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So much happened today, it's unbelievable.

After a heavy rain had swept through the area this morning, I arrived at Mt Rushmore. It was still drizzling slightly when I got there. Unfortunately, the rain caused several wet streaks to appear on the President's faces. Needless to say, it was still awesome to see.

I visited the Visitors Center (how ironic) and watched a short movie in Theater One about the construction of the memorial. Quite interesting. I sifted through crowds in the gift shop and bought myself a small, hefty replica of Mt. Rushmore. A little pricey, but fun to have.

After I was satisfied with visiting this most American of U.S. monuments, I headed south to Custer, home of the Crazy Horse Memorial, a nonprofit cultural and educational humanitarian project dedicated to the Native Americans of North America. Crazy Horse was chosen because he was a great and patriotic Indian hero. His tenacity of purpose, his modest life, his unfailing courage, and his tragic death set him apart and above the others.

The foundation has three major goals: the mountain carving, the Indian Museum of North America, and the University and Medical Training Center for the North American indian. This project was started May 3rd, 1948 and exactly two weeks ago, June 3rd, the facial portion of Crazy Horse was unveiled and officially dedicated in the 50th Anniversary celebration. When finished, it will be the largest sculpture in the world. However, due to the uncertainty of financing, there's no way to predict a completion date. A small scale model of what it will look like is at the Visitors Center, so you can compare that against what it looks like now.

Eventually, I hit the road again and started heading east towards the South Dakota/Minnesota state line. I passed what must have been two dozen road signs for Wall Drug, which claims it's the largest drug store in the world. Really. From the looks of the place, I'd believe it.

From their brochure...
"Wall Drug is as much a visitor attraction and museum as a store, with free attractions galore! This block-sized-plus emporium draws up to 20,000 people on a hot summer day. Its famous "Miles to Wall Drug" signs have been seen all over the world, including outer space! You'll find a little bit of everything at Wall Drug. It's a perfect place to browse though in search of that special something to take back home. There's Sioux Pottery, Black Hills gold, Western wear and gear, thousands of boots, modern and Western books, Western art, glassware, postcards, camping supplies, rocks and all kinds of souvenirs ... more than you can imagine! Don't miss Wall Drug's Back Yard! Kids of all ages will be amazed at the giant, roaring T-Rex, the 6-foot jackalope and the animated displays. Straddle a life-sized bronc or try your aim at the shooting gallery arcade. The Fun Never Stops At Wall Drug!"

(For more info on Wall Drug, visit their website at walldrug.com.)

As I was getting in my car, preparing to leave, a black car pulls up next to me and three women get out. Just as I'm about to start my car, I notice one of them is banging away at the other side of her car. "Hmm... maybe she has a loose hubcap", I think to myself. I hop out and ask if I can help, pointing out that I have a hammer in my trunk. They take me up on the offer, and when I return to their car, I notice the entire left rear side is smashed in. Ouch.

One of the girls continues to bang away at the side a bit, trying to keep part of the protruding metal parts from hitting the tire. I also offer some duct tape, but we realize that probably wouldn't do the trick. They thank me for trying and start walking across the parking lot, as I hop back in my car and we go our seperate ways.

I had driven roughly 200 some odd miles when the weather started taking a serious turn for the worse. This is when my pleasant, middle America, easy-listening music is interrupted by the deejay with a special bulletin he had just received moments ago from the National Weather Service. "A tornado watch has been issued..." Great. You know, I should have figured. The sky was one big, dark cloud and lightning struck literally every two seconds (a handful of which were so close, they blinded me for a second). A few more miles down the road, I found an exit. I pulled off and made a left, planning to wait it out for a while underneath the expressway. Not surprisingly, I saw several other cars had parked underneath as well.

It was already almost ten o'clock by this point (I had just crossed into the Central time zone). A small, privately owned hotel was about a block away, so I figured, "What the hell. I'll stop here for the night." It's a nice little motel too. Very plain and simple, but that's all I needed.

I get a room, unpack some things, and realize I'm starving. I head outside again and see a bar just feet away from the motel. I walk on in, and meet up with the woman who had checked me into my room. I ordered a small pizza and a Coke. About thirty minutes must have gone by, when guess who walked in the door? The three girls from Wall Drug. It's a small world after all.

The tornado had scared the bejeezus out of them as well, especially Kathy, who looks like she's in her early to mid-twenties, but confessed she's 30 and is about to be divorced. I could absolutely swear she's no older than I am. Anyhow, we all officially reintroduced ourselves (after I reminded them I'm the guy that helped out earlier, to which they freaked out and laughed). There's Kathy, a very cute, sweet, fun kinda gal, Laura, who has a serious addiction to Pac-Man, and Erin, who was the one who wrecked the car and hung out most of the night drinking and talking with the Harley Davidson biker crowd. These girls were my kind of people. Anyhow, they're doing the cross-country thing as well. Kathy and Laura flew out to San Francisco, where they met up with Erin, who's moving from there to New York City. At least, that's what I remember them telling me. We had a long, long night of kickin' back, havin' a few drinks, challenging each other to several games of Ms. Pac-Man, playin' pool, and listening to every good song on the jukebox. (Kathy had the best taste in music.)

So.. uh.. yup. It's been an interesting, coincidental, adventuresome, near-death kinda night. I think I need some serious sleep.

See you on the road...

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