Old truckers never die…

…they just get a new Peterbilt! Haha Thats what my retired trucker did, but full disclosure: it’s a 2011 and not new. But with a big truck comes a new way of camping for us, via a toy hauler trailer, because ya gotta tow something right?! And I learned that this is called an “HDT” (heavy duty truck) RV. So last week we set out in our very own HDT RV on a shakedown cruise. Ya know, a little trip to break it in and see how everything works. Most people would stay fairly close to home for that. We, however, said go big or go home, so we set out for South Dakota to realize one of MY dreams, which was to see Mount Rushmore. And what better time to do it than over the 4th of July!

The trip out was smooth sailing for all 1,400 miles. We arrived at the Mt. Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch Sunday afternoon. That place is amazing! You could spend every day there at the resort with plenty to do (fishing, horseback riding, chuck wagon cookouts, miniature golf, swimming pools, playgrounds, off road vehicle rentals, outdoor games, wine tasting, brewery). We were there to explore the area though, and while we were technically at a campground, all we did was sleep there!

Being our first time to that area, we unloaded our Jeep from the trailer and headed straight up to Mount Rushmore the same day we arrived. It poured rain when we got there, but it subsided for the night time ceremony, which we listened to from the entrance so I could get a nighttime picture of the flags and the memorial lit up without a ton of people in the walkway. Seeing the hillside and those faces light up was spectacular!!! Emotional even…. A sight to behold for sure. If you’ve not seen it, put it on your bucket list!!

The next few days we spent exploring the local towns, and driving back roads. I have to say, one of my favorite places I’ve ever been now is Custer State Park. That place is AMAZINGLY beautiful. The Needles Highway through the park has stunning vistas. The wildlife loop road is vast and full of life. We saw antelope, burrows, bison, deer, ducks, geese, pheasants, turkeys, and about 1.2 million prairie dogs! The many lakes inside Custer SP are so beautiful, and there are people out kayaking, swimming, fishing, and enjoying them all!

Early one morning we started the day at the Crazy Horse Memorial. It’s an amazing story of how that came to be and where it’s headed. There’s also a great museum there, and Native American dancers that are not to be missed. It was raining when we were there so we didn’t take the bus to go up closer to the memorial. But true to South Dakota fashion, black skies and lightning are soon replaced with blue skies and white clouds! We had rain and sun many times throughout our time there. Often within the same hour! Go to lunch in the rain, walk out to sun!

We did a little side trip up to the town of Deadwood, via Spearfish Canyon, which is another beautiful drive. Deadwood was a cool old town with lots of little gambling halls. Apparently I’m as bad at gambling in South Dakota as I am in Las Vegas (and anywhere else for that matter). We tried to walk up to see Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane’s graves, but it was raining and when the thunder and lightning started I was ready to head back to the Jeep! Which was a good thing because the downpour that ensured probably dumped more rain than we’ve had all year back home!

We visited Custer State Park a second time and just did all the side dirt roads so we could see the interior of the park. I’m so glad I’m married to an explorer! And like I’ve said before, someone who isn’t afraid to make U-turns because once again, they’ve led us to some of our favorite spots! We ended the 4th up at Mount Rushmore again, this time to watch the evening ceremony and lighting in person. Probably my favorite part of that is when they have all active duty, retirees, and gold star family members come up on stage to take the flag down. It was quite moving and I was so proud to be an American and witness it in person. What an awesome place to celebrate the birth of our nation. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”  Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

Ya know, I said earlier that my husband is a retired trucker. That’s really not accurate; he’s still very much an active trucker. Only now, instead  of truckin for a paycheck, we’re truckin for the memories. And I wouldn’t have it any other way…. ❤️