PB&J
Adventures' Wild West Tour 2014 - Part 5
2 adults, 4 kids, 1 cat, 20 states, 20 days
Day Five - Rushmore, Crazy
Horse, Custer State Park, Needles Highway - June3, 2014
Our
fifth day was very long and eventful. The day started early,
around 4:45 to be specific. We woke up to possibly the earliest
sunrise we'd ever experienced at Cedar Pass Campgrounds in Badlands
National Park. That was ok, because the sooner we got to Rapid City,
the sooner the camper's driver side window would be. It was a
temporary fix, but anything was better than cardboard
(See Part Three). |
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Those Darned Elusive Presidents!
Our early start
put us ahead of schedule, and we arrived at the Mount Rushmore
National Monument by late morning. Unfortunately, the top of the
mountain, including the carvings, was completely hidden by fog.
According to the ranger we spoke to, the faces had only been visible
a handful of days so far this season. Rebecca and the kids were very
disappointed. We took the short hike to the base of the sculpture
and peered up into the fog. Nothing! We kept hoping the fog would
lift, but to no avail. Then, for a brief moment, we could see
Washington, then Lincoln, but that was all, and they quickly
disappeared again.
Crazy
Horse Memorial
After
the Mount Rushmore disappointment, we figured the Crazy Horse
Memorial would be no different. When we arrived, the ranger taking
parking money told us that, while the memorial was not visible, the
rest of the site was worth the admission. We hesitantly paid the fee
and entered. The ranger was right! We watched the movie about Crazy
Horse and the monument dedicated to him and his people. The monument
has been under construction since 1948, and is privately funded by
contributions and visitor fees. Federal dollars have been offered
but refused. The sculptor, Korzak Ziolkowski, decided he and his
family could do a better job completing the memorial without the
influence of the federal government. It has taken his lifetime and
then some, but the family persists, and the memorial will one day be
complete.
The rest of the facility at Crazy Horse is amazing.
It's a sort of museum featuring artifacts, paintings, photographs,
and live Native American dancers and artists. We were never bored,
and when the fog began to lift, we could see the massive sculpture
clearly. Very impressive and absolutely worth the admission fee.
Needles Highway - Custer State Park
For this part of our adventure, we decided to rent a car.
Needles Highway is a must-see, but it's very incompatible with RVs.
We checked-in at the Mount Rushmore KOA, our home for the night, and
picked up a rental Ford Explorer we had reserved in advance. From
the KOA, it's a relatively short drive to Custer State Park and the
road we'd heard so much about. We started seeing unusual rock
formations as we steadily gained altitude. Our first stop along the
route was Sylvan Lake, the most picturesque body of water
I've ever seen. The rock formations, grass, and trees provide an
incredible backdrop for the glass-like water. There were lots of
fish jumping and a family of ducks parading by. This is how I
picture Heaven.
As we continued our Needles Highway drive, we began
to understand where the road got its name. Many of the formations
look like needles. But wait, maybe it's because of the tiny
single-lane tunnels that resemble the eye of a needle. Or maybe it's
the intense feeling of sitting of pins and needles as you drive
along the edge of a massive cliff. Whatever the reason, Needles
Highway is an appropriate name for this stretch of road.
Custer State Park's Wildlife Loop
We were eager to see some bison and antelope, so we continued on to
Custer State Park's wildlife loop. There are a couple of options for
this drive: a short and a long. We opted for the long drive, but
after a while we were wishing we'd chosen the shorter route. The
kids were getting antsy. Maybe it was because they were cooped-up in
the backseat of a Ford Explorer instead of the motorhome. It may
have been because we had no restroom. At any rate, we did see bison,
deer, and antelope, but perhaps the greatest thrill were the wild
donkeys that were hardly wild. When we stopped to look, they came
right up to us begging for snacks. The kids loved it!
Rushmore KOA
At the end of the day, we wandered back to the Mount Rushmore KOA
campground for some rest and relaxation. Most KOAs are designed with
children in mind, and the Mount Rushmore KOA is no exception. There
are pony rides, activities, and an awesome pool and playground. We
appreciated the full hookups, but I felt our site was a little
unkempt considering the cost. KOA is "kid friendly," but when they
charge $5 extra per child and you have four kids, well it's not
"Dad" friendly.
A Second Chance - You Can't Hide Forever!
The sixth day of our trip was to be a long one, but we decided
to return to Mount Rushmore National Monument for one last attempt
to see the presidents. It didn't look hopeful until we rounded the
bend and saw them in all their glory. It turned out to be a perfect
day for viewing the monument. The experience was unforgettable.
We lingered at Mount Rushmore a bit longer than we'd planned, but we
didn't care. It was great! We had quite an itenerary for the day,
but that's another story.
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Scroll to bottom for the entire gallery.
Presidents hiding in the
fog.
The visitor center at Crazy Horse
Memorial is
a beautiful building that houses thousands
of artifacts and Native American art.
When the fog finally cleared, we
could see the monument in its current state.
Sylvan Lake - The beauty is
indescribable.
Needles Highway features unusual rock formations.
Several single-lane tunnels make
this road impassible for RVs and large trucks.
"Wild" donkeys... NOT!
Yes, the sky was really that
blue. |
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