A True Sunday Drive

Sunday the 9th we headed around wildlife loop in search of animals. It was a beautiful partly cloudy day perfect for photography. I haven’t done much landscape photography this trip so I thought maybe we can do some of that today. There are a series of hairpin turns heading down onto the wildlife loop.

Roy pulled off in a turn out and I got a few pictures showing some of the vastness of the park. The dirt road you see is Oak Draw Rd, this is sometime where you can see buffalo also.

We had a little bit of a surprise rounding a curve we come upon some stopped cars, thinking oh it is probably prairie dogs because we were in that area of the park. Turns out it was the begging burros.

I enjoy watching little kids interacting with the burros. I am not sure if this little one was enjoying it or just a little nervous about touching the burro. We stuck around for a short time watching them pose and do selfies with the burros. But we headed off for more of our Sunday drive. Buffalos were waiting for us somewhere we hoped.

At the other end of wildlife loop rd. where we hadn’t seen buffalo this year, there they were. I think this Sunday drive was a drive full of oddities. We were near the middle of the line of cars waiting to move ahead and get around the buffalo. We had been waiting awhile with no movement in sight, it was then we saw what we thought at the time to be stupid people trying to get selfies. This was not the case.

It turns out that the holdup was not stupid people but bikers who were having some tire issues. Not something I’d want to have happen surrounded by buffalo. In the video you can see the bikers walking and standing off to the side of the road.

Speaking of bikers and buffalo it is interesting to see the wide berth the bikes do give a buffalo who has decided to stand in the road and not move, so you must go around. I know sometimes when they are that close, I get nervous. I don’t think I could be brave enough to do it on a bike.

We inch our way through the buffalo and decide now we can get back up to speed and head back to the trailer only to be stopped in our tracks by this buffalo who was going nowhere fast. Roy did end up going around him after a short time.

Sometimes you just have to take your time and drive like you are out on that Sunday drive.

A Crazy afternoon

We had to stop and get refueled with food because the next adventure was Crazy Horse Memorial. More on that later. We pulled out of Mount Rushmore and stopped in the pull out where you can see George Washington’s profile. Then headed to Hill City, were we drove through town once and almost said that was cool. As always things open up and happen if we are supposed to be somewhere. Dave and Candi whose stomachs were on central time were growling for food. What opens up but a parking space in front of the 1885 Steak House. We were also there right before the crowd that always seems to follow Dave and Candi anytime, they eat out. As Roy says timing is everything. Lunch was good and when your full it is time to walk it off and go shopping. I confess unlike Mount Rushmore I did have a t-shirt jump in my bag. The front says “Who needs GOOGLE when you have a husband who knows evrything” Obviously that is an untruth. After we finished shopping back in the jeep and we head off to Crazy Horse Memorial.

I had never wanted to drive up to see Crazy Horse up close when I could view everything I needed to see from the road. Candi had visited Crazy Horse in 1990 where nothing at all like what she saw today. I’m jumping ahead of myself, but they have an area in the museum that shows progress on the statue from year to year.

I never had a desire to take the time to explore the grounds of Crazy Horse. In fact I’m not sure there was a visitor center to visit. I did just check and yes there was a visitor center. Click here for the timeline. The above pictures show the slow progress of bringing down a mountain. The amazing thing is how detailed the work is. You can see the finger take shape.

It was $35.00 for the carload and that got you admission into the visitor center. You can also ride a bus to the base of the mountain for $5.00. (this is not handicap accessible). We decided not to do this. I will be honest I was not expecting much. I have to say I was impressed with the details and artifacts in the welcome center. There was even a place to pick up a rock or two from the actual mountain. Both Candi and I decided to get some rocks. Also I found this to be quite interesting when it comes to how large the actual monument will be. The hole is 100 x 110 ft. the arm is 263 ft long. I do have to say the detail on the finger blows me away.

I learned more information on the Navajo Code Talkers. Enjoyed seeing all the hand worked beaded headdresses. Saw a large dream catcher. On the patio there was a plaster cast 1/34th version of the completed Crazy Horse, this will and is a multi-generational project. In the gift shop I bought a t-shirt that I will hold dear to me. ‘Never Forget Your Dreams’ a quote from the sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski. There are times when I just think my dreams are not within reach. I have to remember I will reach them just in another way. As we were leaving here there was this super cool cloud formation. Yes, it did hold rain.

Candi did mention I could take a helicopter ride around Crazy Horse I kept say not unless Dave goes with me. He said NO. We decided to head home via the Needles tunnel. We had to show them the one lane tunnel called Needles Eye. Well, we missed the turn-off to Needles Highway which turned into a good thing, otherwise we would have been doing the tunnel in the rain. As we pull in there was climbers who had just finished climbing the Needle I still need to catch one of them in the act of repelling down the rock.

Heading home on big daddy’s road we wondered if we might see him. All of a sudden, he comes running up the road and slows down right by the car as if to say I’ve been looking for you all day. (or something just spooked him).

run buffalo run

We go a little further and see another big daddy hanging out on the side of the road.

At home we had dinner and decided to hit the hay early because I heard Dave was going to be wrestling a gator in the morning.

Don’t make eye contact.

Ever since we caught the big boy on the side of the road where he was scratching the tree, and I looked deep into his eye he is now stalking me. It has been funny. We had not seen any of the old big males that live separate from the herd. I guess grumpy old men are like buffalos then.

Since I locked eyes with this buffalo every time we travel down this particular road, there he is. It doesn’t matter if we are coming or going. He will just walk down the middle of the road like he owns it. He is large enough I am getting more comfortable when he walks on by. We did watch him head butt a truck gently. When he does walk by us he sways with no cares in the world.

Then one time he had to stop for a drink of water from a puddle in front of us. Each time I see him I am in awe of how large he is.

I am loading the numerous dashcam videos we’ve taken of him this past week. on this page You will see in one of the videos it looks like we are following him off the road. We were pulling off in the pullout to answer the phone. He just decided to leave the road. The dash cam has added hours of fun road side happenings to this trip.

Buffalo on Parade

They sure were and we were the end float in the parade. It was funny we try and do the wildlife loop in Custer State Park at least a couple times a week. I like being one directional when we do the loop in the same direction every time. Once in a while Roy will change directions. I am so glad he does, I also think he has a direct line to the head buffalo. This day we happened to be first in line behind the herd. Most of the action was in front of the car and was captured on the dash cam. (best $100 buy ever).

Don’t Argue

The first complete stop occurred when this little calf decided to come hang out in front of the car. Roy started to inch up to get it on its way. Mom was having nothing of the sorts as it was nursing time. I look over and this cow is snorting and huffing to get to her calf.

I do think the calf on the left was wondering if he could partake in a lunch break also.

drink up

It is amazing how a group that large moves with a single purpose and nothing else matters. I did try to get a few pictures of the action happening on the side of the road but it was more like where’s Waldo.

My efforts then turn to watching the road where we were treated to some more bonding of cow and calf. This video is titled ‘Enter stage right’

grand entrance

This little one was just brutal he was not giving up for anything.

mine

It was funny watching the head butts and the determination.

Heading down the road a little further we start getting crowded by the big guys. I am posting the video I took and then the dash cam and you can see why I was quite jerky. The buffalo was a tad close. I was thinking that might leave a mark.

close enough

With the action being active on the road I decided to add to my mirror pictures from a mirrorless camera, here are two of those.

After about a half hour we decided to move on down the road. As it seems the timing was perfect. We passed a mower that clips the weeds on the shoulder of the road going towards the buffalo.

I did not take odds on who won the battle.

I can enjoy these parades all the time.

Enter the Night

I love this time of year because I can explore my dark side. At least for a couple days of each month I turn into a night person and become allergic to the sun. Milky Way season. This year we tried a completely different place in Custer State Park to capture the Milky Way. So earlier in the day we checked it out and I was lucky to capture this red winged blackbird. I never did get a clear shot of him in flight. (I think he knew I had a camera and wanted his picture.)

There were also geese in the lake they even made an appearance in the middle of milky way shooting. Roy turned the car lights on to leave and they froze like deer in the headlights. Shooting at night at least for me adds an unreal fear of being eaten by big foot or at least being nudged by a deer. The funny thing is I do become super aware of every noise, water drop, or breeze.

The first night as always was like a little refresher. The night was perfectly clear so clear in fact I was able to get milky way reflections. We started at the lake and I got some reflections and free light painting compliments of a campfire and some car lights. I also was using a higher ISO and shorter shutter speed.

You can see in some of the pictures a mist lifting off the lake. This sight was super freaky in my opinion and the picture below doesn’t do it justice. This is me trying to get some light from the car to paint the lake, not the effect I wanted, still a cool photo IMO.

We decided to leave the lake and head over to Legion Lake which is where we shot last time. We did however move parking lots to get a different perspective. It is interesting how just a slight change of position can change the whole focus of a photo. Here are some pictures from the second stop of the night.

On the way out to hunt the lights we had a fox cross the road in front of us.

tiny guy

Then we were greeted by deer on our return home. Off on the side of the road we did see some elk.

deer me

The second night started off not looking good at all. We went to the lake first and the milky way was socked in. So as always I’m like that sucks let’s head home. Roy in his wisdom that I am starting to listen to more. (only took 30 years). First wanted to head around wildlife loop in the dark, I said no. This is right after we left the lake and had already spotted two deer in a matter of thirty seconds.

get outta the road

So then he says let’s stop at Legion Lake. We did and something wonderful happened the sky started to clear. That red in the picture is someone me who forgot to turn off her headlamp. So, once we saw that it was clearing, we headed back to where we started the night before.

After learning from the night before I changed where my camera was set up and did a few more portrait style inside of landscape.

Tonight, seemed extra quiet and every little noise had me thinking I was going to be eaten. I am so glad I didn’t make Roy take me home.

Two things he always says that are right.

You don’t know unless you go
Wait awhile things will change!

I Promise

I promise this summer will not be all about buffalo I will throw in other things. Like these deer we found on our way to the Fairburn Agate fields. But the creek rose, and we couldn’t get there from here. More on that later.

run Bambi run

Fairburn South Dakota is a very small town, think ghost town with a few people still living. We wanted to go see the agate bed outside of town but had to ask for directions. There were people outside cleaning up the school. You guessed it go down over yonder see the yellow trailer on that road. I asked what’s out there and is it worth going down a dirt road to see. Their response was depends what you are looking for. Click here to find out some basic information on the town. Here is the Facebook page

Roy and I said what the hey it is worth checking out. The road itself was good to drive even though it was gravel. We saw lots of cows and grasslands we were in Buffalo Gap Grasslands and no buffalo. As Roy said it was a well-maintained road to nowhere with no outlet. One way in one way out.

So, we head down this road to the campground and the agate fields but even with the four-wheel drive we would have floated. No one mention a river crossing. Roy did not want to risk it as the water looked quite deep. I have to say I’m glad. We are here 3 months so maybe it will become easier to cross.

I think the easiest way to get a Fairburn Agate is to go to the rock show in Fairburn this weekend. I’m including a Wikipedia link explaining the agates and an article about where to find them.

Fairburn Agates (And Where To Find Them!)

I know this summer we will be finding some off the beating path adventures to share.

Where the Buffalo Roam

or Don’t stand so close to me. We have settled in put phone troubles behind us and are making lemonade. (with limited internet gives more practice with the camera. After taking a couple days to unpack and slow down we are getting around to finding buffalo and driving roads to nowhere. The photos I took are a little of this and A LOT of this. When we were here last time they were in the process of building another visitor center. This center is by the area where the fall round-up of buffalo occur. This is an event that happens in fall allows rangers to check the health of the buffalo. Here is a link to info Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival | South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks (sd.gov) Maybe next year we can stay for it.

Again there is a ton of babies in the park.

We even saw some pronghorn lying next to buffalo. Although there has not been a sign of the burros. We have only been around wildlife loop once. The Prairie Dogs are active and I see an afternoon in my chair photographing these buggers.

The moms are still protective of the little ones it nice to see the bonds develop. Although like any kids you can watch them and try to keep them out of trouble until one of them juts in front of the car. Roy did miss it, all I could think of was look both ways before you cross the street. It was quite funny the way we were creeping up to get by ths camper I was thinking I bet one of them are going to run out in front of us. Here is the video.

Look both ways

I think the buffalo wanted a challenge but thought better of it when they realized Roy was bigger then them.

Chicken anyone?

Just in the time we were going down wild life loop we saw more prong horns than all of last trip through the park. Not in the same area but the we did see praire dogs

The best part of seeing the buffalo were sharing the road with them. We had a large one close to us and I wanted to get just the head of it. The interesting thing is if you look into his eye you see the reflection of our jeep. I am looking for more close encounters this year.

Google Maps are not to scale.

Ask me how I know!

We pull into Timber Ridge Campground on June 1st. I had a time out scheduled for Fruita because we thought it would be a fun break and the campground was in town so we could travel around town on the day we stayed using the chair and scooter. This is where google maps was deceptive. The town looked easy to navigate in fact there is a Dinosaur Museum and a park plus food all nearby so scooter and my chair could get put to use. Well that didn’t happen. We made it work though. The goal on the way up was to not have to unhook the car from the trailer. So not disconnecting we needed to find something for dinner Monday and Tuesday night. Just remember Dominos does deliver.

I do have to say that ordering from Dominos this time was definitely an adventure. I did not know that Dominos has gone to a central regional call center to place your order if you choose option 1 on your phone. My clue came when they wanted a complete address and zip code plus had no clue where Fruita Co was. So, I call back again this time choosing option 2 and getting a real person at the local store. Side note: this 3 topping large pizza was one of the better Dominos Pizza we’ve had in a long time.

The local store clerk who took the order actually saved us money by upping the size of the pizza to a large. In 30 minutes or less we had Dominos knocking at our door. So, we did pizza and went to bed early because I was going to get up early and pull the chair out to go exploring the area in the morning being right on the river was a plus.

Roy did post on the LOA forum that we were in Fruita on our way to a 3 month stay in one place. (So, looking forward to dropping once.) When we pulled in our first night we had two Lance right next to us and saw a few more in the park. I had plans on making the rounds in the morning, when I got up the two next to us were gone, but I did see that there were still a few others I could visit.

I however still need to learn more about my camera and that being said. I was headed down to the river in my chair to take pictures, this is after I figured out how to put on my shade umbrella bungy cords work to secure this. (pictures to come). I got lost. Surprise! The camp host came to my rescue and led me to the paved bike path so I could get close to the water.

I am still learning what works with this camera. I wanted to practice tracking birds but every time that I was going to take the picture the birds flew away same with the dragonflies. I figured it was the shutter noise at least with this camera I can go into silent mode.

I was getting warm, so I headed to the boat ramp. I thought about seeing if I could float but the river was moving too fast. I did however started to watch this little girl who seemed to be deep in play. I thought I would just snap a photo; I was wrong. Right as I took it, she had turned around and posed. It got even more funny when she shouted up and asked if she ruined the moment. (she had but I said no)

I headed back to camp but I had one stop to make and that was the Lance trailer I had seen on the way down to the river. This was when I met Rachel and Greg, she posted on the LOA forum and asked if we were the ones who had Dominos delivered. BUSTED. It is enjoyable when we are on the road to meet fellow Lance owners who have common interests. They do travel in style even carrying their own bird feeders. The funny thing to this is the feeder was active with hummingbirds and orioles I would get ready to capture one and they would takeoff. I did get this one.

We chatted about photos, traveling, staying cool, and dealing with challenges. I am looking forward to them joining us for a lunch or dinner this summer when they pass through Custer State Park. It will be a blast catching up and exchanging stories from the road.

Catch me tomorrow when I share my impressions of a short tunnel and lots of curves.