I'm playing catch up. We are in DIA right now, waiting to fly back to SLC from our Thanksgiving holiday, and I'm thinking about the trip. I was talking with A and K and mentioned that I felt like we didn't really travel this year, Eric and I. But we did, and I haven't documented it. So lest I forget, let's talk about our trip to Mt. Rushmore.
I had Mt. Rushmore on my bucket list, who knows why. There was just some unexplainable allure to it for me. We decided to road trip up over the Fourth of July. They actually stopped doing fireworks there a few years back, due to some bug infestation in the forest that leaves the trees more flammable. But I didn't mind at all.
We left on Thursday, the 3rd, after work, and drove to Casper, WY. We got to Evanston quick and picked some fireworks, then didn't stop until we got to Martin's Cove, which is an LDS Pioneer landmark. The handcart companies that left really late in the season (Willy and Martin Companies) hit severe snow and cold and many died there in those Wyoming plains. I'd been there when I was 14 on our youth pioneer trek, Eric had never been. I always love the feeling of being somewhere that you've been once before, several years ago. It happened to me on our last trip to Jackson Hole, I had all kinds of memories pop up that I didn't know were there from the trip I took with my best friend's family when we were teenagers.
Anyways, we were guided around by the senior missionaries there and had a nice visit. We got pulled over between there and Casper, and did get a ticket. Wah wah.
Next day was the 4th, so we spent almost the duration of our car ride listening to/belting out patriotic songs and getting sappily grateful for America, it was the perfect drive on that day, we passed oil fields, amber waves of grain, rollings hills, pitch blue skies as far as you could see. The road was even red for awhile, the plains white, and the sky blue, a truly patriotic love note from America to us.
South Dakota is a hidden gem.
[This is where I stopped writing in the airport over Thanksgiving, and started again on New Year's Eve, slow boat to China over here.]
I don't know how to describe the Lewis and Clark feeling I had the whole time we were there. Well, actually, that was pretty good. It still feels wild, and I loved it! We stayed in Spearfish, everything closer to Rushmore was booked out.
We ate a quick bite and headed towards Keystone. But on our drive we decided to go check out Bear Country on the way. I loved being so close to the bears! There were other animals there, but not really any as cool as those free roaming bears. I'd recommend it to anyone that heads up that way to make a stop through there.
We continued on and started to feel the anticipation pull as we rounded corners with signs announcing Rushmore. I was nervous, both of us had repeatedly tried to convince ourselves that it wasn't going to be cool, that it would be smaller than we imagine (just like the Statue of Liberty is, am I right?!). We weaved around one more hill and caught our first glimpse... I kid you not, my heart skipped a beat! It was more beautiful and majestic than I anticipated, or than I'd let myself hope for.
We walked up and it was packed, but still easy to walk through. There are small souvenir shops and historical information splattered along the walkways up to the mountain. We grabbed and ice cream cone a piece and walked over. I loved it!
We went to leave just as it started pouring rain. I'm not sure we could have timed it better. We went around some of the shops in Keystone, picked up some souvenir cards and headed back to Spearfish after we grabbed a bite to eat. The drive up was perfect, because we could see fireworks everywhere, but especially the show in Sturgis.
The next day was Eric's birthday, so we went to Deadwood to gamble and tour. Actually, we didn't really gamble, but we did get carded, haha. I guess a good way to start your 31st birthday. But I can see why they did, because I think the next youngest person in the casino was 107.
Deadwood, again, felt untamed and vintage Old West. I think I loved every minute of this trip, except maybe the drive back!
I had Mt. Rushmore on my bucket list, who knows why. There was just some unexplainable allure to it for me. We decided to road trip up over the Fourth of July. They actually stopped doing fireworks there a few years back, due to some bug infestation in the forest that leaves the trees more flammable. But I didn't mind at all.
We left on Thursday, the 3rd, after work, and drove to Casper, WY. We got to Evanston quick and picked some fireworks, then didn't stop until we got to Martin's Cove, which is an LDS Pioneer landmark. The handcart companies that left really late in the season (Willy and Martin Companies) hit severe snow and cold and many died there in those Wyoming plains. I'd been there when I was 14 on our youth pioneer trek, Eric had never been. I always love the feeling of being somewhere that you've been once before, several years ago. It happened to me on our last trip to Jackson Hole, I had all kinds of memories pop up that I didn't know were there from the trip I took with my best friend's family when we were teenagers.
Anyways, we were guided around by the senior missionaries there and had a nice visit. We got pulled over between there and Casper, and did get a ticket. Wah wah.
Next day was the 4th, so we spent almost the duration of our car ride listening to/belting out patriotic songs and getting sappily grateful for America, it was the perfect drive on that day, we passed oil fields, amber waves of grain, rollings hills, pitch blue skies as far as you could see. The road was even red for awhile, the plains white, and the sky blue, a truly patriotic love note from America to us.
South Dakota is a hidden gem.
[This is where I stopped writing in the airport over Thanksgiving, and started again on New Year's Eve, slow boat to China over here.]
I don't know how to describe the Lewis and Clark feeling I had the whole time we were there. Well, actually, that was pretty good. It still feels wild, and I loved it! We stayed in Spearfish, everything closer to Rushmore was booked out.
We ate a quick bite and headed towards Keystone. But on our drive we decided to go check out Bear Country on the way. I loved being so close to the bears! There were other animals there, but not really any as cool as those free roaming bears. I'd recommend it to anyone that heads up that way to make a stop through there.
We continued on and started to feel the anticipation pull as we rounded corners with signs announcing Rushmore. I was nervous, both of us had repeatedly tried to convince ourselves that it wasn't going to be cool, that it would be smaller than we imagine (just like the Statue of Liberty is, am I right?!). We weaved around one more hill and caught our first glimpse... I kid you not, my heart skipped a beat! It was more beautiful and majestic than I anticipated, or than I'd let myself hope for.
We walked up and it was packed, but still easy to walk through. There are small souvenir shops and historical information splattered along the walkways up to the mountain. We grabbed and ice cream cone a piece and walked over. I loved it!
We went to leave just as it started pouring rain. I'm not sure we could have timed it better. We went around some of the shops in Keystone, picked up some souvenir cards and headed back to Spearfish after we grabbed a bite to eat. The drive up was perfect, because we could see fireworks everywhere, but especially the show in Sturgis.
The next day was Eric's birthday, so we went to Deadwood to gamble and tour. Actually, we didn't really gamble, but we did get carded, haha. I guess a good way to start your 31st birthday. But I can see why they did, because I think the next youngest person in the casino was 107.
Deadwood, again, felt untamed and vintage Old West. I think I loved every minute of this trip, except maybe the drive back!
Sounds fun to me!
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