We couldn't think of a more perfect location to see a fireworks display than the Independence Day celebration at Mount Rushmore National Monument.
A few days ago we made a visit to the park to scope out our perfect viewing spot. This morning, at 4:30 a.m., we started packing our picnic basket. Food and drink, cameras, blankets, pillows, lawn chairs, umbrellas, rain suits - planning for anything Mother Nature might throw at us.
We lined up on the highway at 6:00 a.m. Now mind you - the fireworks don't start until 9:25 p.m. You know where I'm going. Traffic was already stopped at the edge of the town of Keystone and the Monument is another 2 miles up the mountain. We put the car in park and shut off the engine. A real sense of community emerges - and after a while we visited with other folks who were doing the same. We got the camera and snapped a picture of the traffic on the highway and of the Monument. After an hour or so the line moves a bit - to within a mile or so of the park. At 7:15 we're finally inching our way in. The early start will hopefully get us a parking spot inside the park and allow us to get our prime viewing spot.
Yes! We were lucky - one of the cubby holes outside the museum is free! Once we were set up all we had to do was sit, and wait, and eat. It was fun to see all the people and watch how they coped with kids, each other and the rain! The park quickly filled to capacity. Everyone has their own style of coping with the rain. And rain it did - throughout the entire day.
Around 6:30 pm the skies started to clear and we enjoyed a B-1 Bomber fly-over from Ellsworth AFB. The Park Service program honored the Native American Code Talkers of WWII, we enjoyed Native American dance and music. Vets, teachers, moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas were honored too. But everyone really was there to see some fireworks and at 6:30 we felt sure we were home free.
It was not to be. On the horizon clouds started to build. In 30 minutes we were completely fogged in. There was some discussion the event would be cancelled. We crossed our fingers and hoped for the best. At 9:15 a test firework was fired. You could hear the bang and the foggy sky lit up a rosey pink - sort of like a grand nite lite. The Master of Ceremonies asked if we thought they should go ahead with the program - Of course! Heck! we've been here all day and night. Also, if it's not held tonight it won't happen again until next July 3rd! You see the National Park Service won't compete with the local celebrations of the towns and communities surrounding the monument. Yep! the fireworks were a go! As heavy fog enveloped the entire mountain we were able to enjoy an intersting display of colored fog - accompanied by loud booms! It wasn't the grand display we were hoping for, andit was somewhat anti-climactic. Too bad - so sad. There is always next year.
When it was all over we grabbed our stuff and made our way to the car for the 2 hour wait to leave the parking garage. It was well after midnight when we got back to the bus - exhausted and sleepy. Oh well - you can't win 'em all.
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