Hill City, South Dakota: The wildfire smoke was really bad today. Difficult to take good photos and scratchy eyes and throats all day. We had the rental car for the entire day, so headed out again on the twisty highway - a different one - that included travel through super teeny tunnels.
of this tunnel - unless there is a fire.
Anyway... it is a real big deal (on a clear day) to drive through two of the tunnels to see Mt. Rushmore framed. Not today so much.
We again drove the wildlife loop through Custer State Park today - in the opposite direction. DT was right - the stoopid bison could not stand all the motorcycle noise and had retreated to the hills. We could see hundreds of them off in the distance, but did not find even one within photo distance. Even the very tame donkeys had retreated. Can't blame them. The Prairie Dogs (barking squirrels) and Pronghorn were still within ear-shot.
We stopped today outside the Crazy Horse Memorial, but not go inside. It is not because we are not a fan of Crazy Horse, nor admire his legacy. It's just that little has been accomplished since our last visit in 2002 and we are wondering if this whole thing isn't a scam? Just sayin'... it took only 14 years of carve Mt. Rushmore. It is possible to see the Crazy Horse Memorial from several spots around the mountains.
To reach our campsite this afternoon, we passed through Hill City. Hill City has really catered to the bikers and have closed the main street entirely to traffic. Bikes only.
We arrived back to our RV around 5p. DT thought it would be a good idea to give me the night off and went to one of the RV park restaurants to bring home fried chicken. That is $17 we will never get back.
Tomorrow we head south.
Until my next update, I remain, your Black Hills correspondent.
Campground Information: KOA Mt. Rushmore Resort at Palmer Gulch
Love your blog, posts and sense of humor, but rarely comment. Have really enjoyed following along on this adventure, as it is one my husband and I did in the late ’80’s in our Beaver Marquis. Let me just say, that it doesn’t appear to have been any progress at the Crazy Horse monument since them. Mount Rushmore is truly one of the most magnificent monuments in the United States.
Still loving your adventures but…..did you know you’d be up there during “bike season”? We went through that area many years ago, didn’t know about the bikes and all the associated hoopla and swore we’d not do that again!