Saturday, Aug 27, 2011
Mount Rushmore and all things touristy
Today we start a little later than usual, we are all a little sleepy today being that it’s been a busy vacation that began on the 19th.
Mount Rushmore is the main event today with some touristy things sprinkled in.
We are staying in Hill City, which is a very small town in and amongst the tourist towns and cities of the Black Hills. Rapid City is about 1/2 hour away, Keystone (where Mt. Rushmore is) is about 20 minutes away, and Deadwood is about a 1/2 hour away, so we are pretty central to all the sights and places willing to take your $$!
We arrive at Mt. Rushmore Memorial Monument at about 10:00 a.m. and rented the audio wands to learn all about the place, why it was sculpted, who sculpted it and all that.
We head up to the “Grand Terrace” which has the flags of all the US states plus the District of Columbia flag, and the 5 territories: US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, US Virgin Islands and Guam. They have pillars that the flags are flown from, and in alphabetical order, the granite pillars are engraved with what state joined the union, in what year, and in what order.
One thing I have learned about the Americans is that they do up everything big! It is Mount Rushmore Memorial Monument instead of Mt. Rushmore point of interest. Mount Rushmore is done very well, you walk up the Grand Terrace, and there are 4 dead presidents looking in your general direction - which I say loosely - Abe Lincoln is not looking at me! What’s with that!
The presidential walk with the audio wand was really interesting and did keep our attention on a really hot day. It’s a pretty easy walk on raised side walks, and you get to see all the 4 presidents from different angles. I did not see the glasses on T. Rosevelt until we had a side view.
I try to get a family photo using my delay button, but alas, I could not get the camera pointed high enough to get the 4 dead guys plus us in it. I also could not see my view lens as the sun was so bright. A lady, after having watched me, several times, run back and forth unsuccessfully to get in the picture (I have a 10 second delay) graciously, while giggling, offered to take our family photo. She had been entertained, and was not sure if she wanted to watch a few more times, or just to help out. Thank you kind lady!
After Mt. Rushmore, we head to Keystone to look around. At the Red Garter Saloon, they had a comedy show, so we took that in. We saw the tallest white guy any of us have seen in person. Big Dave is 7’ 2” and was in the comedy routine, which was about Wild Bill Hickock. Was funny. 2 of the guys in the comedy act have been in movies. Big Dave is on one of the the Big and Rich CD’s and is in the video for Save a horse, Ride a Cowboy. I of course don’t know that song (LOL) so those of you who do and are fans, I am sure you have seen Big Dave before. The other guy was in Dances with wolves and a mixture of other movies I have never heard of, and played the “bad guy who always gets shot”
After the show, we went towards Rapid City where Lucas took in the indoor go-carts, slot car racing, batting cage, outdoor go-carts, and water wars.
Water wars is small balloons filled to the brim with water. Tied in a knot, and then launched out of a cone to the opponent. I was not the opponent - Phil was. The idea is to soak your opponent while you try to stay dry.
What was funny was the guys were way soaked before they started to play. Seems the tap with water flows quicker than the balloons fill, so if you don’t have the end secured just so, it sprays like a bad joke and a full mouth of water!
Anyway, by my observation, the guys were equally wet. Phil eventually took off his shirt, which was after the filling of the balloons, but before they began the war. Lucas got more soaked in the game than prior to the game, unlike Phil. So my call is it was even.
After that we head out for dinner and to our home away from home in Hill City...until tomorrow....
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