Day 23 & 24: Cody, WY and Mount Rushmore, SD

Cody is evidently the rodeo capital of the west.  They have a rodeo every night of the summer and we were able to enjoy one last night.  It was the kids and my first time at a rodeo but Lily and I made sure to dress the part.  We picked up some new cowboy hats and boots (thanks Daddy!) to blend in with the rodeo crowd.  We got to sit on a live bull with an awesome nose ring!  The rodeo was fun--there was bucking bronco riding, calf roping, barrel racing and bull riding (which was our favorite!)  Here are a few pictures from our night at the rodeo.

The morning after Cody, we drove to Custer, SD which is about 20 miles from Mount Rushmore.  We drove into Keystone where Mount Rushmore is located to have dinner before seeing the night program where they light up the faces of the presidents.  I don't think I have mentioned yet that in nearby Sturgis, it is the 75th annual biker rally which draws over a million bikers to the area.  There are motorcycles everywhere you go!  So the crowds are an interesting mix to say the least!

We got to Mount Rushmore around dusk so it was getting dark.  My photos didn't come out quite as good as I had hoped so we may ride by there again today to get some in the daylight but I will say this--as we approached the entrance and saw those faces before we even got inside the park, it was awe-inspiring.  You have seen photos all your life, but it's not the same as seeing them in person.  It was beautiful and patriotic and a great experience overall!