICE LITTLE CABIN BY THE LAKE BUT SIGN ON IT SAID IT WAS THE CAMPGROUND’S WASHROOM

Want to thank folks for sending in suggestions & ideas regarding some of the problems we have been having with our rig.  From reading comments there are a few things I should say about our coach.  First & foremost this motorhome is in exceptionally fine condition & has been exceptionally well maintained & babied by it’s former owner since the day he ordered it new from the factory in Winkler Manitoba.  Yes it’s a 2003 but it can hardly be called old in the sense of it being out of shape.  All battery connections look like they were just installed yesterday.  We have 4 deep cell Golf Cart batteries in the coach which were installed new in 2011.  Our monitor shows these batteries fully charged with lots of power to move both our slides in & out with no problem.  Keep in mind we also have 4 solar panels on our roof feeding a charge to these batteries & that part of our electrical system is working fine.  Engine battery terminals are tight with not a speck of corrosion on them.  Our problem could very well be what the RV repair place said it was.  Our inverter is shot.  If that is true then how did that happen.  Did we ourselves do something wrong.  We don’t know……………………….

GROANER’S CORNER:(( During one "generation gap" quarrel with his parents, young Michael cried, "I want excitement, adventure, money, and beautiful women. I'll never find it here at home, so I'm leaving. Don't try and stop me!"  With that, he headed toward the door. His father rose and followed close behind. "Didn't you hear what I said? I don't want you to try and stop me."  "Who's trying to stop you?" replied his father. "If you wait a minute, I'll go with you."