South Dakota Part III

Our last day in South Dakota was more relaxed, just driving around seeing what we hadn’t yet and going to some shops.

Rapid City has a Dinosaur Park.



It was part of a WPA project in the 1930s, and it’s pretty entertaining. We drove up a curvy road that put a double S in “S curve” and the switchbacks would put a crick in your neck. I think that was part of the fun, at least while I was against the mountain side; it wasn’t so much fun going back down.

Anyway, the dinos are pretty weathered, but that ads to the fun. Al said it made them look scaly.





They aren't exactly terrifying







Next we headed onto to Lead to see the mine. Since the mine closed, Lead is holding on by a thread, surviving because it’s just down the street from Deadwood.





Then it was off to the scenery and more curves of Spearfish Canyon. It was a beautiful drive and we’re glad someone told us not to miss it.









On the way back to Rapid City, we stopped at their national cemetery.





We stopped at the Prairie Berry Winery (who could pass up a name like that?). They use local fruits and berries, so most of the wines were pear, chokeberry, and things like that. They were pretty good if you like sweet wines, but if you're a fan of a dry cabernet, this wouldn't be your place. But the tasting was free, and it's family-owned and very friendly.



Hungry for an early dinner, we headed to a BBQ place I had read about. It was under new management and was our only disappointment on this trip. We did however see this sign at the tattoo shop, which cracked us up.



I really wanted to go in and see the new colors.

It seemed fitting that our last night in South Dakota would have the most glorious sunset.








The ride home was, again, uneventful. We did make a few stops at the famous Wall Drug (You try ignoring a billboard every mile). It takes up one side of Main Street in this tiny, tiny town.





We also stopped to see the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. They were still working on it; they change it every year. It’s basically paint by numbers, but it’s with corn.





We also saw some unusual sights



But mostly, it was just miles and miles or miles and miles.



And worth driving every one of them.

South Dakota Part II

Every day was better than the other, that’s the sign of a great vacation. There’s so much to see and do, I’m glad we’ve taken 4 days.

Today we decided to pay homage to the great Motorcycle Mecca, Sturgis. Every year, bikes and bikers of all shapes and sizes, but mostly Harleys, gather for a day of comradery and debauchery. And Al really wants to go. He has a friend who goes, so he may join them next year. He especially loves the story his friend tells of getting gas when 2 women rode up on Harleys, and they were only wearing boots. Not a stitch otherwise. I’m so damn practical that all I could think about was how that would chaffe.

Anyway, Sturgis is a small town and is pretty calm the rest of the time. It’s hard to imagine a few hundred thousand or more bikes in this little town.







Afterwards, we headed into Deadwood. Famous for the shooting of Wild Bill Hickock and the home of Calamity Jane, Deadwood is now a gambling district. The buildings try to be true to the town, but I couldn’t help feeling like I was on a movie set.





This was even more evident when we went to Kevin Costner’s place, The Midnight Star.



We walked around and looked at all the memorabilia from his movies, then had a great lunch, (well, I did—All had buffalo) and an even better drink, a martini with pomegranate liquer and vodka.



After buying Al the most gorgeous leather jacket ever, we headed over to Boot Hill, or Moriaha Cemetery to be exact. This is where Wild Bill and Calamity Jane are buried (Jane wanted to be buried next to Wild Bill).









It’s a lovely cemetery with a lovely view of the Deadwood and the mine in Lead.





Next, we headed to Devil’s Tower in Wyoming. It was only a little over an hour a way, so it seemed a shame to miss it.





And it was worth the trip because it is spectacular. Many of you will recognize it from Close Encounters of the Third Kind. And like all the other dorks, you’ll stand looking at it humming those notes.





This was shot in the rearview mirror as we were leaving Devil's Tower


We were pretty much exhausted by this point and it was time for dinner, so we headed to an Indian restaurant called Curry Masala, which I had read about in a tour guidebook. Then we watched another glorious full moon.

South Dakota Part I

The drive to Rapid City was uneventful, thank Goodness. The vast nothingness that is southern South Dakota is an anxiety-ridden nightmare for someone whose biggest fear is breaking down on the side of the road.

In Nebraska there were some small towns and each one had a clean gas station. You were s***t out of luck (so to speak) if you had to pee while driving on Hwy 18 in SD. There aren’t even any trees. This is cattle/prairie country—wide open spaces and rolling hills with no people to be seen. If we had broken down, no one would have found us for days!



I knew we were in for a long drive when I saw a billboard in NE for McDonald’s that said “Last Big Mac for 112 miles.” I think my heart skipped a beat, and I don’t even like Big Macs.

But, obviously, we made it fine. We had gorgeous weather the whole trip. And it was worth taking those back roads because we went up through the Badlands, and it was beautiful.









That first night we went to the Firehouse Brewery, where Al and the guys used to go when he’d come here TDY (temporary duty). And now I know why they would because it was awesome. The beer was fantastic and the food was delicious.

The next day, the sight-seeing began. After driving through what became our favorite coffee shop (Gizzi’s), we headed to Mount Rushmore. It was a cool day with blue skies and hardly any traffic on smooth, winding roads. I love going on vacation in late September because the tourist areas aren’t as crowded, just some retirees. Actually, we were the youngest people every where we went. It was wonderful.

So, Mt. Rushmore. Just like other amazing sights, you’re never ready for seeing it from the road. We were toddling down the road when I looked up and there was George Washington!







I was very excited to see this, and I wasn’t disappointed, which brings me to an important point to make. Many times I hear from people that they were disappointed in Mt. Rushmore and that it wasn’t that big a deal. To those people I ask, “What the hell have you seen that you are not impressed by this?” It’s A-MAZ-ING. It’s beautiful and moving, and I actually felt that proudly patriotic part of my heart that has been beaten down by an oppressive Republican administration. OK, so I got a little off track there, but the point is, it really is amazing to see.



Those four faces, their eyes gazing out at the future of their country just gave me goose bumps.





And to think that they created this in the early 30s, before computers and lasers, with only jack hammers and chisels. I got the audio tour because I’m a geek and I wanted to hear the stories. I am, however, a lazy geek, so I love the audio tour so that I don’t have read the hundreds of plaques.

A tip for you: if you decide to walk the decked-trail that goes around the base of the mountain to see it from different views—and you should—start to your left (while looking at the presidents) at the sign that says “Presidential Way, Generator, and Artist’s Studio.” It’s easier in that direction because you’ll be going down a total of 220 steps instead of up. You’ll still have some steps to get back up, but it’s only 20 or 30.

Me on the boardwalk around the base of the mountain.


The sculptor's studio


BTW, there is no free parking at Mt. Rushmore any more. It cost $8 per car, but that pass is good for the year, so you can go back.

There is so much more to see, so we headed back to the car, had a quick snack, and headed on to Crazy Horse.

Crazy Horse is an incredible monument that I don’t expect to be completed in my lifetime, but I don’t think that’s the point any more. Conceived, designed and created by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski, the project is continued by his wife and 7 of his 10 kids. They are using Ziolkowski’s three books of detailed plans and accept no government funding. As a matter of fact, Ziolkowski twice turned down $10 million in federal funding.



When finished, it will be 563 feet high, 641 feet long, carved three-dimensionally (in the round). To give you a better idea, all four heads of Mt. Rushmore will fit in Crazy Horse’s head.



Here are some pictures of the model with the actual work behind it.





The first blast was June 3, 1948 and the face was completed on June 3, 1998. Now they are working on the horse’s head.





We drove around a little more and enjoyed the scenery, then had the best dinner of the trip. We went to the Fireside Inn, a pretty and homey restaurant with large windows to look out at the deer grazing at dusk. Al and the guys used to come to this restaurant every Wednesday for the special on prime rib. I went with every intention of sharing a big ol' slab of medium rare prime rib with him, but then I saw salmon wellington on the menu and I couldn't resist.



So, Al had to order the smaller prime rib for himself.



The last thing we saw that night, was a beautiful fool moon.



I'll finish up the trip next time. Have a great weekend, everyone.