South Dakota July 2011

Most motorcycle enthusiasts have heard of or have been to Sturgis, South Dakota. In fact, our friends have been and came back with great stories. While South Dakota is a place I wanted to visit, I was not crazy about going with 700,000 bikers present! So, instead of going during the Sturgis Rally, we decided to go the first week of July. The planning began a long time ago…..it went something like this. “Let’s go to Sturgis and ride “ours”. We can take 10 days off and take our time, it will be great!” And so it began.

Great cannot begin to explain how this trip was for me. I had no real expectations of South Dakota; Carhenge, the Black Hills, Badlands, Deadwood, Mt. Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Monument. And then over to Wyoming to see Devil’s Tower. What I failed to realize was the impact that this trip would have on me. The beauty of the landscape moved me beyond words. The Crazy Horse Monument can only be described as “spiritual”. It was absolutely amazing. These lands that once occupied buffalo, wild horses, and Native Americans are now only memories of those who came before us. I can only imagine what it must have been like coming across the Black Hills in a covered wagon only to see a young Native American Warrior on the top of a hill. Scary and fascinating all at the same time!

Our first stop when arriving was the Mammoth Spring Museum and dig site. I struggle spiritually when scientists talk about mammoths and dinosaurs roaming the earth 23 million years ago. I know there were dinosaurs because the book of Job discusses large animals roaming the earth but the timeframe really doesn’t add up for me. All the same, an interesting stop and am glad I experienced it. The best was yet to come.

“My lands are where my dead lie buried”, Crazy Horse. Crazy Horse; birth year approximately 1840 and died of a stab wound to the back by an American soldier in 1877 while in a Federal prison in present day Nebraska. Crazy Horse, Oglala Lakota Sioux Indian Chief who fought the Federal Government against the encroachments on Indian Territory. Crazy Horse was told he would be a great protector of his people, and he was.

In 1939 a young sculptor won first prize at the New York World’s fair. Shortly thereafter, Korczak Ziolkowski was approached by the Lakota Chiefs to build a monument; "My fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know the red man has great heroes, too." In 1947 Korczak moved to the Black Hills and the first blast took place in 1948. The monument is still under construction today by seven of his 10children and his wife. It is an amazing place which includes their home, two models of Crazy Horse sculpted by Korczak, artist studios, and a museum full of heritage. I cannot put into words how moved I was when we left. All the work taking place is by private funding, not one penny of Federal or State funds are being used for this project. The artist believed that this monument be for the people and paid for by the people. Phenomenal! Every day I think of its beauty.

Moving on to Mt. Rushmore; again no real expectations but blown away! Walking into the monument and seeing all of the state flags flying truly caused a lump in my throat. I was proud. And who did I see? Teddy Roosevelt as a rough rider and Teddy Roosevelt as President! Photo op… and then, Paul Revere. I loved it!

The beauty (I know I keep saying that) of Spearfish Canyon, Custer State Park and everything in between cannot really be fully understood or explained without seeing it firsthand. I would return in a heartbeat.

I cannot leave out the trip to Deadwood. The day started out sunny and warm and quickly turned to rain and thunderstorms so we waited out the bad weather in a car wash stall for about an hour. The roads were winding and we just could not take a chance of a slip. Once the rain stopped, we pulled into the old train depot to park and explore the town. I was amazed by all of the history there. Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, the brothels, bars and the old cemetery captivated me. According to legend there were three bars, one brothel, three bars, one brothel and so on all down the main street of Deadwood. Today; it’s a tourist stop and casinos. But the history truly lives on, it was a blast.

The memories made with our friends is everlasting. Thank you Susie for not letting me die! And yes Jane, we did bond. I love you both for putting up with my crazy neurotic and OCD ways.

May you all enjoy the pictures I have posted here; it was difficult to choose what to post out of the 900+ that I took. Yes, 900+.

My bucket list now includes a one month sabbatical to the Crazy Horse Monument to work in the artist studios. May or June of 2012 look pretty promising to me!

Peace, Pam

Memorial Weekend Ride 2011

We had a blast! Leaving Wichita on Friday morning it just seemed like the weather was not going to be in our favor. After stopping in Burden for breakfast, we drove in the general direction of the Talimena Drive. On the road about 20 minutes, it was time for rain gear! It wasn’t raining hard, but it was cold.

We drove to Salisaw, Oklahoma for our first nights rest. A small Italian restaurant across the street from the hotel called our name. Interesting place; Mexican beer, Italian food! Stuffed, we walked back to the hotel for showers and a nights rest. We were tired.

Reviewing the map over breakfast, we ventured on to Mena, Arkansas and then to the Talimena Drive. So beautiful! The mountains were in layers all the way to heaven. I loved it! It was foggy and windy but the landscape was amazing.

Lunchtime, review of the map and then on to Durant, Oklahoma for the night. We found a Chili’s for food and libations. It was so hot and we were ready for a break. Great riding, no complaints….

Our third day took us through the Arbuckle Wilderness and then on to the Wichita Mountains and Holy City around the Lawton, Oklahoma area. Very interesting place, which boasts the longest running Passion Play. Longhorn cattle and buffalo roam freely around the area. I had no idea this place existed even growing up in Oklahoma, I don’t really think I had ever heard of it. Built by the Wichita Indians and now a preserve, it was peaceful, beautiful and a great tribute to Christianity.

Red Rock Canyon here we come! Hot again, lots of water and several stops and the wind was a beast. No other way to keep a helmet on other than to just hold on to the top of your head and your helmet strap. After a pass through the canyon on to Hinton, Oklahoma for the night. We settled in and then walked over to the casino. We came out with a little less money but a whole lot of laughs. So much fun!

Monday was BRUTAL, the wind was gusting 29 to 50 miles per hour and on a motorcycle it felt like 100! We actually drove through a dust storm that was blinding; we could not see the tail lights in front of us. We pulled over once we made it through for water and eye drops. Our helmets were covered in Oklahoma red dirt. The claim to fame for them!

We split up right after Anthony, Kansas to go home. Tired, sun burned, and windblown, we made it and had a fantastic time. Of course, ready to do it all over again.

Enjoy the pics – through the Talima Drive, long winding roads, our travel buddies and random pics along the way.

Peace! Pam

Memorial Weekend Ride 2011 Pics

Art at the Arb

Belle Plain, a small Kansas town just off of Interstate 35, a typical farm town with a small fire department, coop and the usual gas station on the corner where everyone seems to gather. On this beautiful, windy Kansas day, this town becomes much more! There is an arboretum that sits on a corner of town and if you did not know it was there, you would drive right past.

Bartlett Arboretum was opened in 1910 and in 1926 they celebrated the first tulip festival. It was closed many years ago and re-opened in the 1990’s. Volunteers make it possible for this beautiful piece of landscape what it is today. Peaceful and timeless!

I loved the vintage laundry hanging on the close line, they also had the original 1926 guest book at the entry for viewing and the entire place gave a sense of the slow moving past that we have all but forgotten. Timeless…..

The cross on one of the paths was breathtaking with the sun filtering through it. As well, the pond in the center of the gardens with no ripples had one single Canadian goose just floating about. There were three trees in a row at a small stream that flowed into the pond, standing strong at the edge.

May you enjoy these few pictures of the Bartlett Arboretum and along your path this week stop, pause and enjoy the small things that surround us daily. Peace.

“Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down”. Unknown

Spring

Spring, coming to your life soon! Spring, for some a time of renewal, for some a time for new beginnings, for some a time to start fresh. While I find that late summer and fall are really my most favorite time of year, the arrival of spring presents itself with wonderful photographic opportunities. The flowers and trees are gorgeous, the many colors and varieties always make me appreciate beauty in it's simplest form. Winter has been difficult, long and just downright crappy. I am ready to kick old man winter to the curb.

I spent the past two days cleaning the basement, the floors and some closets. The goal, move out of this house and into an apartment or condo. No yard, no maintenance, no extra stuff to worry with. The next few weekends, the garage and shed in the backyard will be conquered.

Growing up, my mom and grandmother's would spend a week spring cleaning. Windows washing, waxing wood floors, cleaning out cabinets, closets and drawers. I have not forgotten those times when my sister and I would put on my dad's cotton socks and slide across the wooden floors. It was great fun and I am sure my mom just loved it.

Spring, my renewal! May you enjoy the beginnings of longer days, flowers in bloom and the birds preparing their new homes. Peace....

A Day of Remembrance

I do not consider myself a Republican or a Democrat. I am an American citizen and I vote for the person that I believe will do the best job possible and represent our country intelligently. While our ancestors believed that the United States of America was a melting pot, immigrants coming in from all countries, I believe we are a salad bowl. We have been put into this bowl and mixed together, all of our different beliefs, religions and personal goals just trying to get along.

A day of remembrance today, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A time to reflect on his work and a time to celebrate a life taken from us far too soon. I have to wonder, what would he think about our government and country today? I think often about John F. Kennedy as well. Two men, living in the 1960’s when things were so tumultuous. I remember my parents watching the news and the funerals. No reasons, hard to understand…..two men slain for standing up for what they believed to be right. Where are we today? John F. Kennedy stated, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”, how many people live by that quote? Dr. King, Jr. said, “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish as fools”. Are we living together or slowly perishing, are we doing anything for our country or do we expect our government to take care of everything?

Remember…..I said I wasn’t sure if I was really a Republican or a Democrat?

So much is taking place with the State of Kansas and all of the budget cuts and our deficit with the Federal Government. I have to live on a budget, live within my means and spend wisely. It has been tough the past year and a half but we have survived. Why can’t the government and large companies do the same thing? How did we let it get this far out of control? My concern is that it is so far gone the budget will never be balanced. How can it? We are a country of greed and “me”! How can it be “fixed”, who can “fix it”? I certainly don’t know but I worry what this great land of liberty will be like for my children and my grandchildren.

We watch television shows like “The Real World”, “The Housewives of (your favorite one here)”, and all the other reality shows that truly are not reality. Reality is a gallon of milk $3.08, gasoline is $2.85 a gallon and how many people on unemployment? Entertainers making over one million dollars per episode, millions to make a movie, athletes making hundreds of thousands even millions to play a sport and endorse a product. No wonder we don’t have a reality check!

So I ask you today, what will you do to change? How will you help? May Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream live on today; I hope that he would be proud and I hope too that John F. Kennedy would be proud. Are you proud?

Happy New Year

It is a new year. A time when we make resolutions to do so many things "to make ourselves better" but I just cannot get into that. Imagine that, me going against the grain.....

The previous year flew by, I was so busy at work that I hardly had time for anything else. We did manage a few motorcycle trips in between shows and it was always wonderful to get away. This year, we have many trips planned and are hoping to go to Sturgis, our first time there - EVER! It's a long time until August but that's the plan right now.

Don't take things so seriously, really, time goes so quickly. Enjoy the little things and remember that it is not the material goods that define us, it is our personalities and how we treat others. If I had it my way, I would sell everything and live in a small trailer by the lake like Dr. McDreamy on Grey's Anatomy, looks like a good plan to me. Of course, we would have to keep the motorcycle, it is imperative!

Peace and much love in 2011! Pam