A slow start due to the excesses of the night before, compounded by nothing being open in Deadwood for breakfast. Happily we found somewhere on route in a small town deep in the Blackhills. The Scenery was very pretty; not striking like some of what we have seen previously, but softer and very green.

We were so impressed by the Crazy Horse mountain sculpture and the story behind it. Briefly, in the 1940's a Native American chief persuaded a sculptor to take on this project as a memorial to Crazy Horse and as a tribute to the Indian Nation. Korczak Ziolkowski

was the artist who had the vision although he knew he would never see it completed, but his trials and dedication are to be wondered at. Currently two of his grandsons are working on it and hope to unveil the hand in the next few months. They think, with advances in technology, they will get the whole thing completed in their lifetimes. Near the sculpture there was a whole complex dedicated to Native American art and history, and we wished we had more time to have a thorough look. Clearly it is now acknowledged how terribly the Indian Tribes were treated, and their stories are told in an objective way. However we are yet to see anything that represents shame or sorrow for this part of the western expansion. Interesting...

The drive to Mount Rushmore was via the Needles Highway. This was THE most scary drive of our trip - so much for the soft landscape! The Needles were rock formations and as well as steep edges to the road, there were a few very tight tunnels to go through. I was very grateful for Bob's excellent driving skills and mainly for getting to Sylvan Lake at the end.

Mount Rushmore, which we had expected to underwhelming, was actually very good. Respectful, well organised and accessible.

We drove another 80 miles towards the Badlands through another spectacular thunderstorm, to Wall where we are staying tonight.