Custer State Park SD, Buffalo at mineral pond

Hot Srings South Dakota

We traveled to Hot Springs SD and saw a mammoth dig site found in 1974 by a land developer. The site was sold to a paleontologist who is now actively digging the site under a cover while tourists visit. The site has over 49 male mammoths some are the wooly kind. The site was a hot spring fed into the hole and the animals came to drink slipped in and were not able to get out due to the edges being slippery. We also went to Custer state park and saw antelope, elk, coyote,buffalo herds,turkey,mule deer,and prairie dogs. I have most on video soon to come. The weather was 43 to 55 today. Nice with a light jacket.

South Dakota

Today we went to see the Presidents at Mt. Rushmore.George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln were grand. It was made in the 40's by blasting rock of granite off the face of the mountain which was 90% and chiseling the rest. The project was sculpted for over 15 yrs and when the artist died his son finished the rest. We also went to see Crazy Horse. A slow project with an indian on a horse. The pics of snow are in South Dakota. The temp was 55-65. Then we went to Deadwood where Wild Bill Hickox was killed. The town is really cute with old fashioned building fronts and colorful houses up on the hillside. The roads are made of brick. We are going to take a little break this weekend and catch up on some laundry and rest. Tomorrow we are going to an active fossil dig and checking out the "black hills gold." The pyrite "fool's gold" is all over the place. The hillsides sparkle. South Dakota is truly beautiful.

Don't Mess with Texas

South Dakota

Oklahoma

Birdie and I were just south of the Oklahoma City tornado. We stopped driving because of the warnings and yes I have to admit it there was a casino in the area. We were going to go to Amarillo Texas, but saw the weather report and decided to head North. It was snowing in Denver, so we headed through Kansas, Nebraska, and are in South Dakota now. The temp is 40 and it is suppose to snow tonight. Hard to believe May? We are at a tourist spot called Wall Drug. We traveled through part of the Badlands and are also going to the Black Hills. I was going to take pictures of Kansas when I saw something interesting. Sorry but there was nothing there. Enjoy the warm weather back home.. Alaska by June 1st.