day 04 - Sept. 19, 2006 (Tuesday)

so at the end of day three we made it to Custer, South Dakota. we initially thought that we would lose an hour due to entering the central time zone until we checked into our motel for the night (Super 8 Motel) and the front desk guy informed us it was only 7:30 pm. so we headed over to check out the Crazy Horse Memorial which was only 4 miles away. they had a laser show... avoid the laser show at all cost! BUT do check out the Crazy Horse Memorial - it's an amazing place + story.

we went back the next day.

episode 14 : Crazy Horse Memorial

the fee for seeing the laser show was $25 / car and it allowed us to re-enter the next day. we really weren't thinking bout heading back but thought we would spend :10 min to get some better photos and then move on. when we arrived they were just starting a :20 min. introduction movie - we decided to check it out and i'm very glad i did. it's a facinating story of how this memorial came to be and how it's NOT FEDERALLY FUNDED. this was additional interesting after visiting Little Bighorn and learning more about 'Custer's Last Stand.'

episode 15 : Mount Rushmoore

we had to - it was 20 miles away from the Crazy Horse Memorial and it's one of those things you HAVE TO DO - it's a check... like going on a road trip. so why was this not as impressive - well after learning that Mount Rushmoore's four heads is the size of Crazy Horse Memorial's head - it kinda puts things in perspective when it comes to size. trust me - check out Crazy Horse Memorial if you get the chance, it's very educational, inspirational and promising.

episode 16 : dino park

so after Mount Rushmoore we decided to trek it through South Dakota taking I-90 and seeing as many silly things as possible. this was the first. it was on the way, right on I-90 so we figured why not. i'm very glad we did - i kinda expected something like this for a 'road trip' and was glad we got to experience it. it was just random silly things scattered all around. sweet.

episode 17 : Wall Drug Store

come on - how can you not heard of Wall Drug. it's famous! i first heard bout it from a friend who grew up in the mid west when i was in college. i had never heard of Wall Drug before then. he then explained bout how you could see these billboards all up and down I-90, then my professor explained that Wall Drug was one of the first to actually use billboards in that manor to attract customers.

they were the first to have multiple billboards along the way to attract interest from salesmen / vactioners to stop by - and it worked! after which everyone else started copying them.

episode 18 : Pioneer Auto Museum

so we saw billboards for this place and it was along the way. we figured - why not. we entered and the guy started the music up, honked the horn of the front counter and then stated it would be $8.50 / per person. i was hesitant... i wanted to work on editing my video - but pawan wanted to check it out... and i'm super glad he was.

this place turned out to be a collection of various things - just super random things... from cars, to buttons, to old dentistry equipment, to bikes - just random stuff. it was great. FYI - the guy (i'm guessing the owner) is a character who was super nice.

episode 19 : Corn Palace

yet another random spot that was along I-90. the billboards looked more impressive, but it was something we had to check out. we spent all of 5 min. out of all the places we saw today this was the least interesting.

episode 20 : what's my name?

so we ended by stopping for the nite at Austin, Minnesota (again at Super 8 Motel). we went to a fast food joint (Hardees) for food and a bet was made.... (i'm a sucker for bets)