Notes from Nowhere

Rushmore et al

I don’t do much tourist stuff but this stop is an exception.

Deadwood: Nothing more than a tourist trap

Sturgis: Still a tourist trap, but it’s only real claim to fame is the 2-week motorcycle rally (beginning Aug. 2) so it’s got to have a little more going on for those who roll in the other 50 weeks of the year. And that’s what it’s got…a little bit more. Basically bars, bars, bars, leather, leather and more bars. Tourist trap minus the annoying family element. (No offense families.)

Mt. Rushmore: Had to go. Wanted to go. Glad I went.

And then there was this. Click in and check the sign. The First Amendment is alive and well, especially if you’re giving away yoga and meditation books. Weird. Wonderful? Not so much.

Onto the Badlands Monday or Tuesday. It’s 99/100 at my spot right now and 103 or so in Rapid City 30 minutes from here. 107 today in the Badlands. Oish.

8 Responses to “Rushmore et al”

  1. Stu Wittner

    Hi Mark,
    Always like to follow and learn from your travels .
    Be safe. Stu

  2. Paul Langer

    Did you see the unfinished Crazy Horse monument, too?

    • Mark Lipsky

      Farc! I totally forgot. Maybe I can circle back there. Or I can just wait until it’s finished.

    • Mark Lipsky

      The term “Badlands” originates from the harsh and difficult terrain that characterizes these areas, making them challenging to navigate and inhabit. The name is derived from the Lakota term mako sica, which translates to “bad lands” or “eroded lands.” This name reflects the landscape’s severe conditions, where steep slopes, minimal vegetation, and high drainage density create a rugged environment that is often unsuitable for agriculture and difficult for travel.

      The French fur traders who encountered these lands in the 18th century referred to them as les mauvaises terres à traverser, meaning “bad lands to traverse,” further solidifying the term in the English language as “badlands.” The name captures the essence of the landscape, which is marked by deep ravines, gullies, and other geological formations resulting from extensive erosion of soft sedimentary rocks.

      The Badlands are not only known for their challenging terrain but also for their striking geological features, which have been shaped over millions of years by processes of erosion and deposition. The combination of infrequent but heavy rainfall and the presence of easily eroded materials contributes to the distinctive badlands topography, characterized by steep ridges and deep drainage channels.

  3. Debbie Ring

    I got a rush looking at your current pictures! 🤣

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