Carol & Warner's Trip Around The USA: Thursday , June 9, 2911

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Horse Thief Lake, South Dakota

Black Hills

Rain, rain and fog and cold - hardly ideal camping weather but generally our weather has been good so I guess we should not complain too much. I had read about and wanted to see It.!

Our plan was to visit Mount Rushmore, Chief Crazy Horse and the Custer National Forest known for its wildlife and interesting geologic formations. We went first to the Chief Crazy Horse sculpture which is being created from a mountain a family who continuing the work of their father who had begun the sculpture as a tribute to Native Americans.

Only the face has been completed. When completed the sculpture will the large in the world = or something like that.

We got to the site and the sculpture was obscured by clouds so we toured the very fine museum of the work and Indian culture. We also saw a superior movie about the family and the work of creating the sculpture. Outstanding.

I was looking at the cloud shrouded mountain when the clouds lifted and the there he was, Chief Crazy Horse. I rushed out to the car to get camera but forgot the keys and had to go back to get them and dashed back to the car, grabbed the camera, turned to take pictures and the clouds were back! ARRGGHH!

We finally left to visit Custer National Park. The promised wildlife consisted of one Bison, four antelope and a gaggle of wild Burros begging treated. Disappointed again.

We did however find some fascination geologic formations called “needles” – large pointed spires. They were enshrouded in clouds but fascinating.

We went on the Mount Rushmore to see George, Abe, Teddy, and FDR. Clouds again!! *&^%$)((##!

Mount Rushmore Visitor Center was in our opinion too overdone, too grand, too tacky!

I did a few good pictures as we left the next day.