Mt Rushmore at night

26 Jul 10 – 1 Aug 10

Do you want to know why you should never put a man in charge of keeping track of the calendar? They think they can do it in their head – what happens – they are either early or late. We did not leave SD until Thursday because Ray had the wrong move day in his head. We had an extra day to see what all those motorcyclists see in Sturgis – I didn't find anything I would ride many miles to do or see. You can go to the county fair and see all the peddlers hawking their wares and that is what we saw when we were there.

We went on an old train ride – supposed to be steam, and it was with the caveat that they made the steam by burning recycled motor oil. I was all ready to get soot, but oil just makes smoke. The ride was still fun and we enjoyed the scenery as well as the history of some of the mining that took place in the Black Hills. Not only did they mine gold, and not a whole lot of that, but also tin. There was more money lost to fraud – nothing changes but the players – than was made in gold mining. All those get rich quick schemes – 'If it sounds to good to be true – it probably is!' played out here before the work on Mt. Rushmore even started.

We went to see Mt. Rushmore one last time this week. While we were on the train trip we overheard a lady talking about how dramatic the lighting of the mountain had been. It is amazing what you can see when you have a camera – check out the wildlife(held until next week). It is just a little higher than the top of Washington's head and about 300 to 400 yards left. We went early on Tuesday evening to see for ourselves with an Army band playing a concert for an hour or more before they did a fifteen minute presentation on the carving and why each of the Presidents were chosen. By this time it is well after 9PM and getting dark – then they turned on the lights – what a sight from seeing it with the sun of the morning lighting it. If you look close you can see all the different colors of the granite in streaks across the faces as well as the flaws.

We are in travel mode and will only do a little sightseeing from here to the coast. We go back to Casper for a couple of days to get a little R and R then on to Rock Springs, WY and Wells, NV to spend the weekend.

In Wells they were having a car show and rally when we arrived. Two weeks in a row we get to see old cars – this week not as old – but more of the ones that were popular when we were young. For all you young people – if there are cars you couldn't live without, or you thought there were, they will come back when you are older. For all you older people a question(answer below) – what was the only model car that came out with a half year designation because it was brought out in the spring?(picture held until next week.)

We will be on the left coast for next weekend – this has not been the whirlwind trip our first cross country trip was, but it seems like it has been a hurried trip. We will see family again next week and see if we can find a place where it is not 90+ all the time.

Pictures:
Mt. Rushmore - taken at almost 10PM when lit
Prong-horned Antelope – taken for Alan
RV and car in Wasatch Mrs of UT(then)
RV and car in Wasatch Mrs of UT(now)
1880 train – look at the smoke

Answer: Ford Mustang 1964 1/2