July 24 Mt rushmore and custer park

There is so much to talk about today. This was worth the trip. Day started out by going to Crazy Horse Monument , This thing took 59 years to csrve this much, and estimates are that it will take another 50 years to finish, it is a monument to the indian culture and their western homes. Crazy horse was one of their leaders who never conceded defeat or surrendered. He was killed by a soldier. The last three pictures are of the mountain and the last one is of what it is supposed to look like when it is done. Therre are a lot of indian exhibits with this memorial and a whole range of other things are planned, Might know just as i was trying to take a last pic here, my camara battery went deat=d. No matter di had another set in the car charged. (HAH) They were dead also. So what to do , went to town and bought a bunch of aa alkaline batterys and used them to finish the day. From town i started to go to Mt. Rushmore, it turned out to be a trip. The frour pictures just before the crazy horse are the scenery up to Mt, Rushmore the way i went. Very beautiful, curving road,lots of rock formations,etc.
Before I start on Mt Rushmore, I bought a dvd that has the whole story and pics on it so everyone cdould see it. The pics i took dont do it justice.This was a very moving visit for me. There are two pics of the walk of states with each state flag and the date they were admitted to the union. The next one is of the mountain,then there is one of the ampitheater where the night program was held. THis was a beautiful program. Unfortdunately my pics didnt turn out because it was too dark and the lighted mountain was too far away. What it was, There were patrotic songs playing as we waited for the prsogram to begin. It started with a pledge of alliegance to tdhe flag,The mountain was lite up , one of the park rangers gave a talk on each of the men and their contrubitions to the United States. Then the national anthem was played . Last a troop of boyscouts came down to lower the flag and pass it amoung a group of service men to close the program. Very nice. Then ther is a plac about the carver. to read it you will have to expand it.The next four are of the carvings used as models for the actual mountain carvings.Yhis visit will stay with me as much as my visit to ft.McHenry in Baltimore.
When I left the park from the day visit, I decided that there was plenty of time so I would visit Custer state park. i took a backroad called needles trail. It was a happy accident. The scenery along this road was beautiful.The first pic up after the mt, rushmore ones is of one of the tunnels that you go thru on this road,It screws around the mountains back and forth and across one lane wooden bridges, The four pictures after the tunnel going up are of an overlook calaled norbeck overlook. The pics dont tell the story well enough. As you know I'm not given to outbursts of excitement, but I climbed up on a small rock formation here, and when i got to the top and looked out "OH MY GOD" just came out. It was one of the best sights i've seen right up there with the grand canyon. Off to the right was Mt. Rushmore in the distaance, and then all around to the left was this deep valley with Mountains climbing up in the background as far as you could see. I noticed several other people came up while iwas stainding therre and their first comment was almost exactly like mine. The next pic up is another tunnel on this road.
The nexct twelve pics are of the buffalo herd l in this park. The ranger told me that there were 500 in the herd and they roam free. Then there are two Big horn sheep in the distance in the next pic. Then a lpic of an antelope herd. Next are two pics of jackasses feeding two wild jackasses next to a sign saying do not feed the animals.Then a lpic of a deer in the distance and another pic of antelope. andd tdhe last are two pics of two faun feeding. There were a lot of deer, but i just got tirede of feeding them. After this I went back to the trainler and ate ddinner befdore going back to Mt.Rushmore for the night program atd 9:00. Got home at 11:00. Full day, butd rewarding.
There will probably not be too many more pics as i am going to start home tomorrow.
I plan to go to see a mamouth bone site this pm.
Later