Baby it's Cold Inside - Yeah!

Our refrigerator died shortly after we arrived and when we looked at new ones found out it was going to be $1,600 to $1,800 for a new one.  A replacement cooling unit would run $1,000 to $1,200.00 so we were pretty set on getting a new fridge until Gary found a cooling unit made by the Amish on Ebay.  Cost - $395 (after rebate for sending back the old unit).  Well I didn't get any pictures of the removal because it wasn't at all pretty and we almost had to remove the RV door and frame to get it out but finally suceeded.  We borrowed a small fridge from the motel in the meantime but today Gary got the cooling coil replaced and it was time to get the fridge back in the RV.

He reassembled it inside the RV so we could get the Fridge through the door. 

Back in it's slot 

Back in and working!

Now for a little R&R.  It's late in the day so a evening drive through the Park

We finally stop to see the Gordon Stockade - where in October of 1874 a group of settlers headed to the Black Hills in search of gold. They reached the Black Hills in December. Being in the Black Hills at that time was illegal, as it violated the Fort Laramie Treaty. They spent the first three weeks building the stockade for protection.

and I never tire of the wildlife loop

A pronghorn in the distance with  twins!

Next week we hope to go visit the Badlands - stay tuned!

Till Later

Meanwhile we keep on Trek'n

Melissa and Gary

1880 Train Ride - Hill City to Keystone, SD

Yeah! A day off!  Our days off were switched so we had an 8 day work week this week.  The weather prediction was overcast with chance of scattered afternoon thunderstorms so we decided to use our VIP Pass to ride the 1880 Steam Engine train from Hill City to Keystone.

We were on the train with Engine 110,  a 2-6-6-2T articulated Mallet that was built by The Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1928 for the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company of Vail, WA.  It is the only 2-6-6-2T Mallet in service in the world.

and we're off!

There are 18 crossings along the route.  The trip is just under and hour. 

The scenery is beautful framed by the stained glass. 

We arrive in Keystone

The Engine disconnects so it can be refilled with water. 

It then backs up via an adjoining track to hook onto the back of the cars for the return trip. 

Main Street, Keystone 

We have about 3 hours to kill before the return trip.  Good thing we have free passes to the Rushmore Borglum Story museum.  It is full of interesting facts about the sculpture and many of his models of what Rushmore was originally supposed to be like.  The large plaster casting of his famous sculpture of Lincoln sitting at a bench and many other sculptures and artwork.  Very informative.

Unfortunately no pictures allowed in the Museum but this is  pic of some of his work in the Lobby.

Well used our 1/2 off coupons at Teddy's Deli for lunch, did the shops and then it was time to head back.

Stopped in Hill City to try and find some dessert but nothing appealed to Gary except the Kid's Menu at the Bumpin Buffalo

We decide to head back to Custer and try the Purple Pie Place next door to the Motel.  We run into road work on the way back - this place has a sense of humor - last week the sign said "Road Work Complaint Department Inside"  We probably had time to go in and have a drink while we waited for our side to go.

We make it back to Custer and the Purple Pie Place just before the rain hits.  Gary had a sandwich and Apple Pie ala mode - I had Macaroni and Cheese and Bumbleberry Pie ala mode - Yummy!  Only a couple dozen more pies to try!

Till Later!

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa and Gary

Ft Hays Mt Rushmore Bus Tour

As an added perk to our job, we get a VIP pass that entitles us to free or discounted entry to some of the area attractions.  This week we decided to do the Ft Hays 8.5 hour Southern Black Hills Tour and Cowboy Music Show which includes entry to Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse, Breakfast and a Chuck Wagon Dinner ($74 pp)  It starts at Ft. Hays where they have some of the original set of Dances with Wolves which was filmed in the area.

We start out at 8 a.m. with an all you can eat Pancake Breakfast with sausages and biscuits.

 We get a little time to visit the set and demonstrations of making rope, knives and tinware.

Time to board the bus! 

First stop Mt. Rushmore - for those that saw our previous post - a Drive on the Needles Highway - the Presidents faces were completely hidden by fog.  Better view today! 

I figured we wouldn't get much excercise today being on a bus all day - but we did get to use the Mt. Rushmore Stair Master! 

The Presidential Path offers many beautiful views of the Monument. 

The Sculptor - Gutzon Borglum - had intended for the sculpture to be from the waist up - but he died before completion and there were problems with the rock.  The image of Thomas Jefferson was originally intended to appear in the area at Washington's right, but after the work there was begun, the rock was found unsuitable, so his figure was moved to Washington's left.

They have expanded the sculpture to add 2 explorers:

Just checking to make sure you were paying attention!

Walking back to the bus we encounter a Mt. Goat

We follow the Iron Mountain Road.  Three Tunnels were built to frame Mt. Rushmore as you drive through them - that was the easy part.  Next a road had to be designed to connect the tunnels (keep in mind the road was laid out by horseback) 

Corkscrew spiral bridges were devised that are known as Pigtail Bridges.  The road was completed in 1933 with the help of 16 men.

We stop at the State Game Lodge for an optional Lunch

Back on the Bus and off to the Needles Highway.   In 1919 Peter Norbeck mapped out a scenic byway which by conventional engineering standards was impossible.  2 years and 150,000 lbs of dynamite later the Needles Highway was completed.  It has narrow tunnels the one just before the Needle's Eye rock formation is the smallest.

The Bus is 8' wide and the Tunnel is 8'4" wide

Not alot of room to spare!

The Needle

Next it's on to Crazy Horse!

We only get an hour here and you need 2-3 hours to do it all.  We plan on returning a couple more times.  We hope to make it on June 6th for the Volks March where we will be able to hike out to the arm!  To give you an idea of size the Mt. Rushmore sculpture would  fit in the head with room to spare.

This is the model - the sculpture will be 3 dimensional

This is the Mountain in 1948

1982

and today with an outline of the final sculpture superimposed on it.

and this is what the final complex is to look like.

We hope to get to see one of the Night Blasts while we are here.  They say the arm will be worked on and the hand detailed this Summer.  They have to redo the design for the horses mane to better support the arm after a study of the rock was done.   Stay tuned!

Back to Ft. Hays for the Chuck Wagon Dinner and show.  It was a Country Western Musical Review.  The girl that played fiddle was excellant.

8:30 p.m. time to go home!

Till Later,

Meanwhile we keep on Trek'n

Melissa and Gary

Custer State Park - Hike up Little Devil's Tower

We have a day off and it is supposed to be sunny and upper 50's but windy so we head to Custer State Park to try and do the Harney's Peak Trail with a side jaunt to the Little Devils Tower.  I am sure these trails were a beautiful walk in the woods 10 years ago but the invasive pine beetle has done a number on the woods here.

Again, the trail has not yet been cleared this season

Follow those blue marks for the trail! 

The rocks we are climbing through are rose quartz.   Most of the rocks sparkle from the mica content - all that glitters is not gold in them thar hills!  (but  I am still hopeful!)

Gary says the trail dead ends here 

Yep - he's right! 

He finds another blue trail marker 

Yep this is it!

Great views but 35 plus mph winds!

That's Harney's Peak off in the distance - another 2.5 miles - maybe another day. 

Just another beautiful day in the Black Hills 

Meanwhile,

We keep on Trek'n

Till Later - Melissa and Gary