Friday, May 17, 2013

“Imagine a place where herds of buffalo roam free…

A place where the deer and the antelope play….

A place where sparkling mountain streams invite you to wade right in…

A place where soaring Granite spires challenge you to climb to their height…

A place where Fresh mountain air greets you. …

A place that beckons you to stay a spell and be refreshed.

This is Custer State Park.”

We arrived at our campsite here in Custer State Park about 9:00 this morning.  We were full of anticipation on if we would see any wildlife in the Grace Coolidge Campground where we are.  This campground is small and very nice.  Only 18 sites and that make it friendly and never hectic.  What a Paradise.  We are going exploring this morning. 

We started out on our bicycles and about a city block away from our site around the curve were 4 large Male Bison directly in front of us.    One was on each side of the bike trail and 2 across the road.  We had been warned not to approach them as they are not afraid of us and will not move out of the way.  If a person approaches them they will make sure the person moves first.  The picture of the sign that we posted,  is not a joke.  We stayed still in our tracks and then the two across the road were staring at us and started across the road in a quick walk straight toward us and we rode back from where we were and went across the highway and rode on that side to get around them.   No pictures here...too dangerous.

Everybody warns us about the buffalo and they are fast when they want to be.

 

This was in our campground before we headed out for sightseeing.

 

Then off to Needles Highway where the soaring granite surrounds you. We learned quickly that the road had more hairpin curves than anyone could imagine. We were glad we were driving in the fit. Some of the single lane tunnels were too narrow for the motorhome and the roads were also very narrow. It was another beautiful sight.

 

A lake at Sylvan Lodge which is on Needles Highway

 It makes us look small with the Granite Spirels behind us.

The eye of the Needle illuminated by the Sun

 



 

Barely fit between the granite spirels

 

 

 We went to visit Crazy Horse memorial and explored their museum and artists area. We learned a lot of native folklore and were reminded that these lands belong to the Indians.

 Ground sculpture before carving it out of a mountain

 

Ton's perfect shot of the two sculpters

one on the ground and one high on the mountain

 

We arrived back at home about 4. As you are about to see, we do have Bison in our campground, and they seem to love our campsite. They have grazed on all 4 sides of us right beside the camper, and relaxed here from 4:00 p.m. till dark at 9:00. Some of these pictures are through our window and all of them are taken from our own campsite. 

 

 Taken through the window

 

 

Saturday, May 18, 2013

We have no internet, tv or phone service here, but are loving the nature. However right now, I wish the Bison would go somewhere else. We go to bed with them here and get up with them here. At times we can’t go in or out of our camper unless we use the driver or passenger door. As they say, “Be careful what you wish for” . Ton is on a hiking trail up to Lovers leap so I’m here writing and hope I can post this sometime.

 

Longhorn sheep just before he got to the trail head

 These are young ones but you can see the antlers a little.

 

 Look how high up Ton went.  You can see the road and old schoolhouse far below

 

 We agree with this...It's so true

 

 Grace Coolidge Tent area across the road from us.

I wouldn't want to be here with all the Bison.

 

Ton got back from his hike and then the police and rangers showed up. Why? I wished the wrong thing again. They came to shoo out the Bison. They were too close to the campers and children wanting to ride their bikes and they said it was a judgment call by them for the safety of the campers. They told us and another camping family that we could watch but to stand by the restrooms and if they headed our way to go inside. They used their trucks and Whips to make them leave. The bison did not like the sound of the whip and even turned and made one of the rangers back up a few steps or he might have charged. If you want to see bison run, you may have to see it on facebook if we can find a place to get Internet. We will try one of the lodges.

 

 

Now I’m hoping for the bison to return.  I miss them already.

 

For lunch we went to the Bison Burger cookout here in the park.  The meat is real good for you as there is No fat, but we thought it was dry.  The locals love it.

Till next time, we love you.