DAY 101 SOUTH DAKOTA....INDIANS AND BIKERS!

Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (Oglala Oyanke in Lakota, also called Pine Ridge Agency) is an Oglala Sioux Native American reservation located in South Dakota. Pine Ridge was established in the southwest corner of South Dakota on the Nebraska border and consists of 3,468.86 sq m of land area, the eighth-largest reservation in the United States, larger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined. Most of the land comprising the reservation lies within Shannon County and Jackson County, two of the poorest counties in the U.S. In addition, there are extensive off-reservation trust lands, mostly in adjacent Bennett County, but also extending into adjacent Pine Ridge, Nebraska in Sheridan County, just south of the community of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, the reservation's administrative center and largest community.

The 2000 census population of all these lands was 15,521. However, a study conducted by Colorado State University and accepted by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development estimate the resident population to be 28,787[1]. The reservation was the setting for Adrian Louis' novel "Skins" as well as the 2002 Chris Eyre adaptation of the same name; the 2000 book, On the Rez, by Ian Frazier; and the 2008 film Rez Bomb, directed by Steven Lewis Simpson. Unemployment is 80% and average family annual income is $3700. The adolescent suicide rate is 4x the national average and the infant mortality rate is 5x the national average. Through in a HIGH rate of alcoholism along with heart disease and cancer and you have a hell of a sad situation. There's a You Tube movie that shows exactly what we saw....Pine Ridge Reservation Disaster. Here it is:






INDIAN SCHOOL AND CULTURAL CENTER
Chief Red Cloud help establish the Jesuit-run school for Indian Children. He is buried next to the school on the hill. Pleep enjoyed playing at the school and the wonderful art at the Cultural Center.

WOUNDED KNEE MEMORIAL

We were very surprised by the condition of the Memorial and Cemetery. Very unkempt for such a historic event-1890 massacre of men, women and children by the 7th Calvary. All 300 are buried in this fenced in plot. The cemetery is very run down and a sad looking Memorial. Wounded Knee has known contemporary protest and violence as well-the 1970's were a hot bed of AIM (American Indian Movement) and FBI standoffs. I had my first introduction to AIM in 1970 when I was a freshman at Colorado State Univ-the Black Panthers paled (no pun intended) in comparison to the the militancy of AIM. They hated me, made it very clear, because I was white. This was my first taste of "reverse" discrimination. Yes, I through the reverse in there...after all it was the 70's. So what did AIM accomplish? Certainly, not much at this very sad Indian Reservation.

AND THE ALCOHOLISM WAS EVIDENT.....while the reservation is dry they go 2 miles to Nebraska to the 4 liquor stores which sell 12,500 cans of beer daily. We saw men laying on the street so drunk and that the reservation police came to get them. It was heartbreaking to see this situation. Without work to do daily, what do they do? Is this reservation system an extemtion of the welfare system. Is it working? The road runs through the reservation so it is open for all to see. Surely there is a solution to this pervasive problem?


BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK


We have been here before but today was like driving through a wind tunnel. Talk about a dust bowl. It was wild to watch all the motorcycles try to keep their bikes on the road. Pleep liked the name Badlands as in he could relate! He is starting to think about becoming a real desparado. He wants to see if any of Butch Cassidy's gang is left hanging around here. Pleep is gunning to be the next Sundance.





Wall- the famous drugstore, America's Favorite Roadside Attraction! Free Admission to this 76,000 square foot wonderland of free attractions!

The Wall Drug Store got its start during the Depression years by offering Free Ice Water to thirsty travelers. From their beginning in 1931 to today, the family-owned and run business continues what their reputation was and is built on — giving friendly service to the public!In the words of it's founder: It was December 1931. Dorothy and I had just bought the only drugstore in a town called Wall on the edge of the South Dakota Badlands. We'd been open a few days, and business had been bad. I stood shivering on the wooden side walk. In this little prairie town there were only 326 people, 326 poor people. Most of them were farmers who'd been wiped out either by the Depression or drought. Christmas was coming, but there was no snow, no sp arkling lights — just viciously cold air. Out on the prairie the cold wind whipped up dust devils. I could see a Tin Lizzie chugging along the two-laner. Suitcases were strapped to the running boards. Someone's going home for the holidays, I thought to myself. I wished they would stop, just for a cup of coffee , but they didn't. Here on Main Street, no one was out. Look forward 78 y ears later... It is now year 2009 and there are people bustling all over the streets of Wall. If Ted & Dorothy can make it in the dustbowl days of the Dirty 30s then there is no suc h place as Godforsaken in this great country we live in...AMERICA. We are still here and gas prices are low. All signs lead to Wall Drug!

Pleep found a lot of stuff he thought we should buy at the Wall Drug Store. He is thinking about all the things Buba will need on the new ranch. He wants to live the "natural" life like they do in Alaska - only with internet, cable tv, and a fully stocked larder.

Sturgis and Biker Mayhem

Baby Boomers (def. out numbering their younger comrades) rumbling through South Dakota for the 69th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. What recession? The Mother Lode of bike rally's was packed to the gills. Attendance from 450,000-750,000 (2000). We are talking a major league event. Beyond Hog Wild and Pleep loves the biker crowd. He wants Buba to buy one and ditch the big truck. He thinks a nice sidecar would work to put Bocahontas in. Now what about the clothes?

Pleep found a nice young biker lady and tried to hook up with her. We had to chase after him. Then he took off again when he spotted the mudslide sign. He was hoping it meant both drinks and real mud fun. While I was chasing him down in the mudslide tent, Buba was diverted into his favorite tent. I think the two of them need to be sent back to the hotel for a timeout. Pleep suggested that Boca get a pair of chaps like the other ladies cause Buba said "whoa baby" over and over.









It was sad to learn of a fellow Floridian and one of his stores a neighbor to Anro, Bruce Rossmeyer, was killed in a motorcycle accident on his way to Sturgis. This Harley Davidson Empire builder is quite known nationally and very much on the Florida bike scene. I passed his Pompano Beach Store on the way to work every day in awe of the all the bikes flowing through the place. Not many wear helmets around here and neither did Bruce. I just don't get it? Freedom? Defiance? Macho? Looking Good? I love the spirit of the Bikers...are they the modern day Cowboys?????

If you want to see all the pics from today, take a look at our short movie :

Day 100 SOUTH DAKOTA/WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK AND CRAZY HORSE MONUMENT

One of the world's longest and most complex caves and 28,295 acres of mixed-grass prairie, ponderosa pine forest, and associated wildlife are the main features of the park. The cave is well known for its outstanding display of boxwork, an unusual cave formation composed of thin calcite fins resembling honeycombs. The park's mixed-grass prairie is one of the few remaining and is home to native wildlife such as bison, elk, pronghorn, mule deer, coyotes, and prairie dogs.

The Wind Cave area has been protected since 1903, when it became our seventh oldest national park. Regarded as sacred by American Indians, cave exploration did not begin until 1881, when the entrance was noticed by two brothers, Jesse and Tom Bingham. They heard a loud whistling noise, which led them to a small hole in the ground, the cave's only natural opening.

Wind Cave has always been a world class natural resource. However, it was not until explorers first entered, and then continued to push further underground, that the significance of Wind Cave began to be realized. When most people think about the importance of Wind Cave they tend to dwell on boxwork and the cave's vast length. Over many years of exploration and mapping, Wind Cave has grown to be one of the world's largest known caves. Currently over 132.05 miles of passages have been mapped in Wind Cave. This places Wind Cave as the third longest cave in the United States and fourth longest cave in the world. As people explore the cave, they learn more about the geology and formation of the cave, and about how it became the world-class resource that it is today.

Pleep made friends with the nice Ranger lady. He wanted to make certain she would come looking for him if he got lost in the cave.


Pleep's new favorite song is - "Home, Home On The Range". He keeps singing "Oh give me a home, where the buffaloes roam." After a day of playing Pleep and Buffalo he sees the sign...oops now they tell me. Pleep wants Buba to raise them on the range in Texas.

CRAZY HORSE MONUMENT...A WORK IN PROCESS
We had a great visit at the Crazy Horse Monument. Started in 1950 and projected to take 100 years to complete. Way bigger than Mount Rushmore. Pam and Pleep are standing by the model, 1/134th the size! Pleep likes the monument and the name. He's thinking he needs an Indian name too. Maybe One Who Loves Cheeps? Wildmonkey Pleep? Big Chief Pleep? Stands on Hands? Drinks A Lot? Brown Cloud? One Who Hangs By His Tail?



Finally, after a day of running wild, Pleep insisted he have his favorite Cheeps. Plus it's the party size!! He had trouble figuring out what was causing the bag to be so puffy but then he decided it would be a good place to take a break and contemplate life in the West.


At the end of the day there is nothing better than a hot bath & clean towels. What's this? Pleep says he is not going to use these to dry off his nice clean monkey butt. He guessing his Mom will not appreciate the shoe cleaning clothes to double as her face cloth. Pleep wants to go back to the President's Club and their nice giant, fluffy, Egyptian cotton towels. This monkey is certainly becoming more spoiled and high maintenance. It must be a DNA thing with the Collins.....

Day 99 BUFFALO BILL'S WILD WEST-CODY, WYOMING

The Wild Wild West indeed. You don't come here to see the Opera. The wide open spaces and big sky's, the many mountain ranges, the Continental Divide, sagebrush-covered mesas and endless horizons have been enjoyed by the Collins.

The state is only a half-a million people (9th largest in size). Energy is Wyoming's largest export. Wind farms, drilling rigs and tarins laden with coal were familiar sights. We are talking world class wind here and the SUV felt it.

Experiencing the American West has been a blast for Buba...he still wants to stay at a dude ranch-ah the fantasy of a city slicker. The cowboy was born here and Buba wants to participate. The Western hospitality has been welcome, coupled with very little traffic and lots to see. We did not visit Yellowstone or Teton National Parks (2 of our favorites) so we could do some other fun things.

Buba and Pleep really enjoyed discovering the Wild Wild West spirit in Cody (and Greybull, Worland and Keith's favorite Tensleep- population 50). Our rubber and asphalt cruise through Wyoming was a blast.

Pleep's favorite artwork is this patriotic Indian painting. We think it was done by a young Indian artist.

The drive in from Montana through Big Horn National Forest (Buba said it deserves to be a National Park) was beautiful.


BUFFALO BILL HISTORICAL CENTER
This museum encompasses 5 museums in one: Plains Indian Museum, Cody Firearms Museum, Whitney Gallery of Western Art, Draper Museum of Natural History and of course the Buffalo Bill Museum (Pleeps favorite). The Center explores the life of Buffalo Bill Cody and his influence on developoing the nearly mythic tale of the American West. His traveling show brought Western culture to people across the US and Europe. Pleep was excited to meet Buffalo Bill & Annie Oakley. He took some shooting lessons and is ready to hunt bison now. MMMM..bison steaks, bison burgers, bison ribs. Maybe a buffalo robe from Bocahontas to wear around the ranch.

Old BB started out as a teenage rider for the Pony Express. He then served in the US Army as a scout during the Indian Wars. When the war ended he began supplying buffalo meet to workers of the transcontinental railroad earning himself the nickname Buffalo Bill. He parlayed his drive and personality to star in a spectacular circus in which historical scenes were acted out by cowboys and Indians-including such figures as Sitting Bull. In spite of his grand life and money made he ended up dying bankrupt in 1917 but was so loved they erected a museum in his honor 1 year later (now the visitor center).

I must say we were really surprised how well done the museum is. We had planned to spend an hour or two and ended up spending all day there and could have stayed another. Pleep didn't want to leave and kept hiding. Buffalo Bill was chasing him about and nearly lassoed him a time or two.

Pleep thought a pair of beaded moccasins would serve Pam nicely. Plus Buba thought he might be able to free up a ton of cargo space if she'd ditch all the high heels and just go with mocs.

The sculpture garden was great. Pleep wants to climb on it. We had to make him get off before we got bounced out of here too.


We finally moved on to the Lewis & Clark exhibition. That was quite something as well. Pleep is going to be well versed in the history of the American West.

The unity sign promped Buba to teachPleep about the War Between the States & how to do a proper Rebel Yell.

Pleep enjoyed the covered wagons but said he preferes the John Deere.






We did miss the night Rodeo much to Pleeps dismay but had a deeeeelicious meal of Bison......


Back through the Big Horn National Forest to Gillete. No smog, no traffic, few people and wide open spaces and skies as far as the eye can see. Acres of public land, sagebrush-adorned plains and rolling hills allowed Pleep to run Wild- no one minded! Hee Haw.

Day 98 LITTLE BIGHORN BATTLEFIELD...CUSTERS ABSOLUTE LAST STAND

In late 1875, Sioux and Cheyenne Indians defiantly left their reservations, outraged over the continued intrusions of whites into their sacred lands in the Black Hills. They gathered in Montana with the great warrior Sitting Bull to fight for their lands. The following spring, two victories over the US Cavalry emboldened them to fight on in the summer of 1876.

To force the large Indian army back to the reservations, the Army dispatched three columns to attack in coordinated fashion, one of which contained Lt. Colonel George Custer and the Seventh Cavalry. Spotting the Sioux village about fifteen miles away along the Rosebud River on June 25, Custer also found a nearby group of about forty warriors. Ignoring orders to wait, he decided to attack before they could alert the main party. He did not realize that the number of warriors in the village numbered three times his strength. Dividing his forces in three, Custer sent troops under Captain Frederick Benteen to prevent their escape through the upper valley of the Little Bighorn River. Major Marcus Reno was to pursue the group, cross the river, and charge the Indian village in a coordinated effort with the remaining troops under his command. He hoped to strike the Indian encampment at the northern and southern ends simultaneously, but made this decision without knowing what kind of terrain he would have to cross before making his assault. He belatedly discovered that he would have to negotiate a maze of bluffs and ravines to attack.

Reno's squadron of 175 soldiers attacked the southern end. Quickly finding themselves in a desperate battle with little hope of any relief, Reno halted his charging men before they could be trapped, fought for ten minutes in dismounted formation, and then withdrew into the timber and brush along the river. When that position proved indefensible, they retreated uphill to the bluffs east of the river, pursued hotly by a mix of Cheyenne and Sioux.

Just as they finished driving the soldiers out, the Indians found roughly 210 of Custer's men coming towards the other end of the village, taking the pressure off of Reno's men. Cheyenne and Hunkpapa Sioux together crossed the river and slammed into the advancing soldiers, forcing them back to a long high ridge to the north. Meanwhile, another force, largely Oglala Sioux under Crazy Horse's command, swiftly moved downstream and then doubled back in a sweeping arc, enveloping Custer and his men in a pincer move. They began pouring in gunfire and arrows.

As the Indians closed in, Custer ordered his men to shoot their horses and stack the carcasses to form a wall, but they provided little protection against bullets. In less than an hour, Custer and his men were killed in the worst American military disaster ever. After another day's fighting,

Reno and Benteen's now united forces escaped when the Indians broke off the fight. They had learned that the other two columns of soldiers were coming towards them, so they fled.

After a tough day on the battlefield, Pleep felt like unwinding a bit. A little happy hour followed by a bit of bison and his favorite Cab to round things out.