South Dakota and the Presidents

Today was a great ride to Piedmont, SD via Mount Rushmore National Monument. The whole day was overcast, but the radar said the rain wasn’t going to start until about 6pm. I covered the luggage anyway - better safe than sorry. The terrain kept changing (see yesterday’s post). Things are so far apart out here. Gas stations are few and far between, so I start looking for gas at about 1/2 tank.

Mount Rushmore was fantastic. It has been 42 years since my family took a trip to South Dakota. It was majestic and everything I remembered. I wasn’t able to make it to Crazy Horse, but plan to be back soon. I saw it years ago and I know it’s still under construction. It is also a magnificent structure.




I promised myself I wouldn’t do “touristy” things on this pilgrimage. However, you don’t get this close to a national monument like Rushmore and not take the 30 mile trek to see it. Sometimes you got to indulge. It was worth the extra few minutes and didn’t throw off my progress too much. Tonight I am staying in a bungalow in a campground waiting for the storms that are supposed to come later tonight (rather than pitch a tent!). I really like making the ride videos. It gives me an opportunity to quickly relive the trip. I hope you enjoy them!


Today has been a day of wonder… I wonder how an artist envisioned something like Rushmore and then brought it to life? (I wonder if the sky is going to open up and dump water on me? I wonder how the folks back home are in the bad heat?) God is a God of mystery and wonder. God empowered us with the ability to create, do art and music, write and imagine… God empowered us to wonder and reason to understand. 

Wonder is not just an emotion. It is a deep transformative awe that reshapes how we see God, ourselves, and the world around us.

Challenge to St. James and Self: Think about what makes you wonder. How do you know when you’ve experienced that deep seated awe?

North Platte, NE to Piedmont, SD
345 miles



Location: Piedmont, SD, USA

Comments

  1. AnonymousJune 25, 2025 at 5:37 AM

    Kenny, I have done a lot of research on Native American lands and even as impressive as Mount Rushmore is, it was a tragedy to the native Americans because that mountain before it was desecrated was a holy site for them. The worst indignation was that mostly American Indians were used for the demolition of that mountain and the carving of the presidents. They had no choice. They had to have work. Their tribes were starving. Just thought you might want to reflect on that particular point also. Rob

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