The Devil's in the Detour

June 30, 2013

So this morning we get up and leave the Rafter Bar J Ranch "Mountain Resort" (that just means the can charge more for camping) in the Black Hills of South Dakota and head out for North Dakota - or so I thought.  After a couple of hours driving through some beautiful mountain scenery, we came to Spearfish, South Dakota, where we were to gas up and resupply before heading out for North Dakota.

This is where it gets devious.

I, Captain Poppy, leave the helm of the good ship Alice just long enough to obtain supplies at the local Walmart - and while I'm gone a mutiny takes place!

It seems my first mate and navigator conducts a secret poll on social media and before I can return and get the crew in hand (including the little furry one) - our course has been changed and we are now headed west instead of north!  They all say they feel they are being drawn to this place.  Hmmm, sounds strangely like the plot of a 1970's movie.  Nah, couldn't be.

Disclaimer - no mashed potatoes were harmed in the making of this detour.

These are the results of the crew's treachery!

SEE HOW BRAZEN AND DEFIANT THEY LOOK?!?

They were willing to tackle almost anything!

The path to our destiny?

They forced me steer toward strange objects in the distance!

Did You Know?

Devils Tower is America's first national monument, created by President Theodore Roosevelt under the Antiquities Act in 1906.

Want to know more?  Click here

 The conniving crew in front of their  object of  attraction!

Look what I can do! 

Then I'm forced to trek around the WHOLE thing!  I recorded these images to prove what they did to me.

After all that walking and I'm only halfway?  YIKES!

 Sunset progression.

Finally I was able to return to the campground we found and rest for the voyage ahead......

Who knows, we may even make it to North Dakota tomorrow.  I don't know though - with this crew anything is possible!

The Black Hills of South Dakota

June 27

Custer State Park and Needles Highway

 Prairie Dogs

 These guys are known as the "Begging Burros" If your car window is down, they will stick their heads right in.

Annie Didn't take too well to them.

Our first sighting of a Buffalo herd!

 Girls in front of the Cathedral Spires on the Needles Highway.

This is one of the 3 tunnels on the highway - can you guess why we didn't take the motorhome on this drive?

 Sylvan Lake.  A popular recreation area....they were rehearsing a wedding just off to our left.

June 27 - Alpine Slide and Storybook Island

Alpine Slide!

On our way to the top!

Abi and Emi in the chair in front.

Look what I saw on the way up!  Our first glimpse of Mt Rushmore.

At the top with Mt Rushmore in the distance.

Ready to go down!

See you at the bottom!

I'm up!

Here comes Emi!

On to Storybook Island!

Storybook Island is an admission  free children's theme park open starting Memorial Day weekend through through Labor Day Provided by the Rotary Clubs of the Rapid City area.

 And it's free!  Lot's of shade and fun things for kids to do.

June 28  A Little R & R 

Who doesn't need a little R & R on a long road trip?  Fortunately, the campground had a pool for just  such a need!  Even if they didn't have functional WI-FI!  No one drowned even though a couple of the shots look like drowning was imminent. 

June 29  Mt Rushmore -  

A few days back I asked about Gutzon Borglum and what else he is know for.  Here's the answer - Mt Rushmore!  Read more here

Did You Know?

Mount Rushmore is named after New York City attorney Charles E. Rushmore, who came to the Black Hills in 1884-85 to check legal titles on properties. On returning to Pine Camp he asked Bill Challis the name of this mountain. Bill replied, "Never had a name but from now on we'll call it Rushmore."

Have you ever wondered why these four presidents were chosen.

Here's the answer!

Evening Ceremony

All veterans were invited to come up front for the flag lowering creremony at the end.  This was a very moving moment as there was a standing ovation for the whole time they were going forward!

They then went through and asked each to give their name and branch of service - more applause!

If you're ever close - make this part of your trip!

On to North Dakota!