Mt. Rushmore,

While out west of course one is going to stop at Mt. Rushmore National Park.

These pictures do not do this justice at all.  It is breathtakingly beautiful.  I sat for a while quietly just admiring the mere genius of the creator and the gentlemen that literally risked their lives to create this masterpiece.

Had to do it!

When leaving the park you are able to get this side view of Jefferson. 

Yes Gary is messing with Christy's behind.

The Crazy Horse Memorial is a mountain monument currently under construction on privately owned land in the Black Hills of South Dakota.  Below is what it will look like once it is completed.

The model in the foreground with the progress they have made in the background.

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

The first National Park we visited were the Badlands in South Dakota.  Wow this was amazing.  You literally are driving along and then Wham! There they are peering before you.  It was a very warm day, but we ventured out and hiked around as much as at least I could with my bum knee.  See the photos below.

There was a few plants growing here and there.

A little bit of color amongst all this tan.

Can you find the guy taking a selfie?

This photo was one of my favorites of the day.  This person wasn't sure if male or female had climbed out on the rock and was covered pretty much head to toe (smart idea because of the sun) and I believe was simply meditating.  It was a reminder of how small we all are in this beautiful world.