As we rolled into Rapid City, South Dakota I knew the good stuff was coming. Sightseeing! Variety! Anticipation.
Your mother doesn't remember all the detail I have been conveying. She remembers washing clothes, packing suit cases and making sure each of the kids had what they needed to survive. I know that cassette tape recorders were popular but I don't remember any portable computer games. I don't remember if there were frayed special blankets, stuffed animals or a pair of shoes that had holes in them. All I do remember is all the suit cases we locked in the top car-carrier each day practically tipped the car over.
George Carlin does a comedy "shtick" on the "stuff" we must have with us when we travel. When we travel we just pack up all the stuff we must have (just like home) and carry it with us. Imagine 6 kids with all their "stuff".
We left the Best Western in Rapid City in the early morning of the third day to head out to the state park that holds the Mount Rushmore Monument. Quick, name the 4 Presidents that are on carved on Mount Rusmore. I think Mt. Rushmore is in the Custer National Park. I remember having to drive up a winding hill, park in a large parking lot among the pines and walk up a long stairway to the reception center of Mt. Rushmore. It was a clear and sunny day. The center had an ongoing film presentation of the building of the monument. We didn't partake of the film. We got to go out on a large open patio with a great view of Mt. Rushmore. I've got pictures of myself with several kids and Rushmore in the background. The only thing that could have been better is be able to get closer to the actual Presidential carvings.
We treked through some Mining towns that same day and considered going down inside a gold mine. We didn't do it. The next target was Billings, Montana while slipping through the northeast corner of Wyoming. Billings was a launch point to go down into Yellowstone Park. When I mapped out the original trip, Yellowstone was one of 4-5 "must see" attractions. We stayed over night in Billings and I remember eating at a restaurant filled with "good ole boys" and we were their fodder. It is lonely in Billings if you are from out of town. No, there weren't any fights. No arguements. Food was good.
Day four we headed to Yellowstone and Old Faithful and bears. The anticipation was high.
I suspect we kept mailing postcards back home saying "wish you were here". Gad, I hate people who do that!
You Grasshoppers haven't e-mailed me any memories. Come on!
Love,
Dad