I now know why there is a bike rally held in South Dakota. This place is incredible. The roads and landscape are amazing. I wouldn't mind living here at all.
Mountain goats at Mt. Rushmore. There are about 200 of them, and they are actually not native to the region. Someone had about 10 or 12 of them as pets, and they got out of their pens. So now they live on Mt. Rushmore.
Crazy Horse memorial is entirely privately funded. They have turned down $10 million grants from the government on more than one occassion. The original sculptor, Korczak Ziolkowski (a polish american who looks like a sterotypical prospector, by the way), always thought that the will to see something like this done should come from the people, not standing around with his hand out waiting for the government to help.
And I think that is in keeping with the ideals that Crazy Horse is said to have held. He never signed a treaty, never lived on a reservation, and generally never gave in to the encroachment of the US government. He ultimately died in 1877 from literally being stabbed in the back by a Union soldier as he tried to escape being arrested.
So many injustices were visited upon the Native Americans of this country. The Crazy Horse Monument speaks to that and to the enduring spirit and culture of the Native American people.
Oglala Lakota chief Red Cloud said it best:
“They made us many promises, more than I can remember, but they kept only one; they promised to take our land, and they did.”
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6 comments:
Watson,
Sounds like fun..I must admit I am a bit jealous but now at least I know when we get the Calif home bought and I need a rider to help me carry the RoadRunner and Truck out there your the guy...........
Anyway, drive save as you might get "Aarrested for driving while filming" (Wasn't that a ZZ Top song)
So can I expect you back for the Car Show on June 21........if not maybe I will get Jeje to drive it up....(lol)
Best,
Brad
I love the mountain goat. So fuzzy! It looks like you had a perfect weather yesterday. I hope it keeps up as you drive to Bonneville.
Amy & I are loving reading this & watching the videos while Bill & Rob are out "hunting & gathering" food & beverages for us at Kroger.
The mountain lion story was great & the wooshes of passing cars had a nice sound effect--especially when broken up by the flatulent motorcycle sound.
Looks pretty spiffy Floyd. I drank a Miller Lite in you honor last night. Have fun, be safe, do everything.
Hey this is rockin', best road trip chronicle since Pee Wee's Big Adventure.
Keep it up.
South Dakota must be one of those sneeeeeky places full of trickery. They lure you in with amazing landscapes in the summer and then you wonder why the hell you live there when it becomes a big icicle. Boo snow!
On another note, your lovely wife and I were discussing the bores of corporate america and wishing we were on a cool road trip too! Have fun for us!!
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