Oct 4, 2007 Day 7

We left the campsite at Custer early ( due to the shutting off the water for the winter)and traveled to the Crazy Horse monument and museum. When this project is completed it will be the largest mountain carving in the world. It will also contain the largest collection of North American Indian artifacts and medical training facilities. We were there for about three hours. You could easily spend the entire day. After leaving Crazy Horse we slowly climbed up to Mount Rushmore. We are happy to report that our gas problem has been solved and the RV handled the mountains with no problem. When we reached Mount Rushmore we were amazed at how far we could see. We estimated that were able to see approximately 300miles. After having seen Crazy Horse, Mount Rushmore was a little disappointing. The entire sculpture of Mount Rushmore can be placed in the flowing hair of Crazy Horse. Mount Rushmore was completed in 14 years, with a lot of Fed. Aid. However, Crazy Horse is totally self-sufficient. It was started in 1948 by a Polish sculptor who dedicated the remainder of his life to this project. His wife and 10 children are still carrying on the project. We left Mount Rushmore and headed toward Montana. We stopped at the notorious Western town of Deadwood. We thought that it would be similar to Virginia City. What we found was a town with old building fronts and plenty of slot machines. It is a Western version of our Indian casinos. We arrived at Ed’s Thursday evening around 7:30 Mountain Time with a spaghetti dinner waiting for us. 

Oct. 5, 6, 7 Day 8,9,10

When Bob went out to get the paper, he was stunned to find that the ground was covered with snow. The temp had dropped to the mid 30’s, how depressing. Especially when we hear about the great weather you are having back East. Later in the day we went shopping in Billings. Ed was a great chauffeur. When we returned from shopping Bob and Denny decided it would be good time to reorganize the belly of the RV. We had hastily packed it when we were transferring our stuff from the old RV. Ed grilled pork chops for dinner and we relaxed for the remainder of the evening.

On Saturday, the ladies did laundry, Carol made apple crisp and an apple pie for Ed’s birthday, while Paula made her infamous rice pudding. Ed, Bob and Denny watched the Montana University football game while the ladies slaved in the kitchen. Ed had to read at Mass Sat. evening so we all went to church. After church we drove 45 minutes to this restaurant called the Feedlot to celebrate Ed’s birthday. We had a great meal of prime rib, and baby back ribs. We arrived back in Laurel well fed and contented.

On Sunday, we went to breakfast at the Country Club with friends that we met when we were here helping MaryAnn. After breakfast, Bob and Denny washed and waxed the RV. Ed was busy due to all the running around for rags, pie pans, and tools. Paula caused Ed more emotional stress by plugging up his garbage disposal with potato peels causing him to take the sink trap apart. Ed ‘s daughter and family came over for her father’s special fried chicken and to help celebrate his birthday as well as her youngest daughter.