After almost a week in the Badlands of South Dakota, we were both ready for a shower, laundry, and dump station. We hitched up early on the morning of May 31st and drove to Fort Robinson, which is in the Nebraska panhandle.
Julia and I have talked about how each campground has its pros and cons. Fort Robinson was no different. There were showers and laundry, electric hookups, and a number of trails available for hiking. On the con side, it was kind of expensive: approximately $60 for a two night stay plus another $16 in state park entry fees. For that amount, I expected more. The garbage dumpsters were overflowing onto the ground. The sites were tight, and there were a lot of people camping mid-week.
On the first day, we cleaned up and got our chores done. Then we took some time to hike the nearby trails. Unfortunately, we got into some tall grass near a lake which resulted in numerous ticks attaching themselves to us. More showers ensued.
Fort Robinson has numerous "historical" signs around the premises. I know from taking college history courses many years ago at the liberal University of Wisconsin that the contents of historical accounts are filled with the biases of the historians. And what isn't in historical accounts or how the information is related is also dependent upon biases.
Let's see. This is where Crazy Horse surrendered and then was killed while "resisting imprisonment."
I've heard that history doesn't necessarily repeat itself, but it definitely rhymes. The accounts that I have read describe how Crazy Horse surrendered voluntarily but didn't understand that he was going to be imprisoned. When he realized that he was being taken to the guardhouse, he resisted and was run through with a bayonet by an army private. Maybe they needed a bigger sign for a more complete account.
A second historical sign commemorates the Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Robinson.
I almost missed the sign because it was located next to the tennis courts and was apart from the other signs.
On our second day at the Fort, Julia and I hiked the Lover's Leap Butte via the Wagon Wheel Trail. We encountered no ticks, and it was a great hike.
The trail starts off with a gradual rise through the grass. We were headed for that rock formation off to the right.
The weather was hot and dry, but there were wildflowers along the way.
The views were worth the climb.
On the way down, a small herd of pronghorns ran across the trail below us. Callie got a little excited.
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| Standing Tall on Her Rear Legs |
With the weather getting warmer, we were headed for Wyoming's higher elevations.
