On to Mount Rushmore, SD

DRAFT...need to add pictures and complete when I get good internet.

5 hour run to Rushmore through beautiful plains countryside. Pretty much all 2 lane but very light traffic on US 85/SD 89. A reminder that out West is different from the East. Here signs say "No Services for 60 miles". They mean it. Not a single store of any kind, even DG! We encountered this several times.

Beautiful, always changing landscapes including "...amber waves of grain"


We're staying at the Rushmore KOA LINK. It is huge! Tons of activities! Nice layout! BUT, expensive @$88/night! Oh well. We don't splurge that often and it is about 10 minutes from Rushmore.

Rushmore is just down the road. We were surprised at how little traffic there was during this high season. There is a 5 level parking garage ($10 for a week, $5 for geezers and military) adjoining the visitor's center. They just started a major upgrade so the path that is pictured with the state flags is closed. Disappointing but not a huge deal for us. We walked along the paths and got some views from different angles. We've got to find a video on the creation of this since it is so amazing.

We spent about 3 hours and then continued down the road to Keystone. Its a tourist town but fun just the same. Of course we found a neat restaurant

We had to have a bison steak. It was very good...not sure I could tell the difference from cow.



We loved Rushmore and the Black Hills. We say we could live here but then remember that soon it will be REALLY cold and nasty.