Mount Rushmore

Spent the night in a little town called Spearfish South Dakota (State #12), heading towards our next stop of Custer (20 miles from Mount Rushmore). **Useless information - The river in Spearfish is known to freeze from the bottom upwards!! 
On the way we were advised to take 2 scenic routes off the main highways by people we had met at Yellowstone. The scenery did not disappoint. Well worth the extra miles for great video footage and photo's. (Thanks Mike & Chy).

We pitched our trusty tent at a little campground called Beaver Lake - Custer. Weather is great! Park has a water slide and a pool which we have used everyday after our daily adventures. In the dead of night we can even hear the Coyote's off in the distance howling at the moon. Since being here we have visited the Crazy Horse Monument, Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park.

The Crazy Horse Monument is the Indian equivalent to Mount Rushmore. It represents the Native American tribes. It is a sculpture in the side of a mountain, similar to Mount Rushmore but on a much larger scale, and it is still a work in progress. It is not Government funded at all, it relies solely on the admissions and donations from the public. To give you an idea of size, the entire 4 Mount Rushmore heads fit into the face of the Crazy Horse head space. The work on the sculpture has been going for 70 years and there is no perceived timeline of when it will be completed!

Mount Rushmore as you probably know contains 4 of America's influential Presidents. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Each was chosen for their contribution towards the American way of life. We did a hike around the area and then ate the best and biggest ice creams we've had since we landed - sorry Jenna but Ben & Jerry's will now take 2nd place!

Have also visited Custer State Park. This park didn't seem to have as many or varied types of animals as Yellowstone but....'boy did they make up for it in quantity!" We found a herd of Bison (approx 400) just wildly roaming through one of the RV parks! The campers were all peering out their windows wondering what was going to happen next.

We head off tomorrow, next destination is Minneapolis - Minnesota via North Dakota border (purely for the picture of the sign). Catching up with a family that we'd met in Yellowstone in Minneapolis. They have offered to do a 'Thanksgiving' dinner in July for us (traditionally held in November) as we have to leave the country before the real one takes place. We are so exited to partake in our first 'homecooked' meal since departing the shores of Australia...... Mum I miss your Lasagna so badly!!

Next blog will be after then in approx 6 days time with Master chef 'Thanksgiving' photo's!

Stay warm!

Team Connor USA.