Day 16: Mt Rushmore, Needles Highway and Custer State Park

Today started with another dusting of snow, had a beautiful blue sky, sunny, windy and cool day, with some sleet late afternoon while we were walking Scout.  Strange weather we are having here in South Dakota.  We took today off from our volunteer work and went sightseeing.  We saw lots of wild life today.  We started the day with a return trip to Mount Rushmore for “Breakfast at Rushmore”.  Thanks, Scott, for the tickets.  Very good!  We got much better pictures than Sunday with today's sun on the sculpture and blue sky background.   

On the way to Rushmore we drove through the town of Keystone and there in the middle of town were several mule deer.  They must think they own the place because they were in no hurry to get out of the street.  As we were leaving Rushmore we saw two mountain goats – a Mom and baby.  Too cute.  

Next we wanted to drive the Needles Highway – a National Scenic Byway but it was closed due to the snow on Monday.  Then we drove by the Crazy Horse Memorial.  Seems to us they don't have a lot done on this one but it you look closely you can see some of the scaffolding for the continuing work.  

Since we had to go around the Needles we drove through the town of Custer.  There we spotted Custer Baker's Cafe and Bakery.  We always look for local bakeries.  They had awesome, and big, sticky buns.   

No we weren't hungry after the huge breakfast we had at Rushmore but we need something for tomorrow – with just a taste for today.  Going back into Custer State Park we saw 2 great blue herons and a ground hog. 

By the time we got back into the Park the Needles Highway had reopened so we got to make that drive.  It is called the Needles because of a rock formation that looks like the eye of a needle.  Don't know why it is called a highway though because you can't drive over 25mph it has so many twists and curves – most marked at 10mph.  

Very beautiful drive and still a fair amount of snow in places.  We did a little geocaching along the way and at one point snow was above the ankles.  We saw mule deer, white tail deer, and turkeys.  We then completed the Wildlife Loop of the park that we didn't do on Sunday.  We saw more buffalo (bison), and Pronghorn (the fastest land animal in North America) but the cutest seen today was the prairie dog town.  There were hundreds of little prairie dogs running around and chipping (or whatever you call the sound they make).  They would run in their burrows, stick their head back out then jump out again. 

Bighorn sheep, burros, elk and mountain lions also live in Custer State Park but we haven't seen them yet.  Mountain Lions have also been spotted here at Storm Mountain so we keep looking for one as we drive in and out.  That's it for today.  We haven't decided on tomorrows plan so.... we will see what tomorrow brings.  Hope it's sunny and warmer!