Thursday at the Great Race 2016 had us leaving Cheyenne as the FIRST CAR OUT! This is something that is decided by “drawing straws” and it was our turn to be the first car on the route. It’s a lot of pressure because you really don’t want to make any wrong turns. Of course after we made our first turn we ran into a railroad crossing where the train kept us waiting for about two and a half minutes. There were also numerous construction delays along the route but we finally made it to Lusk, Wyoming for lunch. After leaving Lusk, we crossed into South Dakota where we have been treated to some of the most breathtaking scenery yet. Of course the most imposing is Mt. Rushmore. If you ever have the opportunity to visit this National Monument, you should take it. Everyone knows what Mt. Rushmore looks like from the history books, but to see it in person is an entirely different experience. You can’t help but be impressed by the effort it took to chisel, blast and shape that mountain into one of the world’s most famous mountain carvings. It is a uniquely American and we were filled with pride to be able to admire this work of art. Along the way we also had the chance to visit Custer State Park, which is a state park and wildlife refuge. Over 1500 free roaming bison live in the park, as well as elk, mule deer, white tailed deer, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, mountain lions, and feral burros. Most of the animals weren’t active during our drive through, we were told it’s better to cruise through at dusk. Another unforgettable day on the books.