Day 18 – Mount Rushmore

This Mountain-sized Presidential Post is brought to you by Laura and David.

The morning started with a coffee stop at “Grapes and Grind” at 7:15 AM in Keystone, SD. Even though they didn’t open until 8 AM, the manager opened up for us – such a wonderful surprise! (We decided then and there to return after our morning at Mount Rushmore.)

Next we took what seems to be an unknown treasure to the Mount Rushmore. A 30 minute winding tree-lined drive that weaves its way through the Black Hills National Forest. Amazing. I (David) had taken this same route more than 30 years ago on my road trip with Tommy Gilbert, and today it was just as spectacular. Along the route there are two moments when you drive through a one-lane tunnel that reveals Mount Rushmore miles away. The mountain-sized sculpture is framed perfectly in the tunnel opening as you drive through it. Majestic! And almost as unbelievable, we were practically the ONLY car on the road.

This why you show up early.

Once at Mount Rushmore we walked to the Presidential Trail which offered both great photo opportunities of the entirety of Mount Rushmore and spots which lined up for photos individually of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln. Again we were all alone on the trail. For a while, it felt like we had the park to ourselves.

As we were on the trail we came upon the three Mountain goats enjoying the morning. They stopped to munch on foliage and climb the rocks. We have never been so close to mountain goats – we took many pics – a fabulous twist on a spectacular event.

After Mount Rushmore and a second round of coffee, the guys were sports and stopped at Wall Drug in Wall, South Dakota on I-90. It is a series of “stuff” stores that has been around since 1931. The original sign touted “free ice water”. It’s a trinket place. There are signs for it that you start seeing on the highway 100 miles away (much like the infamous “South of the Border” in South Carolina). Laura very much enjoyed the stop. David and Max enjoyed it too. (Where is the sarcasm emoji?)

After that it was the long ride into Minnesota. We stopped for the night a town called Worthington and ate at the Hickory Lodge Bar and Grill which was in our hotel. Our burgers were juicy … fries good too. Like last nights dinner, our server’s name was Emily. A nice end to the day.

After Bryce and Zion, Mount Rushmore was the final spot that I (David) wanted to repeat from my first road trip back in 1985. All three were just as magnificent as I remembered from so long ago.

Photos!

Video!

Songs of the day (we couldn’t pick just one):

“A Case Of You” by Joni Mitchell

“Let It Grow” by Eric Clapton

 

5 comments

Great pics love the goats!

Donna GIlbert

Did you buy some really cool whoopty-do cowboy boots while at Wall Drug? We did! We also saw a tarantula in the middle of the road on that long road with all the billboards. Of course Tommy had to find something to poke at it with. Actually, he tried getting it out of the middle of the road so it didn’t get hit. Wall Drug is filled with a lot of “stuff” be was a fun stop before moving on for us.

There is a lot of truly inspired photography in this group of shots. The compositions and colors are just excellent. Although I can’t get comfortable with looking up all the presidents noses. But that could just be me. The goats were a fun addition to a fantastic monument.

Everyone need to go to this inspirational place.

Sounds Great! One of the places I’d like to see.

Thanks for letting me revisit this one-of-a-kind memorial place

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