Friday

Today we started at a hearty breakfast and then headed out on a loop around South Dakota's Custer State Park. Our first stop was at Bear country, a drive through safari of North American animals. We saw elk, mule deer, bears, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, bears, arctic wolves, turkeys, bears, buffalo, donkeys, bears, mountain lions, timber wolves, bears, reindeer and bears. Race decided he is no longer afraid of bears, but he still panicked when I told him I was going to roll down the window.

Next stop, Mt Rushmore. Now that we have been there we have to say that this is a must see. We are actually discussing coming back some time. I can't even begin to describe the awe inspiring majesty of the carvings. The visitors center is also quite stunning. We got to meet the last surviving member of the carving crew. We got him to autograph his book a copy of his book for us.

Next stop, the Crazy Horse Memorial. It was a bit disappointing. It cost nearly thirty dollars to get in to see the front of Crazy Horses face, this is the only part of the carving that is complete. Still it is an amazing vision and we hope it is completed someday.

We then made our way to Jewel Cave, the second longest cave complex in the US. Unfortunately, without a reservation, you can't get in. Oh well, off to Custer State Park.

Custer State Park: WOW, this place is gorgeous. At the park entrance we passed Lake Sylvan. It's not the biggest lake, but it is the prettiest lake we can remember seeing. We then headed out on the drive around the park. The drive features a half dozen tunnels blasted through the same hard rock that forms Rushmore. The really cool part, they're only one lane. You honk your horn going in and hope to heck that they hear you coming. One of the tunnels was only 8' 4" wide. That;' a little tight for a Superduty Ford, but we made it with only inches to spare. The best series of tunnels on the NW side of the loop around the park are all designed to frame Rushmore in their bore. Yes, when you drive through, Rushmore is centered in your vision at the tunnel exit. there are also a series of pigtail bridges wear you alternate between curved bridges and land and actually make a decreasing radius spiral going down the mountain, sweet. We made a number of quick stops to see the sights. At the Hole In The Wall picnic grounds we explored the hole in the wall, a cave going about ten feet into a granite wall. There's a lovely little stream you have to cross to get there and Race was really fascinated by the Waterbugs (Elizabeth called them Skaters). Race has decided that that they were his favorite part of the day.

Tomorrow we head for Devil's Tower. We'll see how far we make it and how much we get to see and experience. Good night for now. -Dean