Four Cool Dudes and a Rock

Actually, it's five cool dudes if you count Gutzon Borglum who carved the four cool dudes into this little rock in South Dakota called Mount Rushmore:

Gutzon took some time to carve these sixty foot sculptures out of granite on the side of Mount Rushmore, 14 years from 1927 to 1941.  The only reason the effort stopped at what we see today (and did not include head to waist for each of the four presidents) was that age-old American reason for stopping in the middle of something:   lack of funding.

While on the topic of Americanism, Mount Rushmore is a fabulous example of our never-ending ability to charge something for everything.   However, we successfully ducked the $11 parking fee and additional entry fee by parking by the side of the road, betting that no one would tow a minivan with six animals inside. After hiking onto a little hill, we found our sought after photo-op in old-fashioned American style:  free of charge.  Mission accomplished.

The little town of Keystone, down the road from Mount Rushmore, supports every type of tourist trap known to mankind, but it is rather cute, especially in the winter time when most every tourist trap is closed:

Fortunately for us, the espresso stand and candy shop were very open and willing to satisfy our needs for a well made latte:

Of the four dudes carved into Mount Rushmore (George, Thomas, Teddy, and Abe), we enjoy George's sculpture the best.   That may be in part because George is complete, while the other dudes are only rocky granite heads.  Or it may be that George was just a talented leader and after winning a wee little conflict with Great Britain, was a fabulous model of what politics and presidential leadership in this country should look like.

Now, all we need to do is find and elect the next George Washington.