Viewing Mount Rushmore in person is extraordinary. It’s such an incredible icon that for it to be right in front of you is a little bit surreal. I mean, you grow up seeing these stone heads in everything from political cartoons to television ads that they end up taking on somewhat of an imaginary quality. Then all of a sudden we’re standing in their presence. We simply had to freeze and stare for a while to take it all in. Not as iconic as Mount Rushmore is the stone statuary of Sioux Indian Chief Crazy Horse, fifteen miles down the road. Size-wise it’s Mount Rushmore on steroids and once it’s actually completed it’s going to be amazing. The thing of it is that they’ve been working on it for more than fifty years and all that’s done is his face. There’s still his hair, upper torso, both arms and the horse. I guess it’ll be a little something for your great, great-grandkids to enjoy.

We only made a brief foray into Custer State Park, but the park deserves much more lingering. The splendor and diversity is of national park caliber, and in fact it would have been one had it not already been snatched up by South Dakota. Interestingly enough, there is a bad neighborhood within the park’s boundaries. It’s an area along the scenic drive that’s notorious for belligerent muggings—by burros, that is! These critters are some seriously brazen beggars and they work a sophisticated operation. One of them walks into the road to prevent your getaway while another three or four of them work the sides of your vehicle. God help you if your windows are rolled down because they push their heads inside and are more than just a little insistent on receiving handouts. We wouldn’t have been surprised to see one whip out a bucket and squeegee.