June 30 - Wall Drug in Wall, SD and a tear jerker of a movie

Spent the day in Wall, SD at the Wall Drug.  For those that have not been there, Wall Drug opened in 1931.  They survived the Depression by offering Free Ice Water (which they still offer today along with 5 cent coffee) to thirsty travelers and by building its reputation on friendly service.  And in recent years, they have put up billboards advertising Wall Drug for a hundred or so miles before reaching Wall, SD and out of curiosity, people stop.  It seems they are busy all the time because of their unique advertising and offerings.  It is still a family owned and run business today.  However, it has turned into a tourist site and has expanded into many shops and eateries with playgrounds for kids. 

 

 

The pictures below were taken of pictures they had of the area in the early homestead days, building of mining towns, Custer's last stand, the start of Wall Drug, etc.

Imagine living in this sod house below??  You get to sweep the dirt floor....

Motorcycle hitching

 

 

We also went to see the "MAX" movie.  What a tear jerker.   I recommend all to see it.

June 28th - The Monuments and the Needle Highway

Here we are driving to Mount Rushmore.  I loaded all the pictures I took so some may look like duplicates.

           One little tree trying to grow out of the rock on the pathway up to the Monument.

They look much smaller in the pictures. Washington's nose is 20 feet high and his face is 60 feet high, as high as a 5 story building.  It took 14 years to finish.

We followed the Needles Highway, named for the stones that jet out of the landscape and look like needles.  One stone actually has a needle hole.  Somehow we missed it, but we know its there as we seen it last time we were here. I think we all agree it is an absolutely beautiful drive on the Needles Highway.

Horse Thief Lake on the Needles Highway.  You can pan for gold here also.

Started to rain at this point but it didn't last long.

As I was taking this picture, I could here a Minister or Priest on a microphone saying "Do you take this ring......" and lo and behold a wedding was taking place by the lake.  Glad they missed the rain we had just gone through.

Went through several tunnels that were carved out when they built the Needles Hwy.

 We came around a corner and found all these little Chipmunks scurrying around picking up bits of food.  Had a few peanuts we threw out at them.  They were so cute and pretty friendly. Probably have to enlarge the picture to see them.  We name three of them Alvin, Theodore, and Simon.  Really original, eh???   I enlarged the pictures to get a better close up of them.

End of a great day!  Lots of great scenery and fun with friends.  We stopped at a pizza place on the way home.  It was located in the country but was filled with cars and more people coming so thought it should be good.  Had to wait in line to order and wait for a table.  It was well worth it!  The pizza was excellent.  Puts the rest to shame except for one.....Dennis's favorite, Lanskis Pizza in Bellevue, NE.