More Pea Soup! But Still a Highlight!

Three stripes down the highway. That's all that could be seen.

Waking up this morning, you could just sense that there wasn't a whole lot of sunlight outside. Even with the curtains drawn, one can often tell that nothing but grey lies out that window. Nevertheless, we woke up, and took a peek out... hoping for the best. Sure enough, grey!

So much grey that one was almost certain that their eyes were the problem, and that they were simply refusing to focus on the objects outside. Trouble is, there wasn't a whole lot for our eyes to focus on.

In order to make the most of the day, a few of us studied and worked on the homework that we have waiting on us when we return. It was also a good day to catch up with people and to send out E-Mails and update Facebook profiles.

Aaron D. also noted that (relatively speaking at nearly 218 miles!) the Black Hills of South Dakota were not all that far away... some of you might know that one of the showpieces of the Black Hills is Mount Rushmore.

A plan was rapidly hatched to drive out there, but there was one concern... Would the mountain even be visible? With the poor visibilites and heavy fog that was everywhere, it seemed like it would be a longshot that it would be visible... but it was certainly worth the try!

On the way to Mount Rushmore there is a multitude of tourist attractions. 1880 Town, (which was actually closed!) and the town of Wall (Home of Wall Drug!) were looked at briefly. The town of Wall is impossible to miss. The signs start telling you that you are getting close to Wall literally more than 100 miles out, and there is a different and unique sign very nearly every mile. The town of Wall is basically based around a store called Wall Drug... or more correctly a collection of stores that are called Wall Drug. These include restaurants and various other retail stores, all set up with a late 1800`s look!

After a two and a Half hour drive, the weather was found to be slightly better in the Black Hills. Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, and Roosevelt were all looking boldly out over the expanse of the Black Hills, and were clearly and easily visible. About an hour and a half was spent in the vicinity of the mountain, and then it was time to start heading back... 

On the way back, a quick detour was taken to the Badlands... encroaching darkness, however, didn`t allow much of a stop, and the re-forming fog did not allow much scenery to be taken in!

The trip back was quite an adventure! Not because a rattlesnake looking for warmth crawled up in the car, but because of the thickening fog. 

As the air cooled after sunset, the fog got thicker and thicker. It wasn`t long before all that was visible was three stripes down the highway... and the trip that took only two and a half hours earlier in the day now took nearly 4! 


After such an exhausting drive, it was definitely time for bed... but not before checking the weather!

Sigh... Tomorrow looks like another grey day... but hopefully the morning will tell another story!