Enjoying the Black Hills
ournal Day 12--ready
8/5/04--Thursday--
Staying at the KOA Mount Rushmore
Today the Korps must rest. This is the perfect place to do it. This KOA is larger than many towns we've passed through. It's a resort--it has over 600 campsites, a lodge, several gift shops as well as the usual general store, and even a Subway sandwich shop. We have the most beautiful campsite of our trip--more secluded, pine trees all around us, chipmunks running around. This is more like the camping experiences we are used to.
I have time in the morning to rest, to sit outside and work on this journal while watching a very tame chipmunk eat the sunflower seeds I've been throwing in his direction.
We decide we should probably go see SOMETHING today, so we leave to visit the Crazy Horse Monument. Every year there is a Volksmarch here that draws up to 13,000 people; its the only time you can climb Crazy Horse. I've been wanting to do that Volksmarch for a while, so I'm anxious to see the monument. All that has been done for about 5 years now is the face, the top of his arm, and a tunnel which will form the area underneath his arm as he points outward. They are working on the pony's head now. Eventually there will a hospital, a university, and a large museum dedicated to North American Indians of all tribes. They have a good start on the museum. Everything is paid for with private funds, so it costs $20 to get in, and there are various other ways to "contribute" once inside. The musical group Mannheim Steamroller made a CD of American music that is sold in the gift shop; all the proceeds go to the Crazy Horse project. It will be quite impressive when it's finished--much larger than Mount Rushmore. But there is no goal, no date for it to BE finished. There are lots of places inside the museum to buy Indian craft goods. Finally I break down and buy some jewelry from a Lakota Sioux tribesman--I should have known I couldn't keep my vow not to get any.
We have known during our entire trip that this coming weekend, in the small town of Sturgis here in the Black Hills, an enormous Bike Rally is convening. Mostly Harley-Davidson riders; we did see a few Hondas and other models. Every day we see more and more bikers. They're all in their leather and tight black t-shirts, chains and other appropriate jewelry, some helmeted, some wearing what look like do-rags. I have to admit many of them would scare me in a dark alley. They are perfectly well-behaved everywhere we encounter them--enjoying the National Monuments and National Parks, having a great time. There's something heartwarming about a guy in black leather and chains, covered with tattoos, visibly enjoying his chocolate ice cream cone! Many of them are also quite obviously doing well economically. They are driving the largest motorhomes in the campgrounds, with fancy matching trailers which contain their bikes, and in some cases a car as well (a BMW convertible). Born to be wild?!? Seeing them gather out here gradually over the time of our trip has been a very interesting cultural experience (for us, at least)
This is also a good time to talk about our housing during this vacation. Our next-door neighbor, Dale Cluse, graciously lent us his tent trailer. It's become home. We just can't figure out how to keep it without them figuring it out. It sleeps at least 6 people, so we have plenty of room. It has electric, water, air-conditioning, and a porta-pottie if you need it. You can cook on a stove inside or outside. There's even a shower attachment outside, with a tipi if you need it. If you are wilderness camping, you can run the whole thing on gas. Truly amazing and wonderful. There's only one problem. Now, WE want one!
We used to camp quite frequently. Tonight, when we have time to sit here in the Black Hills of South Dakota and enjoy our campfire, we remember why. Garrett makes a wonderful dinner of Cornish game hen cooked with white wine in the dutch oven, and we have delicious stuffing with it. 'Smores are the perfect dessert. We need to do this more often. Maybe we really DO need a popup camper!
8/5/04--Thursday--
Staying at the KOA Mount Rushmore
Today the Korps must rest. This is the perfect place to do it. This KOA is larger than many towns we've passed through. It's a resort--it has over 600 campsites, a lodge, several gift shops as well as the usual general store, and even a Subway sandwich shop. We have the most beautiful campsite of our trip--more secluded, pine trees all around us, chipmunks running around. This is more like the camping experiences we are used to.
I have time in the morning to rest, to sit outside and work on this journal while watching a very tame chipmunk eat the sunflower seeds I've been throwing in his direction.
We decide we should probably go see SOMETHING today, so we leave to visit the Crazy Horse Monument. Every year there is a Volksmarch here that draws up to 13,000 people; its the only time you can climb Crazy Horse. I've been wanting to do that Volksmarch for a while, so I'm anxious to see the monument. All that has been done for about 5 years now is the face, the top of his arm, and a tunnel which will form the area underneath his arm as he points outward. They are working on the pony's head now. Eventually there will a hospital, a university, and a large museum dedicated to North American Indians of all tribes. They have a good start on the museum. Everything is paid for with private funds, so it costs $20 to get in, and there are various other ways to "contribute" once inside. The musical group Mannheim Steamroller made a CD of American music that is sold in the gift shop; all the proceeds go to the Crazy Horse project. It will be quite impressive when it's finished--much larger than Mount Rushmore. But there is no goal, no date for it to BE finished. There are lots of places inside the museum to buy Indian craft goods. Finally I break down and buy some jewelry from a Lakota Sioux tribesman--I should have known I couldn't keep my vow not to get any.
We have known during our entire trip that this coming weekend, in the small town of Sturgis here in the Black Hills, an enormous Bike Rally is convening. Mostly Harley-Davidson riders; we did see a few Hondas and other models. Every day we see more and more bikers. They're all in their leather and tight black t-shirts, chains and other appropriate jewelry, some helmeted, some wearing what look like do-rags. I have to admit many of them would scare me in a dark alley. They are perfectly well-behaved everywhere we encounter them--enjoying the National Monuments and National Parks, having a great time. There's something heartwarming about a guy in black leather and chains, covered with tattoos, visibly enjoying his chocolate ice cream cone! Many of them are also quite obviously doing well economically. They are driving the largest motorhomes in the campgrounds, with fancy matching trailers which contain their bikes, and in some cases a car as well (a BMW convertible). Born to be wild?!? Seeing them gather out here gradually over the time of our trip has been a very interesting cultural experience (for us, at least)
This is also a good time to talk about our housing during this vacation. Our next-door neighbor, Dale Cluse, graciously lent us his tent trailer. It's become home. We just can't figure out how to keep it without them figuring it out. It sleeps at least 6 people, so we have plenty of room. It has electric, water, air-conditioning, and a porta-pottie if you need it. You can cook on a stove inside or outside. There's even a shower attachment outside, with a tipi if you need it. If you are wilderness camping, you can run the whole thing on gas. Truly amazing and wonderful. There's only one problem. Now, WE want one!
We used to camp quite frequently. Tonight, when we have time to sit here in the Black Hills of South Dakota and enjoy our campfire, we remember why. Garrett makes a wonderful dinner of Cornish game hen cooked with white wine in the dutch oven, and we have delicious stuffing with it. 'Smores are the perfect dessert. We need to do this more often. Maybe we really DO need a popup camper!
posted by carol1211k | 10:38 PM
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