Mount Rushmore

Before I fully awakened this morning, I knew something was wrong. Very wrong. The headache and malaise gave way to stomach pain and nausea as I awakened. I looked around confused while I took in my odd surroundings: fresh clean air, a soft comfy bed, a toilet in the corner. It came back to me quickly - we are in a tent planning to see Mount Rushmore today. My stomach startled me out of sleep and I rushed for the corner. When I was done, I retreated back into my bed trying to focus, but lapsing back into a fitful sleep. 

Unsure how much time passed, I groggily realized that the temperature had risen significantly and it must be past time to get up and check out of our tent. Sitting up provoked another run to the corner, so I opted for horizontal dressing. My daughter brought me my things, and I managed to get them on without another trip to the corner. Amyrlin fed the kids breakfast, I think. A few brief rests later, I think we managed to check out and get in the car. Truth be told I don't have much memory of how it happened, but somehow I ended up dressed, in the car, and on the road to Mount Rushmore.

The ride down the winding hill, the gravel road, and whatever else happened jumbled in my mind. The kids helped with directions and we ended up parked in a lot right at the base of Mount Rushmore. I sat in the car a few minutes trying to gather myself, but I resolved to enjoy the visit and off we went.

We grabbed our Passport Explorer book for the stamps and set out across the street were we immediately entered a Visitor's Center. We learned that Mount Rushmore includes a museum, an amphitheater, and a ton of information about how and why the monument came to be. We spent several hours exploring, taking pictures, perusing the gift shop, and eating in the cafe. While my memories are muddled, I know we had a good time, and the kids enjoyed ice cream. We left feeling enlightened any maybe a bit more patriotic than before. 

We pointed the car towards Seattle and hit the road. My memories of driving mostly comprise frequent stops at rest areas to recovery, then driving as far as I could. I know progress came slowly and nausea and dizziness were my constant companions. At one point I think we called my husband and begged him to fly up and join us, which he declined. However, his voice calmed me and we pushed on.

Our attempts to eat dinner in a restaurant failed miserably as we arrived late, got lost, and I think many mix-ups occurred. However, we successfully ordered a pizza to the hotel, ate, and went to bed, thus ending a very long, blurry day



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