Mammoth Site Hot Springs, South Dakota 2019

I really like the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, South Dakota and what they are doing.

Sure, in a lot of ways, the Mamoth Site is the kind of place that you can visit once, and say you have been there.  Check it off your check list.

BUT, it is such a unique experience.  We were in such awe on our first visit....  we wanted to see it again this time.

It DID seem different in a lot of ways to us...  they are still digging and moving earth.

It was great going back...... And it still gets my highest possible recommendation.  It is a little out of the way from the Keystone and Rapid City attractions but it is worth the drive.  I can't think of any place else around like it.

The Spot Coffee Shop in Owensboro

Owensboro has two of my all time favorite coffee shops.  Both are great, but they are very different.  Both have great coffee.

The Spot is still hanging in there serving coffee near the old Lincoln Mall, my favorite hang out when I was a kid.

They do a lot of local stuff, and have some fun locally made art and jewelry available.

Check it out!

Lexington Cemetery, Lexington Kentucky

I honestly thought I had posted about the Lexington Cemetery before!  I checked though, and I had not!

The place is sooo photogenic, and there are just some very famous Kentuckians buried here.  I know one of the Civil War Magazines I read mentioned that they feel this is the second most significant Civil War cemetery after Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond VA.

I know that a couple of controversial Confederate statues were moved here from downtown not too long ago (pictured towards the bottom).

I went recently to get some photos of the blooming cherry blossoms.  I have included a couple of those photos with various others I have taken over the last few years.

Rushmore Cave CLOSED in South Dakota

We stopped by Rushmore Cave which is part of a small amusement park.  There was literally a sign out front saying that it was "closed due to shortage of staff."  Luckily, the previously mentioned Big Thunder Gold Mine was open.  They were happy to give us a tour.

AND, the two main caves in the area, associated with the National Parks, were also CLOSED!

Seriously, they have had issues with their elevators so they were closed down!

To be honest, seeing Jewel Cave and Wind Cave were big reasons for our returning to South Dakota.  These things happen though, its just odd that BOTH have had elevator problems at the same time!

Random Thoughts on Friday

WOW!  Its been a crazy last few weeks on my end.  I am still sorting out pictures and all from our South Dakota trip, which seems like forever ago now!  AND, we just took a quick trip to Springfield Illinois, that got cut short by the coronavirus.  Its getting a bit weird around here!

I still have lots of pictures and things to post and talk about though.  I am usually a couple months behind on everything here, but this has definitely cut into future roadtrip time!

I might start putting up some entries on other stuff, so there might be a mention of Morehead Kentucky right in the middle of other entries about South Dakota.

In general, things are good in my neck of the woods.  I will be working from home for a while.  Our Chihuahua will love that.

Big Thunder Gold Mine- Keystone South Dakota

I am going to give Big Thunder Gold Mine a HUGE endorsement just for being open!  More on that later....  but, we were striking out on underground attractions being open in South Dakota.  Nevermind that for now though- I would recommend this place just because it is cool.

Also, this is a nice place to hang out!  We relaxed on the porch before our tour and realized there is a nice view of Mt. Rushmore from there!

Our tour guide came out and talked to us before the tour started.  We told him about our tour bus the day before threading the needle on the needles highway.  He said that, ever so often a bus does get stuck up there.  They pretty much have to take them apart to get them out.

The tour guides name was Jerry, and, as we talked to him, we realized that like us, he had lived in Ohio for a time!  In fact, we probably crossed paths with him at some point!  it is a small world!

Our tour had a few other couples, and Jerry took us through the mine.  I THINK they drilled 650 feet in, and only recovered 2 and a half ounces of gold.  A bank funded the mine, hoping for a pay day, as just a few feet away, another mine was doing well.

In a building outside the mine, Jerry talked about how miners used chemicals to separate the gold out that caused mental health issues.

Jerry talked about how there was a portable toilet at the gold mines, and even now at some, men must wear aprons when they mine.  Those aprons are washed, and that water, and shower water are searched for gold flakes..  as was what was in the toilets in case any was ingested.

There was free gold ore you could take home with you!

The Creme Coffee Shop- Owensboro

I got to stop at one of my all time favorite coffee shops anywhere again recently!  My brother-in-law and I were able to enjoy some coffee at Owensboro's The Creme just the other day!  The place is still cozy and colorful!

Powder House Restaurant in Keystone SD

We REALLY enjoyed the meal we had at the Powder House Restaurant in Keystone.  The cabin/lodge building stands out as you pass through the area.

The atmosphere was VERY relaxed and we had a very sweet waitress who took care of us.

We will be back next time we are in town!

Dahl's Chainsaw Art- Keystone, South Dakota

I wanted to included a few photos from Dahl's Chainsaw Art in Keystone, you can't miss it.  It is right next to the Borglum Story Museum.

The pieces are pricey, BUT, I felt like they were actually affordable for what they were.  They are gorgeous.

Some of the carvings were gigantic.  You MUST stop here if you are in the area.