The Black Hills

What a shock it is to drive endless straight, flat miles across South Dakota's farm land, and come to the beautiful Black Hills--even though the map tells you they are there.  Mt. Rushmore is, in a word, awesome!  There are many points to view the Presidents from miles away, and many different angles from which to admire the monument from the park itself.

Crazy Horse is a work-in-progress, many times larger than Mt. Rushmore, promised to be completed in this millenium--and visible from the George Mickelson bike trail...if we had gone in the right direction--which we didn't.

Custer State Park must be the reality show for, where the buffalo roam and the deer and the antelope play all day--sometimes in the same field at the same time!

As nasty as the buffalo are, the babies are very cute.

We sat beside a field one evening and witnessed a most amusing display of turkey courting.  A dozen hens were pecking along seemingly unaware, unconcerned and certainly unimpressed by 3 toms in  glorious full fan of feather hopping around in circles!!  Those toms must be in a raggedy condition by the time the spring season has passed. :)

I think this area of South Dakota is on the short list of where our retirement home might be--it has everything:  mountains, wildlife, charming small towns, a bike trail and a nice low tax base.  We  lunched at the Kunckle Saloon biker bar in Sturgis, feasted on pie at The Purple Pie Place in Custer and tasted a bit of wine at Prairie Berry in Hill City. 

Although we could easily spend a lot more time here, it is time to continue our journey.  Alaska is calling us!!