The Long & Winding Road Ahead - Day 3
- Ash Collins
- Sep 18, 2020
- 5 min read
Having both slept like the proverbial log (fortunately not those in our wood burning stove) it was time to bounce out of our very comfy bed in readiness for our very exciting day ahead. Get that big, bold pen ready navigator as we have another bucket list item to check off today! Our first stop after brekky would be the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Before I progress, the Under the Canvas site has a the distinction of being one of only 3 external sites that possesses a clear view of the Mt. Rushmore memorial...here is a night time view of the memorial from the camp site outdoor dining area.
With not a moment to waste, I fired up the Durango at 7am and headed out of the camp for the short 4 mile drive to Hwy. 244 into Mt. Rushmore. Interestingly, the memorial requests no fee to enter however you do need to pay for parking on the site ($10)...great value for money by comparison to other similar landmarks and historic sites that I'll discuss later. Within a few short minutes, we pulled into the enormous car parking area located just outside the front entrance. With my camera equipment slung over both shoulders, we made haste towards the grand entrance with the anticipation of two kids visiting Hamleys of London on Regent Street at Christmas time.
As we proceeded through the Memorial entrance, we were flanked either side by the fluttering flags of each US State and Territories. As we arrived at the viewing platform, we were confronted by the majestic, sculpted figures depicting the faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Set within and surrounded by the beauty of the Black Hills of South Dakota, the portrait carvings are presented in all their magnificence with the granite-face sculpture's measuring roughly 60-ft. (18m) in height. The project commenced in 1927 and was completed in 1941 under the direction of Gutzon Borglum and his son Lincoln (no relation) with each of the fours Presidents chosen to represent the nation's birth, growth, development, and preservation, respectively. As is the case with so many destinations we visit, the scale can be difficult to portray through the lens.
The fear of finally visiting a ‘bucket list’ site is that it does not measure up to your expectations; Mount Rushmore certainly measured up to, and exceeded our expectations! A must see for anyone visiting South Dakota...be sure to get to the memorial early to beat the “madding crowds.”
With our visit to see The Presidents complete, we set off to Sylvan Lake, located in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Sylvan Lake is known as the "crown jewel" of Custer State Park, and a perfect location for a relaxing, early morning hike. Apart from one steepish, rock lined area situated behind the dam structure, the path around the lake is very easy to navigate. There are many lakes dotted within the park however Sylvan Lake is considered by many to be the most picturesque...based upon our hike we can see why it has this reputation.
Having experienced the tranquility of Sylvan Lake, it was time to hitch up my big boy pants to tackle the Needles Hwy. Deemed “impossible” to construct by its critics, the Needles Highway, a National Scenic Byway, was completed in 1922 and includes 14 miles of sharp turns, low tunnels and impressive granite spires. The road lies within Custer State Park, approximately 30 miles south of Rapid City. This spectacular drive through the pine / spruce forests and meadows surrounded by birch and aspen is set amongst the surrounding rugged granite mountains. The road’s name comes from the needlelike granite formations that seem to pierce the horizon along the highway.
Having successfully steered, meandered and negotiated the Durango along the tight roads of the Needles Scenic Byway, we set off down the mountain along the 87 to drive a circuit that would take us back into downtown Keystone. Along the way we passed a large, flat, open plain area nestled in the Custer State Park known for its local bison population that graze on the grasslands. The tell tale sign that there were bison in the near vicinity were the multitude (driver-less) vehicles parked in the middle of the road blocking passage. Well, when in Rome, I parked the Dodge in the only available space off the roadway and headed to a solid viewing vantage point with the a99ii fitted with my ever reliable 70-400mm tele to begin snapping. There were 30-40 bison grazing and resting in the yellow straw like grass paying absolutely no attention whatsoever to the noisy & nosey hoomans invading their personal space! There were a number of calves in the herd which prompted me to keep a safe distance as you DO NOT want to come between a calf and an adult male or female. The week prior, an unsuspecting woman in Yellowstone tried patting a calf as if it were a cute puppy...her next memory would be her trouserless body being thrown into the air by a large male that took exception to her presence.
Once again internet images do not give justice to the size and scale of these wild beasts. Male bison (bulls) weigh up to 2,000 lbs (907kegs) and stand 6' tall, while females (cows) weigh up to 1,000 pounds and reach a height of 4-5 feet. Bison calves weigh 30-70 pounds at birth. Despite their size, there is something graceful about the way these animals go about their daily business. Nothing appears to bother or concern them apart from those annoying insects that have the bison's tails waving like propellors, shooing them away.
With our first wild Bison experience safely tucked away in the memory banks, we pulled away from the congestion and headed further on down the road. As we approached a blind bend, we were alerted to the fact that there maybe another herd of Bison; why, because of the effin' cars blocking the road! As we got closer to the action I issued a telepathic apology to my fellow motorists...our way forward was blocked because a herd of wild donkeys were walking down the road for their morning stroll. Unlike the Bison, these cute little guys were very tactile and forgiving of the hoomans in their path. So much so that anyone with an apple or item of food was considered a best friend by Eeyore. Once again, I parked our grey mule on the side of the road and stepped out with the camera to snap these jolly friends of Pooh.
With the spectacular flora and fauna on view throughout the day, coupled with a demanding drive, my next thought was a request to my trusty navigator; set our course to the 16A and the town of Keystone and Under the Canvas Mt. Rushmore to celebrate with a hard earned beverage.
Well there endeth the highlights of a packed Day 3. After a few beers and a tasty dinner, it was time to retire back to our tent for a fully deserved sleep. Be sure to look out for the highlights of Day 4 that included our standing in the geographic centre of the nation, a visit to Devil's Tower and the Little Bighorn Battlefield en route to Billings, Montana.
Cheers
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