Way Behind the Times, But Westward Ho We Did Go

There hasn't been much time to even catch my breath. It is fall and Sitka and I are in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. Much has transpired and I have had barely a moment to sit still much less blog. I will go backwards in time and hope to catch up with the present moment in words very soon.

I did spend time with family and friends along the way to Minnesota. I even had the opportunity to take my sister and niece, Sydney on a an overnight glamping trip. I hope next summer we are able to get out much farther away than 30 minutes from her house. I connected with another teacher friend in Lake Mills, Wisconsin. Veda and I did not have nearly enough time to play catch up. So just like Leanne in Lexington, I just have to find time to hang with all the great women in my life.

Arriving in Minnesota, brought Gerard and me back together to celebrate his mom's life. August 12th, the Zimney family came together to say goodbye and wish Marie godspeed on her next journey. Felix was there to guide her on the way.

The Minnesota stint meant time with the grandkids. And it turned out, I will need to spend a lot more time with grandkids than I ever expected. More on that later. I thought the trip would end here, but it turned out I would be able to eek out a portion of the wild west trip I had planned.

Saturday, August 19, Sitka and I jumped back in the ZiOsmobile and headed west. Unsure of how far we could go, I know we could at least see the Badlands of South Dakota. I know I only wanted to drive 4 or 5 hours in a day. So an overnight at Wild Prairie Winery was just that far. Wild Prairie is in Brandon, South Dakota, just north of Sioux Falls. I am not one for sweet fruit wines; their pear wine was not sweet but crisp and perfect for a hot summer's day. Wish I had bought a couple bottles.

Sunday morning we made our way out to I-90. I know , I said I wasn't going to drive interstate, but 4 more hours and I would be in the Badlands and shockingly when we headed out there was not another living soul on the interstate for the first half hour. I thought maybe the world had ended and I was the only one left in the world. That is how it felt.

We dropped into the park east of Wall, SD on Highway 240, heading for the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. Entering the park, left me in awe....far more expansive than I ever expected. Its dramatic landscapes span layered rock formations, steep canyons and towering spires.

Bison, bighorn sheep and prairie dogs inhabit its sprawling grasslands. Sitka and I spent the day hiking before making our way to a dispersed campsite on the edge of the canyon. For those of you who have come into the park from Wall, you might have spied campers and tents to your left up by the cell towers. What a view and I have never experienced silence like this! I would like to say this was a conscious retreat, a place I entered with intention. But no. The silence came to me and I was in love. I didn't want to leave. My voice calling for Sitka was almost shocking. This is a place I will return and often, but it doesn't have to be in the Badlands.

The second day, I set off in search of buffalo. 28 miles of washboard road was worth it to experience a herd come up and out of the canyon to surround me. Returning to our perch up on the canyon's edge we found wind... gusting enough to make it uncomfortable to sit outside. We had met Ben the previous day, a young guy who is out wandering just like us, but in a Prius not a van. I invited him over to the van to take refuge from the wind and an opportunity to escape the direct sun, so he could do some photo editing. We shared a glass of wine and he turned me on to an editing program that will be so helpful.

The 28 miles of washboard road, I think, loosened the connections to my water pump.... yep, no more running water. I had no idea what to do to fix it... so off to buy gallons of water because I was not giving up on this trip. I headed into Wall, SD and bought the obligatory donut with all that water. I don't eat donuts, but this is no ordinary donut, it just has to be tried!