Here we are - finally!

For the last few years Jon has been trying to load me up in a car and drive a thousand miles or so to see Mnt. Rushmore - well he finally made it.
     Guess what - it is more than worth the trip - really makes you wonder about the kind of man who believed he could sculpt a mountain. His name is Guston Borglum - born in St. Marys, Idaho then left and became a world renown sculptor. He ran with presidents and the wealthy - He was invited by a Senator Doane Robinson to scultp heroes of the Wild West - but he insisted that it had to have a patriotic theme. These four men are his heroes - Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. If you haven't been here you must make the effort to come - best time? Last week in August or first week in September.

    We loved it so much it was hard to leave! Lots to do and see - museums, movies about how they did it - hikes to get up close. He started in 1927 and finished in 1941 - he died six months before it was finished. The war was starting and funds to do more dried up. His son Lincoln played a big part as well. They used 400 unskilled laborers -
most of them realized they were a part of something historical! There is a patriotic
show at night and at the end they light up the very dark mountain. INCREDIBLE

Amazing Big Horns

We thought you needed to see these!

They are so beautiful and so big and so healthy! There is an incredible amount of wildlife everywhere!

Hows this for camouflage?

ENJOY!!!!

The Needles Highway

OK. I've been told I need to get busy with my blogging - I guess we have been having too much fun! We headed for the small town of Custer which is in the heart of the Custer State Park - the Black Hills - Rushmore and Crazy Horse monuments. There are two highways built in the 1920's built by Peter Norbeck, engineer, govenor,senator, and conservationist. He knew that this would be a huge economic boon for South Dakota and sure enough he was right. The highways are Needles and Iron Mountain - about seven stone tunnels (very small) and pig tail bridges made out of wooden trestles. Yup they corkscrew down. His goal was not to disturb the landscape and we would say he succeeded.

to be continued . . .

Leaving Bozeman - destination Black Hills Nat'l Forest




Jon at the Knuckle Bar in Sturgis



Finally I am able to post some more of a trip.  Each day has been beautiful as Jon and I have discovered we love the West.  First stop Sheridan, WY - a town we have visited before and wanted to return.  Sweet downtown - western flair and plenty of bronze sculptures on the sidewalks.  Highly recommend you visit if you like the wide open spaces because of course that is what Wyoming is all about - that and oil and gas farms - and lots of coal trains.  Wyoming is a state that uses it's natural resources without apology as far as I can tell.



Cruising in our Motorhome



     We drove much of the next day across Wyoming to South Dakota and found ourselves in Sturgis where we stayed overnight.  (We are trying to quit driving early in the day but in the West it is hard because the distances are so far.)  I felt compelled to learn about the history of the Bike Rally and how in the world a little shabby town like Sturgis could accommodate 650,000 bikers! A small motorcycle club (rode Indian bikes) started a race in 1938 - 28 participants. It has quite a history as you all know - people stay for up to 200 miles around.   There are huge campgrounds (HUGE) that are only open during that week.  The picture posted is of Jon sitting at the bar at the Knuckle Bar in Sturgis - we had lunch and tried to imagine what it would be like to be there during the rally.  We kind of like off season traveling!



Noah loves dogs and wanted to keep Scruffy



     We started our tour of the Black Hills (named by the Lakota Indians because the forests were so dense that they look black from any distance - especially in contrast to the praries!)  The other picture is Spearfish Canyon - rock outcroppings bigger than skyscrapers!. Next stop Custer - to visit Custer State Park - Rushmore and Crazy Horse.  Ta Ta for Now

First Stop Bozeman

We left Boise Monday September 20 - destination Bozeman, Montana where are Grandkids were waiting for our arrival and Dan and Jess were wondering what condition we would be in after the first leg of our trip. Jon drove with a smile on his face the whole time he was so pleased with the way the motorhome performed!

We are parked on a beautiful grassy lot next to the Bozeman Barnes' home and Lily and Noah think Nana and Boppa live next door! They come over early every morning and we love it.

If your wondering about the new pet buckled into the recliner in the motorhome - our grandson Jake parted with his favorite dog since he couldn't come with us on the trip. We will try to get Scruffy into most of our pictures as he travels the world with us. Thanks Jake! (We left all live animals behind - kind of nice)

Ta Ta for Now! Still Crazy and havin fun