My name is not Micah

That is what I thought this little boy’s name was and whose family was nice enough to stand and look at Mount Rushmore while I took photos. His name was Rust but more on that in a bit. (I promise I have taken photos.) Staying in one place we have put on 500 miles just driving around the park taking photos and getting stopped by buffalo. But I digress.

This a.m. Thursday the 17th of June we planned to get up early and head to the Iron Mountain Road that leads to Mount Rushmore. This road has three one lane tunnels that perfectly frame the mountain, as many of you know this was my goal to get the perfect framed shot of Mount Rushmore. So we are driving up the road and off to the side on a hill we see 3 very large male buffalo, these guys know how to disappear, when calves are around.

Upon arrival I set up my camera and tripod then proceeded into the middle of the road. Catching good light we were there at 8:30 am Roy got up and we got going before 7am. (I promised him biscuits and gravy from a restaurant we ate at 10 years ago.) This trip I have been practicing making adjustment s to my exposure settings by using the f/stop more then anything. I try different positions and settings trying to get the perfect light. One other thing I am learning is patience, I still want to get a few shots and leave. If you do that then everything changes from leaving early. This proved true today. Enter Micah I mean Rust.

This family with 2 young children pulled up behind where Roy was parked, and looked a little worried that they might be blocking us because I was moving my camera I said no just taking pictures. They proceed through the tunnel to get a better view and I get an idea. I get the shot all set up and ready to click away they then move. I did ask them to stop move a tad and turn around, I was happy they did. They walk back and I show them the pictures and the little boy has a handful of Mica so I said ok thinking that was his name. He then walks away to find more and comes back to give me a tiny piece. I then find out that his name was Rust. It is amazing how people come into your life. The boy is into gems and fossils so I suggested them go to “The Museum at Black Hills Institute” in Hill City. I gave them my blog info and will be posting their picture. Later in the morning I was able to catch another family gazing at Mount Rushmore. I think the trip to the tunnel was a success.

We head back towards camp to grab an early lunch about 11am we arrive at ‘Wolf Camp’ This is a restaurant that we discovered the first time we came through Custer State Park in 2013. It has changed a bit from just being a roadside stand now it has a campground and the restaurant. I like the hours 8 am at the earliest to open 10 am at the latest to open. It was funny we found the restaurant the first time by accident and the second time by pure luck we were taking a short cut to get to Iron Mountain Road. (It was right where I thought it was) I said it was at a place where the road went off to the right if you were coming from Mount Rushmore it was on the left. I just didn’t know where. From here I did a little shopping stopped at one of the welcome centers then set off for buffalo.

We found buffalo alright we were part of a train. It was something that has never happened in all of our travels the herd was moving down the road in front of us. There had to be 200 head moving up the hill on the road, took us 45 minutes. So to get out of traffic after the herd moved on we took a dirt road that the visitor center said buffalo had also been spotted being we got lucky again. The wildlife loop drive today was to go in search of the burros and feed them, which we did find in the perfect spot. I did not feed them though I was able to enjoy a mother nursing her foal.

Then tonight we topped off with an outdoor play called the Marvelous Wonderlettes. The musical was held at the Blackhills Playhouse on an outdoor stage. It featured music from 1948 and 1958. The best part of the musical was this was the dress rehearsal and it was give what you can tickets. It being a musical the sponsors’ ads were even sung. This was a perfect ending to a photastic day.

Too Funny NOT to Share

When I start out a post like this you do know it involves Roy in some way. You guessed correctly. He needed the sink to do something. Easy right wrong, I have a tub of dishes in the sink. (using the pump and limited water I don’t do dishes every day).

Here’s the back and forth that went on.

Roy “Take the dishes out of the sink.”

I then go and start clearing an area to put the dishes on. I ask “you want to use the tub?”

Roy “No, just take the dishes tub”

For some strange reason, I was not grasping he did not want to use the tub but, he did want to use the sink. This went on for about five minutes. I finally picked up the whole tub dishes and all. With a chuckle and a roll of his eyes he said “YES now you got it.”

In his defense he thought I was talking about clearing out the water and tea we were storing in the bathroom sink. That’s his story.

It is funny how people ok I mean ME. There are just times I think Roy is speaking Greek. I think it’s a guy thing. 🙂

A short post to make you smile.

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).

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.