I can see clearly now - a trip to Rapid City

Well, we finally decided to have the windshield on the Tracker replaced today.  That chewed up the morning and part of the afternoon and there was a chance of showers and temps in the 80's so we decided to head to Rapid City to get some shopping done and a little sight seeing.

As we pass thru Hill City there are 2 horses running down the middle of the road

They were running in and out of traffic so I called 911.  Eventually some people were able to herd them out of the highway and down a dirt road

Since it is 90's in Rapid we start out at the Journey Museum and museum covering the history of the Black Hills from the day of the Dinosaurs to the present day 

They have a large Indian artifact section 

The TeePee has a Hologram old Indian woman to tells stories of the Lakota Tribe 

Main Street Rapid City in the Historic District has a statue of each of the Presidents of the United States

Gary in a deep conversation with Van Buren

Me with Woodrow Wilson - I've been told that we're related - can you see the resemblance? 

We also visit the school of geology and their free geology museum

and Dinosaur Park 

We end the day with Dinner at Sanfords - Home of the $1.00 beer.  The place is really cool and the food was great.  I had an open face grilled chicken sandwich smothered with green chili, nacho cheese and Frito's - Yum! 

Oh No!  Look who drove in!  That dastardly Jack! 

Till Later,

Meanwhile we keep on Trek'n

Melissa & Gary

Crazy Horse - Night Blast and Ruth's 85th Birthday

Twice a year at Crazy Horse they do a night blast once on June 26th to commemorate the Anniversary of the Battle of Little Big Horn and Ruth Ziolkowski's birthday and again September 6th to commemorate the death of Crazy Horse and the Birth of Korzak Ziolkowski

Gary swapped hours with another worker so we could go see it.  It was sunny until about 5 pm and then dark clouds rolled in.  fortunately the sky cleared just in time for the Laser Light Show at 9:30 and the Blast that followed. 

Everyone was invited to have cake after the Blast 

This was our 3rd visit to Crazy Horse and each time we see something we didn't see before.  I love this quote.  

Also we were looking at a display on the Indian Sun Dance ritual.  The Sun Dance is a ceremony practiced by North American Indian Nations and includes dancing, singing and drumming, the experience of visions, fasting, and, in the case of the Lakota, self-torture.  The dancers were pierced through the breast or shoulder muscles by skewers which were tied to the center pole, and they danced by pulling back until their flesh tore away.  The Sun Dance lasts from four to eight days starting at the sunset of the final day of preparation and ending at sunset. It showed a continuity between life and death - a regeneration. It shows that there is no true end to life, but a cycle of symbolic and true deaths and rebirths. All of nature is intertwined and dependent on one another. This gives an equal ground to everything on the Earth.

As we were looking at the paintings and reading the information a young Indian man came up to us, opened his shirt and said "This is what it looks like" and showed us his scars.

Then came the Night Blast 

So glad the weather cleared!

Till Later,

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa and Gary

A hike to Lovers Leap and Buffalo Buffalo and more Buffalo

It was supposed to be a rainy day so we had planned on going to Rapid City for shopping but the Sun was shining so we headed to the Park instead.   We missed the Gold Panning demonstration so we did a hike to Lover's Leap a 3 mile moderate/strenuous loop.

It starts out mildly enough but then becomes a steady hike uphill (Lover's Leap should have been our first clue)

I thought we'd reached the highest point here - but I was wrong the trail continued in a rolling up and down 

We got here - hey no short cuts back! 

The trail finally started its' descent and crossed a stream several times

We were just beginning to wonder if we hadn't made a wrong turn onto another trail when we reached the end.  It was a short hike back to the car and we found our path blocked by a half dozen very large Buffalo.  We ended up getting a ride to the car from some guys in a Jeep Buffalo Safari vehicle. 

We had planned on horseback riding but the skies were getting darker and I was too beat so we did the wild life loop drive. Had to get past the Begging Burros.

We had heard earlier that there were 3 large herds of Buffalo completely stopping traffic on the Iron Mountain Road, so we headed in that direction and found 1 large herd on a dirt road just off the loop.  There were over 100 and there were a lot of young ones.  This one was fun to watch storm past Mom.

A South Dakota Traffic Jam 

This one was very curious and watching us - he/she started walking up to our window so we moved on in case Mom wasn't too happy about it. 

The double mint Twins 

What are you lookin at!? 

We turned around and continued up the Loop road and found this herd 

I can't believe someone had their kid outside the car within 20 feet of these guys.  The weigh 2000 pounds and can sprint up to 37 mph faster that you can get back in the car.  I am glad we have the sunroof so I don't have to get out - even so I get nervous even driving by so close.   The guy at the Gate told us a VW bug had been overturned by a Buffalo a few days prior and one Buffalo chased a guy on a Motorcycle. 

We were happy that these guys were so laid back and pretty non-chalant about our presence.  They are just such beautiful and majestic animals! 



Till Later!

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa and Gary

My new favorite hike - Harneys Peak

Well, we've been trying since we got here to do this hike.  Seems like every time we've been off there has been a threat of thunderstorms or winds over 20mph.  Today the forecast was for Sunny with a high of 71 and winds 5mph - so we said let's go!

The trail head starts at Sylvan Lake

It starts out a level trail through the woods 

Here you can see (barely) the Harney Peak Tower in the distance 

It gradually gets up into the rocks 

and then through the rocks! 

wasn't expecting stairs 

and here we are at Harney Peak Lookout Tower 

a view of the Pump house and reservoir 

Gary is the speck to the left of his name

Here's the view from the Tower

The hike is around 7-8 miles and we have worked up an appetite-  so off to the Sylvan Lodge for "Linner"

This is a model of the original lodge which burned down in 1935 

The lodge is beautiful inside and the food was great - Gary had the Buffalo Burger and I had the Sylvan Patty Melt with Buffalo Burger, Carmelized onions, Mushrooms, Red Pepper Aioli, Baby Swiss on Marble Rye - Delish

We hadn't been to the Peter Norbeck Visitor's Center so we head there next.

The Buffalo are there and these two are having a little tete a tete 

Of course on the road the Buffalo have the right of way 

Still get a little nervous driving by them but this guy seems like he is on a mission 

It's been a great day and we top it off with the free music at the 1880 Courthouse Lawn

Till Later,

Meanwhile we keep on Trek'n

Melissa and Gary