Mt Rushmore and more...

Leaving the Corn Capital of the World in Mitchell South Dakota was not a difficult decision. Although we both enjoy a good sweet ear of corn on the cob, enough is enough. It was with relief that we reached Rapid City S.D. and began the climb into the Black Hills. Being back in the mountains had a calming affect on the three of us. It was with great anticipation that we looked into the distance to get our first glimpse of the presidents etched in stone. Our pleasure turned to sadness when Bucky learned that there no longer was sufficient stimulus money available for the carving of his profile. It was a shock, but also satisfying to know that so much of the money had been used for other worthy projects. From Rushmore it was through the Blackhills to Deadwood where Wild Bill Hickock lay buried, feeling a part of the old West and the Gold Rush and eventually landing in the hard working town of Gillette, WY for the night. The Wal*Mart of Gillette treated us to the sights of a true western town. It is an industrial town with more white dually pick-ups carrying metal stuff in their beds than exist in the whole Northeast. We settled right in with luxury coaches and the Sticker Bus. What the sticker bus was all about, only the owners know and we didn't ask. I first noticed it down the street parked with roof lights flashing and thought it belonged to a bar and was a rolling advertisement, but when I pulled open my window shade in the morning, it was our neighbor. My brother always said that the winds of Wyoming would drive a sane man crazy. That night the wind howled and shook the RV as if to send it on its side. On Fisher's morning walk, she laid back her ears and headed for the closest curb and ran back into the safety of the camper. Bucky drove through high wind all the next day, Buffalo, Sheridan, Billings MT, Bozeman and into Butte, MT where we slept in the shadow of snow capped peaks. We heard from our fellow Wal*Mart campers that we were lucky to have escaped the hail that they passed through. Now, that explains the Hail Chaser RV parked beside us in Gillette.