JULY 1, 2012 ~~~  Can't believe JULY is here already!  We took the drive out to Crazy Horse mountain today.  I had read about it 20 years ago, or more, but didn't realize it was actually "began" with a letter and dream in 1939!  I think the sculptor actually started pounding rock in 1943... alone.  He lived in a tent for several years before he started chopping down trees and built himself a log house.  No running water, no electricity.  AND he built and climbed 741 stair steps (wooden ladders!) up the face of the rock to get to his work area.  He climbed those every day, sometimes many times a day.  Read the history... it makes it so amazing what has been accomplished so far.  It will not be finished in our lifetime, but our grandchildren will see the finished sculpture.

This became the sculptor's life's work.  He married and raised 10 children at this place, and the log house they all lived in is still there and open for viewing.  His wife lived in it until she passed away a few years ago.  Most of his children are still actively involved in the ongoing sculpture efforts.  It's a slow process because it's not "publically funded", and because it is a MASSIVE construction effort!  The entire 4 heads on Mt Rushmore would fit in the rock to the left of Crazy Horse's cheekbone above.  Well worth the money and trip!

Here is one of several really pretty places along the road we saw surrounded by granite walls and forest, with a handsome little creek running through it.

From here we went to another "tourist thing"... called Bear Country USA.  Kinda like Wildlife safari, but no lions or elephants!  It does have a 2 mile drive-through with Roosevelt Elk, reindeer, Arctic wolves, grey wolves, cougars, buffalo, mule deer, Big Horn sheep and Mt goats, and lots and lots of bears.

Can you tell which was our favorite part?  This Fat Boy didn't look too friendly and believe me we kept our windows UP because several were up and wandering around by the road.  NO FEEDING is strictly enforced, so no animals came up to the vehicles.

The cougars were laying in the shade so this is the best we could do.

And here is the best for last... this one is totally for Larry T... BEAR BUTT...

Can you figure out what the bear is doing?  Here's a hint... see that line of light color under his tail?  He's all hunched over takin' a poop!