Day 11 - Oct. 11, Mt. Rushmore and travel

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I spent Saturday night back at Black Hawk RV Park as it was only about 10 minutes from The Monument. Being so close to Mt. Rushmore, about 25 miles south (with lots of strange detours), I felt I must make the effort to see it, although, admittedly, 4 old white men looking down on native territory perplexes me (to put it mildly).

First inside the Center's entrance, you are presented with a bronze bust of Gutzon Borglum, the designer, and opposite him, a plaque listing the scores of workers who created it. I was pleased to see a woman was the first name listed.

Next, there was an area set aside for First Amendment expression. The only people taking advantage of that were selling books about yoga and meditation.

Beyond that area was a promenade of the flags of every state and territory of the US, presented in alphabetical order and each with a plaque stating the year of the state’s acceptance into the Union. Do you know which was the first state admitted? I didn’t, and it wasn’t my first, second or third guess. It was Delaware.

Past the promenade was the view of the four gentlemen of the rock—Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln. It took about 13 years to carve. Truly a remarkable feat and the leaders did much for our country (she said with determined respect).

I didn’t stay long, because I had an 8-hour drive to Minneapolis ahead of me (with rest stops…twelve hours). I learned one interesting thing at about 1:30 AM. Stopping for diesel at a Circle K, I was presented with the choices of Tractor or Refer flavored diesel. I asked a nearby trucker what that meant and he directed me to use the Tractor, because the Refer is for refrigerator units on trailers.

Arriving in Minneapolis about noon, Oct. 12th (thank goodness for GPS!), I was enthusiastically greeted and warmly welcomed into the home of Her Travel Circle member, Pat Wagner. We hit it off like long, lost sisters. But now it’s late and my eyes are drooping, so stay tuned for the next adventures of the Marvels of Meander Mary!