OMG

Sorry if I have used the title before but it applies to this stay in so many ways. Today is our third full day and we have not explored the whole park yet. I will list the ways that OMG applies and try to explain them one at a time. Just to give an overview….. The skies are amazing – The views are something to write home about – The animal behavior is interesting – Staying in one place for a time is enjoyable.

The skies are amazing – from the first night we got to Custer State Park it treated us to a thunder and lightening show. It was strange and reminiscent of my childhood all the way down to sitting on an aluminum bench when it was lightening. At least I wasn’t talking on the phone (only some of us will get that 🙂 ) We sat outside for a good half hour before rain chased us inside. I was ok with not getting the Milky Way shot that night. The sky is dark enough to really see the Milky Way. On top of everything up here they have things called clouds.
The views are something to write home about – I think this park offers the best of all views for any interest. I say this because if you are looking for rocky vistas you have Black Elk Peak. Water you have quite a few lakes to swim in, these even make great reflection pictures. The flowing rolling hills are just so interesting because every where you look you see green rolling vastness.
The animal behavior is interesting – June 12th we were out exploring Prairie Dog Town (no there is not a coffee shop here). I know someone has been feeding these critters. I say this because one of them recognized the shape of a car and made it’s way up to the side of our car. I do know why they are called dogs, this little one gave me the sweetest puppy dog eyes. It was like feed me or maybe take me home. We were also able to see a large herd of buffalo cross the road ( I will post a video of the biggest grand dad I have ever seen). It was so cool how the adults would nudge the babies to get moving when they slowed down to dwadle.
Staying in one place for a time is enjoyable – The fact that you get to explore roads you would not have time for if you stayed a day or two is worth it. Traveling the same road different times of the day you never see the same thing twice. Example coming back from shooting the Milky Way on the 12th we were treated to three young elk standing on the side of the road. One was a small buck with two young doe. We watched them nibble on grass until they were aware we were watching. You could tell their senses changed when we were found out. Once we started to inch forward in the car they turned away and trotted off.

I just want to let everyone know, I have sorta fallen off the grid. The internet is spotty so makes uploads difficult. I am working on putting together the photos that do go with the many adventures I am sharing. I also am on a never ending learning/remembering curve. I thought I was recording a movie but I missed a step (my bad).

The Dark of Night

After clouds, a thunder storm, some campground lights, and wrong locations I was finally able with Roy’s assistance to get some Milky Way pictures. June 11th was the night that both of us realized how dark the night is. We even got lucky and had just a tad of light from a building which allowed for some semi natural light painting. I will take any help I can get when it comes to lighting up the dark scenery. We are returning tonight to the same area just a different position.

I was spooked by the quiet of the night. It was funny we were near water so every little plop I heard the hairs on my neck would rise up. I lived in Florida so water + plop equals Alligator just saying. So there were no gators only maybe a turtle or two, we did see a sign for turtles not gators. I will say there were a couple of times during the night I did feel like I was being watched and it was not Roy’s eyes. It was just almost like whatever it was might have been just curious, if not I would have been eaten. I am not sure if this was intentional or not but I found that both of us were talking in hushed tones, it almost felt like when you were a kid and did not want to get caught talking in church. Very peaceful and strangely refreshing. I also tried my hand at some night landscape that I need to work on that is also another beast in it’s own way. As we were getting ready to leave Roy asked if I wanted to leave my tri-pod there until tomorrow, I said no. Well I get all packed and put me seat belt on and say I’m ready to go. He asked are you sure. I had left my tripod I am so glad he looks after me. (this is after he couldn’t stop laughing).

So I am finding the internet does not work very well during the day, maybe that’s when we are supposed to be out exploring. I did do a little bit of exploring earlier in the day due to internet not cooperating. Custer State Park is broke up into three scenic drive areas 1. Iron Mountain Road (twisty turning) leads to Mount Rushmore. This road also has pigtail bridges and one lane tunnels. 2. Wildlife loop here you will find bison, burros, Prairie Dogs, and an occasional deer. 3. Needles Highway there is a tunnel that feels like you are being threaded through a needle. That isn’t how it got it’s name. We will be driving each of these and I know I will have some pictures.

So before our night adventure began we decided to drive into the town of Custer. Yes, I bought a t-shirt. I also stopped in the visitor center where I got more travel books. I was also warned tongue in cheek – not to hang here during Sturgis unless I enjoy mega crowds. They are looking forward to it after last summer. After browsing through them I see a trip to Wind and Jewel cave in the future. Plus I found info on what to do when we are in Rapid City. After the adventure of the ‘big’ city we decided to head up to Sylvan Lake lodge (we were thinking dinner). The lodge was just too crowded and lacked parking. I was able to practice some landscapes and people scapes. So we took a short drive down the needles highway.

I do want to share a snippet or preview of one way traffic. Coming down the Needles highway we approach a one lane tunnel, there is a little bit of a bottle neck. We could have gotten on the end of this round of going through the tunnel but we waited. So after four cars went through coming towards us we decide to inch forward. Picture this we are inching our way in the tunnel and this little car enters the opposite end. A true game of chicken. (Roy did not back down). It was cute watching the little car creep out in reverse.

So for dinner we ended up at the Blue Bell Lodge, they have the sweetest lean Buffalo. (Which probably roamed the grounds at one point. ) They advertise that it is from South Dakota. From here we headed home did some web surfing and started our night adventure.

I am posting some photos of the buffalo from our first night in the park

Blowing in the Wind

A few things to know about Wyoming it is windy, high, friendly people and you cross the Continental Divide. We were at 7000 feet while we were in Lyman WY and we are at 7000 feet tonight in Rawlins WY. We do start down the other side tomorrow, Casper WY is only around 5500 feet. We have had wind before today mostly a tail wind which has saved on gas. Today however we had a crosswind, and an 8 foot wide dust devil to deal with. This is another time I am thankful my husband was a trucker, we went for a sway but he was able to let the devil pass at the best place it could. The people we have come in contact with are very sincere and happy, it is amazing and refreshing. I get the impression in this part of the country people seem more relaxed, and less stressed. Crossing the Continental Divide occurred twice today once at 12:30pm elevation 6930 then again at 1:30pm elevation 7000 it is amazing 70 feet does make a difference.

I am running a streak we saw another couple of wild horses today which adds to the total for the trip. No bison yet but did see some pronghorn antelope that aren’t really antelope. Find out why here As always there were plenty of cows.

Some nostalgia for Roy at leaving Lyman WY today we were able to get gas at the original Little America. He told me the story about this being one of the places he would stop when he was driving truck. Speaking about his trucking days, I was able to see the original two lane I80 next to the current I80. I also was able to feel what it must have been like driving a two lane interstate, there was construction on the westbound side of the road for about 18 miles. I would say interesting is an understatement.

I was able to take a few quick shots with my cell phone of snow fences. You can tell which way the snow blows by the direction of the fence. The other way I was able to tell we were in snow country were the gates and signs that read when flash return to ……. I am so glad we did not go through this area closer to winter, I am a snow magnet.

I am fixing the last paragraph as I fell asleep while writing, sorry about that.

I have yet to be able to get a Milky Way shot. Lyman WY was a nice level spot good view interesting foreground clouds suck. The night at Rawlins I couldn’t see the core but I was able to see a part of the Milky Way. The campground is too close to I80 for me to get good pictures. I am hoping maybe Casper WY but for sure Custer. In the coming days you will see a group of pictures from our first week, and I will also put together a post covering things I forgot to mention, in my other posts.

Legal High Point

I have to say today I was higher than I’ve been in a long time. The views were amazing although the amount of winter homes dotting the mountains near Sundance and Park City Utah were a tad distracting. The first part of the rise out of Salt Lake City was gently curvy it seemed like a lazy gentle rise. The second part past Sundance on the way to Park City felt more like being pulled straight up. Right outside of Salt Lake City we passed Bridal Veil Falls, no pictures I did not think to grab my phone which I did grab for some older cars. Speaking of old cars they must have been a meet-up happening or they were just out for a Sunday drive on Monday.

This trip we have seen more wild horses than on any of our other trips. In fact today we were lucky to see three separate groups. The first group was near water with a dozen foals some were resting on the ground while the mares flipping their tails to keep the young cool. I also saw one nursing it is so amazing to be able to experience the mother baby bond. This group was near Beaver not so far down the road there was a group of three stallions hanging together. On the climb outside of SLC was the third group a few Appaloosa with also fouls. We saw a larger group on yesterday also.

All of the animals we’ve seen so far have had a fair amount of babies. In fact, we must have been seeing a calf take his/her first steps, it seems out west they let mother nature take control. Who would have thunk Wyoming had so many sheep and yes there was a black sheep in every flock we saw. Birds have been of the robin variety with a few (sea)gulls put in the mix.

Tomorrow we are on the way to Rawlins, WY which means one day closer to Custer State Park. Tonight I’m out to find the milky way.

We found Beaver

So today was day two, 6/6/21. We are enjoying cool breezes and open windows, the last two days were brutal in the heat department. Over 100 degrees, Beaver Utah is about 80 and the nice part of this is it should get a tad cooler. Every trip requires a mascot and ours is (wood) Chuck a stuffed Beaver. I will be posting his photo bombs in the future.

The drive up today was interesting, a lot of traffic going from Las Vegas to Salt Lake City Utah. Las Vegas is open for business, full capacity the employees were fully masked but the crowds were about 1/3 masked. The place itself was also extremely busy. We were able to have dinner at the Angry Butcher with a friend.

So far not many wild animals, did see some wild horses and a few ravens just above St. George Utah. The ravens were just dotting the skies. The landscapes though have become covered with solar panels which to the naked eye look like lakes. The night sky is dark which is amazing to be away from light pollution.

On a side note we (Roy and I) are still doing daily short video clips on every subject. At the rally in October we will show the DVD.

It’s TIME

Yes, summer 2021 is here and we will be off like a herd of turtles. We have five days of one night stands and then we are onto Custer State Park for a month. I really hope to capture Mount Rushmore in all it’s glory. There will be lots of night photography and I hope to capture some animals along the way.

I am posting pictures of May’s full moon. It was extremely cloudy and due to some issues these were taken from our patio. Enjoy.

Can’t wait to hit the road.