Day 5.
Thursday July 24th, 2014.
Another Memorial, Mountains and More.

The nice thing I was truly enjoying was the fact that I had not pre-planned the details of this trip.
I knew where I wanted to go and what to see in the area, but kept my options open as to which route to take.
In essence, this made it an adventure for me. I would try to find and ride all the mountain roads and passes in this area before leaving and heading for home the next day.
The one thing I knew for sure was that Rapid City was my turn-around point for this trip. But today, I was here. Today was all about riding. I was in the Black Hills! Perhaps I would find some gold at the roadside and could become instantly rich where I would have not to continue paying obeisance to the Time Clock. After all the streets of America are paved with gold, right?
Right?
I was up with camera gear loaded before 7:00 a.m.
Getting onto Highway 16, a.k.a. Mount Rushmore Rd., I rode south again towards the Rushmore Monument where Highway 16A split off to the left just before Mount Rushmore.
This was the start of the Iron Mountain Road. I rode it a short distance and branched onto Highway 244 which then dumped me onto Highway 385 south. I followed the road all the way to the Avenue Of The Chiefs.
And there it stood ………….. 11 miles south of the Mount Rushmore Memorial.
The Crazy Horse Memorial – A mountain carving in progress since 1948. When completed, it will be the largest mountain carving in the world. Yes it will eclipse that of The Mount Rushmore Monument.
Again the history of its inception lies deeply intertwined in the annals of American history with the loss of land by Native Americans to the white man.
The Crazy Horse Memorial is being carved as a memorial to the spirit of Crazy Horse – and not as a direct likeness of him as regarded by his people.

I composed the following picture of this 1/300th scale model of the monument–to-be, silhouetted against the backdrop of the actual mountain carving as it currently stands. It looks to be colossal.
My thoughts drifted, knowing that it would most likely not be completed in my lifetime. It surely will be a sight to see when completed.
So from Mount Rushmore to this Native American landmark, my rides and time so far in South Dakota had taken me on a small historic journey and a small taste of culture that is so deeply woven into Native American History. The museum at this monument did a lot to educate me.
I had become more knowledgeable and humbled.
Leaving the monument and carving I was anxious to get back to riding solely for the thrills I had for so long anticipated.
The road wound me through and past towering granite cliffs and ponderosa forests.

Peter Norbeck, was the first native-born Governor of South Dakota to serve in office and is best remembered as "the great political patron of Mount Rushmore”; responsible for spearheading and promoting the construction as well as securing the federal funding needed to build the giant mountain sculpture.
The Norbeck Scenic Byway, The Norbeck Overlook and the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve were all named after him, no doubt in remembrance of his vision, conservation efforts and achievements.
So in his capacity and in search of the “grandest views” he was determined to have these roads built in such a way to engage my senses through masterful engineering design work of the times. It took a lot of dynamite. More specifically, 150,000 lbs. of dynamite and 2 years later, the Needles Highway was conceived. Scovell Johnson, the road engineer, as I have come to learn, hired by Peter Norbeck, made this happen.
More dynamite was required for the construction of 3 mountain tunnels.
The tunnels had been thoughtfully cut through the mountains and make for such beautiful backdrops with Rushmore way off in the distance. Each being specifically designed and located to frame the 4 faces of Mount Rushmore, presenting a view just like a breathtaking picture hanging on a wall, but in real life!
C.C. Gideon, the superintendent of Custer State Park at the time, was also engaged by Peter Norbeck to build the roads linking the tunnels together.
Great elevation changes presented major construction challenges, which ultimately gave rise to his design of the Pigtail Bridges. So with a crew of 16 men and building with only wood from the surrounding forest, they built a series of corkscrew spiral bridges to combat these steep elevation changes. This part of these roads became known as the Iron Mountain Road - 11 miles from valley to summit, numerous curves, most of which were hairpins back to back to back due to the very steep elevation/rise. I stopped counting at 7! The road demanded my undivided attention.
These were so exhilarating to ride. Nothing like this anywhere else that I have been and ridden. I turned around and rode them a second time, enjoying the thrill just as much as my first pass!
When I am on tour I reserve the right and have the luxury of doing this when I please.
I call that freedom!
Together all these scenic roads link the Mount Rushmore Memorial, Custer State Park and The Black Hills National Forest make up The Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway.
I rode all 68 miles of this magnificent Scenic By-way, stopping at all the overlooks and marveled at each view presented. Yes, I took pictures too!
This ride is definitely not for the faint of heart! Extremely technical but oh, so scenic! A lot of which I captured on video.
Utilizing and continuing to hone my riding skills on these very technically demanding roads, I wanted to ride forever.
The twisties are back to back. The hairpins – again, countless (I didn’t bother to count anymore).
With great asphalt, sheer drop-offs, tight twisties, elevation changes, magnificent scenery, lovely weather and friendly fellow travelers I met along the way, I was thrilled all afternoon, sharing experiences and talking about rides and places we had all been privileged and blessed to have visited and experienced.
This is one of those areas any serious touring biker must visit and experience. I highly recommend it. It will do something to you. It stirred my riding soul with warmth and happiness! A kind of joy I had not experienced in all my riding years to date.
I was in another world!
Peter Norbeck’s vision and plans that made this conservation achievement possible are such a great legacy for me and for generations yet to come….. for me to enjoy and learn about some of the history, nature and recreation that South Dakota offered me on this day – on this ride.
I spent all of this day riding the Black Hills. I couldn’t get enough. As the sun lowered in the sky I headed back towards my motel room in Rapid City.
After a shower and solitary dinner, I fell asleep reliving the rides of the day.
I had now visited the Heart of this country. The symbol of democracy. I had experienced it. My mind was a little more broadened.