Up early to get to the Crazy Horse Memorial so Traveling Man 
could have the light he wante
d. Not a bad drive. We went right past Mt. Rushmore and did get a couple of photos. Crazy Horse was a little more expensive than I had anticipated - $10.00 each - but it turned out to be worth it. Of course, this carving is still a work-in-progress - as in, they have only the face done. (Almost 60 years, all by one family with no tax money at all) Still need to do the flowing hair, the arms, the torso and the horse. I don't think it will be finished for another 50 years, and that may be a generous estimate. Hard to imagine it, but Rushmore would fit into the spot behind his head with room to spare. (For scale, the mountain is slightly over a mile from the viewing center and a large truck would not fill the little tunnel you see under his arm.) 
Last and largest tunnel
and view as you exit it.
could have the light he wante
d. Not a bad drive. We went right past Mt. Rushmore and did get a couple of photos. Crazy Horse was a little more expensive than I had anticipated - $10.00 each - but it turned out to be worth it. Of course, this carving is still a work-in-progress - as in, they have only the face done. (Almost 60 years, all by one family with no tax money at all) Still need to do the flowing hair, the arms, the torso and the horse. I don't think it will be finished for another 50 years, and that may be a generous estimate. Hard to imagine it, but Rushmore would fit into the spot behind his head with room to spare. (For scale, the mountain is slightly over a mile from the viewing center and a large truck would not fill the little tunnel you see under his arm.) 
You cannot go up to the statue (unless you have a spare $150.00 per person), but can get a bus ride to the foot of the mountain. We didn't bother, after all what can you see when you are looking straight up? (maybe see if they reamed out the nostrils? - ick) The viewing platform is great. The model of the statue is right there and we did get some photos of that too. We perused the museum, the sculptors studio, and the gift shop.
Then we went and released Traveling Dog from the truck prison for a few minutes and headed out to Custer State Park.
Custer State Park is Amazing. The "Needles Highway" rocks! It is narrow and curvy and has one lane tunnels. The first tunnel, we had to fold one of the mirrors in because it was so narrow. And those huge rock spires - well, you will just have to look at the pics. (Look for the people climbing one of the needles.)We went from there to the wildlife loop, which is completely different. It is rolling pastureland. Lots of rocks in the fields, but no tall spires. We did see buffalo, antelope and burros. Coming out of the wildlife loop, we were climbing (in the truck) and there were major switchbacks plus more one lane, narrow tunnels. When we got to the top, we had a great view of Mt. Rushmore.
Last and largest tunnel
and view as you exit it.As we started down the other side - more switchbacks - TD started getting a little "antsy" and I made TM pull over as I was afraid TM was going to get sick. You better believe neither of us wanted him sick in that truck! Well, he was glad to get out and didn't get sick, but had other "business" to take care of.
As we traveled on we came to the Pigtail bridges. This is where the road curls. You go over a bridge - on a curve - and then under that bridge on another curve. Actually it seems as if the road just spirals down off the mountain.
It was a great day. Oh, yeah, we took a picnic lunch and ate next to a clear stream. TD loved it!
God Bless.
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