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What else can one do when it's raining in the Grand Teton National Park
besides update one's eaglemoon.net website in the Jackson Lake Lodge lobby.
(8/17) |
The rain let up for a little bit, so we we headed to the southern side of
the park towards Jenny Lake and the new Discovery and Visitor Center that
opened just last week. |
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At the newly built Discovery and Visitor Center, Elena is all too happy to
contribute her two-cent's worth for this transportation survey. |
Inside the center |
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Now we could really see the differences |
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An early dinner at the base of Signal Mountain with a nice spot on Jackson
Lake, soon to be the site of our rock skipping match |
Jackson Lake |
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Here we go... |
The circle in the center indicates where the camera caught the rock after
several solid skips! |
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Oh yeah, says Elena. Looks like her rock is a winner... |
And it is! Elena has several great skips to be declared the winner of
the day. |
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And she knows it! |
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The thrill of victory... |
...and the agony of defeat! |
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Our last night at the Tetons left us with this beautiful scene as it began
to rain again throughout the night |
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Leaving the Tetons, we cruised through Wyoming and headed for Mt. Rushmore
in South Dakota, about a 500 mile drive. (8/18) |
The light at the end of the tunnel
(No one saw THAT caption coming, I'm sure!) |
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Just like grandma used to make! Dining in Cody, Wyoming |
Fire in the distance over the mountain range |
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We decided to have the wedding in Connecticut because we c'antelope! |
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We arrived in Custer, South
Dakota, last night, and decided to take the hour-long scenic drive to Mt.
Rushmore through Custer State Park. (8/19) |
Wild turkey crossing |
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For the kids' sake, I refrained
from my original caption to this picture, so you'll just have to trust me -
it was funny! |
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We decided not to pick up these
hitchhikers as they looked like a couple of troublemakers (especially the
small one!) |
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Our first Mount Rushmore
sighting, seen through this one-lane tunnel, one of the few tunnels along a
wildly curvaceous road to the mount. |
Finding out what's happing today
at Mount Rushmore |
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The obligatory, "Can you please
take our picture?" |
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Mount Rushmore, started in 1927,
finished in 1941 |
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The Avenue of Flags, where every
state flag is proudly displayed |
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George |
Tom |
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Theo |
Ringo |
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I call this picture,
"Perspective" |
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Gutzon Borglum, 1867-1941
The sculptor, of Danish descent |
"A monument's dimensions should
be determined by the importance to civilization of the events
commemorated... Let us place there, carved high, as close to heaven as we
can, the words of our leaders, their faces, to show posterity what matter of
men they were. Then breathe a prayer that these records will endure
until the wind and the rain alone shale wear them away."
~Gutzon Borglum |
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George's head is as large as a
six-story building |
Dimensions of George's head:
Forehead to chin, 60 feet; width of eye, 11 feet; length of nose, 20 feet;
width of mouth, 18 feet |
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Mountain goats along the side of
the road as we left the monument |
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