We left Buffalo and arrived in Rapid City, South Dakota to join the Retired Northwest Pilots Association for their annual convention. We have been to Rapid City several times before however the highlight of the stop was seeing all of our friends!!!! The one thing that one misses about not flying any longer is the camaraderie. During our working years we spent so much time with many of these people that they were like family. When you had to be away from home on holidays these folks made it seem like home just to be with them. The "fun" days of flying are long behind us all now, however the friendships made during that time remain!The first night we attended a cocktail party and renewed friendships....told many lies and laughed until our sides hurt. A good time was had by all and it was time to say goodnight.
Saturday morning we were all loaded on buses and headed off for a day to see the sights of the area. Our first stop was in Hill City to take the 1880 Train through the countryside to Keystone. From here we boarded our buses once again and headed to Mount Rushmore to have lunch with the Presidents! Then on to see if any progress had been made on the
Crazy Horse Monument, (they have been working on this since
June 3, 1948. Work was begun by Boston-born sculptor Korczak Zilkowski. Korczak died in 1982 however he passed us vision along to his wife Ruth and their 10 children. He left them 3 plan books and scale models showing how to continue his work. The face of Crazy Horse was completed and dedicated in 199, 50 years after the monument had been started. When the monument is finished it will be as long as a cruise ship and taller then a 60 story skyscraper.The memorial is a non-profit undertaking and receive receives no federal or state funding.
Some traditional Lakota and Native Americans oppose this memorial. In 1972, Lame Deer, a Lakota medicine man said "The whole idea of making a beautiful wild mountain into a statue of him(Crazy Horse) is a pollution of the landscape. It is against the spirit of Crazy Horse."
Work on the monument continues today. There is no time frame as to when it is scheduled to be completed. Many return each year to see what progress has been made.
It was a long day of sigh-seeing but lots of fun. John and I had dinner that night with his old neighbors from Seattle. They had a great time catching up on family and good times spent together.
Sunday was free during the day and it was a beautiful afternoon. We had returned to the coach were spending a quiet time when there was a knock on the door. It seems that Gayla and Myron had been locked out of their coach. The key would not open the door. Myron got out a ladder and opened a window and crawled into the coach.....and still the door could not be opened. Now....... the question of the day is......how many pilots does it take to open a coach door???????? Five!! That is how many offered assistance. It took most of the afternoon but success was achieved and finally the door was opened and the problem discovered. (Gayla has a photo of the five pilots working on the door problem!!)
That evening was the final banquet at the hotel. Another wonderful evening was had by all. Not sure if we will be able to attend next year in Omaha but we shall see...
Early on Monday morning the RV's began pulling out to head home or where ever the road may take them. We are on our way to Minnesota for a few days. John is hoping that the weather will hold and we will not encounter snow!!!! It is almost October you know!!
More later.... until then,
Love to all,
Candy and Johnny
