Curt chauffeured us about 100 miles today on a very beautiful, exciting, drive with took us through Custer State Park in the Black Hills. Soon after we started our journey, we saw white tailed deer (bucks, doe and fawns before encountering herds of buffalo. We were absolutely stunned and spellbound with the site.
Hundreds of buffalo on both sides of the road, some right next to the car and even crossing and blocking the highway roam free in the foothills of this 71,000 acre park. We respected the potential danger and heeded the warning signs telling not to get out of the car. It was mating season, so we had quite a show. Many of the cows had calves and we watched some of the bulls fighting and charging each other. It was truly a magnificent experience.
As we drove along the Wildlife Loop Road, we saw pronghorn antelope, more deer and more herds of buffalo.
There were wild burros waiting for us along the road too. Their MO is…..one blocks traffic while the rest of the gang conducts a car-to-car search for treats. They are very sweet and docile, poking their heads all the way inside the car, asking for food and/or a rub on the nose and head.
The Needles Highway is a scenic route through the most rugged real estate in the Black Hills. It included tight hair-pin turns, spiral bridges, six tunnels and towering granite formations.
We parked at a unique rock formation called the “Needle’s Eye”, named for the opening created by wind, rain, freezing and thawing. 
This was also the entrance to one of the tunnels, all of which are one-way, this one having a . 8’ 6” wide clearance. In line to go through was a small motorhome (brand new). Several by-standers, including Ivan, Curt and Yvonne, pulled his side mirrors in and walked in front of and behind him, guiding and (of course) taking pictures. Curt told him he could make it because he was from California…..I thought it was a pretty expensive “gee, I hope I make it”. Well, he did make it and received cheers from about 50 of us watching.
The next stop was the Crazy Horse Memorial. Chief Henry Standing Bear and other Lakota (Sioux) chiefs invited Korczak Ziolkowski, already a famed sculptor, to carve a mountain to show “the red man has great heroes also”. They wanted it named for Crazy Horse, the famous fighter at the Battle of the Little Big Horn”. Korczak began the carving in 1948.
The face of Crazy Horse was completed in 1998; however, the entire monument which includes his horse, is far from its completion dimensions of 641 feet long, 563 feet tall and carved in the round. Since Korczak’s death in 1982, his wife and 10 children continue his project. It is truly one of those amazing things that you have to see in person to appreciate.
It was a great day!
No comments:
Post a Comment