SAME SONG, SECOND VERSE!

Well, we just spent a few days in Hill City, South Dakota  –  at our FAVORITE campground of all we have ever stayed in so far in our almost three years of camping! RAFTER J BAR RANCH!

The four of us headed off to Mount Rushmore on the first day, and, even though we saw it last year, we couldn’t wait to see it again!  Our friends, Bob and Bobbi, had never been, so we got so excited for THEM to experience it for the first time!  The weather was fabulous, and the crowds weren’t bad because some schools aren’t out yet!

There is something so special about seeing Mount Rushmore – it’s probably on most people’s bucket list!  This National Memorial is host to just over TWO MILLION visitors every year – from across the United States AND around the world!  People – us included – come to marvel at the beauty and majesty of the mountain and the faces of four important presidents in the past!  In addition to the mountain carving, the scenery all around the mountain is just as amazing!  The Black Hills of South Dakota are beautiful!

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This carving and the story behind it gives us an understanding – and love for – our nation’s history!

GEORGE WASHINGTON – our country’s first president!

THOMAS JEFFERSON – the third president of the US.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT – the twenty-sixth president of the US.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN – the 16^th president of the US.

As you walk up to the carving, you go through the AVENUE OF FLAGS – these are the flags of the 50 states, one district, three territories and two commonwealths of the United States.  They are displayed in alphabetical order – of course I had to find and take a picture of the Pennsylvania plaque! (the flags were blowing in the wind and I couldn’t get a good photo!)

One of the best parts of this mountain is the fact that at sunset, they light up the carving!  It’s even more spectacular like this!  Just like last year, we had to go back!  It did not disappoint again!

The next day we headed off to the Crazy Horse Memorial – we did it last year too! – this is totally different from Mount Rushmore but just as amazing!

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Crazy Horse is the WORLD’S LARGEST mountain carving, also located in the Black Hills of South Dakota – I read that it is considered the EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD IN PROGRESS!

Leonard and I noticed that, since we were there a year ago, they have done significantly more work on the hand of crazy horse!  It was neat to see a difference this year!

After seeing Crazy Horse, we decided to go back to the Needles Highway, and drive the truck BACK through that crazy Needles Highway Tunnel – it is only EIGHT feet wide – with our mirrors turned in on the truck, we have four inches leeway on either side!  Last year, I got up through the sunroof to take a video, but this year I let Bob do it so he could experience it also!  What fun – the only thing missing this year from last year was our STAR WARS STORM TROOPER standing at the entrance to the tunnel!

THIS YEAR!

As you finish driving the Needles Highway, you come upon Sylvan Lake at the bottom – WOW!!!!!  I don’t even know how to describe the beauty as you come around a corner and there it is!

We remembered it from last year, and decided to stop and explore it again – just see for yourself how beautiful it is!

After a full day, we did something that we felt like we really deserved – ATE ICE CREAM!  NO pictures – i didn’t want you all to be jealous!!!

We did so much walking, so we felt like we DESERVED it – my, how we can tell ourselves anything, right?? Haha

Going back to our campground and enjoying a fire by the trailer was a perfect ending to a perfect day!  I am so glad we came a second time – and you never know…there may be a third time one day!