Friday, our second day in South Dakota, we went to Custer State Park. It was really beautiful, even off-season before all the prairie grass has greened up. We saw a lot of wildlife. There were a lot of prairie dog towns. Lots of little critters running from hole to hole.
There were sooo many bison. Sooo many.
As we drove around the park, we found a nice little loop trail that the map said was two miles. It was called the Prairie Loop.
As we began the hike, I told Sterling, "Give me the keys, so that just in case we come across bison or other scary animals, I can grab my babies and high tail it back to the car." He laughed at my caution and tossed me the keys. Always the worrier, he's used to me. Curtis, standing behind me, said he preferred to just go a little ways and then head back to the car to wait for us to finish. So I tossed him the keys, and we were off. The vistas were beautiful! I went ahead with some of the kids and Sterling and Curtis pulled up the rear.
And then we came across bison on the trail. We could see two but we didn't know what or how many were on the other side of the hill. We were mesmerized. They are huge, beautiful creatures in their natural habitat. They appear so calm and docile, just grazing and munching, slowly moving their heavy bodies through the dry prairie grass. We watched them for a long time until Sterling and his Dad caught up and then stood and watched them some more. Finally I told Sterling it was time to turn around and go back to the car. After all, the bison were right in the middle of the trail.
It was just as I made the pronouncement to Sterling that we noticed Grandpa start walking toward the bison.
Grandpa walked slowly, one step at a time. The buffalo looked up and stared at him. Grandpa stopped and stared back, casual with his hands in his pockets. The buffalo lowered its head and went back to eating. Grandpa went back to inching his way forward. This repeated over and over. Head up, stare contest, back to eating, back to inching along. Eventually the buffalo moved away and off the trail. The two buffalo we could see seemed to be more interested in eating and didn't care about this intruder. When Grandpa got to the top of the hill, he held up his fingers to show us how many buffalo were on the other side. Four? Five? Definitely time to turn around and go back.
I approached Sterling and told him. The kids and I are going back to the car. You figure things out with your Dad.
And Then!
And Then!!!
Then...Grandpa turned around, and although he was far enough away that I couldn't see his face clearly, I knew he was looking me right in the eye. And Then! that man pulled the car keys out of his pocket and dangled, across the many yards and feet between us, dangled them in my face!
I can't believe it! The gall! Yes, Grandpa had walked close. Yes, the bison and moved off the trail and away from him. But seriously? Walking into a herd of bison? Even if they did appear to not have a care in the world. I turned to Sterling. What now? What is your father doing? Sterling acknowledged me with a nod, never taking his eyes off his father. Let's just follow his lead. And then! Sterling started to walk toward his dad, with a child in each hand. And so I followed, slowly, cautiously, stupidly.
The children whispered amongst themselves. Didn't the map say bison are agile and turn on a dime? Didn't the trail guide say bison can run as fast as a horse? Didn't the park brochure say that bison can be aggressive without warning because, like, they are just animals?
Cresting the hill we saw several bison sitting in the grass, a couple eating, all watching us. My little herd watching theirs.
At one point, a few more of them stood and started walking the same direction. My heart echoed the drop of their heavy feet. Side by side, the bison and my family, walking the same direction.
We pulled way off the trail, giving the bison a wide berth, and kept walking toward the trail in the distance. Some of the bison started to run. Not "run" run, but jog. Not traipse, but shuffle, trot, canter toward the one remaining buffalo still sitting in the grass. Was it injured? Was it the older patriarch? Someone they were protecting?
The bison surrounded the sitting buffalo, stood guard and watched us continue walking. What else could we do? We couldn't go back. We didn't dare stay where we were. Could we just phone it in? Beam us up, Scotty! Beam us to the next part of the trail.
By God's great mercy, we made it past the bison and found our way back to the trail.
That was the stupidest thing I've ever done. Let me rephrase. One of the stupidest things I've ever done. I talk to my kids all the time about being Brave. Its good to be brave, I tell them. But use your head. Be Smart Brave, not Stupid Brave. And here you have it. Mom, Dad and Grandpa all being Stupid Brave. Great examples
Shortly after the bison incident, we came across a fence. It reminded me of the fence in Jurassic Park. There was definitely a great deal of relief when we went through the fence. Of course there could have been more or even worse things on the side we crossed to. Who knows? I wasn't thinking about that.
A few portraits of my lovelies.
Well, at this point, Grandpa was committed to the rest of the hike. I forgot to track with my fitbit until we saw the bison. But its a loop so you can kind of tell where the missing part is. And lo and behold, the hike was actually three miles, not two like the map said.
It was hard going. A lot of climbing. But it also left a lot of time for the kids to hand with their Grandpa and talk. The best part of the hike was listening to them talk and walk together.
Back through the fence. Almost finished with the hike. Three miles round trip. Good job family!
But our adventures weren't over yet! Further on our drive, we came across wild burros in the road.
The burros were standing still as stone all over the road. We saw another car wiggle its way through the herd and they didn't even move their heads so we approached slowly. Our windows were rolled down.
One of the burros approached Sterling's window. It was friendly. Too friendly. Maybe it could smell our Cheez-its. All our attention was focused on Sterling and his new friend.
We didn't notice that a burro on the other side of the car was curious about us too. Until it stuck its head into the car and nuzzled Grandpa. What a shock!
After another long, fun day full of animal adventures. We sleep quickly and deeply and woke ready for a long ride home.
You can't expect all ten or eleven hours of time together in the car to go off without a hitch, right? Our kids are great travelers but that's a long time, even for them. At one point, Hash decided he was some sort of animal (I never figured out exactly what. I don't think he even knew). The girls partitioned themselves away from him for safety!
When we arrived home, we discovered Spring had sprung and our front tulips were in full bloom. A wonderful Welcome Home from our fabulous Spring Break!
