Sad to move on but wonderful weather and the open road beckoned. But first...
Birthday cards for Wonderful Wendy to begin her big day. She's 21 today and ready to take on the world.
We got on the road about 8am and were lucky enough to travel through a town just about 40 minutes away where the Oregon Trail history is alive.
Here you could see the Register Cliff where westerers carved their names as they passed from East to West to find gold, escape religious persecution, or just have an adventure. Unfortunately, the sandstone has been attacked by visitors who want to carve their name in the rock. Thus, many of the original "taggers" have been overwritten by hooligans from the 70s through 00s. Oldest signature we found was 1815. Pretty cool.
Just down the road was "the ruts" where the wagon trains actually dug ruts into the sandstone that are 4-5 feet deep. The history of how the pioneers traveled westward, how the U.S. Army set up forts and telegraph lines to protect travelers, and the ensuing conflicts was really interesting. When we thought about the timetable - that this was happening at the same time as the Civil War - made me wonder how our country even got as far as we have.
So then we hightail it up to the top of Wyoming (because I hadn't planned on doing the whole Westward history element). Just past Mule Creek Junction near the South Dakota line, we got to meet the most incredible law enforcement officer EVER! Without any real speed limit signs and our history of having 70-80 mph all over the west, I was a bit heavy-footed. As this officer passed us on this long stretch, she immediately turned around. I knew something was up (can you see the lights in the pic). She told us we were a bit high on speed. I was ready to take my medicine, though I honestly had no idea of the limit for this stretch of nothingness. She came back with a warning, some stickers for the kids, a map to tourist attractions, and a bit of knowledge about the area (more cattle than humans, home of world's oldest T-rex bones that reside now in Chicago, & least populated county in the U.S.) Wendy thanked her for the birthday gift and she reminded us that two-lane roads in this part of the country are maxed at 65.
For the cheesy tourist in us, South Dakota offered up Bedrock City. This place looked like crack for kids. I can only imagine how many tickets to their "fun park" they sell. We went and looked at the gift shop at Dino t-shirts and Barney stuffed animals but left without sharing any cash.
We headed toward Mt. Rushmore after lunch but ran across the Chief Crazy Horse monument before we got there. They've got an impressive tourist net and Native American museum and story to share about a dream and support of Native Americans. The fact that they take NO state or federal funds, and that for years it was one man doing the work, explains why this monument has been "in process" since the 40s. The face is incredible and I hope I can see it completed in my lifetime but told the kids they may share its completion with their grandkids.
They did a dance demonstration outside on their plaza, between restaurant and extensive gift shop, that was very special knowing the lead dancer's story.
This is what it should look like when finished - 1/34th scale.
Just down the road was Mt. Rushmore and an impressive national monument. The fact that all 4 faces could fit into Crazy Horse's head tells you how they compare. But the trails, story, and surroundings at Mt. Rushmore were top notch. Took only 14 years to complete this masterpiece. The cheesy "town" down the hill reminded us of a western, simplified Pigeon Forge.
Moving on we raced toward Wall Drug in Wall, SD. Wendy spent her 12th birthday there with her parents and now her 21st with her husband and kids. Here she's - oddly enough - on the phone with her mother.
The photo ops were impressive and they have created an oasis along I-90 in South Dakota.
Unfortunately, I am so thick that I thought we'd be the only travelers visiting national monuments in this part of South Dakota and that it was actually Saturday. So there were no hotel rooms to be found for about 120 miles and only a couple of food options. That meant I wasted an hour of our day trying to find a place to rest for the night and Wendy had to have Dairy Queen for her birthday dinner (thanks DQ!). We ended up in Pierre for the night at about 10:30 our time. That's a 14-day so this vacation isn't for the weak. Quick night's sleep and then we'll head out in the a.m. southward. Happy Anniversary to me!
