WOW! It has been a packed week! I arrived at the Badlands. I have been going pretty much nonstop since arriving. There is so much to learn about the park and programs. I am just soaking it all in and it is like drinking out of a fire house.


The scenery is breathtaking and the people are absolutely marvelous. The colors of the formations, buttes, change hourly dependent upon the light, moisture and other factors.  The sunsets are fantastic and I have seen lots of sunrises as well since my body would like to stay on Virginia time, which is alright it give me lots of time to reflect and meditate on the Word. 

I have been observing lots of other rangers’ programs getting ideas and tips. Each ranger prepares their own programs, the basic content is the same but theme and presentation vary from ranger to ranger; so I am preparing to do a 15 minute fossil talk, a 45 minute geology talk and a 45 minute Junior Ranger program for this coming week. What time is not spent working learning about the park and visitor policy is spent studying and preparing for my presentations. Busy schedules for sure. Dottie is my roommate you will hear her mentioned often in my blog I am sure. She is great, very friendly and very intelligent. She is up from Baton Rouge.

I got to see my first rattlesnake my very first day. As we were training a call came out that there was one right behind the visitor center where I am working most of the time. He was really cool and it was interesting to see close up now the rest can just be happy and consider their obligation to be seen by my fulfilled. I have also gone down the what the call the south unit which is on the Reservation and that was a wonderful side trip.  They tell me that this is the most rain they have seen and are well above average so the grass is really green right now and the prairie flowers are really abundant.  I just can not begin to tell you how much there is to see and appreciate.

Working with the visitors is fun and they excited to be in the park.  Lots of questions and I am learning the answers as quickly as I can.  I have seen bison, pronghorn, big horn sheep, lots of birds, prairie dogs and just a few deer.  The meadow larks are everyone and their song is so neat.

Today has been my first day off so I made my grocery run into Rapid City which is about 71 miles to the west. I had a good drive and grabbed up a supply of groceries that should last a while. I also was able to get cell service and call Tom to chat a little. 

This is the view out my backdoor. Can you believe it!

And the view from my trip down to the Reservation.This is all quill work.  Porcupine done on a buffalo skull at a commerce center on the reservation.  The Native Americans run that visitor center in the south unit and don't get as many visitors so when we had to run down to take literature and I explained what I was doing in the park this year they were so pleasant and gave me the grand tour.  They even burned sage which is used in a lot of their ceremonies while we were there. Unbelievable. 

Well I have to get off and get back to the ranger quad.  Hope you enjoy the pictures and I will post again as soon as I am able.

Day 2 Indiana, Illinois, Iowa...oh my!

I know I should have taken a left at the one turn.  This has been a busy traveling day.  We put in several miles and made a stop or two.  Most of the landscape looks just about the same as you travel across.  Lots of farm country.  We are under a flash flood advisory right now here in Iowa and looks like we will be having rain this evening and tomorrow as we drive into South Dakota.    They have had so much rain the rivers are high and the land is saturated to the point the fields have standing water.  They are hoping the system will not dump as much rain as they expect.  However, on the up side, everything is green and the wildflowers are very pretty. And yes, we did have to stop when we saw the sign for the World's Largest Truckstop.  Oh my, it was like a mall in one building including at least 2 Semi Tractors in the downstairs area so you could see how tricked out they could be.  Truly an amazing place.   Our trip has been a lot of fun.  We are enjoying being in the car with little distraction and solving the world's problems as we discuss them of course, by the time we get to the Badlands all should be right with the world.  I truly love traveling and seeing the country and how it changes. 

First Day on the Road

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I was totally amazed at the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia-by the time we crossed we didn't have time for a picture so I found one to give you and idea of the country we are experiencing. Wikipedia states:With a length of 3,030 feet (924 m), it was for many years the longest in the world of that type. It is now the third largest arch bridge in the world.[2] Its arch extends 1,700 feet (518 m). Part of U.S. Route 19, it is crossed by an average of 16,200 motor vehicles per day.[1] Its construction marked the completion of Corridor L. In 2005, the structure was further immortalized when a depiction of the span was placed on the West Virginia state quarter. The New River Gorge Bridge carries US 19 over the New River at a height of 876 feet (267 m), making it the highest vehicular bridge in the Americas, and the second-highest in the world. Before the 2004 opening of the Millau Viaduct in France, it was the highest in the world.[3]

Today I traveled from Virginia to Ohio.  West Virginia is certainly a beautiful state. The mountains were amazing.  As we hit Ohio we did notice a much flatter terrain. I always marvel at the many different shades of green that nature has to offer.  My daughter, Erika, made me a beautiful quilt to bring with me on my journey.  She modeled the colors after the many pictures she previewed of the
Badlands.  It will be a piece of home for me and a treasure forever.  Our driving for today put us right on schedule and I am really looking forward to seeing some of the other country we will be traveling across.  We took time to picnic next to this stream and watch the ducks.  There was a mother mallard with two tiny ducklings who just plopped themselves right over the little falls and then complained that they could not get up to mom.  Needless to say she found them and they happily went on the way. Tomorrow takes us into Iowa. 

Getting Ready

Just about 2 weeks left and on the road to the Badlands.  Uniforms are being ordered and school is coming to a close.  So much to do and the time is flying past.  My roomie is already there and working.  Way to go!
Excited and a little nervous, in the past it has always been my husband taking off to places for great lengths of time with the military, my turn now.  My friends are so supportive and have threatened to come out and visit.  Wouldn't I be surprised to see some familiar faces while I am out there.  My whole school is cheering me on as well.  What a great group.  Any way at this point hotels are being booked for the trip out, plane tickets are bought and the maps and routes are ready. Packing in serious begins next week (no I don't like to do things last minute if I can avoid it or it isn't my idea!)