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Published: August 26th 2017
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blog 08-24-17 Tourist Day
This is what this trip is all about touring, so today we got to do just that.
Yesterday was SO hot but during the night the temp dropped to about 58 degrees. The wind settled a little but it was nice to have the windows open and the cool breeze refreshing us all night.
I wanted to get up for sunrise and I did see it rise but there was a cloud cover so the light was not spactacular. We all got up about 7 and Ginnie and I were on the road about 8:30 to see the sights in the Badlands. First we headed to the visitor center for our much sought after stamp for our Nat'l Park book. On down the road we got some gas in the car, we each bought a Bandlands T shirt, shared a hot dog then I had a small ice cream cone, the first of our trip.
First tourist stop was The Prairie Homestead which was one of the original 160 acres the government was selling for $18.00 and a 5 yr commitment to build a house, farm the land and live there for 5
yrs then the farm was yours. It was such a harsh enviornment that 85 % of the families left before the allotted time. But the few that made it eeked out a living and survived the wind, locust, draught, hail and Indians to have their own farm.
The original house on the homestead was an in the bank Sodie, which means that a side hill was dug out then layers of sod were placed on the bank to the desired height then a post and plank ceiling was installed. This homestead added an abandaned cabin the the side extending the living space 2 times.
They also added a root cellar, chicken coup, and a garage/storage shed with a barn on the end. It was a harsh life, not many could handle nowadays.
There were praire dogs in the front yard that are the only white praire dogs in the nation.
The next stop was to photograph 2 mountain sheep we saw as we were driving. I didn't expect the see them, it was a real treat. There were several vistas to see and a few paths to take until we got to the Praire Dog Town.
For about a mile there were nothing but little mounds of dog homes and little creatures chirping and scurring about. Fun time. Pictures
A car was stopped along the road, always a good indication of wildlife nearby. Sure enough, there were 2 female mountain sheep resting on top a 2 butts, just laying there watching the world go by. Each had a radio collar with a good size antenna about a foot long.
Just around the next bend there was something strange along a ridge and here it turned out to be a group of 8 male mountain sheep one was the size of a very large bull. Picture. We started that watch spot for all the traveling tourists coming down the road.
I so wanted to find Bison for Ginnie to see but it was not meant to be. At home the boys were very happy to see us. We sat outside with them for quite a while and were entertained by a couple trying to first unhook their tow vehicle then trying to park and plug in their camper. It must have been their first time, they sure made a chore of it. A friend
of ours Larry, aways says you're either being entertained or you are the entertainment when you're camping. These people had quite an audiance. It took them 3 hrs!
By the time we got over our laughing fits, it was decided that we would treat ourselves to dinner in the Cedar Pass Lodge resturant which was just up the road. What a great choice. Our meals were both top rate, I had steak and baked potato and asparagus and Ginnie had chicken alfredo which she said was supurb.
It was time to hit the sack when we got home, no stars it was overcast. What a great day we had seeing so many mountain sheep, prarie dogs and beautiful scenery.
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Mary Ellen Rosencrance
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Tourist day
I remember when Jim would pull up his chair and be entertained by us trying to get our camp assembled at Assateague!