Tags
Anselmo NE, Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, Cascade Falls SD, Hidalgo, Nebraska, prairie, South Dakota, Willa Cather
I only made it eleven miles south of Hot Springs and the Mammoth site before one more stop beckoned. A sign in the middle of what looked like pancake flat scrub brush bragged of Cascade Falls. How could that be? It was late afternoon on a hot day. The small parking lot was bustling. Wet footprints on tarmac evidenced nearby water. Indeed, a very short stroll brought me to a veritable natural water park.
It’s not evident from the photo, but just in front of this little girl is a deep hole. Her dad (or bro or uncle?) was encouraging her to take the plunge. She wanted to—oh, so badly! The young woman on the right demonstrated a running leap and splash, giggling all the way. When she got back to the rocky outcrop, the young man tried even harder to convince the little girl. (I’m telling you, I had my doubts. There’s no way in hell I’d have taken a plunge of that significance at that age!) But clutching his hand, the tiny tot loped beside him and leaped! And came up sputtering and giggling. They raise ’em tough in South Dakota!
I’d barely gotten back on the road when a sign popped up announcing the film location for the movie Hidalgo in half a mile. What? What pile of film karma have I landed in? But oddly, the next sign said, Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary (BHWHS). I was lucky enough to get a glimpse of a herd of horses who were just emerging from an afternoon visit to the river. But the $300 two-hour tour was not in my budget. The BHWHS is an 11,000 acre non-profit dedicated to the “preservation of endangered wild horse bloodlines of Spanish, Choctaw, Curly, and American mustangs.” It operates strictly on private donations and sponsorships. I never saw any further references to the film site of Hidalgo. I must assume that the cameras panned this general region of the Black Hills National Forest.
At last I passed into Nebraska. The fact that I passed up an eleven-mile dirt road leading to the Toadstool Geological park is an indication of my waning enthusiasm. But I’d already seen enough badlands for this trip. I had my heart set on a shower in Chadron. The next morning I continued my journey in an unfortunately easterly direction. I paused in the tiny town of Anselmo (population 145 in 2010) to peer through the windows of the historic sod house and jail.
Continuing eastward, I drove and I drove. I was still in Nebraska as nightfall approached. I was in no mood for a shadeless campground so sprang for a motel again, this time in Hastings.
Next morning I headed south for that elusive border. My eyes perked up as I drove through Red Cloud and saw a sign pointing to the house Willa Cather called home for 13 years of her childhood. There wasn’t much to see since the building is being restored. As I continued south on Highway 281 I realized I was driving on the Willa Cather Memorial Roadway and then came the Willa Cather Memorial Prairie with walking trails through restored prairie that inspired so much of Cather’s works. Ironically, I was within sight of the Kansas border at this point. Nebraska had saved it’s best for last.
There seemed to be nothing to see; no fences, no creeks or tree, no hills or fields. If there was a road, I could not make it out in the faint starlight. There was nothing but land: not a country at all, but the material out of which countries are made.
Willa Cather
Jane's Heartsong said:
Nice that you got to see wild horses. I understand why you would have to pay so much, but geesh…no thanks.Pretty houses and scenery. I agree, that kid is brave.
LikeLike
rangewriter said:
It was complete serendipity that I saw those horses. And very cool.
LikeLiked by 1 person
catterel said:
This is really turning out to be a very enriching and fascinating trip – thanks for making us along!
LikeLike
quiall said:
You have an adventurous spirit.
LikeLike
rangewriter said:
Yup, I guess I do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
oldandblessed said:
You really took a look at a fair piece of Americana. Thanks for documenting the trip. I’m enjoying the blogs!
LikeLike
rangewriter said:
Thanks for letting me know that you find my drivel enjoyable. I worry about boring my readers to death. It was really a most interesting journey for me. One that I had dreamed of for a very long time.
LikeLike
Ruth Usrey said:
Oh, Linda, this is anything but drivel…
The quote from Willa Cather made me cry. Having lived on the prairies, I love her writing. I’m glad you got to see a swimming hole…I could see my dad’s face looking up at me as he encouraged me to jump.
Nice pictures along with inimitable commentary, my friend.
LikeLike
rangewriter said:
Oh Ruth, that is so kind of you. I’ve enjoyed all that I’ve read of Willa Cather. But I confess that she’s written far more than I have sampled. In her works, the landscape is clearly a character.
Why didn’t we get to know each other better in HS? (hint: I was always intimidated by your intellect.) 🥰
LikeLike
Ruth Usrey said:
Seriously, once an English major…
I’m not sure to this day if my intellect is any more or less.
I am very well read, and that has fueled my vocabulary. I love words!
I’m glad we have reconnected over your writings. It is a blessing…
LikeLike
rangewriter said:
So am I, Ruth. We need to meet f2f someday soon.
I’ve read a lot, but would not say I’m well read. There are so many classics I’ve never read. And the horrible thing is I don’t remember details of what I’ve read. But having been an avid reader since about 4th grade, I do believe that reading increases vocabulary, if nothing else.
LikeLike
denisebushphoto said:
I am impressed by all that you experienced on your whirlwind trip!
LikeLike
rangewriter said:
I am too, Denise. It’s taken me all summer to wrap my head around it all.
LikeLiked by 1 person