Bear Country and Mt. Rushmore South Dakota

I can't believe its only 6:30pm here and im tired.  What the heck is up with that.  I should be at Custer having a drink with the boys haha.  Yes Aunt Glenna I will be safe.  Actually I wont be going.  So today was pretty fun and it was such a nice day.  I want to say that the people are so friendly around here and it makes me feel good.  Everyone talks to each other like old pals.  Either that or its how everyone is outside of California.  I actually won't mind looking for a job around here.  It's on my list of places to check out.  Tomorrow when I go down to get breakfast I will check the paper. 
  So today I didn't really do alot but I still had fun.  I woke up kinda late but was fine with it.  I first stopped at Bear Country Park.  It's right off the 16 outside of Rapid City.  Its one of those drive through parks.  I had so much fun watching all the animals especially of course the bears.  First these two bears were blocking the entrance to their area so no cars could go in and while they blocked it another bears was sniffing the cars.  There were some cars it stood up on and tapped its paw on the passengers window.  Mine it just walked by but then grabbed my big wheel thing in the back.  I thought o great it smells my food.  There were wolves, elk,buffalo,mountain lions, I think their called mountain sheep or something like that and some more animals I forgot.  They also have a baby area where you get out and walk around and see all the baby animals.  I recommend it for anyone who comes in this area kids or no kids it was cool.
  After spending about 2 hours there I headed over to Mt. Rushmore.  If you talk the 244 from Hill City to Mt Rushmore you will pass this place I have named (Warning not for the young to read) Rocks of Two Penis's.  Why you ask? Cause there were two rocks that looked to me like Penis heads.  I know my mind was in the gutter but I couldn't help it.  I mean come on if you were with me you would have thought the same thing.  Just wait till you scroll down and see the pictures then tell me they don't.  But I guess if no one thinks like I do then I really need a piece cause my mind had just wondered haha.  Anyways im sure others have seen them and named it something else but that's what im calling it.  O and its on the right, right past Wrinkled Rock, haha get it haha.  Wrinkled then Penis ok never mind I will stop.  So..
  On to Mt. Rushmore I went.  It was cool, but honestly I think still Crater Lake has been the best. It was such a nice day to view it.  They have a nice visitor center with some videos on the making of Mt. Rushmore.  I stayed there for awhile just looking at everything and then I sat and had an ice cream while watching the view. 
  After leaving Mt. Rushmore I headed over to Keystone.  It's basically like a tourist town and it is made to look all old western.  It was nice but I didn't stop to see anything.  I wasn't in the mood to shop.
  I then headed over to this winery called 3 Rednecks.  Why me when I don't even drink wine, you ask?  Honestly cause of the name.  It sounded funny so I wanted to go in.  I thought maybe I would buy a bottle for someone.  So surprise surprise I ended up trying 2 wines.  I could have tried up to 5 but I stopped at two.  The first one was called Pumpkin Bog and it actually tasted pretty good.  The lady said that there was no grapes in it, that it was pumpkin with cranberry wine.  Then I thought I would try the wine that got me in the place..3 Rednecks.  It was gross and smelled gross.  I'm sure for a wine drinker it would have been good but not for me.  I had to stop after that one cause I started to feel hot and I knew if I drank other I was in for it.  Wine knocks me out fast and gives me the worse headache.  I ended up leaving with no wine.  I decided against it but it was fun to try them anyways.  O the reason I didn't buy one was because yesterday I did a party foul and dropped the rest of my Root Beer Vodka on the ground when I opened up my back door.  All I thought was I have a long ways to go and don't want to drop another bottle.  After drinking that I almost turned around to go back to Custer but then decided just to head back to Rapid City.  I got some Subway and am now kicking back.  I did meet some more people here in my hotel room, actually their room is next to mine.  It started with me trying to get into the place and this dude opened the door for me, then I got ice and he was there then I went upstairs and he was coming into the building.  So we started talking.  Him and his buddies he works with asked me to go have a drink with them but I declined.  No so much cause I don't know them but because I couldn't hardly understand him (with I think some missing teeth and an accent) so how was I suppose to understand him while drinking? haha.  No im safer in the room.
 Tomorrow morning im heading out to complete the rest of the national parks here in South Dakota and then im making my way to Mitchell,SD for the night.  You know where the Corn Palace is.  I will be camping at Lake Mitchell for the night or if I like it maybe 2.  I hope the weather stays good.
 Ps I forgot I bought myself a Blackhills Gold ring today.  Kinda a gift to myself for my trip.  The sell the Blackhills stuff for cheaper then back home here since its also made here.  You can also take tours to see how they are made but you are not allowed to take pictures.
 Miles Gone Today 67

My ring I bought to remind me of my trip, sorry its blurry but thats a rose in the center

  

Elk

look at the horns on that Reindeer

wolf

I think its a mountain sheep or maybe goat heck I don't know

brown bear guarding the road

mountain lion

big brown bear

buffalo

bobcat

two cubs fighting

me and the cubs

entrance to babyland at Bear Country

me and my new man.  Do you approve?

Bear playing in the water

A cub that is either doing something bad to that antler or is scratching his butt

entrance to Mt Rushmore

Mt Rushmore

George Washington's face

Thomas Jefferson's Face

Theodore Roosevelt's Face

and last but not least Abraham Lincoln's Face

Yep me at Mt Rushmore

Do you see what I saw?

how about now? seriously I still see it the Penis

Can you find it on this rock  mountain?

how about now? though this one is kinda diseased with bumps haha

Rapid City, South Dakota

Well gang im in South Dakota, and having fun.  Actually im exhausted.  After this im going to sleep cause tomorrow will be another long day exploring the stuff around here.  I'm tempted to stay another night just cause there is so much to see and do around here that I feel I wont have enough time.  I'm at this super 8 hotel that was cheaper then campsites around here, actually that's if the campsites are still opened and not closed for the season.  My room is the nicest i've had and on the door it says it goes for $150 a night and I got it for $30.  So I feel pretty luck. 
  So where do I begin.  I guess at the beginning.  I left Spearfish, South Dakota early and then headed towards Rapid City.  I did drive through Sturgis and it was alot bigger then I thought it was.  They have alot of bars on the main street and I guess that's for when the Rally is in town.  I did stop at one of the famous bars there and got a shot glass for my collection.
  I then headed out on the 16 to go see Mt Rushmore and guess what I never even saw it today, haha.  There is just so much to see and do that its crazy.  Plus you have to drive it seems forever just to get to the next place.  Its really not that bad just that the roads are windy.
  So my first stop ended up being the Crazy Horse Memorial.  There is tons of stuff to look at there so that was cool.  I took the bus tour that takes you closer to the front of the memorial.  It was cool to get closer and see it.  It was also cool to see the workers pushing these huge boulders down this cliff and then watching the boulders roll down the side of the mountain. They have another tour to the top where is arm is and you can walk out there but it cost like $150 but hey the guy said its tax deductible, not that I care about that.  All I heard was $150 and I was like forget that. We even got to see them drilling holes for the dynamite.  I got to get a rock from what was blasted away.  So now I will have a pet rock for my trip haha.  I haven't named him yet but I was thinking Dusty cause its full of rock dust.  There is a light show at night but I was just to tired to go watch and plus when I was in that area I would have had to wait an 1 1/2.  I guess I could have gone back to the gas station/bar...which leads me to my next part.
  So after I left the Crazy Horse Memorial I went to get gas in Custer,SD.  When I walked in to pay there was 4 guys sitting there drinking beers at a bar.  I was shocked there was a bar in the gas station.  So thinking nothing more of it I was told to come pay after I pump.  I got my gas, went back in to pay and clerk/bartender said that I got a discount since I was paying cash. I got a .70 discount and then I said man that isn't even enough to buy a beer.  So one of the guys( I never even got their names) bought me a beer.  I couldn't say no, since it was already being poured.  So here I was with my car in front of one of the gas pumps full while I was inside drinking a beer with 5 strangers.  They were funny and called me Cali girl.  Mind you this is at 11:30am.  I guess it really was 12:00 somewhere.  We just bullshitted and actually I had alot of fun.  They were just all laid back guys.  So after 2 beers. I thanked them and said that I may see them again tomorrow. I headed out.  Don't worry folks I wasn't even buzzed.  Actually when I left the bar it was 1:00pm. 
  I headed over to Jewel Cave NM and made it with no seconds to spare for the cave tour.  Talk about luck.  It was nice there was only about 6 of us on the tour.  It lasted for about an hour.  It is one of the largest and may be the largest in the world with at least a thousand + miles of cave and more still to be found.  Considering I barely saw any of it, that's crazy.
  I then drove over to Wind Cave NP and with 1/2 to spare took that tour also.  It was about 1 1/2 hours.  After seeing Jewel Cave I was thinking they look pretty much alike, but the ranger said they are not connected.  I think later in history they might find out there are.  The Ranger giving the tour was so funny.  He told us about how he had got lost for 2 1/2 hours one time and another time when he got lost for 8 hours in the cave.  There was about 40 of us on that tour. This was the first national park to protect a cave.  Also the rail walk ways and the visitor center were built by the CCC Boys.  By the end of the tour I was so tired and just wanted to pass out.  But NOOO I had to still drive back to Rapid City to my room.
  I saw so many deer out and the whole time I kept thinking  GET ME OUT OF HERE.  I just am thankful I didn't hit one.
  On the way back I passed by that gas station/bar again and was like hmm but decided against it.  Tomorrow the plan is to go to Mt Rushmore and then some other stuff around here like a drive through wild animal park, the reptile place and a factory where they make the black hills jewelry, o' and also a Christmas store. 
Miles Gone Today 203

Bar in Sturgis,SD

Crazy Horse Memorial from the parking lot

Crazy Horse's face when on the bus ride

The full scale model of what it will look like when complete with the actual face in the background

do you see the real face behind the scale model?

Jewel Cave NM

Part of all the tunnels in Jewel Cave

The other part that was cut off with the rest of the tunnels in Jewel Cave

Wind Cave I believe he called them box boards.

could this be a new tunnel in Wind Cave

3 states in 1 day, Devils Tower, and Montana can be checked off

OMG I can't believe I had enough time to catch up on all my days.  Today was a long day even though I got to my free hotel room at 5pm.  Ya it was free due to my points from my rewards card. 
  Today I got up early and headed out to the Bighorn Canyon NRA.  It is the final park that I needed to get all the parks for Montana stamped in my Passport book.  I was so excited.  The drive from Hardin to the NRA was really nice.  It goes through some small towns, farms and you see alot of old houses down the road.  Once I was at the park though I started to stress cause the visitor center was closed and yesterday they said that it would be open.  Also most of the roads were closed since the best way to view the NRA area is from Lovell,WY.  I did get to see the Yellowtail Dam though again you were not able to actually visit it today.  So I went to the Ranger station and they said that since the season is coming to a close so are the buildings.  The Ranger did have a stamp and I got my final stamp for Montana.  If you are to come here I would go to the Lovell,WY entrance since the road on this side does not go all the way and also don't just come all the way over here just to go to the NRA unless you have time.  It is about a 45 min drive from Hardin.  The drive though is nice so at least that was something.  I just wish I could have seen the displays in the visitor center.  I did see like I said the Dam and part of the NRA.
  After that I headed out and crossed over into Wyoming to see Devil's Tower.  It was amazing.  I couldn't believe how many people were there today.  The drive after Moorcroft,Wy is really nice through the country.  Just make sure you get gas in Moorcroft before you head out.  I learned that.  Don't worry I did make it and actually it had me end up taking a different route back to the freeway.  Today was a really nice day probably in the high 60's.  I felt like I was at home.  Just a little FYI that Devils Tower was the first national monument.  I recommend people come and see it. 
  Once I left Devil's Tower I went to get gas in Hulett,Wy on the 24 before I had to walk.  It is a really small town but all the buildings are like old west style.  The people are really friendly too.  I'm glad I decided not to turn around and go back the way I came but to keep taking the 24 cause I think that was a prettier drive then the 14.  It also took me into the Black Hills National Forest.  I ended up in Spearfish,South Dakota where I am hanging for the night.  I cant wait to explore tomorrow and see Mt. Rushmore and everything else there.  I will be in Rapid City, South Dakota for the next couple of days. 
  So tonight I will be looking up things to do or that I want to see.  I just hope everything else is open.
Miles Gone Today 410

old house on the 313 in Montana

Yellowtail Dam in Fort Smith, Montana

Yellowtail Dam in Fort Smith, Montana

Another old house on Mt-313 in Montana



2nd State for the day, Wyoming



First view of Devil's Tower from the Wy- 24

little guy was almost my 2nd road victim

Devil's Tower through the sculpture of Circle of Sacred Smoke, doesn't it look cool?

Devils Tower and the sculpture of Circle of Sacred Smoke

Guess what? Devils Tower

and another view of Devil's Tower

First part of the Black Hills National Forest

3rd state for the day

Little Bighorn Battlefield NM, Crow Agency, Montana

What a start to a day.  I didn't get to go see the Lady of the Rockies cause dorky me I forgot I was in Mountain time and set my alarm wrong.  By the time I got up it was to late.  So I just hung around the camp and did laundry and straighten out my car. 
  I then left and headed to the Little Bighorn Battlefield NM where the Indian war with Custer was and where he died.  It was pretty cool but sad at the same time.  There was tombstones everywhere showing where the Indians and Soldiers had fallen.  They also had a National Cemetery with hundreds of tombstones there.  The visitor center is nice.  It has some old artifacts from Custer and also a short film on the Battle. 
  I didn't do much else today just went back to Hardin for the night.
O I forgot I did pass the Continental Divide at 6395 feet above sealevel.  I couldn't take a picture of it since it came up so fast on the freeway and it was posted on a bridge.
Miles Gone Today 316

Crazy Mountains (thats seriously what their called)

Crazy Mountains

General Custers clothes

Indian pouch

Where some of the soldiers fell at battle

Gen Custer's plot

Indian's plot

National cemetery

A row from the National Cemetery

Missoula, Grant-Kohrs Ranch NHS and Butte Montana

Well I got up early today thinking I would get to see some stuff today in Missoula but I was mistaken.  I didn't know that almost everything is closed on Sunday's and Mondays.  I thought only the beauty shops were closed on Mondays.  Well not here.  I wanted to see  a carousel, nope closed.  I wanted to see
Fort Missoula and hey guess what that was also closed, but the grounds were open.  So I did drive around it not that I knew what everything was but it was still nice. 
  After leaving town I head to the Grant-Kohrs Ranch NHS, I had been here before when I was 10 but since it was right off of the I-90 I decided to stop again.  I'm glad I did cause the ranger lady was so nice.  I was the only one at the park so she gave me a private tour of the house and told me all kinds of information about the family and the Grandson who had lived on the property in another house until 1993 when he passed away.  I told the Ranger I felt so privileged getting my own private tour.  It was really windy out,even though it was sunny.  I walked around the grounds after my tour then went and thanked her again. 
  I then headed over to Butte to stay the night.  At the KOA where I was going to camp, the host people felt bad for me that I was going to stay in a tent so they gave me a cabin room instead.  It was so nice.  Especially when I woke up in the middle of the night to use the restroom and there was frost all over everything and was freezing outside.  In the cabin it was nice and warm.  All the people I have met so far in Montana have been really nice.
  For dinner I decided to go online and I looked up for Diners,DriveIns and Dives but there was nothing in Montana.  So next I looked up Man vs. Food and found a place called Joe's Pastry Shop where they have these pastries stuffed with potatoes and steak and then topped with gravy.  It was good and one was enough to fill me up.  I just recommend more steak since it was mostly potatoes.
 I wanted to go up and see this statue called Our Lady of the Rockies.  Its way up on the side of a mountain overlooking the town.  You are not allowed to drive up there yourself so you have to go with a tour. I wanted to see it since its suppose to be has tall as the Statue of Liberty. I started talking to a lady that works at the booth were you get tickets and she said that usually they don't do tours for just one person but to come back tomorrow morning at 930am and she would talk to the driver about taking her and I up since she has work to do up there.  Today is just a good day of getting lucky with people.  Wish I had that kind of luck with the men haha.

Miles Gone Today 156

cemetery at Fort Missoula

old house at Fort Missoula

School at Fort Missoula

weird sky

Trains coming

Church I found in a town called Goldcreek,Mt

Clark River,Goldcreek,MT

The Grant-Kohrs NHS in Deer Lodge,MT

Far away view of Our Lady of the Rockies in Butte,Mt

Beef Pastry from Joe's Pastry shop in Butte,Mt

with Gravy on the pastry and showing the inside