After a leisurely breakfast and some much-needed coffee, we piled into the van and headed straight for the iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Standing before those colossal faces, we found ourselves reflecting not just on how they were carved, but why they endure.

After taking it all in for over an hour, we continued on to the Crazy Horse Memorial — another awe-inspiring tribute still in progress, bold in scale and spirit. From there, the day led us into Custer State Park, where unusual rock formations jutted from the earth like ancient sentinels. Twice, we spotted bison grazing in the distance — quiet, powerful reminders of the land’s wild past.

All in all, it was a restorative pause — a day of wonder, reflection, and rest away from the bike seats.