You will all be familiar with the scenes of Mount Rushmore and the heads of the four U.S. Presidents. (Can you name them? No points for George Washington). The photo was taken during the afternoon. We returned this morning on our way out of Custer Park to get a shot of the monument as the morning sun was shining on to it.
On Monday afternoon, we visited the “Crazy Horse” monument, which is less well known but just as impressive, if only for its audacity and the single mindedness of its message about the Native Indian people. Without federal or state funding, this monument is being built piece by piece, with no end date. (no budget; no time line; no resources – sounds like some of the projects that I used to run). And to give you a sense of dimensions, the completed face of Crazy horse, is as tall as the individual heads at Mount Rushmore.
Yesterday morning, we saw more Bison. Next week is the round up, after which they are herded together (cowboy film style, aided by pick-up trucks when there is trouble). Then the auctions bring the herd down to 950. Most of the auctioned off Bison go to other National Parks. (Did you know that these lumbering, sleepy animals – see my earlier video – can do 50 mph? – Cooo . If you are British and said “yes”, deduct 10 points for lying, except Frances, who probably knows about this sort of thing, who gets a bonus 10 points for sorting out problems with our cellar).
The highpoint was something much more low key. As we drove away from Custer Park, at 6.30 this morning, we had to stop constantly for the wild life that came up to the side of the road in the dawn, to feed. Birds, deer (no less than 6 encounters), wild turkeys, prairie dogs (like Marmuts, but lighter coloured) and chipmunks (all of them trying to throw themselves under the car, without success, I am pleased to say). One family of deer crossed the road in front of us, while we waited and then vaulted a four foot fence, without saying thank you.
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