It was only 48 hours away, but if felt so good to get home. Don’t get me wrong – I enjoyed myself. I successfully received half of our shipment but there was a mix up and our storage never made it to me. The saga isn’t over yet. Then I had a lovely quiet afternoon by myself enjoying cold beer next to a pool while playing on the internet. The following day, before I got on the plane to come back, I got to milk Daisy the cow and collect eggs from the chickens. I wish the kids could have been with me! But getting off the plane in South Dakota felt like I was getting back on the adventure train – right where I want to be.
It was late-ish by the time we were settled into Sturgis, SD. The kids were happily telling me about their 48 hours and we made a little dinner. The next day, to give Scott a little breathing room and some decent time to concentrate on work, I scooped the kids up and headed out in the car.
Stop #1 – the local playground (of course).
Stop #2 – the car wash, a first for the kids. The Grey Man was starting to look pretty ratty so we got him cleaned up and I spent about 20 minutes vacuuming out his insides.
Stop #3 – the grocery store.
Stop #4 – the adventure. To kill a little more time, I decided to drive us out to Bear Butte. We had passed it on the way into town. Oddly I had the sense that it was special. Don’t go thinking I have a touch of the fe or anything… it’s quite literally the first semi-mountain coming off the range. I was more correct than I realized. Bear Butte is a sacred space for the Native Americans. It’s also the only “confirmed” (used here in quotations because it’s a subjective confirmation) energy vortex in the region. If you have no idea what I’m talking about and you’re up for a little nano learning, google energy vortices Sedona AZ.
Approaching it, the “specialness” is obvious. Wild bison were grazing on the slope up to the rougher terrain. There was a gentle breeze in the air. The view was open range to the east, Black Hills to the west. There’s a little visitors center maintained by the local tribe to explain why the area is sacred and how it is used. On display were native american clothing, medicinal plants, a snake skin. Despite the current white man name, it’s not a butte at all but an almost-volcano. Magma pushed it up but never came spewing out.
We hiked less than a quarter of a mile up the 2 mile summit trail just to get away from the parking lot. The trees and bushes are filled with offerings of tobacco. It looks something like the pictures from Nepal with their colorful prayer flags.
The wild buffalo – hard to see but not that far away.
I didn’t get any visions and nothing unusual happened to the kids or I. I’d like to take Scott back. I think he’d like it.
Final thought – is the sky more blue out here for some reason? You can see it in the pictures. It’s cornflower blue… bigger and brighter than I’ve ever noticed before. Scott thinks it that the air doesn’t have pollution in it. Could that possibly be true?!
