Day 4 - Animals, Animals Everywhere!

Before moving on, I'd like to back up a bit to cover a few items missed in previous posts:

• The custom of hanging tires on fence posts is very common in SD.  We couldn't figure out why this was being done until we realized that most of them have "No Hunting" painted on them in white.
• Black Eyed Susans are the dominant flower along SD roadsides.  It must the the State Flower!
• Huge fields of sun flowers are prevalent in SD.  They are one of the state's leading crops.

OK, now I feel caught up to this morning when we set out on a beautiful sunny morning for Mt. Rushmore.  What a sight!  And the park accommodations are befitting this magnificent monument.  The walkway to the overlook was made of a granite-like material beautifully installed in a pleasing pattern and was lined with state flags.  Impressive!  The sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, was not only an amazing artist but a gifted engineer.  What a feat he accomplished!

As we were leaving Mt Rushmore, we spotted a georgeous white mountain goat grazing along side the road.  A baby and mother were higher up the steep rocky roadside.  I got to within 5' of the goat and still didn't get a great photo.  Each time he struck a pose for me, I was too slow on the trigger.  Thank goodness Bill saved the day with a nice photo.  The baby started bleating loudly for its mother and shortly thereafter the little family headed for higher ground to escape the paparazzi.

Our next stop was Crazy Horse Museum.  When finished, this sculpture by Korczak Ziolkowski will be the largest in the world.  He worked from a young man to his death on it and the work is being carried on by his wife and family.  This massive work is a testament not only to the brave warrior, Crazy Horse, but to all American Indians. 

On to Custer State Park.  We took the Needles Highway Loop and were enthralled by the rock formations.  Several phallic symbols stood unblushingly among them.

On to the 18 mile Wildlife Loop.  We were just turning onto the loop when we noticed a huge buffalo standing at the roadside on my side of the car.  I rolled down my window and snapped a shot of the magnificent beast who was no more than 6' from the car.  He was grazing head down when he suddenly raised his enormous head and looked straight at me.  At the same time I was raising my window and yelling at Bill to "take off," he was yelling at me to take what would have been the prized photo of the day.  Yet another animal shot foiled!

On down the road a bit we saw a herd of at least 100 bison, but the sun was behind them precluding any photography.  Next we encountered a small herd of antelope.  We continued to see antelope throughout our time in the park.

A bit further down the loop, we began to see burros.  So adorable!  We came upon a lone mother and her baby.  The mother, a beautiful black burro with a white snout, was lying down.  This was by far the best animal photo op of the day.

Close to the end of the loop we encountered another large herd of bison.  They were leisurely crossing the road.  We clicked away.  Just before leaving the park, we saw a few wild turkeys.

Signing off until tomorrow, Bill and Marsha, turkeys of the domesticated kind!