Day 10-Mt. Rushmore; July 10, 2013

We reached Mt. Rushmore this morning. I was willing to forgo this stop, but Yany was really wanting to see this monument. I’m glad I gave in to his request. I was very excited about getting to use our National Park Passes and do something free. That silly notion of seeing something for free was squashed. We can get into the park for free, but parking is not.  Three cars at $11/car-arrggg!!!!

I passed history in school, but it never interested me much. I didn’t even know what Presidents were carved into the granite of the Black Hills of SD. For anyone who also doesn’t know they are George Washington-the Father of our country; Thomas Jefferson-the one responsible for drafting the Declaration of Independence and granting rights to all in a democratic society; Theodore Roosevelt-for his vision of progress; and Abraham Lincoln- for his keeping the union together and the Emancipation Proclamation.

 Mt. Rushmore

Yup-we're all there (Yany's our photographer)

It was quite awe inspiring and made me so proud to be a citizen of the USA.

One program they offered was becoming an official Junior Park Ranger. Three of our party acquired this prestigious certification. Alyse was the first to diligently obtain her badge. Kasen quickly followed her lead and he also became an official Junior Park Ranger.

Alyse showing off her badge, Kasen is tired and doesn't want to show his badge, as always-Haley looks great.

 

Yany apparently got badge envy and he was required to complete the hard certification-I couldn’t help with the answers. He passed with flying colors (show off) and now proudly sports his official Junior Park Ranger badge, too.

 Hard test

Official swearing in-Junior Park Ranger Yany Rivera

We spent more time than we planned at Mt. Rushmore and did the drive-by for the Crazy Horse Monument-I’m not sure why it’s not finished, but they still want $10 a person to see an incomplete statue-sheesh.

In the distance is Crazy Horse's Head

I thought the drive through Wyoming was going to be boring. The first few hours we drove I assume God had decided that Wyoming should not have trees. I don’t know what the opposite of claustrophobia is, but I felt like I had too much space. Then we came to a mountain. 9000 ft up and 9000 ft back down. I found out that:

 1. Looking out and down while winding around a mountain makes me nauseated-even though I am driving
 2. Screaming while driving on said road will make my passengers nervous, especially when looking down a 9000 ft drop off of the mountain from a very narrow 2 lane road
3. Laney does not want to learn to drive just because I am terribly sick and still have 18 miles of curves left to go-she is not a team player.

After the grueling trip up and down the mountain the terrain looked normal with small hills and trees-Wyoming is an enigma- or schizophrenic.

We stopped about an hour from Yellowstone. Hopefully, no mountains to cross before we get there.

Don't fall asleep before getting the blue cotton candy off your face or Laney will take a picture of you and your Mom will post it ;)

DeeAnn- Military Lifer Wife