Monday, September 21 Custer State Park, In the rain

 Damn, it's still raining!

We left the Lodge after a nice buffet breakfast and headed for the Crazy Horse Monument. It wasn't at all what I expected. It is a rather impressive Native American museum, not just the work-in-progress Crazy Horse mountain sculpture. The sculpture has been in progress since 1948 and still has many years to go.

Unfortunately, when we got there the mountain was covered in fog and drizzle so it couldn't even be seen. We were charged only half price to get since you couldn't see it. As it turned out, while we were in the museum, the fog lifted and the sun came out for about a minute, just in time to get a picture. Then the fog rolled back in.

We then drove south a half hour or so to see the Jewel Cave National Monument. It was closed! No explanation. Oh well.

We then went north picked up the famous Needles Highway. Right away one comes to Sylvan Lake which is a spectacular lake surrounded by interesting rock formations. From there, one quickly see the "needles", tall granite spires, and you come to the "Needles Eye" one-way tunnel through the rock. After that, heading south, not much to see. Just mile after mile of tight turns through the forest.....and fog. We then headed back to Keystone on the Iron Mountain Road, again 45 minutes of Twisties.

Another nice dinner in the Lodge. Tomorrow we'll hope its not raining and to the wildlife loop in Custer Park and Wind Cavde National Park. We'll probably end our day in Rapid City.