Immediately from Heyburn State Park we met Grandma and Papa G in Plummer. After transferring clothes and such Kayda, Dillon, Carson and I headed off to South Dakota while Daddy headed back home with the trailer. It was sad to part and we were very nervous about the drive and being apart. Aside from one incident of car sickness for Carson they all did fantastic! We ended up being able to travel for about 10 hours before stopping for the night in Billings. We were only 5 more hours from Grandma and Papa's new house. In the morning the kids got to swim in the hotel swimming pool before we headed out.
We got to Custer right about when the big motorcycle rally of Sturgis was beginning. There were a surprising number of bikes in Custer as they would stay there and tour the black hills, Mt. Rushmore, crazy horse and such.
There were MANY more motorcycles later. This is just the VERY beginning.
We went and visited the Spanish Mustang conservatory. They are a nonprofit organization that works with other organizations throughout the world to preserve the genetics of the Spanish Mustang. Most of the horses were very friendly and could not get enough attention! They were often competing so they could have all of your attention.
This is Dillon with the Spanish Mustang Mr. Dillon. He is only a couple of years old and is in training by another mustang (NOT his mom) to learn how to behave in the big herd. They have to learn the cues and signals other horses make and what they mean.
Kayda, of course, was in horsey heaven. To be honest I was too. With Kayda's lessons we are both falling more and more in love with horses.
Even Grandma seemed to REALLY enjoy the horses! You can see the horse following her around. It literally followed her across the pasture so that it could keep being pet.
One morning Carson woke up at 5 am. He simply could not fall back asleep so I decided to see if Papa (who is always up early) was interested in going to the wildlife loop to see if the animals were out. Most animals are most active in the twilight hours, early morning and late evening. Sure enough we hit the jackpot! We were lucky to be in Papa's jeep with the top down so Carson could see EVERY direction! There particular pictures aren't the best, I forgot my good camera and only had me phone. Shame on me!
You can see some white tail deer running across the grass if you zoom in.
We saw a few antelope and were starting to get a little worried when we came around a corner to find several motorcycles stopped, with their engines off. Low and behold we saw this. The bison were laying out in the road. Completely preventing anyone from driving through. They were EVERYWHERE. Anywhere you looked on the beautiful rolling landscape was covered with Bison.,
We were kind of nervous to try to drive through since we were in a jeep without much side protection. Finally a truck came along that was brave enough to clear the path. We followed behind and the motorcycles followed us. It was amazing to be close enough that you could have reached out and practically touched these huge animals. They are VERY deceptive. They looks calm and no more dangerous than a cow. But we heard many stories about their quick tempers. With the weight at the front of their bodies they can turn very quickly and can run 35 mph. If they decide to charge you had better be well protected! We learned later that a bison can actually jump 6ft straight up from standing and can also jump quite a ways forward. The cattle guards that keep them in would mean nothing if they had the motivation to leave.
This bull in particular made us very nervous. It is rutting season so they are very possessive and they make the strangest sounds. They are a grunt, snort, growl all rolled together. When we got next to his lady he kept himself between us and glared at us whilst making that noise.
We ended up driving through the herd three or four times. They were very reluctant to move!
After passing all the bison it was fairly uneventful until we saw the prairie dogs. Carson got a kick out of these little critters. We had one actually come toward us while we were in the jeep, getting within 10 feet of us.
A couple of days later we decided to try the morning again. Kayda and Dillon woke up early quite happily to go try to see the animals. This time I was smart enough to bring the good camera! They got to ride in the back of the jeep which, as I said before, gives you an amazing view!
These horses were out of their field! They were all circled around one of the homes! Once we passed them they actually wandered across the street.
Here is a wild turkey and her six chicks.
Antelope! We actually also saw quite a few deer on the way to the wildlife loop. I believe they counted 12!
We found them again! Morning seems to be a magical time! The herd is apparently counting at about 1200 with between 400 and 600 calves.
The bison weren't nearly as close this time. We never got surrounded but we still were able to get within 20 feet of them!
A wallowing bison!
We named this bull after Daddy. We decided to call him Brian because he has a huge fro between his horns (he is the only one we saw like that) and Daddy's hair puffs up as soon as it gets even a little long.
We visited the wildlife loop visitor center. Kayda has a deer antler and Dillon had a big horn sheep horn.
Papa had been telling us about the burros. Unfortunately they weren't out for Carson but we were quite happy to see them on this trip! Papa had stopped at the store to buy carrots and crackers to feed them. You are allowed to feed them since they are the only animals not considered wild within the park.
Once they realized you had food they were quite friendly.
This burro was particularly friendly. He would follow you just like a dog after you gave him food. Of course he wasn't very loyal since as soon as someone else had food he left!
Dillon made a friend!
They would surround the car and reach their heads in looking for food!
Prairie dogs again!
Dillon was worn out! He napped on the way home.
And then.... the cousins came.....
( they were here the day before but those pictures will be later)
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