South Dakota – Where: “Objects in Mirror ARE Closer Than They Appear”

We started on our eastward swing that would take us on a northerly route towards home.  But, along the way we will make a few brief stops.  One of which was Mount Rushmore.  This iconic sculpture has been seen in pictures the world over, even by us canine types.  But, it is a different view from up close.  It is very impressive indeed.

It will be interesting to see if Crazy Horse’s mountainside sculpture turns out as impressive.  It has taken them a long time to get to even this point. 

While in South Dakota, we stayed at the very beautiful Custer State Park.  Unfortunately, the family was in need of some culture.  As soon as we arrived they ran down to what they said was a very nice theater right in the park called The Black Hills Playhouse.  They watched The  39 Steps, a more humorous version of Alfred Hitchcock’s movie of the same name but similar plot.  (Hey, I read the theater journals too you know.)

Custer State Park was created in hopes of preserving the bison that had been decimated in the early westward expansion of this country.  (Yes, I read history books too!)  So, even though the family had seen massive herds of these big fuzzy creatures they were really hoping to get a close up view.

Their first day (of just 2 in the park), they had close up views of these prairie dogs.  (They don’t look much like dogs to me – more like chew toys.)

They got a close up view this antelope mother and youngin’.

They got a close up view of this delicious, I mean cute, little bunny.

They got close up views of these wild burros. 

In fact, they got a real close up view of these burros.

From now on this warning on our car mirror will take on a whole new meaning.  Sorry, bad joke - I am sure I just made an ass of myself…  (I am such a punny puppy!)

So, where are all these bison? 

By the way, what did the Dad buffalo say to his son when he finally left home?  "Bye (bi) son!"  Ha-Ha  (I am such a comical canine!)  But I digress…where are the bison?! 

Well when the family started heading back to camp they finally saw this one lone buffalo grazing road-side.

So, we were all resigned to the fact that perhaps this would all we would see on our visit to this renowned “bison preserve”.  And then we started heading out of the park the next morning and found these…

And all of these!

And there were these posers.  I bet these guys were hired by the state park's marketing team.

Ah well, we had finally had our close encounters of the bison kind.  By day…

...or night…

We had plenty of objects to see in South Dakota that were "closer than they appear" here in my blog.

Next, we have a long stretch of driving towards the windy city and then a stop in Michigan.

Until then, big wet kisses,

Mookie “The Bloggin’ Dog”