I Stay Amazed

We're working on a new song at church and the chorus says, "Oh holy God, I stay amazed.  You are so much more than words could ever say..."  I've had it in my head all day long!  I can't get over how beautiful this state is!  It's just beautiful.  Every corner you turn is something different than before.  I can't get over the drastic change that takes place in such a small amount of space. 

We got up and at 'em today around 8:30am.  So, laid back but not too late, it was perfect.  We were headed down the road toward Mt. Rushmore and had to pull a U-ie.  We saw these goats and then another place had baby bears!!  SOOOO CUTE!  And funny.  Nick kept talking like he was the animals all day -- it was hilarious. 

They were up there still at the end of the day when we came back to Rapid City.  Too funny.  There's a little one up in the look out too.

Nick's point and shoot has an amazing zoom on it - the pictures aren't always great, but considering we took this from the road, I think it did pretty good.  Baby bears playing, how can you beat it.

The next stop was Mt. Rushmore!  It of course made me a little emotional - but not too bad.  It's really so very cool.  They used mostly dynamite to make it -- when you think about the fact that it was 1927 when they were doing this it's pretty amazing.  They built it to attract people to the state and they did a great job, there were people from all over the world there.  I love being in places like that.

lol. my hair's still really big at this point. 

We're beverage people!  We started taking these pictures on our honeymoon, but somewhere around our San Fran trip Nick's beverage of choice switched to coffee, so now sipping-a-cup-of-coffee-pic is a priority pic for all our trips. 

So cool 

There's a boardwalk that runs all the way around it and we gave that a walk and then headed out!  We were psyched about Crazy Horse, Needles Hwy and Custard Park! 

We went to Crazy Horse -- people have always talked about that monument a little snarky because it's taken so long to complete.  When I saw it I thought, well, it's almost done, I'm not sure what everyones problem is.  Well... according to the scope of what they're trying to do, it's not even close.  The movie about it was pretty cool tho.  It's a family that's been working on it for years and they won't accept government funding.  So, all the donations and entree fees pay for the work.  It was actually pretty neat and touching.  The Black Hills were Crazy Hores' home. 

Crazy Horse monument to date.  To give it perspective -- Mt. Rushmore would fit in the small smooth section behind his head I think they said.

This is what it will look like.  Nick took the two together.  As you can see there is quite a ways to go and that's just the monument.  There are buildings to build and many other things. 

Our lunch view.  Very cool. 

Wow again!  I can't express enough how beautiful this day was.  Majestic.  Every corner you turned the scene changed and you were blown away again!  These photos don't even come close to expressing the great beauty of this park.  Needle's Hwy was just amazing.  You had to honk before coming thru all of the stone/bridge/tunnels because they were one lane. 

Look at that view!!

OUR FIRST BUFFALO!!!!!!!

Then we hit the jackpot! 

They were everywhere!  Nick kept making fun of me because I'd get scared when they came up to the car so I'd tell him to drive so we didn't get killed and then I'd immediately tell him to slow down so I could take pictures.  Despite their calm demeanor, they were scary when they were coming right at you!

The buffalo were on the wild life hwy loop so we got to see the prairie dogs again and the burros.  Anytime one car was pulled over 5 more cars would come along and pull in to see what was going on.  It was fun actually just to find the things and then see other people get excited about them as well.

You probably need to double click on the picture to see the prairie dogs.  They were NOT happy with me.  They were yapping out warnings and then they'd all chime in.  Then when you'd get to close they'd quit yapping and jump in their hole.   

AWWWWWWWW!!!!  Wish we had had some food.  They went from car to car peeking their heads in looking for food.  People brought apples and carrots for them.  

lol.  Looking in our car window asking for food. 

This pic is pretty small -- again if you click on it you can see there are two white burros in the highway.  They were pretty old.  I think they had fallen asleep.  They refused to move out of the way.  Everyone had to figure out a way around them.  We had to go back for something and they were still there sleeping. 

LOL!  Soooo funny.

Think this one might be an elk??  Not sure. 

These wigwam stick teepees were everywhere!  I could not figure out what was going on with them.  Apparently they are trees that the pine beetles have destroyed.  They are stacked together for burning when it is wet enough so they can keep the fire under control.

Big Sky Country!

But!  Before I get started on travel - I had lunch with my good friend Stacie Tuesday!  We've been friends ever since they day she thought we never would be -- I think it was my outfit. :)  I kept leaving my stuff lay all over this day for some reason, she even had to go back and rescue my camera at one point!  Poor girl. 

I've wanted to see Mt. Rushmore forever -- Wednesday we started on our way! 

I rode into work w/ Anne that AM, so Nick could pick me up after work, Jack got to go along on the ride to Anne's.

It was a busy day getting ready to get out the door, but I did squeeze in some visitors!  Nick stopped by with some friends of ours kids -- they wanted to see where I worked so they came up!  They got bored with it pretty quick, but they were pretty excited about the left over donuts in the CR.  :)

Got off work a little early and headed out the door.  We were a little confused, we were told repeatedly it was a terrible drive, but we were both really enjoyed it.  The land was beautiful and became quite a contrast to the Iowa I'm familiar with starting around Sioux City, IA.  It got a little flat in some parts, but I only really knew that it was "flat" because you could see for miles.  It was kind of cool, it reminded me of a piece we studied in art history - I couldn't find it on the internet to share, so you'll have to take my word for it!  :)

I know purists don't like the man made windmills, but I've always thought they were kind of cool.  Alien life forms on planet earth!  I just like 'em.  So, we took a few of those shots. 

I always pass the semi's carrying the arms of these on the interstate, took me forever to figure out what they were.  Nick said they make them in Cedar Rapids, so that explains why I see them all the time.

The sunset was beautiful - but honestly, this pictures don't even come close.  Probably because they were taken while driving at 80 mph.

We stayed in Sioux Falls, SD last night... and a very damp hotel.  :(  The humidity was so high in that place our clothes were still wet today.  I laid them all over the car to try and get them dry.  I actually departed from the hotel with my curlers in my hair, because I knew if I took them out in that hotel room, it would be over.  Needless to say, we were happy to get on the road this AM! 

We decided to stay in Rapid City, SD based on some advice my friend Karen gave us!  So, we had a about a 5 hour drive left today, but not before we stopped by the CORN PALACE!  I was super excited as soon as I heard about it from Jenny!  How could you not be!  It's a place that is covered in murals made out of corn cobs!  The building also has a lot of corn related stuff (husks, etc.) around te structure!  It was a fun 20 min detour along the way.  Nick didn't want to go initially, but he came around once we were there.  Come on, how could you not -- CORN PALACE PEOPLE!



Some people play different kinds of sports here - the murals you see are all done in corn cobs.

Back on the road the fields of sunflowers were really neat to see!  I've never seen so many in my life! 

And then it happened!  The Bad Lands!  I always interpreted "The Bad Lands" as "The TOUGH Lands"  but from my understanding, when the Indian's named it they really meant, "The Lands That Don't Grow Anything and Are Not Hospitable to Live In." 

I read that they appear out of no where.  You're driving and then there they are.  It was very true.  It was crazy, the terrain just changed.  Like with the sunset, the pictures don't really capture how amazing this area was.  It was just fascinating.  I couldn't quit thinking about all the good gifts God has given us.  We take so many things for granted.  What a beautiful world we live in.  The park is 244,000 acres I believe, it's amazing.

The cool part is then Nick tricked me into a "quick" hike.  I had asked him this AM if we were hiking today and he said, maybe just a small one... my legs are still jello.  I am out of shape, but come on... he must have known better than to tell me the truth. :)  I never would have gone.  Also, we went up and found out while we were still up that we didn't do it all, so we had to go back and do the last 1/2 over.  I didn't want to, but I was glad that I did when it was over.  And I told him I was.  It seemed like the right thing to do.  :) 

 

So we get started... a little man made artwork.  I can only imagine this is male humor at it's best alive and well in the prairie - there is no where safe!

Always comforting...

Fun times...

Yeah me!  I conquered the dangerous cliff!  Unfortunately, I had to do it twice!

Attempt two -- we finally made it to the destination!  Nick was in HEAVEN!  He loves him so hiking!

Really was worth it - so beautiful.

Oh yeah... you have to go back down.  It was a little scary, but I made it thru.  Cathi (my mother-in-law) said when she was young, living in Hawaii she jumped from an Olympic size high dive because there was no way she was going back down the latter -- jumping was just a second decision.   So Cath, this pics for you. :)

Different area of the park - so amazing.

Hard to tell, but this area had different coloring then the other area.

Awww!  PRAIRIE DOGS!!!!!!

We stopped at Wall Drug, which was fun.  We had a donut and coffee because they're advertised along the way and we were both craving one by the time we saw the last sign for one.  It was DELICIOUS!  we're going to stop back on our way home and get more.  Also, I read about this, but Wall Drug brings in students from all over the world to work at the store (apparently for hardly any $ - if I remember that correctly :)  Anyway - that was kind of interesting too, there were definitely kids from all over the world working there.

Rainbow outside our hotel in Rapid City!