Strange rock formations

Dan and Karen were off to work early on Tues but left us a key and instructions to eat whatever we'd like for breakfast. Karen also wanted us to visit her office on the way to Mt Rushmore. She works in the curriculum dept. of National American University, which offers online and live courses at various campuses. The school is growing and Karen keeps busy there. We met her boss, who can see Washington's profile on Rushmore from her office window on a clear day. It was hazy when we were there, so we weren't treated to the long-distance, founding nose.

We decided to find something to eat "along the way" but got to the entrance and parking so fast we passed the usual spots by. Drew remembered the restaurant at the top, from North by Northwest but I didn't see Cary Grant anywhere.

I suppose you shouldn't feel funny about a national icon, but this thing is wierd. What started out as a state history project, with local legends to be carved into the Needles nearby, thank you Doane Robinson, turned into this massive, million dollar effort that only ended when the artist died from a secondary infection after surgery. Well, that and WWII. After having read His Excellency: George Washington, we both figured he would have been outwardly appalled at having been immortalized into a mountain, but inwardly loving it. Big "neener, neener" to John Adams.

After a quick photo session and even quicker trip through the gift shop, we headed out to the Crazy Horse Memorial, or as they call it, the "Fifth Face." It's another strange thing to do to a mountain, but at least this one comes from people who lived on the surrounding land, and had many legends and myths tied to rock (tunka) and the land. It's going to be massive, and it's a little disappointing that we won't get to see the finished product. But the surviving family of the artist who have taken up the work will not take federal dollars to finish it.

We drove the Needles highway before heading back to Dan and Karen's house. Drew has memories of his Dad driving a particular patch of switchbacks/hairpin turns with the trailer in 1966. Watch the video of our drive.

We saw a goat by the side of the road going down - up really close! We laughed about how easy it was to get a photo when in Alaska we could barely see the white spots on the mountainside that they told us were goats!

On Weds, we went downtown to visit Dan and got the primo tour of his new station. We also forgot the camera. We had a great time anyway, and saw everything from top to bottom, including the satellite dish farm where he was knocking a 14" Spring snowfall down with well-aimed snowballs this year. We ate at an old firehouse turned restaurant, amazingly named "The Firehouse." The food was great and we sat just inside the overhead door - out but in the shade. We did a little shopping and saw lots of Black Hills gold, and Native jewelry and items.

We headed back to the house early so Drew could make a 4:30 (6:30 Eastern) conference call for his last class assignment, popped some champagne for a toast (and cheese and other eats by Karen) and then headed out to dinner.