Monday, September 05, 2005
AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL
We traveled from Ogalala past Lake Matthew McConaughey and the naked bongo drumming festival(just kidding) on our way to Mt Rushmore in South Dakota. What a beautiful country we live in! In South Dakota, we went through Custer State Park and the Winds State Park where the buffalo quite literally did roam. Along with about 2 1/2 million prairie dogs. Antelope were another animal we saw on the hillsides. We saw no big horn sheep however, they must have been aware of the presence of Sleep Walking Bear. Maybe they were in Vegas, who knows?
Now, the plan was to drive through to the hotel, get checked in, go to the park, eat and see the four Presidents at night. We had directions and ignored the sign in Custer that said Mt Rushmore turn here. We had the directions to take the shortest route and, indeed, it was probably shorter. Little did we know that we were going to be taking Iron Mountain Road. There was nothing wrong with the condition of the road, thank God!, but the road would curve, rise or corkscrew about every 20 feet. Up, down, around, through, over, under. It was beautiful and annoying at the same time. The neatest thing was that there were several tunnels and when you came upon them Mt Rushmore was perfectly framed in the archway. Thankfully, there was not much traffic and we could enjoy our curvy-schmurvy travel. Except for Pibby who hated every minute of the ride once we got on this particular road. A prairie girl she will always be!
We finally got to our lodging and it was very nice. We stayed in Keystone, right next to the park. A very commercialized area but well kept up and clean. All the billboards referenced the "light" in their directions to whatever destination and, indeed, there was only one stoplight.
We got to the park and it only cost $8 per vehicle and that was good for an entire year. Once again, the cheaper the attraction, the more worthwhile! It was quite a cool night as jackets or sweatshirts were in order. But, well, words can't describe when you first start to walk up the avenue of flags and see Mt Rushmore up close. WOW! Even the most cynical person would have to be moved by the sight. It was breathtaking! It made you want to immediately start belting out GOD BLESS AMERICA, LAND THAT I LOVE a la Kate Smith.
After a nice meal and a chivalrous act on the part of Sleep Walking Bear(I found the woman who had got up with her family....she remembered the kids but forgot her purse) we were ready to go get our seats for the "lighting" ceremony. Now, when it is already chilly the most surefire way to become even colder is to sit on a concrete slab, which is of course what we did. Ranger Rick from the US Park Service came out in the twilight and began to speak. Well, ramble, would perhaps be the more accurate term. On and on and on. Sleep Walking Bear was ready to get out his bow and arrow to get the program movin' along if you know what I mean. Ranger Rick finally ran out of steam and a video played about American History and the Presidents represented on the mountain, the history of the monument and park itself, along with a nod to the Indians. We were asked to stand and sing the National Anthem at the end. Now, they did not tell anyone that America The Beautiful is NOT our national anthem, so when that played the assembled masses began to rise. I think everyone was just looking for an excuse to stand up so they could regain feeling in their butts from sitting on the cold, hard concrete. Then the lights came on. Very impressive however our little tribe came to the consensus that we could have done a better presentation. We needed a little Kate Smith, that would unfreeze your butt cheeks!
We would return the next morning and I would highly recommend you see this fabulous national treasure both in the dark and the bright sunshine. Incredible! We raided the gift shop and then bid Adieu to Teddy, Tom, Abe and George. Definitely the highlight of our journey!
Now, the plan was to drive through to the hotel, get checked in, go to the park, eat and see the four Presidents at night. We had directions and ignored the sign in Custer that said Mt Rushmore turn here. We had the directions to take the shortest route and, indeed, it was probably shorter. Little did we know that we were going to be taking Iron Mountain Road. There was nothing wrong with the condition of the road, thank God!, but the road would curve, rise or corkscrew about every 20 feet. Up, down, around, through, over, under. It was beautiful and annoying at the same time. The neatest thing was that there were several tunnels and when you came upon them Mt Rushmore was perfectly framed in the archway. Thankfully, there was not much traffic and we could enjoy our curvy-schmurvy travel. Except for Pibby who hated every minute of the ride once we got on this particular road. A prairie girl she will always be!
We finally got to our lodging and it was very nice. We stayed in Keystone, right next to the park. A very commercialized area but well kept up and clean. All the billboards referenced the "light" in their directions to whatever destination and, indeed, there was only one stoplight.
We got to the park and it only cost $8 per vehicle and that was good for an entire year. Once again, the cheaper the attraction, the more worthwhile! It was quite a cool night as jackets or sweatshirts were in order. But, well, words can't describe when you first start to walk up the avenue of flags and see Mt Rushmore up close. WOW! Even the most cynical person would have to be moved by the sight. It was breathtaking! It made you want to immediately start belting out GOD BLESS AMERICA, LAND THAT I LOVE a la Kate Smith.
After a nice meal and a chivalrous act on the part of Sleep Walking Bear(I found the woman who had got up with her family....she remembered the kids but forgot her purse) we were ready to go get our seats for the "lighting" ceremony. Now, when it is already chilly the most surefire way to become even colder is to sit on a concrete slab, which is of course what we did. Ranger Rick from the US Park Service came out in the twilight and began to speak. Well, ramble, would perhaps be the more accurate term. On and on and on. Sleep Walking Bear was ready to get out his bow and arrow to get the program movin' along if you know what I mean. Ranger Rick finally ran out of steam and a video played about American History and the Presidents represented on the mountain, the history of the monument and park itself, along with a nod to the Indians. We were asked to stand and sing the National Anthem at the end. Now, they did not tell anyone that America The Beautiful is NOT our national anthem, so when that played the assembled masses began to rise. I think everyone was just looking for an excuse to stand up so they could regain feeling in their butts from sitting on the cold, hard concrete. Then the lights came on. Very impressive however our little tribe came to the consensus that we could have done a better presentation. We needed a little Kate Smith, that would unfreeze your butt cheeks!
We would return the next morning and I would highly recommend you see this fabulous national treasure both in the dark and the bright sunshine. Incredible! We raided the gift shop and then bid Adieu to Teddy, Tom, Abe and George. Definitely the highlight of our journey!
