Freebird!!!!

Day 8

The middle part of the trip. It was about the only roadside attraction to must see! Mr. Rushmore.

I leave camp, heading up the road past Crazy Horse. I had the radio on, you start to hear the lyrics. Skynard!! Window’s down and up the mountain. I got chills when I passed the entrance. I turned the corner, there was Washington.

Everything I saw online said, go early, better pictures in the morning, catch their good side. I did. The crowds was less but people were still out. They are going thru construction and half of the presidential trail was closed but you could still get to the sweet spot.

Sorry folks, park’s closed. Moose out front shoulda told ya.

Lasky, the security guard

Time to start 225 stairs. Up you go, stair after stair. I took some water, had some pedilite prior, proper hydration and all. Up to the Jefferson patio, “it’s what I called the ledges, in no particular order” then Roosevelt, Lincoln, and last but not least, Washington. I FaceTimed my niece and nephews. Look, I can see up their noses. It was nice to share the moment. Though like most 10 and 7 year olds, it was more like a pillow fight then seeing a mountain.

Back down and around. Stopped by the studio, used the loo and listen to the rangers some. I’m hungry. Time for lunch. But first I’m driving the Needles Highway and Custer St Park.

I just thought at first it was a cool drive some peeps thought that it was neat to make. Come to find out, the sculptures wanted to eye out the sight lines. I mean even in the 30’s and 40’s, they were worried about sight lines and how someone looked. I’m glad they did and man what a drive. I can see how it would feel on a motorcycle. I went up and over bridges, like a waterslide for your car. They cut holes through rock, tunnels and that’s what they used to “size it up”. I have to say one of the coolest roads I ever driven .

Why Needles Hwy? I thought maybe Needles from Back to the future 2? No, because the rocks shoot up like needles. There is also the needle hole or what you call, the eye of the needle, that’s the ticket!

Down the mountain, I need lunch. I get back to Custer, write out postcards to peeps. “You can still get on the postcard list if you like, lmk”. What to do now? Well, as much as everything said that Deadwood was a tourist trap, I still wanted to go. Google took me the long way, down some national forest roads, then into Deadwood. Yeah, not as bad as Gatlinburg, I guess if Gatlinburg had gamblers. You gotta play the slots right, blackjack only one person was playing so, slots it was. Lost some money, made my money back. Lost it. Only $30 bucks. “Scouts honor”. Grabbed dinner, took off back to Rushmore. Had to say my goodbyes. Drove back via Sturgis, just to say I‘v been there.

9p, closing ceremony. Retire the Colors and light up the faces. The rangers give some stories and stuff. Normally this is in the Amphitheatre but it’s closed, again the moose should of told you. I sat there, like I am now, under another national monument / park. Typing, thinking.

I have to say it was a very good Flag Day.

-J