So clearly, I need to plan something to those southern states! If you want to make your own state map, check out world66.com.
6.16.2010
My State Map
As previously mentioned, I'm on a mission to visit all of the states! I found a website that lets you generate a map of the states (or countries) that you've visited and here is what my map looks like.
So clearly, I need to plan something to those southern states! If you want to make your own state map, check out world66.com.
So clearly, I need to plan something to those southern states! If you want to make your own state map, check out world66.com.
6.14.2010
Iron Mountain Road
A big shout out goes to my cousin Vanessa for recommending that we do Iron Mountain Road. Had she not done so, I would have missed what turned out to be my favorite part of the trip. Iron Mountain Road is a very narrow road with lots and lots of curves.
Some sections of the road are one lane, with oncoming traffic on the other side of a little gully.
The road had what they called pigtail bridges, where you had to wind up like a corkscrew (or a clover leaf freeway entrance/exit) to get up to the bridge. I guess the corkscrew of the road looks like a pigtail and that's why they were named that.
So, first you go under the bridge and then you do a big turn and you're on top of the bridge. It's actually a pretty smart way to change elevation when there's not a lot of room.
In addition to the one-way roads and pigtail bridges, there were also very narrow tunnels.
Only one car could go through at a time (reminds me of the Road to Hana!).
Look how close the edge of the tunnel is to my car! When they say narrow, I guess they mean narrow.
One of my favorite things about the bridges is that there were two of them that you could see a glimpse of Mount Rushmore off in the distance as you drove through them.
And this one is my favorite. The bridge makes a perfect frame for Mount Rushmore. Love it!
Some sections of the road are one lane, with oncoming traffic on the other side of a little gully.
The road had what they called pigtail bridges, where you had to wind up like a corkscrew (or a clover leaf freeway entrance/exit) to get up to the bridge. I guess the corkscrew of the road looks like a pigtail and that's why they were named that.
So, first you go under the bridge and then you do a big turn and you're on top of the bridge. It's actually a pretty smart way to change elevation when there's not a lot of room.
In addition to the one-way roads and pigtail bridges, there were also very narrow tunnels.
Only one car could go through at a time (reminds me of the Road to Hana!).
Look how close the edge of the tunnel is to my car! When they say narrow, I guess they mean narrow.
One of my favorite things about the bridges is that there were two of them that you could see a glimpse of Mount Rushmore off in the distance as you drove through them.
And this one is my favorite. The bridge makes a perfect frame for Mount Rushmore. Love it!
The President's Trail
The President's Trail is a path you can take so you can get a closer view of the monument. It has about 250 stairs and it's definitely a bit of a workout!
But, you are rewarded with these stunning close-up photos!
You can really see the detail from this viewpoint.
But, you are rewarded with these stunning close-up photos!
You can really see the detail from this viewpoint.
Mount Rushmore - June 12, 2010
As you walk up to Mount Rushmore, you pass through these pillars that have all of the state flags on them.
Here I am!
And here's Chris.
And here is Chris' traveling gnome. He replaced the Stitch we took pictures of in Hawaii. We like this gnome for vacations because he's got his little walking stick and he's already to go. What can I say? I guess if I had kids, I'd take pictures of them. Because I don't, a gnome is all I have.
Here I am!
And here's Chris.
And here is Chris' traveling gnome. He replaced the Stitch we took pictures of in Hawaii. We like this gnome for vacations because he's got his little walking stick and he's already to go. What can I say? I guess if I had kids, I'd take pictures of them. Because I don't, a gnome is all I have.
The Sculptor's Studio at Mount Rushmore
The sculptor's studio was built on site by the sculptor while they were working on Mount Rushmore. It now houses some of the scale plaster casts that were used when carving the monument. They are scaled so that one inch on the plaster cast is equal to one foot on the mountain. It definitely helps you get a feel for how big the carvings are.
This photo shows some of the tools they used while carving. The thing hanging from the ceiling is the harness they would sit in while working - see the close-up photo of it below. Talk about scary.
This photo shows some of the tools they used while carving. The thing hanging from the ceiling is the harness they would sit in while working - see the close-up photo of it below. Talk about scary.
Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse, as seen from the road. My cousin Vanessa had been to Crazy Horse just two days prior to my being there (isn't that funny that we weren't able to coordinate our trips?). Anyway, she said it wasn't really worth the admission price ($10 per person or $27 per car) so we just pulled over and took a quick look. Seems like they have a lot of work left to do but it should be quite amazing if they ever finish it.
Nebraska? Check!
I am on a mission---a mission to visit every state!
I happened to be in Wyoming, giving a presentation at Casper College so I decided I should go to Mount Rushmore that weekend. Mount Rushmore is only three hours away from Casper, so I figured I should go while I was so close, because who knows if I'll ever get to South Dakota again? Well, as we were studying the map, we found that we could drive west from Wyoming to Nebraska and then north to Mount Rushmore and it would only add about an hour to our trip. Because I'd never been to Nebraska, I figured this would be my chance to cross it off the list!
I happened to be in Wyoming, giving a presentation at Casper College so I decided I should go to Mount Rushmore that weekend. Mount Rushmore is only three hours away from Casper, so I figured I should go while I was so close, because who knows if I'll ever get to South Dakota again? Well, as we were studying the map, we found that we could drive west from Wyoming to Nebraska and then north to Mount Rushmore and it would only add about an hour to our trip. Because I'd never been to Nebraska, I figured this would be my chance to cross it off the list!
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