As Sam said, "It's finally getting interesting!" Starting off from Grand Island, NE we soon discovered that Nebraska is the biggest state on earth. However, heading north we ran into the city of Hyannis Wind Mill Days! The town of approximately 300 had gathered to look at old cars, eat Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches and listed to music pumped into the near empty street. Although the concept was a good one, in actuality it was a little spooky. Very Twilight Zone. There are lots of motorcycles in Nebraska and South Dakota. The roads are full of them, and hotels market themselves as "biker-friendly". I later learned this is due to Sturgis being in South Dakota - where the big biker fest is in August. We continued north - through the Sand Hills region. Beautiful, just as good as the Flint Hills.
As we got further north and entered South Dakota (finally) we entered the Pine Ridge Reservation and got to see a protest march of Native Americans. We haven't a clue what was being protested, but it was really moving to see the group march up the highway behind traditional drummers and chanters. The poverty was terrible and I felt ashamed of the past.
We contined through the praire in our so-called clown car. The prairie has a very manicured look, as if someone has been out there mowing it every day.
Once we entered the park, the animals sightings began in earnest. Buffalo (or bison bison - the Latin term), Prairie Dogs, Pronghorns, Burros, Elk and whitetail deer. We saw them all! Imagine, burros jsut wandering around! The place where we are staying is the State Game Lodge where Coolidge took the Whitehouse staff for the summerof 1927. A beautiful building, set into the hills, the kids were most impressed with the fact they each got their own bunk bed. Grace Coolidge stream runs in front of our cabin across from the lodge, and fish leap after the plethora of mosquitos.
Gotta go - it's breakfast time and the family is on a hike. I'm supposed to meet them for breakfast - but in a later blog you will see that they never show!
As we got further north and entered South Dakota (finally) we entered the Pine Ridge Reservation and got to see a protest march of Native Americans. We haven't a clue what was being protested, but it was really moving to see the group march up the highway behind traditional drummers and chanters. The poverty was terrible and I felt ashamed of the past.
We contined through the praire in our so-called clown car. The prairie has a very manicured look, as if someone has been out there mowing it every day.
Once we entered the park, the animals sightings began in earnest. Buffalo (or bison bison - the Latin term), Prairie Dogs, Pronghorns, Burros, Elk and whitetail deer. We saw them all! Imagine, burros jsut wandering around! The place where we are staying is the State Game Lodge where Coolidge took the Whitehouse staff for the summerof 1927. A beautiful building, set into the hills, the kids were most impressed with the fact they each got their own bunk bed. Grace Coolidge stream runs in front of our cabin across from the lodge, and fish leap after the plethora of mosquitos.
Gotta go - it's breakfast time and the family is on a hike. I'm supposed to meet them for breakfast - but in a later blog you will see that they never show!
No comments:
Post a Comment