Iowa

Well, we have been in Iowa for the last three days, and I must say the most impressive thing Iowa has shown me was the perfect mullet above and what can only be described as biblical (i.e. end of the world scary) thunderstorms. My friend Carrie would have been in her element. I didn't get a picture of the crazy storms so a picture of the mullet will have to do. Loving the pose too. This guy rocked!

Strange statue (I think of a bull?)  in the middle of a field. Iowa is an odd place.

Wondering if this is like Disneyland?

Well, I have to say, I'll be glad when we are through Iowa. It has been HOT and muggy and I mentioned the thunderstorms. They were so bad on Thursday, we actually had to stay put! It was nice to have another day to relax, but I am starting to itch to get home! Looks like it maybe another week. Hoping to be in Illinois tomorrow and Indiana by Sunday. Have to get a new hitch for the 5th wheel in Indiana on Monday. Keep your fingers crossed that all goes well!

On the Road Again....

Well, we are on the road again. My last look at the mountain I climbed! Goodbye to Crazy Horse and Custer, SD! I will miss you! Yes, I took this from a moving vehicle that I was driving. No one tell Oprah, ok?

We started seeing signs for Wall Drug in Wall, SD. For my East Coast friends, it was like South of the Border signs. It start about 200 miles before. We didn't stop due to a late start, but we did learn that during the depression Wall Drug was almost forced to close. But the owner (a very intelligent lady) thought perhaps if she put a sign along the dirt road that they would give away free ice water, it might drum up business. It worked. Check out that marketing!

South Dakota takes pride in their rest stops! The South Dakota sign was etched into the outside and the teepee looking structure was out front.

Another Wall Drug Sign...

I thought this was hilarious. Then I looked inside. Should I be afraid that they were SOLD OUT? Or afraid that they say to TRY THE NEXT STOP!

Tonight we are in Chamberline, SD and staying along side the Missouri River.  It is absolutely beautiful.

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The downtown area is just as cute as Custer and these views of the river are beautiful!

We lost an hour driving today, so  I will be off to bed soon. Hope you enjoy these pics from today!

Crazy Horse Memorial Hike (Volksmarch 2010)

Today was the Volksmarch up to the Crazy Horse Memorial. What a day! It was a tough hike. Apparently it changes every year, based on where they are blasting and we got quite a strenous one, but it was so worth it in the end. Above is a close up picture (from near our starting point) of what they have completed. The face and arm have been completed so far. Below is a statue of what the final product will look like. As an FYI, the pictures at the top are taken from what will be the arm of Crazy Horse (the flat bit).

This is the ACTUAL picture from near the starting point. I think it was mean to make us go by the finish first... knowing we had so far to go....

Coming around the bend at the top. My first glimpse...

The completed face. Pictures can NOT do it justice. There were several times I really didn't think I was going to make it and questioned whether or not this was even worth it. It so was!

Me.. standing at the hole that will be between the arm and his stallion!

YAY! THE FINISH LINE! I DID IT!

This is what will eventually be carved into the Mountain! Mount Rushmore (4 big white faces who were each particularly cruel to the Indians) being carved into the Sacred Black Hills is really an insult to American Indians. This will blow Mt. Rushmore right out of the water! There is some controversy over the memorial as well, but it is getting people educated about the American Indian, and for that, I am glad it is there. The story is that the elders asked the sculptor to create Crazy Horse so that the white man would know that they had great heroes too. The meaning behing the sculpture (and the reason he is pointing) is that Crazy Horse supposedly once said "My lands are where my dead lie buried". Wikipedia has more info (and pics) if you are interested.

Darla told me that one of her traditions is for the person she is hiking with to pick and animal from the great fence (see below) and to get their pic with the animal they chose. I chose this bird and here is my self portrait (while I waited for her to get her camera)

The nature gate. Scuplted by the same sculptor. It is hard to tell in this picture but each little gold speck is a different animal!

My medal! Little did I know that this was the 25th anniversary! On the medal is the monument and the sculptor (who died in the late 80's) and his wife. She and 7 of their 10 kids still run everything. It is important to note, that they get NO federal funding. Everything is though donations, admissions and gift shop sales.

I was lucky enough to meet and purchase a very small but original piece of art work from Del Iron Cloud. A very famous Lakota artist and an amazingly sweet man!

I actually purchased this pin yesterday, but wanted to post it with the rest of my loot. This pin is made from porcupine quills. I has the Lakoto colors and represents the four corners and the four races. This was purcharsed at Red Cloud School on the reservation and a very worthy cause if you are looking to throw money at a non profit!

An energy bar. Buffalo & Cranberry. I haven't tried it yet. But, I did have a Buffalo burger today..... DELISH! (and very healthy!)

All of my loot from the past two days. I have learned and experienced so much! I am so grateful that Darla spent this time with me and I am so grateful for the awesome people I met, who were so gracious to me. Thanks again Ron Kills Warrior, Del Iron Cloud and Walter Eagle Tail.

Hot Springs and Pine Ridge Reservation

Today we got a truly special treat! We got to go the Pine Ridge Reservation! A place I have always wanted to go. I got in touch with a former professor Darla Korol and we met up here in Custer to do the Volksmarch tomorrow. Today she took us "Rez running with the Sioux"! Here are some pics from our day. Above is Darla with Ron Kills Warrior (our amazing and wonderful tour guide of the Red Cloud School and also a former student of Darla's).

The Pine Ridge Reservation has nine districts. We were in the Red Cloud Oglala district. Above is a sign that gave some history about this area.

Prarie Winds Casino.. We stopped here for lunch and taught my Mom how to gamble. It was her first time in a Casino! We were up a bit, but in the end, we made a "donation" of 6 dollars!

The grave of Red Cloud. The "Paper" Chief. We learned that Crazy Horse (who never signed a treaty) was the Chief elected by the people. Red Cloud was cornered after many battles and tried to save his people by being the Chief the US Government wanted. Therefore, he was a "paper chief" since he was not elected by the people, but still a very loved and respected man.

The beautiful waterfall at Kidney Springs!

Here at this Gazebo you can fill up your water jugs with free mineral water from the Kidney Spring in Hot Springs SD!

Kidney Springs - The plaque explains the types of minerals found in the water and what those minerals cure!


Below is the sign to Kidney Springs... just one of 170!

To the far right..... AN ANTELOPE

Momma and Baby Bison! The babies are so sweet and a golden color! Momma's and Poppa's are beginning to lose their winter coats..

This guy was TOTALLY posing for us..

My favorites.. Prarie Dog babies! I LOVE Prarie Dogs! I think they might be the cutest creatures ever!

Bison - Very close to the car. If you are ever out this way, do NOT get out of your car to take a picture! Buffalo can be dangerous!

A few pics from Custer, SD!

Thought these tree carving were cool. The gentleman who makes these carves them each from a single piece of wood!

Comforting....

Do I have residental ADD?

I am starting to think that I do... I was born in Williamsport, PA and lived there for the first 19 years of my life. I took the first chance I had to get out of there, which meant transferring colleges and moving to Charleston, SC for the next 7 years. Then it was off to my real home of homes, Bristol England. Sadly, I only lived there for a year, but would go back in a heart beat. Then it was back to Charleston for a year and then to Spokane, WA for another 3 years.



Now I sit in 5th wheel at French Creek RV park on my way back to place that it all started, Williamsport, PA.


It is a place that holds my past, but isn't the same place it was when I left. This above all else concerns me. I learned in my yoga class that I need to be in control of my imagination and not let it get ahead of me, so trying very hard to stay in the moment and enjoy the beautiful scenery around me.


So to help me stay "in the moment" I figured I would jump on the blogging bandwagon and share some pictures and experiences I have alone the way.

Happy Trails!