Mt. Rushmore

We went up to the visitors center at the base of Devils Tower right after arriving yesterday afternoon.  Since we weren't planning a long travel day today, we went up again this morning before heading out.  Again, all the pictures are RAW and consequently unpostable.

This has been our shortest travel day so far.  We reached Mt. Rushmore by early afternoon.  I thought I had seen some steep roads, but today I drove my first 10% grade.  The RV did about 20 mph all the way up.

Nicole and I went to see the big heads, and in the gift shop saw one of the original drillers doing a book signing.  Nancy stayed in the RV with Sadie.  She had been here with her folks in 1966.  Way back then, the whole placed consisted of a gravel parking lot big enough for maybe a dozen cars with a couple of those humongous coin-operated binoculars for viewing the presidents.

As you can see, they have made a few improvements since then, and by the time we got back to the RV, she had decided that maybe it was worth a quick look after all.

Day 13
Devils Tower, Wyoming to Rapid City, South Dakota

Daily Mileage:  154.4
Total Mileage:  3,309.5