Apparently, Jefferson also wrote the first ice-cream recipe in America. Hmmm...

Outside the store was a sign... one I simply couldn't resist.

I ended up buying Nick's book, who was 91 years old (92 in July). Several other people bought it as well. His wife was there to help him. The book was filled with all sorts of wonderful stories. It was a nice albeit sad feeling, knowing that he was one of the last living bits of history of this place.

Complete with his own baseball card! The reason for his odd nickname (since it has nothing to do with his real name) was none other than simply everyone went by a nickname back then. His family had just given it to him and that was that.

Nick on top of the car with Gutzon Borglum to his right

We then took a drive along Iron Mountain Road down into Custer State Park. This was a lovely, windy, narrow, interesting road famous for its "pigtail" bridges. These bridges did a little curly cues over on themselves.

The road basically makes a right by turning left....

... and here we go left by turning right.

There were many spots where it became one lane.

This was a VERY narrow tunnel. You had to do your best to peer down to the end to see if anyone was coming before you made a run for it.

In certain spots, the road split apart and we couldn't see opposing traffic.

Lots of turns...

... and twists...

... and switchbacks.

We stopped at the Iron Mountain Picnic ground and went for a short stroll along the path. It ended abruptly at a rock, so we did a bit of climbing, hoping to get a view. Mostly we just got a view of more rocks.

The path just arbitrarily ends.

We entered Custer State park and suddenly the deer where everywhere! One almost ran right into us. It jumped out into the road just as I was passing. Fortunately it turned away in the last second and ran along side of the car with us. The cloppity-clop of hits hooves on the pavement rung out. I looked out the window at it while it looked back at me. It all felt a bit surreal. I then stopped the car and it turned off back into the woods.

Casually crossing the road

This is a White-tailed Deer. Note the long tail and smaller ears than a Mule Deer. It still has its shaggy winter coat.

Sheesh... no manners!

This one seems a bit thin.

There were also several bison about, both in the forest...

... and in the various camping areas.

At the far end of the park, we arrived at the Stockade Lake North Campground. It was fairly quiet for so many people. The evening was warm but was cooling quickly. We set up the tent then had a dinner of canned chili beans and crackers. The wind carried in a thunder and lightening storm, but no rain.