On our road trip last June, we saw several memorable sights that were notable for the emptiness around them.
We drove past miles and miles of vast landscapes with few occupants. Near Carter, Wyoming, we spotted hundreds of sheep grazing by the road.
A little bit farther down the road, we were fortunate to see sheepherders and their five dogs at work guiding this herd.
On our way to South Dakota, we took a side trip to see a unique attraction near Sundance, Wyoming.
You’ve seen windsocks before, but have you seen one made from an airplane? This Beechcraft Twin Bonanza would have cost $200,000 to get in flying condition so the owners decided to turn it into a “whimsical windsock.”
I showed another aircraft on a pole in my recent Unique Roadside Signs post, but the Quaal plane rotates with the wind like a real windsock.
When we stopped to see Mount Rushmore in South Dakota early one morning, we were shocked to see something missing; People!
We walked closer and had a great view of this massive monument, framed by flags.
It was strange to experience emptiness at a site that hosts more than two million visitors a year. Lucky us!
After reviewing this post, I realized the skies are an important part of each photo. In some, the skies are clear and blue, while in others there are wisps and layers of puffy clouds.
Lovely! We would like to go to Mount Rushmore some day.
Thanks, Lisa! Go early to avoid crowds. 🙂
And we would avoid summer break! 😊 You chose a perfect time!
A lovely post and as I was admiring your photos, it was the skies my eyes kept drawing to.
Thank you, Liz! The skies are definitely one of the main characters in each picture.
Wow Siobhan, how odd that there were no other tourists at such a popular spot!! I loved those images especially the last. The “windsock” is amazing too. Excellent choices for the week
Thanks, Tina! Yeah, it was weird no one was there. We were there at about 6:15 am on a June day.
Siobhan, what a captivating gallery you shared! How lucky you were to have Mount Rushmore all to yourself.
Thanks, Egidio! Yes, it was nice to see it without the usual crowds. 😁
What a great adventure Siobhan. You were lucky, indeed, to visit Mt. Rushmore and find it empty of visitors. We went about the same time of day and found it crowded. That was in 2013. You also showed us beautiful, almost barren landscapes. Well done!
Thanks, Anne! Mount Rushmore was amazingly empty. Lots of wide open spaces on that road trip.
Great photos. Love those wide open spaces. Lucky you, no people!!!
Thanks! Loved those scenic landscapes and the lack of crowds.
Amazing landscapes. I live in the coastal mountains and don’t venture into the vast plains over the mountains so I just am gobsmacked 😲
Yeah, it’s a lot different from the coast. You can see for miles under beautiful skies. 😄
big skies!
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Yes, it’s known as Big Sky country for a reason, Graham. 😀 Beautiful skies there.
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Love your landscape and cloudscape images, beautifully captured.
I remember how crowded the Mount Rushmore was. 🙂
Thanks, Amy! Loved the clouds on our trip. I had only been there when I was a little kid, but I remember it being crowded then.
Wonderful photos, Siobhan. Just lovely, wide-open skies, and that vast open land. Perfect for the challenge. I appreciated the Mt. Rushmore image. I’ve never seen it from the road before. A wonderful perspective.
Thank you, Patti! beautiful skies around there. Yes, the wide pathway leading to Mount Rushmore was unusually empty.
Wow, I love this ‘big sky country’ scenery, and that quirky windsock is a great find!
Thanks, Sarah! I found the windsock on the Atlas Obscura website. Lots of weirdness in the world.
Oh yes, I like that website!
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Those uninterrupted views are sublime, Siobhan.
Yes, Sofia. Big sky country!
wow. How lucky you were to visit Rushmore without people. Great images and the freedom to do so must have been great. And you always find the most curious “things”. The airplane windsock was fun, and a great add for the challenge. Bet YOU loved seeing he sheepdogs and herders! Don’t see that everyday. Yes… the wide open spaces of the US feel empty at first…and are full of a whole other life. Nice post, Siobhan.
Thanks for noticing all the details in this post, Donna! I know you also appreciate our wide open spaces.
Love the open road shot. Mt. Rushmore is on my list to visit and I’ve wondered how close you can get. Your shots show that perfectly, thanks.
Thanks! Yes, you can get pretty close to Mount Rushmore, especially if you’re not fighting the crowds. 😉
Excellent! Love your cloudscapes too. And Mount Rushmore I have never seen a photo from that angle – love it!
Thank you! It was a great view of Mount Rushmore in the early morning light.
Can’t believe that there was actually no one. Looks so peaceful and beautiful, thanks for sharing!
Yeah, it was a big surprise to have it to ourselves! 🙂
Amazing pictures
Thank you!
Thank you for taking such lovely photos of my homeland!
You are very welcome! Beautiful country. 🙂