Mount Rushmore

Monday night we headed to Mount Rushmore for the night lighting ceremony. If you have never done that, and you have the ability to go, I know you would enjoy it. If you have an ounce of patriotism in your body, you will be moved. I’ve cried every time I’ve seen the faces light up and the Star Spangled Banner is sung by the crowd. There is just something indescribable about it.

Here is Piper showing you the Avenue of the State flags and our first glimpse of Rushmore

Waiting for the evening ceremony to begin. We had a wonderful time visiting with the people around us. There was a big group of senior citizens, (our age), that were going to be riding their electric bikes on the Mickelson Trail the next morning. That is not for the faint of heart.

Absolutely stunning. Photos can’t even begin to share the impressiveness of this site



Yesterday morning, Tuesday, we went into Custer, South Dakota and wondered through some shops. They have painted buffalo on each corner with different themes. I really liked this one.

We didn’t stop here, but you can find places named after Calamity Jane and wild Bill Hickcock all over the hills. There are a couple of saloons here that were the sites of famous gun fights back in the 1800s. It was indeed the Wild, Wild West back then.

In the afternoon, we drove the Needles highway and went through the infamous tunnels. The scenery throughout this drive is breathtaking.

This one is much longer and is the Needles Eye tunnel. Our truck barely fits through it, even with the mirrors in.

Beautiful 

The Cathedral Spires.

Piper said she loved the drive. She had never seen anything like it before. This girl has traveled around the world with her mom and dad, but told us she’s never seen mountains like this before.

We had dinner at the Blue Bell Lodge. When our kids were little, we camped at the campground there at Blue Bell every year in our tent and then our pop-up trailer. We went to church in the amphitheater behind the lodge on Sundays. This place holds a lot of memories for us.

Waiting patiently for the food to arrive.

After dinner, we headed toward the wildlife Loop, Road to see if we could find any animals. Not far from our campground we came upon this sight. we don’t see these often in Nebraska!

We continued on the Wildlife Loop, Road where we found a lot of animals. We saw Buffalo with their babies.

Isn’t this face the cutest?

We saw many antelope. These three decided just to hang out in the middle of the road for quite some time stopping traffic in both directions. We didn’t mind because that’s what we were there for.



And then on our way back to the camper, we saw this one lone bison. It was very close to Bluebell. In years past, there was always one buffalo hanging around the campground. Our kids nicknamed him George and chose to believe it was the same Buffalo, year after year. Of course we sent them this picture last night and asked them if they thought it could be George still hanging out there 40 years later! Ha!

Today our plan is to go to Evans Plunge a mineral hot spring. That is the world‘s largest indoor pool from mineral water. We haven’t been there since our kids were little and Piper is really looking forward to swimming with Papa. I’m not a swimmer, but I’m hoping I can get in and just watch.

Much love and many blessings to all of you.

Betsy