Mount Rushmore to Billings

After viewing the Mt. Rushmore monument, we came across a couple of cars stopped on the highway and families rushing across the road. It soon became clear why everyone was stopping: some mountain goats were grazing by the side of the road. An unexpected treat to view wildlife up close.

We continued on our drive through the scenic Black Hills, following highway 385 up to Deadwood. The views were spectacular, even though our loaded car got a workout on the hills. Here is a photo of our descent into Deadwood gulch, a historic location for a Western gun battle in main street. Eventually we made it back to the interstate to continue our trek west.

Soon we arrived in the 7th state on our journey, the wild west state of Wyoming. We could see vast prairie lands, and plenty of interesting hill formations. When we reached the town of Buffalo, we had our first view of the mountains. These are the Big Horn mountains, the gateway ranges on the way to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. However, the view was not clear due to smoke from all the wildfires in the region, especially Montana.




Traveling north of Buffalo through Sheridan, WY, we arrived in our destination state - Big Sky country. Again we saw vast prairie lands and the Big Horn mountains getting further away. Also we saw several burnt patches, perhaps recent wildfires. Much of the journey was through the Crow Indian reservation, a major tribe/nation within Montana state. We could see several teepees as we passed by the Crow Agency, not far from Hardin, MT. Not too long after, we descended into the Yellowstone River valley and arrived in our new home city of Billings, Mt.

Mt. Rushmore

8月１４日、モンタナへの道第３日目。
今日はMt. Rushmoreを見学後、最終目的地のビリングスに向かいます。昨夜泊まったホテルはMt.Rushmoreの裾野にあり、木立に囲まれた静かな所にあります。建物はログキャビン風で、建物は幾つかに分かれています。私たちが泊まったのは奥に見える建物の１階。
手前のの建物はロビーのあるメインキャビンです。

これは朝食を取ったダイニングキャビン。

朝の清々しいデッキで朝食。

朝食後、アメリカ大統領の顔が彫刻してあるMt.Rushmoreへ。
入り口から真正面にある２７州の旗の向こうに見えるのが歴代のアメリカ大統領の顔です。

展望台から見る４人の大統領！

この彫刻の完成には１４年の年月がかかったそうです（１９２７〜１９４１）。また労働者達は毎日歩いて山にのぼり作業したそうです。何と、気の遠くなる事。

どうでしょう、ギャビンの顔をこの４人の大統領の顔に加えてみました。

Badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota

We left La Crosse early in the morning, and crossed the mighty Mississippi River into the state of Minnesota. The views from the Minnesota side are really spectacular (if only we stopped at the welcome center)! The interstate from there climbs up to the rolling farmlands of southern Minnesota, plenty of cows to be seen. Late in the morning we cross into South Dakota, past the city of Sioux Falls. Again, much of the countryside is farmland to just beyond Mitchell, SD (home of the corn palace). From there the corn and dairy farms change into vast prairie lands, going right to the horizon.

Here is a photo from a lookout looking north to the horizon, and another photo looking back at interstate I-90 in the East, with a glimpse of the badlands of South Dakota. The views just seem to go forever! It was also very hot out here (about 106°F, or about 42°C).



Driving futher west along I-90, we were able to see more of the hill formations that are characteristic of the Badlands National Park. Below are a few photos, where the sedimentary layers of rock are very clear.



When we were approaching the Cheyenne River Valley, it almost seemed that we were driving over the edge of a massive pit! Here is a shot heading into the valley, not quite capturing the full effect of the illusion.

After the river, the interstate continued into more of the seemingly endless prairie, until we reached the outskirts of Rapid City, where the Black Hills suddenly appeared on the horizon. We took US highway 16 into the hills, covered with pines and other conifers, eventually getting to our lodge in Keystone, just around the corner from the famous landmark, Mt. Rushmore. Here are some views of the hills near the lodge. If you look closely at the left edge of the rocks, you should be able to see a president or two!
We enjoyed a very nice dinner at the Powder House restaurant (super steaks, friendly service). They even had buffalo and elk on the menu! We finished the day with a drive-by of Mt. Rushmore, which we'll see early next morning.

La Crosse, WI

モンタナへ移動の第一日目の今日は、オハイオからインディアナ、イリノイを通りウィスコンシンのLa Crosse　という街に泊まっています。出発地から約５５０マイル程ドライブしました。ここはウィスコンシンとミネソタの境界線に近く、ミシッシッピ川 のほとりにある街です。泊まっているホテルのプールにはwater slideがあり、すっかりvacation気分で遊んでしまいました。

ホテルはミシッシピ川に面しており、
水上スキーを楽しんでいる人も多く見かけます。

獲物を得たカモメ君。

明日はここから約６５０マイルドライブの予定。