After leaving the Badlands, we went (on Fran and Linda's suggestion) to Wall Drug- what started as a drug store, than added on and added on with everything from souvenirs, food, ice cream (which we tested), jewelry, clothing, cowboy hats and boots- you name it, they had it.
We stayed in a small town called Hill City, about 5 miles outside of Rushmore. Hill City, during the gold rush years, was known as a gold mining city "one mile long with a church on either end and hell in the middle". Now, it is a nice little western-style town with several restaurants, art galleries, and shops. We spent a few minutes admiring a statue of a horse made from various metals, including spoons, shovels, pistons, etc. It sounds strange, but you would have thought there was a real horse inside all that junk!
We visited Crazy Horse memorial, a huge undertaking sculpturing a statue of Chief Crazy Horse on horseback from the side of a mountain. So far, after many years of work, they have his face and some initial trimming of the mountain that will be the horses' head. If completed, it will be the largest such sculpture in the world.
We then went on to Rushmore, a National Memorial site. It was very well done, beautiful setting, and not an expensive visit. We were somewhat disappointed to find that there was not a public hiking trail up the back of the sculptures, as we had been told. We did walk the Presidential Trail, which was basically a boardwalk consisting of stairs. Lots of stairs! The trail was closed part way up, as there was a work crew on top cleaning up after the 4th of July fireworks (which we were told were disappointing, as the fog came in and none could be seen, only heard!). We went back that evening for the lighting ceremony, which was very impressive. A history of each of the presidents on display was given, and the characteristics which caused them to be chosen for the memorial. (Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and T. Roosevelt)
The Needles highway is a scenic road near the memorial, which we decided to take. Unfortunately, we didn't enjoy our first "pass", as we misjudged distance and gas, so the last 6 miles was a white-knuckle drive, sure we were not going to make it. We drifted into the nearest gas station, taking on 16.25 gals in our 16 gal tank! I think the only reason we made it was all the downhill the last few miles! We did return the next morning (after filling our tank)- the drive was spectacular, with single lane tunnels blasted out of the mountain, unusual rock formations, beautiful views- worth returning for!
On the way further west, we decided to drive through Deadwood, where Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane were buried- a classic "old west" town. We visited the cemetary to see the gravesites, than had lunch in town. We than headed toward Sundance, WY, as we had been told about Devil's Tower, a National Monument, than had really impressed Dale's brother Dick. After arriving, we wished we had not stopped in Deadwood and come straight here. The Devil's Tower rises straight up from gentle rolling land, able to be seen for many miles. It was (and still is) a sacred place to the Indian people, as well as a "must climb" for serious rock climbers. In walking around this huge monument (876 feet tall, the flat top is 1 1/2 acres), you could see prayer flags and prayer bundles hung from trees by Indian visitors to the site. There were a number of hiking trails around the monument, but we arrived too late to take advantage. Very impressive, and happy we went there.
We headed off to Buffalo, WY for the night, on the way to Teton NP- we had our first visit of the Tetons from Rt 90 as we headed west. Looking forward to exploring Jackson Hole and the Tetons.
You are really moving!
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