Turn On your Mind, Jump Off a Cliff

I woke up this morning at the badlands National park went over to see the sun rise over the once reef. And it was unbelievable. A gentleman nearby took a picture of me in front of it that came out great but still does not embody the entire moment that I had there. It doesn’t show the shadows of the sun down in the canyons or the horned goats leading their young through them. It can’t give you the smell of the morning air or the comforting warmth that broke that mornings chill. A picture can be worth a 1,000 words but I honestly do not think that would be enough. As I rode through the badlands I honestly thought that I had seen it all, I mean not the same exact mountains not the same valleys or canyons but same idea. Driving through the rest of the park I came across this area of reef with much more vibrant colors than the first half of the park. Bright colors, that reminded me of the sun when you look directly into it. It certainly made the second half exciting. After stopping in the famous Wall drug store after the park I set out to see Mount Rushmore. It was still early in the morning so I had loads of time to make the trip (more time than I had known since I had already crossed into Mountain Time and hadn’t known it).

Arriving in keystone was a pleasure, it was a decent ride mostly highway but Mount Rushmore was one of the hot spots for the trip. I was extremely excited to get a chance to check this out similar to a kid in a candy store. Although I was a little upset about the $10 parking charge (Mount Rushmore was intended to be a free attraction, so they get around it with a $10 “parking charge” which you can’t avoid) but I wasn’t going to miss being up close and personal with these four gentlemen. It without a doubt exceeded my expectations, not only was it massive, standing in front of them I was impressed. Not only for their contribution to the first 150 years of our country, but more impressed with the men who created it. Mount Rushmore was built between 1927-1941, with only Dynamite and chisels and hand powered drills without a single fatality. I think for them to be so accurate and detailed is remarkable.

This stop for me helped me to understand a little more about myself. Recently I have become more of a knowledge junkie. Growing more infatuated with history more about our country specifically but history (interestingly enough the National Treasure movies have sparked this interested and the last one took place in South Dakota and Mount Rushmore Being a clue) I’m not really interested in just this took place here, on this, date, and this is who is involved. That history is boring a time line that gives these events no heart. But the stories behind the story; the controversy, the excitement, the passion and fortitude of hero’s and their counterparts. These things were never really talked about in school. These things would have excited me personally and driven me to actually learn material, maybe even pick a book when I was younger. Before any teacher goes crazy please take a second to read further. I DO NOT BLAME teachers, because I know teachers who would love to get more in depth but state testing and other state guidelines limit how much freedom teachers have.

To this day there is controversy sounding Mount Rushmore over who the land belongs to, there are BILLIONS of dollars sitting in banks waiting to be collected over a settlement. There’s an interesting story about who picked the presidents why they did, and the heat that he received for it. There’s even a reason for the “secret vault” behind Washington’s head. Things I never remember being discussed in class and I didn’t sleep through that many. I won’t tell you it all but challenge you to read up on it yourself. That’s one thing I wish I did when I was younger read. So much is not in the news or on the next episode of Gossip Girl, things to enlighten, teach, inspire. I know I know, for the most part anyone under seventeen is saying reading is boring. I AGREE. When you are forced to read something it can seem boring. But pick up a book about something you’re interested in. Not only will you expand your imagination you’ll learn something. I know I’m getting to that point where my brothers and his friends see me as old when I was fifteen twenty-three seemed like an eternity, but if you could just listen here. PICK UP A BOOK. Anything something funny, serious, about sports, machines, gossip ANYTHING. Keep your minds sharp and it will pay off in the end.

After Mount Rushmore I was gassed. Excited and looking for something new to do. I decided I would check out the new monument that was in the process of being built. Crazy Horse, I was told that this monument was interesting fun and cool, this also from someone who has walked out on it. For the first time (and it wouldn’t be the last) I was disappointed it wasn’t finished, you couldn’t even tell what it was really and if you didn’t see a picture you wouldn’t have known what it was suppose to be. So I immediately turned around. But that trip was not all for loss. On the way to crazy horse I stumbled upon some kids Cliff Jumping into what I later found out was Horse Thief Lake. A beautiful lake with the highest cliff jumping I have jumped from ever. In true Joe McMiller Fashion I bypass the two lower cliffs and head straight to the top. Get up there PEACE I jump off into the water no problem. So then I’m thinking to myself that was easy let’s take it up a notch. So I get my camera and ask Joe and Matt the guys I met out there to video me doing a front flip from the high cliff, which is about 60 feet high. I get up there takes me a second hesitate a little and then Peace front flip off the cliff into the water PROBLEM. To clear one of the cliffs below I decided that I would jump out a little harder doing so I over flipped and landed on my chest mostly. Took me a minute but I recovered. Four days later I still feel tender where I hit, but after seeing the video it was worth the pain. Eh no harm done I’m still alive mom. I’m in South Dakota for the night no place to stay heading out to Wyoming the next day. So it was time to find a place to sleep.

( Cliff Jumping Front Flip)

One Mile at a Time.