Day 4: Black Hills, Mount Rushmore

Well, I am still a few days behind, but I will keep posting one day at a time! So, day 4, we left the camper parked at the campsite and drove up the Needles highway. This route has numerous narrow tunnels and there would have been no way to go in a big vehicle! Daryl did almost all of the driving and it was really hairy at times! The views, though, were well worth it!

 

 

 

 The Needles Eye tunnel was the most impressive. Only one lane can pass through any of these tunnels at a time, but this one in particular really drew the crowds. All around it are cool rocks to climb on, too.

Another awesome stop was at Sylvan Lake. This was Ben's favorite, I think, because he was the only one who swam in it! We had not brought swim gear, but that did not stop Ben! It was really picturesque.

 

We eventually reached Mount Rushmore, where we again hiked a short trail and took in the views from the observation deck.

For the first time we actually got a photo with all 6 of us together!

 We also learned that apparently Thomas Jefferson invented ice cream and so of course we had to try some at their Jefferson ice cream parlor!!!

 Ben started a collection of pressed pennies as souvenirs for this trip. Everywhere we have gone, he "wastes 50 cents to ruin a penny" as Daryl likes to say.

We kept driving down the Iron Mountain Highway, again hairpin curves, narrow tunnels, steep inclines, gorgeous views. Three tunnels along that stretch all have a view of Mount Rushmore THROUGH the tunnel! It was really phenomenal!

To finish off the day, we continued driving on, doing the Wildlife Loop. Ben really wanted to see a buffalo, but we had no luck! We saw only a few deer and a group of donkeys. We know it will get better at Yellowstone, though! Ben WILL see a buffalo yet this week!