Great Plains Drifter:: Sioux City, IA to Mt. Rushmore, SD

Hwy 20 from Sioux City, IA through Valentine, NE (where I originally was planning to stop - but got there at 1 pm CST).  I decided to go to Mt. Rushmore (Keystone, SD) and get ahead of schedule.
Headed north and grabbed Hwy 18 through the Rosebud Indian Reservation and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation - taking in the Badlands.
Hwy 18 north from Pine Ridge to BIA-41.  BIA stands for Bureau of Indian Affairs.  That department has been pro-Indian and anti-Indian depending upon the whim of any particular US Administration.  This area of the country was of great interest to me since I studied Indian Law, and was a clerk for the Puyallup Indians, while in law school.
US 40 into Keystone, SD.  I am now on Mountain Time (gained an hour daylight driving).

Vast changes in scenery throughout the day: flat farmland, to grassy plains, to the "Sandhills" (of significant ecological importance), to vast plains of natural undivided land on the Indian reservations, to the Badlands (so so awesome), to the Black Hills (great mountain rides).

American Indians are not very approachable in public spaces.  There is a history of understandable distrust of the white man.  There is no integration on the reservation.  There is a real lack of development on the reservation.  The City of Pine Ridge looks like any small mid-American town:  one intersection with gas stations and fast food.  At least the Indians do not insult natural wonders with large road signs and strip malls inhabited  by merchants of fudge, gadgets, and t-shirts.  These monstrosities are mercifully confined to certain areas so as not to destroy the view of our beloved stone-faced presidents.  

I am spending the day tomorrow taking in all the "natural" sights.




Comments

  1. Dining Diva of BocaJune 16, 2018 at 6:48 AM

    great ride! The reservations may not put up billboards - unless they have a casino! Post PHOTOS of your journey - would love to see them

    ReplyDelete

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