Last but not least of the South Dakota posts (previously: Badlands and Wind Cave), the reason for the whole trip: Mount Rushmore! We decided nothing would be more patriotic, so we donned our star-spangled, striped, red, white, and blue attire and visited this national monument on the very day of Independence.

I think the magnet I purchased (ironically) at Mount Rushmore says it all: "Shrine of Democracy" (I am still rolling my eyes at that one). Recommended viewing: North by Northwest. Alfred Hitchcock recreated the Black Hills pine-treed setting in a sound studio in LA for some scenes in the movie and after visiting the real deal, it is very impressive and fairly convincing.

I have heard so many people say how disappointing, how small, how underwhelming Mount Rushmore is, but I was surprised by the reality of it! Perhaps the key is to have little to no expectations and the trappings of a great roadtrip, all of which likely contributed to our great reception of the sight. It was fascinating to watch the videos in the Visitors center showing footage and explanations of how the monument was systematically blasted and sculpted—it took from 1927 to 1941! It was especially remarkable, then, to see the Crazy Horse Monument, which has been under construction for years and of which the estimated completion isn't for 100 years! The whole idea of these monuments carved in rock still housed in actual mountains feels a little archaic to me, and doesn't quite jive with my personal philosophies of conservation, but seeing as these decisions have already been made many generations before us, it is fascinating to learn from and see them.

THIS SIGN! The atrocious grammar and weird syntax! That alone is hilarious to me, but I am further baffled by the thought that doesn't this have to go through seven committees or something before it can be designed, printed, and posted!?!? At the site of a national monument no less! I work for the government, and I'm pretty sure that's how most things go, so I find this even funnier because I can't believe no one caught this before it made it to the public eye.

Fireworks, of course, in Rapid City. We found this delightful park and watched from just outside the baseball stadium, continuing our Americana celebration (complete with watermelon for me, because I could not celebrate without that quintessential element of summer).

On our way between the Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse, we passed a picture-perfect lake at a break in the trees. All of us desperately wanted to pull over right then for a swim, but we had a timetable and second car in the group so drove on and stopped on our way back. After a difficult and sketchy change of clothes in the backseat of the car, we jumped in the water. The water was the perfect temperature—cold and refreshing, not too icy if you kept towards the surface and kept moving. Horse Thief Lake was a game changer and definitely a highlight of the trip.

Homemade mcc (mint chocolate chip, for non-aficionado/non-acronym-savvy readers) ice cream in Keystone! (and any chance we can get, if we're being honest).

Once again with the stunning Wyoming skies! We drove through a roiling thunderstorm and the clouds were so dark and ominous when you were in the thick of them. At the time, we were also driving through a construction zone when Sarah England needed a bathroom. Age missed the exit because of the confusing construction routing; as we drove past the last rest stop for quite a while, Sarah looked (genuinely) longingly out the window and with some panic and heartbreak in her voice said and then kept repeating, "Bye bye!" This is probably funnier to the other passengers in the car than other readers, but I was laughing so hard. Gotta love those (delirious) twelve-hour rides in the car.

We spent the 4th of July enjoying our beautiful country out of doors. America the Beautiful, truly.

Sitting on a log by a river reading "Dandelion Wine" made me so nostalgic for childhood summers in upstate New York, day after day spent exploring the creek behind my cousins' house and playing down by the river.

We also spent an afternoon at the Oregon Coast at Cannon Beach—Oregon's Pacific water is bone-chillingly cold but I loved every second.

(Age's dancer footsteps, as she called them)

And what is a trip to the beach without salt water taffy? They had classic flavors and some signature originals like "Cannon Beach Sea Salt," mmm.

One of the funniest moments of the trip occurred on the beach. We had spread our blankets out for beachy lounging and reading and such, when Adrienne began yelling, "JESS JESS JESS JESS!" We all looked up in shock to see waves reaching our blanketed territory before we could do anything about it. We reacted as quickly as we could and picked up electronics and books in the nick of time, with only the blankets getting wet. We laughed about this the rest of the time, one of those "I love life" moments that end up being some of my favorites.

Last year I was in Italy for the 4th of July and we celebrated our native country with a BBQ at the church (complete with soggy French fries) and a rendition of "Fifty Nifty United States" by Heather, Michelle, and me. I wore red, white, and blue and at the studio, one of the architects told me she liked my nautical (marinara) colors. Last year was undoubtedly memorable, but it was great celebrating America in America this year.

[we discovered a tire swing walking home from the parade!! I miss this tire swing. nor will I ever forget the time Wade spun me until I was so dizzy I nearly fell off.]

The day was full of time with wonderful friends and exciting festivities which underlined the fact that [excepting stereotypical American tourists] I love America! I'm grateful for the many blessings and opportunities we enjoy in our country.

P.S. 4th of July eve at 7-Eleven. Who are all of these people, you ask? We had no idea. But University Avenue was a madhouse, let me tell you.