Adventures, Campgrounds, National Parks, Travel, Uncategorized

Legends, Myths, Old Men and Mashed Potatoes


Our Travels to Wyoming

We were finally leaving our spot in Spearfish South Dakota. We had fallen in love with that campground, the views, the people and the UFO. We still talk about it, I do not know if anyone believes, yet, we tell everyone.

We managed to see one last site in the area before leaving, Spearfish Canyon. It was right behind the campground; we had wondered where the walking trail led.

From Spearfish, we were on our way to Wyoming. Most people think of Wyoming as Yellowstone, that was not where we were headed. Our first stop was to be Devil’s Tower. You know, the one from Close Encounters of the Third Kind. This is the vision that comes to my mind. The entire way there, yep, mashed potatoes. It makes sense, he has a vision of a place he has never been. The potatoes were his medium to show his family. It certainly got us thinking of alien life, After all, Star Wars had come out, we had long been watching Twilight Zone and similar tv shows. Lost in Space for instance, we grew up thinking there was life out there. Perhaps there is or was .

The real story or legend of Devils Tower comes from Indian lore.

Painting by Herbert Collins taken from NPS website

Now that we have left South Dakota, we barely went into Montana. I don’t know if you can really count it. What do you think?

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This was our path from border to border as we drove toward Devils Tower. We never go in a straight line, it’s not that interesting. We didn’t officially travel into Montana, the sign just as you entered was as far as we ventured. On to bigger and better things.

Spearfish, north on 212 until we hit Montana, I am counting that as a visit.

Off we go, got the obligatory sign picture, so we’re good. If you have never been to Devils Tower, it is ominous! We could spot it from a great distance, sprouting up from the earth, looking volcanic and massive. This giant rock rising out of the earth, from a distance looks like it is on a plain or prairie. Where did it come from? A rock rising more than 5112 feet, that’s nearly a mile. No wonder you can see it from 10-12 miles away. It is indeed a sight to behold. All things in the United States, all lands, mountains, canyons, waterfalls/ buttes, rock formations and I want to see them all. We thought as we approached, wow, to camp here. Can you imagine the stars above, no light from towns, the wildlife that could be there. This is a journey again later in our life, we are certain of it. While David was in the tourist gift shop, I was happily taking photos for a group travelling on motorcycles. I was admiring the Indian bike, when one of them made me an offer I had to refuse. I was almost a biker chick on the back of the single guys ride. Hahaha, really nice folks enjoying their country. Bikers have a leisurely and interesting ride with a fantastic view.

On the next post, we will be travelling from Devils Tower to Cody Wyoming. A scary and treacherous ride! Wow what a view we had.

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