Road Trip

I counted 49 soldier markers along the escape trail (Route) from Last Stand Hill and the sign at the Ravine indicated 28 soldiers died there which ended the fighting. I guess the trail 600 yards, high grass and very hilly There were about 40 or so soldier markers on the hill itself. The battle was strung out in several locations over several square miles, an hour in duration. The Rangers give good discussions, all say there is much that remains a mystery and many inaccuracies to the stories. This Ranger ended with "The Indians won the battle but lost the war." Deep Ravine Yellowstone River, Billings Montana

Spending a few days here. The links give the descriptions below. https:// www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2008/09/japanese-artist-creates-peace-sculpture-tribal-connections-interpretive-site-devils-tower-na The new Tribal Connections site at  Devils Tower National Monument  interprets Devils Tower as place that is sacred to many Native American tribes. The site’s central feature, the Wind Circle sculpture – also called the Sacred Circle of Smoke -- was created by internationally renowned Japanese artist  Junkyu Muto  as the third in a series of seven “peace sculptures” planned for significant sites around the world. Two other peace sculptures have already been erected – one at the Vatican in 2000, and the other at Buddha Gaya, India (where the Buddha attained enlightenment) in 2005. The sculpture erected at Devils Tower therefore extends the artist’s special recognition of sacred places... The artist designed it to evoke the image of a puff of smoke fr...

Leaving South Dakota so I took one last trip to the Mt. Rushmore Monument, Glad I did. Washington Profile From the CCC Viewpoint Least Chipmunks are everywhere - cute but their fleas may carry disease Turkey Vulture - The whole flock came by the creek in back of the RV Park, quite a sight, I didn't look dead so they left me alone

This narrow, winding, scenic road with overlooks of the Black Hills and narrow, low tunnels  opening to unique views of Mount Rushmore Memorial was a great little road trip. Scovel Johnson Tunnel -  the narrowest and lowest - 10' 9" Wide x 11' 0" tall according to the Custer State Park Newspaper (vol 40 2019) View of Mount Rushmore Memorial on exiting a tunnel (I forget which one). The entire road travelling east to west is designed to dramatize the approach to the Memorial. That is the direction I took and would recommend. Center Lake - Custer State Park "Pigtail Bridge" in the rear view mirror of the RV The RV could just about fit through the first tunnel and care had to be taken on some of the switchbacks. I was the largest vehicle on the road but a somewhat larger vehicle could make it as well. I understand full size buses have done so - probably with some grease and a shoehorn and a better driver than I am. The Lazy Daze is 10...

Crazy Horse is representative of many of the plains and other North American Indian tribes some warriors as young as 14 or 15 who took part in the battles for this land. Model and Monument https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Horse_Memorial Since actually going there and paying the $12 entrance fee (single person) I have a much more positive attitude about all of this. Controversy surrounds all of History, even the history we are living and writing about right now. The Wikipedia article I linked to above will not read the same in a few years. History repeats itself in that fashion at least. Opinions about facts change, they evolve to fit the image of the world we live in today. When I learned and later practiced law I would sculpt the facts into opinions favorable to whichever side of the controversy was paying me to do so. That's the job and everyone knows it. Within the limited confines of Court and Case it produces Decisions from which we can move on. I ...

Begging Burros Buffalo Bath Chipmunk (This is at my RV site outside the park - on 20.aug A pair of shikes made a pass at him - several passes, - they missed) White Tail or Mule Deer? Turkey Vulture - I think, they were gathering. But some white on the wings - may be something else/.  There was a Pronghorn as well but too far for a good pic.