Travels with The Rayman

Wooly’s bar.

Today was a 6 hour driving day.  Almost nothing to report.

The state and county roads and city roads, too, in Wyoming are wretched.  Their infrastructure needs to be restructured.  Just sayin.

We saw a dead coyote today.  Herds of antelope, so many that really, what’s the fuss all about?  Just kidding.  They are very cool, very deer like.  Beau had a rabbit hop out in front him on his walk this p.m. and he almost choked himself bolting after it.  He is one strong doggie, having almost knocked me off my feet.

Where are we now?  Hot Springs, South Dakota, in the very south western part of the state.  A Wooly mammoth was discovered here and so is now a reliable tourist treat.  We are eating out for the second time on this trip, at Wooly’s Steak and Grub restaurant tonight.  I’m too disinterested to cook after such a day of fighting wind on some crummy roads.

http://www.black-hills-trip-planner.com/Hot-Springs-South-Dakota.htmlv

But, don’t listen to me.  We are so blessed to be able to make this trip and are better for it, I think.  For instance, I’m not complaining about our CA roads anymore.  And the grasslands here are sizable, stretching on into the distance every direction.  Rayman asked a very good question today and I paraphrase, “With all this land, why in the world didn’t the U.S. Gov’t make good on it’s treaties with the Indians?  Why send them to reservations?  They could have been given large parcels and plenty of buffalo and lived in peace with us.”   Why, indeed.  When you witness the millions of acres that are bare except for grasses and chaparral, it does give one pause and cause to reflect.

In River of Doubt (here I go again), the book about Roosevelt of the Teddy type and his journey down an uncharted river in the Amazonian jungle, the author reported that wiping out of indigenous Indians took place in Brazil’s great jungle.  From over one million  to a little more than 200,000 Indians.  It is unfortunate for natives to be born in such good places.  Perhaps the Amazonian Indians that have survived can open casinos.  Just a thought.

See. Water in the river!!

I think those are the Black Hills from a great distance. I think.

The rivers.  I know I wax on about rivers but I am, after all, a river person.  Especially one with water in it.  Today, we crossed the North Platte.  A mighty river that is easy on the eyes.  But I think my favorite was the Old Woman Creek.  We went over it twice.  Don’t know how it got it’s name, but I really like the name.  Maybe it’s because I can relate on some level.

Now here is one for you.  With millions of acres of land in a very, very windy place, why do I see signs such as “Oil.  It keeps the lights on”.  Not one big wind turbine anywhere.  And then we come across the train with about 800 box cars of coal.  I nicknamed it “John CoalTrain”.  But really, people.  We haven’t seen hide nor hair of a solar anything up here.  What we have observed are a few scattered windmills.  Very old technology but highly effective, even today.  With all this wind, these people need wind turbines.  Not sure about the solar.

And finally, we just returned from a steak dinner at Wooly’s.  It was thin, flavorful, and fatty…like a ribeye should be (the flavor part).  We split it.  And Rayman took 1/4 of his home.  Jack Sprate syndrome, I call it.  I ate it all.  The funny thing was this.  Rayman consulted the map and because of it, we got lost!!!  First time this trip which I am sure is a new record.  Me?  I didn’t consult anything but I did read it was near the wooly mammoth exhibit and when I saw a sign for the exhibit, I suggested turning on to that street.  But, no.  He knew where he was going.  We eventually made it there with peels of laughter.  God, are we mellowing?