It was a great trip that included lots of sight seeing in the Black Hills of South Dakota, as well as lots of farm land as I drove across the state to get to the race.
I flew into Omaha, Nebr., where my aunt lives and she and I drove across South Dakota to get to where the race was being held. Don't try this at home, kids!
What a long, dull drive, punctuated by billboards hawking Wall Drugs in Wall, S.D., and the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D. We did stop in Wall for a break from driving. We did not stop in Mitchell, even though I kind of wanted to see the cheezy Corn Palace. Oh well. Gotta save something for the next trip, right?
We stayed at the Lodge at Palmer Gulch and found out the wifi was really weak and there was no cell service in the gulch where the hotel was located. So, another trip where I was off the grid for the most part.
In trouble before lunch
The closest town to where we stayed was Hill City, and we wandered there for breakfast the first full day, then shopped a little bit. We were there after the "season" had ended and a lot of restaurants and shops were already closed for the season, not to reopen until May. Did find this little touristy "jail." Since we were practically the only ones along the sidewalks, I could take my picture in it right away. I imagine in July and August folks line up for this fun photo.We headed to Crazy Horse Memorial later that morning and afternoon.
Crazy Horse Memorial
Scale replica
Me with the scale replica
Dimensions
Bronze statue of the finished carving
My parents have been to the memorial twice now and my mother talks about the progress being made, but you can certainly see it will be years before it is finished. It is being privately funded, which I'm sure slows the process. Not sure that I will see it complete in my lifetime!You are allowed to take some of the blast rock from the site and Rose found a really pretty, small rock that I took. There were much larger ones you could take but warned the TSA would not let you carry them in a carry on. Rose promises to bring me my Crazy Horse rock when she visits early next year.
Saturday morning we went back to Hill City for packet pick up, then headed to Mount Rushmore National Memorial. It was a glorious day there, topping out at 70 degrees!
Mount Rushmore
Aunt Rose and me
Me and the presidents
Look at that blue sky!
Selfie with the presidents
Aspen adding color
View from between some boulders
Along the Presidential Walk
Still along the walk
Me and Rose
Along the walk
Final view from along the walk
The presidential walk is a circular trail that goes in front of the visitor's center. Certainly there were lots of rocks from the blast zone there, too, but I was done collecting rocks. ha ha.We had a late lunch in Custer and then found ourselves boxed in by the homecoming parade. It was a true taste of Midwest Americana. Floats with high school kids going by, throwing candy to the little kids lined up along Main Street (where we were parked and so boxed in). It was fun to see and experience. We did a little shopping in Custer as well.
We headed up to Deadwood after lunch just to see what we could see. We toured the Historic Adams House and then the Adams Museum. The house was OK, but I'd say if you were going to do one or the other, choose the museum. A lot more history of the Deadwood area there.
The next morning was race morning! And it was COLD and SNOWING.
At the start with flurries
This was a point-to-point marathon and half marathon. The marathoners went toward Custer after we left the Crazy Horse area. The half marathoners turned left and headed for Hill City, where the finish for both races was.
Along the gravel road toward the memorial
Getting closer
Better view of the face
Selfie with Crazy Horse
Never Forget Your Dreams
Near the entrance
Along the George S. Mickelson Trail
Most of this race was along the George S. Mickelson Trail, named for a former South Dakota governor. Where we were, it borders a national forest and the aspen trees were aglow with their fall colors.
Aspens in fall
A little stream through the trail
Along the Mickelson Trail
Getting close to Hill City
I saw these horses near the end of the race, probably around mile 11 or 12. The trail cut through fenced pasture land on either side. These two horses were to my right, and a third horse was in a fenced pasture to the left. The white horse on the left really wanted to be with his friends on the right and began to run and whinny and then the other two ran, so I was running right along with them. The white horse on the left (not shown) clearly wanted to jump the fence and I thought it was going to. Would have been a little crazy if it had and jumped the fence with the runners around!
Finished!
Not my best time. But I had a great time. I can honestly say it's the first half marathon I've ever run in the snow. The flurries were off and on, but back on at the end, when it was changing to sleet. The marathon winners passed me as I was coming toward the finish. That was exciting. I think both the male and female finishers set new course records. That's what cold temps will do for you!
How every half marathon should end
Snow coming down
The snow really got heavier later in the day.
Selfie in the snow
View from the balcony at the hotel
I never did get any photos of all the deer we saw on the property of the hotel and campground. The accommodations had a lot of land because of the campground area and we'd see lots of deer in the early morning and at dusk. We'd see them out in the fields in the evening as we drove to dinner as well. Made me nervous since I didn't want one to jump in front of the car!
Leaving the Black Hills
When we left the Black Hills Monday morning, the roads had no snow on them, since it was 70 degrees on Saturday, but the trees and mountains had a beautiful dusting.
Snow in the hills
Rose
I had such a fun trip with my Aunt Rose. We hadn't vacationed together since Ireland in 2008 and before that in 1986 in Santa Cruz, Calif. I'm already talking to her about a race in Iowa. I'd like to fly into Omaha again and have a short vacation with her while getting a race complete in Iowa.There's nothing crazy about that.
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