The Life and Times of SIT: The World According to Izzy

Hi there. I asked my Mom if I could do the next blog of our adventure and she said yes. Yippee!

First, my name is Izzy (short for Isabella Bailey Henderson) and Steve and Tory are my Dad and Mom.

I think I am the luckiest dog in the world as I get to go on this great adventure with them. Although they are not necessarily picking places just for dogs, I usually have a pretty good time anyway. This week we have been hanging out in Custer South Dakota.

The day after we got here we went to the Crazy Horse Memorial. I was hoping I could get out and go sniff everything but Mom and Dad decided I should stay in the truck. I actually don’t mind since I can still see when they are coming back, sleep, play with my ball, and stick my head out the window.

They told me all about the statue and that it will most likely be years before it is completed as it is being sculpted through donations and the entrance fee we had to pay to come to this part.

Crazy Horse being created

What the Sculpture will become

The Crazy Person (not really)

I guess it takes many steps to create something this big but I wonder if they might be interested in making a sculpture of me??!! I know the commands sit and stay!

We left Crazy Horse and headed to Mount Rushmore. I love the ride since I can put my head out the window, let my ears blow in the wind along with my tongue. Nothing like wind and fresh air on my face. I keep looking at the artwork on the side of the door I create from sticking my tongue out! Maybe Mom will take a picture of that sometime and show all of you!

I didn’t get a chance to go with them at this park either but they parked in a covered garage so I had plenty of shade and quiet. I fell asleep right away.

Mom and Dad got to walk around the visitor center for quite a while and even on the trail that goes fairly close to the sculpture and to the sculptor’s studio. They said they got see the original idea of what the sculptor wanted to create but in the end he only did headshots!

The view from the visitor center

Room for more presidents?

The Presidents

George Washington from the trail

Steve wondering how Roosevelt cleans his glasses?

Mom and Dad went back to the Crazy Horse Memorial that evening to see the Legends in Light show they show on the sculpted rock. This is set to music and is a cool laser light show. I guess I have to take their word for it since I stayed home and watched TV.

We headed to Hot Springs South Dakota so Mom and Dad could play some golf. I so wish they would let dogs go along on golf courses as I know we would never get tired of sniffing and chasing the golf ball! We did get to see bison on the way and no I didn’t get to go play with them either.

Bison near Wind Cave National Park

The view from the course at Hot Springs SD

I asked them since I was good and didn’t complain could we stop at the Fall River before we go back to Custer.

Oh boy they said I could go swimming!

Guess what? We did and Dad even got in the river with me so that meant Mom had to throw the sticks for me! That’s okay since she doesn’t throw like a girl!

Hot Springs is a pretty cool looking town too as it has a ton of historical buildings and their courthouse built in 1891 looks like a castle. I could have fun in a place like that!

Wind Cave National Park was on the list of places to go so we were able to get there on Saturday. The ride was short but nice and I got to see prairie dogs again.

We got there just in time for Mom and Dad to take the main cave tour so I got my afternoon nap in. I love naps, don’t you?

The tour guide was great from what Mom told me and the cave formation is one of a kind. I wish I could have gone in there since there are over 100 miles of passageways and I know I would have had a blast.

Don showing the original entrance to the cave and the wind

I guess I understand why I can’t go since the most prominent feature of Wind Cave is the box-work – thin, honeycomb-shaped structures of calcite that protrude from the walls and ceilings. Oh yeah, there is even cave popcorn. Wonder if I could eat it?

Almost looks like leaves mulching

Box-work on the ceiling

Cave Popcorn

Colors in the cave

Bleached Swiss Cheese

Good thing the path didn't go here

Are there any creatures down there?

I got to go swimming almost every day while we were here but the one thing that I might even love more than swimming is running. I know that Mom and Dad can’t run (it's a long story) but I can and when I get to I start out at 25-30 miles per hour. I love it!

On your mark, get set

Go!

I have to tell you that going to different places is a lot of fun for me as I can always count on new smells and animals. At this RV park there are many rabbits which seem to elude me no matter how hard I try and catch them. Every morning when Mom takes me for a walk I go to all their hiding places and stick my head in the hole or crack in the rocks but they are never there. Oh well I love just taking a walk anyway.