1890 Train

 After we finished at the Crazy Horse Monument, we settled around Hill City. It's full of artsy shops and eating places, many of which were closed for the season . It was plenty warm this lovely fall day, however. We ate in a bar, even up AT the bar because it was very crowded. No masks in sight. We just had a yummy chili dog, then went to catch our train.

Following are some of the sights along the way.

It was an hour ride to Keystone from Hill City. It's steep, slow and mountainous. Mike was getting sleepy, but I enjoyed the scenery and the narration they shared.

The LARGEST Smokey the bear.

A wood-carver's work.

In an art gallery. 

At the bar where we had lunch. "Bumpin Buffalo". This guy was HUGE!!

Then on to the train.

By the time we disembarked from train, it was time to head to our hotel, our left-overs and a relaxing evening in.

Crazy Horse Monument

 Wednesday morning we had breakfast at the hotel. Just light stuff. But then we left to go see the Crazy Horse memorial. We spent a good deal of time there, perusing the museum, watching the film. It was very nice and informative. It's odd that Mt Rushmore was completed in far less time. Well, not that odd. Private funds are doing Crazy Horse, whereas the Rushmore one had access to and used Federal funds. 

We did not take the extra bus trip up the road to get closer to the mountain. There are tons of photos and information about the memorial in the visitors center.

There is a statue that is 1/34th the actual. Crazy Horse's head is 67 feet tall. Taller than any of the four four Presidents.

Speaking of presidents, downtown Rapid City has bronze statues of presidents on corners of their down town area. I took photos through dirty car windows while waiting at a red light as we drove out of town this morning. Here are some:

JFK is showing little Johnny an airplane in that last one.

The mountain is in the background through large windows after one exits the theater with a film about the history of the Memorial.

One section of this visitors center was the sculptor's home. There were some lovely and ornate things in this log cabin...and the 12 days of Christmas glasses!! Haha.

Mike is seated, viewing one of the films about the sculpting.

Crazy Horse's head is really in the background.

Mount Rushmore

 We didn't really eat much for breakfast on Tuesday when we were leaving Denver. We had thought we might go back to the Black Bear Diner for a big yummy breakfast; however, we were still kind of full from all the Chinese food the night before. So we snacked and drove north...

Through rush hour traffic in Denver! Didn't plan THAT too well. Ha. It only took about 30 minutes to get out of town.

Driving and listening to audio books, getting gas, potty stops, rest areas. Typical road trip stuff, and it was fun. Gorgeous day.

We arrived at Mt Rushmore by about 2:30 pm, our hotel in Rapid City by 5:30 pm, our restaurant for dinner at 6 pm.

AND WE DID NOT EVER GET LOST OR HAVE TO TURN AROUND OR BACKTRACK. 

 We DID change our mind once and went a different way than the one our device had navigated for us, but it was just 20 yards or so.

Here are some photos of the drive through Wyoming, our lovely presidential memorial and countryside and wildlife. Mike and I enjoyed the visitors center and museum displays. 

Mountain goats, right in the park. A mommy and her baby. So fun!!

 

As a side note, our Rapid City motel us SSSSOOOooo much better than our one in Aurora. (Katie did warn us). So clean. And I got us a King size bed like we are used to. But I hope I'm not speaking too soon. (It's only 10 pm) . At least here, I'm not leery about removing shoes and am not leery about going into the bathroom because the door actually works. Ha.

Tandy treated us to a great dinner at Outback. Technology. Great stuff. Yes, we ate dessert, too!!

Oink, oink. 

In all fairness, it was the only real meal we had that day. 

Denver

That's the full moon coming up just over the trees straight ahead. It was quite lovely, unlike this photo.
 

 

We left Vernal after Church on Sunday and drove into Aurora, checked into our gross hotel, then headed to Katie's house after we had a nice dinner at the Black Bear Diner, which was very near our hotel.

At Katie's, it was kind of late and they had just come in from a very long day at the baseball fields for Corbin and Hayden. We just spent only a little time there before going back to our hotel.

Where the floor was really really dirty. I didn't take MY shoes off, but Mike said it was gritty. There was no broom. But we were tired and the bed was clean and mostly comfy, so we conked out and went to sleep. The room was quiet, too. (Above is the result of wiping up the floor with disinfectant wipes I'd brought.  Eeew)

Photos are not in order.

On Monday around 10 am, we went over to the Rossman's. Casey works from home, kids were in school. Katie took Mike and I to see some model homes. Lovely. Large. 

We went out to eat around noon at Red Robin, just the three of us. Back to their home, Katie went to start her afternoon round of school pickups, Mike and I napped (because we really didn't sleep all that great the night before).

Kate and I packed about four more boxes/totes to have ready for moving/donating and a bag of trash ready, too! (Well, SHE did. I was moral support). Progress. Their family has to be OUT by Friday, the house sale closes on September 27, their 18th anniversary. And they move into a hotel while most of their belongings go into storage ( and most if it is already in storage). Katie said, "We work best under pressure.")

Mike and Katie in Model, or Spec house.

Model home

Model home

Casey and Hailey, at home

Corbin and Hayden. Camp chairs and totes are the new normal!

Quintin (fondly known as "Q-tip").

Katie, setting up for a family picture.

Family picture!

Troy's family at Ollie's Chinese restaurant.

Monday night, Sept 20th. I think.