Wall, South Dakota

We have spent the past two days "playing" with my brother, Jeff, and my sister-in-law, Kristen, in Custer, South Dakota.  They have been traveling since June, starting near San Diego, CA and working their way counter-clockwise around the USA. We left a month ago from Portland, working our way clockwise around the country...and we managed to meet in South Dakota.  It was so great to see them, and we really enjoyed our time together.

We also kept quite busy. We visited: Crazy Horse Monument, Mount Rushmore, Custer National Park, and Jewel Cave National Monument.

Crazy Horse Monument (a work in progress)

Stacy, Jeff and Kristen (Jack was there too, behind the camera)

Mt Rushmore: Washington, Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, Lincoln

Today, Jeff and Kristen headed West, and we headed East. Our first stop was Hill City, SD, home to a GREAT archeological institute and dinosaur museum. They have an immense T-Rex skeleton, which was actually uncovered in northern South Dakota...and, Stacy's favorite, a 5 ton sea turtle.

Really scary sea creatures who lived here when it was an ancient sea

Actual T-Rex skull..too heavy to be supported on the skeleton, so laying next to it

Mastodon skull...kinda big

One more thing: We are in the same neck of the woods as Sturgis, SD. Sturgis hosts the annual Harley Davison rally the first week of August.  We run into large groups of motorcyclists everywhere we go - probably 10 bikes for every car on the road. Very nice people from all walks of life.

Main Street, Hill City, SD