The main reason we have come to South Dakota is to make it our domicile or our legal home. Since we are full time vagabonds now and live wherever the RV is parked for the night we can choose whichever state is most favorable for us to call home.
California is not favorable to retiree's since it is now the highest taxed state in the nation. We still have a house in California but rent it out. We will continue to pay income tax and of course property tax on the house, but our other income and registrations on vehicles can be from whatever state we choose.... As long as we do not stay in any state longer than their residency laws allow.
South Dakota loves retiree's. They do not have income tax and their vehicle registrations are very low. Their residency laws are also very lenient to allow full time travelers to become South Dakotans. As a side note, their DMV employees are the friendliest and most helpful we have EVER encountered!
After completing our residency requirements, we took a day trip to Custer State Park. There are large herds of bison in the park!
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| Bison Herd |
We also found some mama's feeding their babies.
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| Nursing Bison Babies. |
When we were in Oatman, Nevada we saw wild burros. Who knew there were some here in Custer?? It amazing me that these people opened their windows and fed the burros! :(
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| Wild Burros |
Just outside of Custer State Park is the Iron Mountain Road (US 16A). This is the infamous road that you can take a framed picture of Mount Rushmore through the tunnel. The were doing a lot of road construction on this day so we really couldn't stop to take a great picture but you can see Rushmore right in the middle of our picture.
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| Rushmore Tunnel View |
There are also two corkscrew bridges on the highway. We couldn't take pictures while we were driving so I found these online so you could get an idea what the bridges were. The bridge corkscrews around on itself to make a quick elevation change.
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| Corkscrew bridge |
Here is an elevated view of it so it makes more sense.
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| Corkscrew Bridge II |
We didn't go to Rushmore on this day, but did drive through Keystone.
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| Keystone, SD |
You could get a great view of Rushmore from Keystone.
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| View from Keystone! |
On the way back to our RV it started raining as it did on most days. The next morning we went into Rapid City.
In the middle of downtown they have bronze life size statues of all the presidents on each street corner. To see all presidents it is a 2 1/2 mile walk. They have a self-guide book at the visitor's center that gives some information about each president. We got the book and took the 2 1/2 mile hike.
Here is our first president George Washington....
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| George Washington |
And of course the father of the National Parks and Crystal's favorite Rough Rider, Teddy Roosevelt.
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| Teddy Roosevelt |
Here's our favorite president Ronald Reagan!
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| Ron Reagan with Patty |
Our last President (Obama won't be on display until he is no longer in office) George W Bush. Because he was considered somewhat controversial (not by us) he is displayed being very optimistic giving the thumbs up and very happy carrying his Scottish Terrier Barney!
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| George W Bush |
That's it for today...
Keep Praying for Avery and the whole Huffman family!!!
God Bless you,
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