Does Mount Rushmore Exist?

Dakota Trip - Day 4 - Saturday, June 7th

Although the stay in South Dakota was very comfortable (1-King & 2-Double Beds) for the eight of us, we couldn't wait to get up to go see Mount Rushmore.  It is a three-hour one-way drive from the hotel.  On the way there, we kept on seeing this billboard sign that advertises "Wall Drug."  Is it just me or the sign keeps on popping up what appears to be every five-minutes for over an hour drive.  What an effective advertising campaign!  We stopped in to take a potty break and bought some souvenirs.  Finally, at the end of the drive, near the entrance of the park, I thought I saw the president heads!  I wanted to pull over and take pictures, but the family urged me on: "Come on dad, we'll get a better shot inside the park!"

Inside the park, there were thousands of people and bus loads of people there already.  And it's only around 10 AM.  As we proceeded, we took pictures of just about everything.  Eventually, we came to the concrete wall at the end where the presidents heads are supposed to be.  But where did it go?  We waited and waited, but the heads never showed up.  We were told by other tourists that this is the second day where the FOG covered up the heads!?!

We walked around and hiked the trails hoping the fog to clear and...  it did for a few seconds :-(  We didn't have our camera ready :-(

This reminded me of the many times that I went fishing in the American River in California with the Pro.  We would sit in the drift boat waiting and anticipating for a bite.  And some days all we got were a couple of grabs (fish tasting our lures or baits and then quickly spitting it out), but no fish on.  On those days, it's easy to say we are only imagining the grabs and there are no fish in the river!  Now, I just renew my commitment that there are many fish in the river, but the Son has not shown and told us which side of the boat to cast our nets, or in our case, to wet our lines.  What lesson can I learn from this?  Be ready, the fish are there, but when the going is tough, all you got is a few seconds to catch one :-)

"I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief!"

Never seen so many silos in my life!

Are we excited yet?

I know we're near the heads...

Outta my way people...

Are you kidding me?  Is this make believe?

It's really behind us.  Now close your eyes... Imagine!

God bless these workers who made it happen.

Told you guys the heads are there.  See?

President Jefferson just became our favorite president!

The original plan was to also include the torsos.

Inside the artists' studio

Hey, that looks like a coke machine :-)

After hanging around Mount Rushmore for several hours to see the heads for a couple of seconds, we were informed by other tourists who just got back from the Crazy Horse site, not to bother going there.  Thus, we opted for Badlands instead.  We were not disappointed!  What a fantastic site.  We drove through about 30 miles of awesome mountain structures with vivid, colorful dirt formation.  God bless America!

There's a Cabela's in Rapid City, SD?

Roar!

This is one "bad" as in awesome land!

Is this rail stable?

Yes!

You gotta experience it.

Hum, someone has an affiliation with Air Quality?

Miles and miles away...

Big Sky Country Too!

This is gotta be a poster in our home!

I would hike these trails if I had more time :-)

What awesome hill formation

The Midwest Warriors!

Dakota Trip - Day 3 - Friday, June 6th

The main reason for visiting the Midwestern United States was to attend orientation at the University of Mary, ND (U-Mary).  We will have an incoming Freshman and a First Year Upper Classman at the University next year.  Wow!  It will be a big change from California.

We had an opportunity to meet with teachers and parents.  The Freshman got to meet her new dorm mate; it was an exciting event.  During lunch time, we hooked up with a family from Sioux Falls, SD, also with an incoming freshman.  Right off the bat, we knew we were birds of the same feather.  This family, the Midwest Warriors, told me the following story:

It was near sundown when they were fishing in Pierre, SD.  The dad was not prepared, so he bought a kiddie bait caster pole for his son (4-yrs old?).  I visioned this to be similar to a Mickey Mouse push-button fishing pole that comes with a spooled 8-lb test line.  He tied on a Rapala lure.  As his son cast out, he told his dad he got a snag.  Every fishing dad's nightmare: "Dad, I got a snag!"  However, as the dad looked over, he saw the tip of the fishing pole bounced up and down.

"Don't think that's a snag, son."  Big grin :-)

Forty five minutes later, a 20 plus pound Northern Pike was landed.  The fish was as big as the son.

After a story like that, I knew I found a life time friend.  I look forward to meeting them again sometime in the future.  Keeping on fighting the good fight, my Midwest Warrior friends.

View from U-Mary: You know there are fish there!

Miss Mystic @ U-Mary

One excited freshman.

We came to Pierre, SD, for this?

But I'm happy daddy!

Capitol of South Dakota

Who is the Purist?

Imported from the planet Kryp….  Wait, that story is taken.  Imported to California from God knows where, the lone fisherman bloomed where he was transplanted.  Actually, he was bitten by a radioactive horse fly while fishing the Yuba River in California.  Since then, he was gifted with the ability to make his own flies and used it for fishing.  Now, he travels the world using only flies as he “catch and release” fish; hence, he is my good friend the Purist!

Manitoba, Canada

Truckee River, Nevada?

Some cool river in California

Big Sky Country Too!

Dakota Trip - Day 2 - June 5th

We have not been to Montana yet; however, we have heard that it is also known as "Big Sky Country."  On our second day in Dakota, we must say that it should also be known as Big Sky Country too!  So for my good friend the Purist (you will get his origin in a future blog), pictures are taken of Big Sky Country Dakota.

Well, in Dakotas, we were blessed to escape California's 100+ degrees and enjoyed fabulous 60 - 80 degrees weather.  After a personal tour of the University of Mary - thank you staff - we had enough time to checkout a local Vista Point on a highway and also spend a little time at Meriwether's Landing.

For the Purist: "Big Sky Country Dakota."

It's not photo shop.

In pecking order...

Another Big Sky Country photo

Info for the Keelboat, replica of the Clark and Lewis boat.

Titanic pose 1.

Titanic pose 2.

What scary sound does an eagle make?

Riverboat full of tourists.

Help

Damsel in distress.

Enjoying the awesome weather.

This is what Lewis and Clark must have felt like....

This is where we were.

It's over there!

I see it.

You're looking the wrong direction!

North Dakota Capitol

Happy Father's Day!

Many moons ago, my dad left his beloved country to come to this land of prosperity.  He had 15 minutes to make his decision to relocate his family of eight children to a land far away where the customs were completely different from his own upbringing.  The language in the new land would have to be learned.  At the age of 47 at the time, it would be easier for him to stay put; but instead he was thinking about his eight children, including another on the way.  He knew that the new regime would not permit the freedom of religion and Christians will be persecuted.  He packed up the the company van and left with yours truly as part of the family.  We all had the clothes on our back and the food that mom cooked for dinner, but not yet eaten.  We took flight like the Jews' exodus from Egypt.  We spent one night at the airport, sleeping on the grounds waiting for the next available plane, a C-141 cargo plane used to transport troops and tanks.  I was only 11, so my memory may be a little hazy.  The plane had no seats, only nets hung from the sides which the passengers held on to.  The plane opened from the rear and people boarded on to it until it was all packed up.

Fast forward until the present.  We came to this land of plenty and have been exceptionally blessed.  I truly pray that it will continue to be the land of religious freedom.  Thank you dad!  May God continue to bless you.  And may God bless all fathers today.

Dad (The Patriarch) and JU in the background.

Six Kids on Da Plane

Helloooooo Dakotans!  Thank you for your hospitality!

Day 1:

What a blessed opportunity to be able to fly the entire family to North Dakota on Wednesday, June 4th.  Since we're from Sacramento, it costs $100 less per ticket to fly out of San Francisco and that's a total of eight tickets when you count JU and Mrs. M.  I learned from coworkers that it's best to book a hotel that provided free shuttles to the airport and included parking for the entire week.  Thus, we did that.  After the fact, I realized that I received advise from people who do not travel in a group of eight :-)  Bless their hearts.  Thus, when it comes to sleeping, eight people on two queen-size beds was an obstacle.  However, when we awoke the following day, we did help ourselves to a continental breakfast that came with the package.  Also, the shuttle works like a charm in getting us to the airport within 15 minutes.

For the four younger children, this is their first plane ride.  Of course the youngest, Ms. TwinkleStar, has to seat next to the window.  In the air, the sky is beautiful, the view is spectacular....  that is if you don't sit in the same row as Ms. T., who decided that it was too sunny and insisted that the shade be closed for the entire duration of the flight :-(

Don't move or you will fall off the bed.

Here's looking at you.

I see you.

Watch out, Dakotas, here we come....

No such thing as a direct flight, a stop in Denver must be made.

Another family shot, closeup.

Family shot with the plane model in the background

This is an actual sign at the Denver airport!

Are we there yet?

Now, are we there yet?

So finally, we touched down in Bismarck, ND.  We rented a 2014 Suburban that can accommodate eight passengers.  The draw back was that we got ten miles to a gallon of gas !?!??

First stop?  How about Scheels?  Otherwise, this wouldn't be a fishing blog :-)

Last one there is a...?

Fact: No Scheels in California yet.

Yup.

Howdy.

Hello.

Wait, was I supposed to raise up my other left leg?