Room With A View (Into the Wilderness)

I was starting to panic. It's September and, although days are still warm, summer is ending. Probably sooner than later, and I haven't done enough summer stuff. Last summer I hiked up to Devil's Bathtub and went for a swim. It was the highlight of the season. See my post from 6/8/2021 "The Early Bird Gets...Wet (Back to Devils Bathtub)." I haven't had that kind of a highlight yet this year so I decided I'd better get busy and do what I had intended to do all summer but never got around to it - go for a long hike into the Black Elk Wilderness area of the Black Hills National Forest. Last Saturday was the perfect day for it with a forecast of mid 60s for the high temperature and mostly cloudy. I got up early, stopped by a garage sale to pick up some records, and arrived at the trailhead shortly after 10 a.m. 

I had never hiked this part of the Black Hills before and was pretty excited about the possibilities. I wasn't disappointed. The trail guides you through dense forest and steep rock formations with an elevation gain of about 600 feet at the highest point. The first mile is almost completely uphill with some uneven rocky sections and the entire trail is almost 6 miles roundtrip so it's not easy. Bring plenty of water, snacks, and wear good shoes. You'll enjoy great views and impressive rock formations.

You'll come across many good areas to rest. Several offer good cover from the hot sun if you decide to make the trek on one of those uncomfortably hot days like we've experienced this summer. 

There are some interesting sights along the way, in addition to some amazing views. I believe this was the beginnings of an old mica mine which apparently didn't pan out.

I saw the remains of several lightning-struck trees. At least I assume that's what they were. I don't believe they were remnants of a fire that covered any significant ground as there were no others in the same vicinity showing signs of charring. I thought this one was cool because it looked to me like a hand with one finger pointing to the sky.

Another highlight for me was encountering several groups of Boy Scouts (with a few young girls also mixed in, which I was happy to see and found encouraging) on a hike to Mt. Rushmore. I had a chance to talk to some of the scout leaders who said they were camped at Medicine Mountain Scout Camp a few miles away. One of the activities during the annual campout is a "pilgrimage" hike. This year it was to Mt. Rushmore. It brought back some wonderful memories of when my wife and I were scout leaders and attended the annual Medicine Mountain event with our son and other members of our local troop. 

I will now tell you about another encounter along the trail. When hiking in the Black Hills there is always a chance you will encounter wildlife at some point. Most likely deer, possibly elk and very rarely a mountain lion. It is also quite possible to come across a snake or two on or off the trail. Perhaps like this one - 

I'm not sure how I spotted it. It was completely still and silent. But I do try to be very aware of my surroundings when alone in nature and it caught my eye as I passed by. It looks a lot like a rattlesnake but could possibly be a harmless bull snake. The picture isn't great due to using the manual zoom on my camera so I wouldn't have to get too close, and then snapping the picture with an unsteady hand. I'm leaning toward it being a rattler. To quote Indiana Jones, "I HATE SNAKES, JOCK! I HATE 'EM!" Me too, Indy. Me too.

Roger O'Dea      9/11/2022

A Very Good Most Excellent Day

I have not abandoned my blog, but I will admit it's been a while. It's just that I haven't had much to write about lately. But I thought you might like to hear about a string of random events that inspired me to put some words together and share my thoughts. If my writing isn't of interest - I have pictures. I always have pictures. So welcome back to What's Your Road.  

It started out with a visit to Everybody's Bookstore in Rapid City. I regularly visit another store that sells used books but it has been some time since I have visited this one, and it has changed. For the better. Extremely well organized, groovy staff and a very positive vibe. And the exterior has been freshened up with an awesome mural by Derek "Focus" Smith, a very talented local area artist.

They were having a big sale and I was glad to see a good turnout. Everyone was finding books to buy and seemed to be enjoying themselves. Including a number of children. That made me happy. I always enjoy seeing kids get excited about books. 

And speaking of kids, as I was browsing the shelves I overheard a young girl maybe around 8-10 years old say to her grandmother, "Four dollars for a book? Maybe you should try to make a deal with them." 

I wonder if they noticed the smile that brought to my face. I don't think it's the kind of store that bargains with customers on price, but I guess you're never too young start working on your negotiation skills. 

As for myself, I thought the prices were very reasonable - as evidenced by the fact that I walked out with five books for an amount I was quite happy with.

As I was leaving the store I received a text from my friend Amber alerting me to an event at Crow Peak Brewery in Spearfish featuring a new brew introduction and a Volkswagen bus meetup. I don't have a VW but I do enjoy seeing some classic VW vans, and Amber and Josh have a cool "Westy" that they would be bringing, so that seemed like a great idea. Besides, she said there would be some great photo opps so I stopped by the house to pick up my wife (and camera) and we headed to Spearfish. She was right about the photo opportunities.....

I should have taken more pictures but I was sidetracked by a pint of Canyon Cream Ale and other friends we hadn't seen for awhile. It was fun. Good friends, good conversation and a beautiful summer day. Oh, and a hot tip on a private bass dam that sounds promising. What more could anyone ask for? 

Well...pizza maybe. It would've been nice if that guy was there with his portable brick oven. But still overall a pretty excellent day.

                    

Roger O'Dea     6/5/2022

Back To The Rez (Wounded Knee 49 Years Later)

I didn't get past the roadblocks on Highway 27. I don't know what I was thinking I was going to do or see, but I took great interest in the American Indian Movement (AIM) occupation of the village of Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Reservation in February of 1973, so I decided to go down and see for myself what was happening. Shots had already been fired, FBI agents were everywhere, the government was moving troops in, and a military helicopter was circling above. I turned around. 

I have been back to the reservation since, but only to the town of Pine Ridge from the west on Highway 18, not on 27 from the north, which passes through Wounded Knee. So now, forty-nine years later, I decided to go back to pay my respects at the original site of the 1890 massacre. If you are not familiar with what happened there, I suggest you look it up. 

I was also curious to see if there was anything still there. I didn't find much. Only the front section of the church remains at the entrance to the memorial marking the mass grave of those killed by U.S. soldiers in the 1890 tragedy, and a small cemetery surrounding the memorial. 

And only the chimney is still standing on the site of the old trading post. 

The remnants of a museum and gathering place still stand nearby, just off the highway. I was fortunate to encounter a local resident who told me the history of the museum, including the fact that it was in use until 2019 and then abandoned when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and funds to maintain it were no longer available. It's sad to see how much it has deteriorated in only a couple of years. 

The local resident turned out to be the artist who made the image above. His name is Sun Bear. Mato-Wi in the Lakota language. At first he was reluctant to allow his photograph to be taken, but after we spoke for some time, he posed for one picture standing outside the once beautiful and functional facility. 

Mato-Wi walked the cemetery with me and told me some history of the graves. When we came to a headstone engraved with the name "Lost Bird" I asked him if it is the grave of 'THE' Lost Bird of Wounded Knee who survived the 1890 massacre as an infant. He said it is. Her remains were moved here from California in 1991. 

The story of Lost Bird is fascinating. The link below provides an overview of her story. I recommend you find the book and read it if you haven't already. 

https://sdpb.sd.gov/Lostbird/summary.asp

One final note relating to AIM and the events that took place in 70s. It concerns Leonard Peltier. He is still sitting in a prison cell after being convicted of killing two FBI agents in 1977. Some say, including me, he is the victim of a terrible miscarriage of justice. Here is a link to a recent article about his case:

https://nativenewsonline.net/opinion/president-biden-enough-is-enough-free-leonard-peltier

I suspect this post will not be of much interest to most of my readers. It doesn't contain the usual elements of odd humor, sarcasm or satire found in my posts. But it was a special journey for me, even if it was just a day trip.  And if you take nothing else from this story, I hope you will at least be curious enough to follow the links. 

Roger O'Dea     2/20/22

Nostradamus Was A Fraud - My Predictions For 2022

 I've been seeing predictions for 2022 by sources including political commentators, astrologists, soothsayers and Peruvian shamans. Probably the most famous prognosticator in history was Nostradamus, who published his book of predictions in 1555.  His prophecies are so vague that people can interpret them in whatever way fits their agenda or beliefs. I will be more specific.

1.  Aliens from outer space will make themselves known to us, but will not interfere in our lives. There will be no widespread panic. They will soon move on to other more interesting planets.

2.  Bigfoot will be revealed as a time jumper and will continue to mess with us.

3.  Enough people will get so fed up with the dishonesty and manipulation of TV news and commentary shows that they will stop watching, resulting in ratings increases for TV Land, Golf Channel and HGTV.

4.  Recreational fishing and rockhounding will increase dramatically. 

5.  Master tapes containing never before heard songs by Jim Morrison and the Doors will be discovered in a storage shed in Laurel Canyon. A vinyl record box set will be produced and sell for a price of $10 to make sure it's affordable to everyone. Because everyone should be turned on to the Doors.

6.  Summer nights will be warmer and last longer.

7.  The number of mean people will be greatly reduced.

8.  Contributions to charities will increase significantly.

9.  The two major political parties will lose millions of members. Independent-leaning voters will make major strides in beginning the process to "throw the bums out."

10.  The Denver Broncos will get a new head coach and a new quarterback.

So, if you've read this far you've noticed these are not really predictions. They are more like hopes and wishes, and all pretty specific to me...things I'm interested in and would like to see happen. You probably have your own list, but it would be cool if you share some of the items on mine. And - don't bother listening to the soothsayers. They are usually wrong. Just what is a soothsayer anyway?  

Roger O'Dea.    1/1/2022

24 Hours In Las Vegas (No Time For Fear and Loathing)

It was partly for business and partly pleasure, but there wasn't much time for pleasure because the entire trip lasted almost exactly twenty-four hours. The flight down was smooth, on time and uneventful. Nobody protested being forced to wear a mask. Nobody started a fist fight or assaulted a flight attendant, unlike some people who have made the news lately for doing exactly those things. And, being 30,000 feet in the air, we didn't have to worry about going through bat country.

I've always enjoyed the sites of Vegas. So, after taking care of the bit of business I was there for, I went for a walk. I like signs. Especially colorful ones with lots of neon. There are plenty of them on the Strip. 

I didn't go in or out, but I like the colors.

I like the retro look of this one.

And under this sign, at about 11 o'clock, a woman said I was "adorable."  She was kind of cute, but I doubted her sincerity. I'm in my mid 60s, have a funny walk and am not a sharp dressed man. I will give her credit though for a rather creative approach. I hadn't heard that line before.

A few more observations -

There was a crew filming a scene for a movie or TV show on one of the walkways over the Strip. A notice was posted stating that by crossing the bridge you were allowing permission to be filmed. So it's possible I have a part in an upcoming movie. Or TV show. I have no idea which, or when, or what studio or network. So I don't think I'll be joining the Screen Actors Guild any time soon.  

There are vending machines in at least one hotel that sell cake. Insert money, push a button and you get cake. 

On a more serious note - The homeless problem seems to have gotten worse since the last time I visited. You will see them pretty much everywhere and at all hours. Some passers by will venture a look, but most just ignore them and keep walking. I'm not sure what else you could do. 

In the morning during breakfast at a sidewalk cafe I watched a man intentionally walk into traffic waving his arms and yelling at cars as they sped past. It was like he was trying to get hit. Incredibly, the cars avoided him by swerving or stopping abruptly. Eventually he wandered back onto the sidewalk and out of sight. I hope he gets some help.

Soon after that incident it was time to head back to the airport for my flight home. But first, I tried to catch a glimpse of that high-water mark Hunter S.Thompson talked about. That place where the wave finally broke and rolled back. I couldn't see it from my room on the 21st floor. 

I couldn't even spot it from the airplane window at 10,000 feet.

I guess I don't have the right kind of eyes.

Roger O'Dea     12/3/2021

Random Thoughts From A Known Traveler

I had not been on an airplane in eighteen months. My pandemic travels had been limited to a couple of short drives to Nebraska and one to Colorado, plus a few weekends of in-state RV camping. That's it. So when our son and daughter-in-law purchased a home in Connecticut in June we decided we would go for a visit before winter. October seemed like a perfect time due to mild weather there this time of year and the spectacular autumn colors throughout the New England area.  I was nervous about flying, especially into New York City. It seems like everyday in the news and on social media there are stories of fights involving people refusing to wear a mask where required or other incidents caused by any number of ridiculous reasons.  Luckily for us it was smooth sailing (or flying in this case) all the way there and back. Our TSA Known Traveler status helped us breeze through airport security, and our flights all arrived early at our destinations. 

The entire trip was wonderful. The house is a beautiful historic colonial era style in a scenic rural setting. And we were close to everything we wanted to see and do. Here are some highlights and observations:

1. Pizza is big deal. We saw so many pizza restaurants. They were everywhere. Small towns, big towns, downtowns and on the edge of towns. 

2. Dunkin Donuts shops are also plentiful. There are over 4,200 locations throughout New England. (I looked it up). That's a lot of donuts.

3. Psychics. Probably not as many as Dunkin Donuts. But, still, I saw a lot of psychic shops. 

4. Antique stores...in every town and along nearly every country road. And these are the real deal. They are not second hand stores masquerading as antique stores as you will find in abundance around here. We visited several and saw a lot of history in those places. Real antiques, ranging from early twentieth century to as far back as the 1700s. 

Mill House Antiques   Woodbury, Connecticut

The buildings that house this antique store date back to 1745. The store and its contents have been featured in Architectural Digest magazine. They had an antique wooden table priced at $12,000. We didn't buy it. 

5. Everything is either ten or twenty minutes away. It was a running joke with our son. Whenever we asked him how far it was to the next town or location we were driving to he would say, "About ten minutes." Or, "About twenty minutes." Most of the time, if not every time, he was right. 

Also - no chickens. I see a lot of chicken decorations here. Pictures of chickens, chicken statues, vases and knick-knacks of all kinds. Every store has a chicken for sale in some form. Not out there, though. I think I saw two chickens during the entire trip. And one of those was pretty abstract so I'm not sure it even was a chicken. 

Lots of art, too. But we have that here. I found this photograph tucked away in one corner of a small town main street store.

On the back is the name of the artist - Trude Knutson. It's titled "Self Portrait - Shadows." Most people will likely find nothing exceptional or interesting about it. But I really like it for some reason. Can't explain why. I just do. The price was right so I bought it. So now a piece of Trude's art has made its way to South Dakota. I wonder if she would take any satisfaction in knowing that. Maybe I will try to look her up and tell her. 

Roger O'Dea.    10/24/2021

The Girl With Long Arms

I drove eight hundred miles round-trip to attend an art exhibit for about ninety-minutes. It was worth it. 

I've seen original paintings in galleries and museums by Van Gogh, Monet and other Masters. I've seen  photographs by Karsh, Warhol, Winnogrand and Adams...but this was unlike any of those experiences. The title of the exhibit is accurate. The sound, color and movement made this a truly immersive experience. All of his most famous and recognizable works were presented -

The Yellow House

And of course, his most famous painting of all. I knew it would show up at some point, but it didn't appear until well into the presentation. Upon seeing it begin to take form I thought of the time at my first Bob Dylan concert when he began to play Highway 61. I expected him to do the song, but it was still quite thrilling.

Starry Night

And there were some images I was not familiar with, including The Woman in White - 

What struck me about this one visually is the shape of her hands and the length of her arms, as well as a feeling of sadness. There was so much else going on visually on the walls surrounding me but I couldn't look away from this image. It soon faded and was replaced by something else, but I'm still thinking about it. Can't explain, but this is now my favorite painting. I'm kind of obsessed with it. Maybe it looks like someone I used to know. Strange.

The images above are not by me, obviously. I didn't even take a camera in with me. That was on purpose. I didn't want to miss a single moment because I was trying to take a photo. It was the right choice. For me, anyway. There were certainly a lot of cell phone cameras in use all around me. 

If you get a chance to see this in the city where you live, or any city, do it. It will be worth it. Even if you have to travel eight hundred miles. That's only four hundred each way. A small investment for what the payoff will surely be.

        

Roger O'Dea     10/12/2021