Tag: Travel Stories

Today was the well anticipated Buffalo Round Up at Custer State Park. We woke up to the cool, crisp morning air and were ready to go at 5:30 am. We started to work our way though the campground and a convoy of Unitys formed. A total of 8 of us caravanned the 45 minute drive to the Buffalo Round Up. As we drove in the dark, the parade of lights from our coaches lit up the highway. It was a sight to see. As other cars approached, you could see the amazement in their faces as they saw us.

We continued to drive the winding roads, and as we got closer, I was able to see for myself in the sideview mirror what everyone seeing. These 8 LTV’s rounding the curves in the road of the wildlife loop. It was a sight to see.

It wasn’t long before we arrived at the parking area. I jumped out of the coach to get a picture of the arrival. The parking attendant was almost giddy with excitement to see us. She had lots of questions for me. And in the distance I heard the other 2 parking attendance say, “yea, that’s cool…they are all staying at the North Stockade Campground”…I guess we do make a statement where ever we travel.

The sun was starting to rise as we all exited our coaches. Time for more pictures. You could feel the excitement in the air, and a few yawns too. But it will be worth it when we see those buffalo running to the corral. We grabbled our backpacks and chairs and headed off to find the perfect viewing location along with 15,000 of our closest friends.

We climbed the hill and found the perfect spot to view the round up. Now to get set up and pass a little time…the buffalos were not expected to arrive until about 10:30. We sat back (the best we could in a chair on a hill) and exchanged ideas, stories and got to know each other better. Part of the fun of owning a Leisure Travel Van.

As the arrival of the buffalos grew closer…we could see something in the distance. Is it finally starting? But to our amazement, it was just 2 buffalos. LOL I guess they decided not to participate in the stampede. They arrived without the rest of their other 1298 buffalo friends. They were majestic beasts, standing tall as if they knew we were all there to see them. As we were watching them, we saw something coming over the hill…the crowd grew with excitement once again. Finally (we thought), the stampede begins. And what do we see…about a dozen burros coming over the crest of the hill. They stopped as to take a bow. The crowd laughed. I couldn’t help but think they felt a little left out. Weren’t we all there just for them!

We were beginning to think the buffalos didn’t get the memo that the round up was today, or maybe they did and they decided not to participate this year. We have been seeing the cowboys on their horses and the 4 wheel vehicles…but still no buffalo.

Then finally…we started to see dust floating in the air just above that hill…here they come 1300 buffalo running down the hill and into the pasture. You could hear the cowboys hooting and hollering as they snap their whips as they herded them to the corral. These majestic creatures were running right in front of us. It’s not every day you get to see this. After they were safe into the corrals, you could go down to the corral and see them up close and personal. This is an event that everyone needs to attend.

It was an early morning but well worth it. After it was over, we headed back to the parking area. You could see a line of cars as far as the eye could see. We all decided to sit tight, grab some snacks and exchange each others company. It is so nice to have a home on wheels where you can enjoy all the comforts of home while you wait out the traffic jam.

I’m infected. Infected with the American wanderlust. The climb behind the wheel and just drive kind. Always have been. I first knew the affliction was grabbing hold as a teenager….

Yes! we’re back to our “up and at ‘em” routine because the city is encroaching on our rural personalities. In Sarasota, traffic consists of waiting for a second light, and in Waterville ME there is no such word as traffic. But here today Allie had to make an executive decision about what route to take. Sally Mae of GPS fame wanted us to go through Washington, heading North on I95, but Al would have none of big city traffic during the morning commute. So he decided to head South back toward Richmond, pick up I64 West, then I81 North, ditching the big cities all the way.

It was a wonderful 300 mile day, clear and beautiful, with comfort stops along the way. It’s always necessary to feed the RV and its passengers, but mostly the RV. You don’t want to be driving through foothills of mountains and run out of gas. And here we are in Carlisle PA with another shoutout to Bobby who went to Dickinson College. This surely is a college town, making Bobby’s hometown of Wayland, MA look like Paris.

The traffic toward Richmond began to thicken with trucks, cars, and soon a sextet of black-clad and helmeted motorcyclists adding to the anxiety, but it was short-lived. Sally Mae, somewhat annoyed with Allie for his disregard of her, made the GPS readable only sideways. You can’t fool Mother Technology!

Let me tell you a bit more about the battle of the Driver Man and the GPS Woman. Once he had made the decision to ignore her and go his own way, she never quit telling him to make a U-ee, go the other way, head North through Washington, etc. But he just smiled and pulled the plug. It was easy. Once he was established on his new route, he plugged her back in. Defeated, she had recalculated and was now on our route, all smiles, giving him directions as if nothing had happened. Perhaps humans could really learn from computers about hard feelings.

Virginia is gorgeous. The trees are green, the grass is green. Perhaps it rains in Virginia even when it doesn’t rain elsewhere. No road signs at all, and even the signs which tell us about food/lodging/gas at exits are located on the exits, not the main highways. So it’s take your chances and trust us. Anything for beauty.

Virginia has a proud history. From the AAA Guidebook: Virginia thrives on its past. Seven presidential homes, two Colonial capitals, more Civil War battlefields than any other state…

Visitors can enjoy Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg, the Museum of the Confederacy. Monticello, the University of VA, or go to the mountains and drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway or Skyline Drive. We have done both, so today finds us on roads in the foothills of the mountains, enjoying the scenery looking up.

Once again in need of diesel, not always available at all gas stations, we go on a hunt. Once you leave the highway you have no assurance that the station you’re looking for is close by. In Virginia, you can be sure it’s not. So you go touring, hunting for the green pump. We finally find it in Crozet, VA, nine miles from the Skyline Drive. It’s a charming small town which we enjoy as we wend our way back to the highway.

“Are we on good terms again, Sally Mae?” asks Allie. She smiles, sideways. We pass the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind, the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, the Stonewall Jackson hotel and the American Shakespeare Center. A shoutout to Ian’s children as we pass their town, Harrisonburg, and their school, James Madison University.

If you care about stats, here’s the scoop on diesel: the prices range from $2.29 to $2.79 a gallon, both in some states. Our mileage ranges from 12 mpg to 15 mpg, depending on the traffic. On the tough days it was 12 and on the good days it was 15. Moving along is what the rig likes to do.

Welcome to West Virginia, says the sign, and for the first time we see roads that need repair. Virginia had none. I just have time to muse about how good most drivers are. They stay in their lanes, they are courteous, they obey the speed limits, and accidents are few and far between. Good thing. Otherwise there would be mayhem on the roads.

And here is Maryland and Mason/Dixon Road. I Google the Mason/Dixon Line and find it was surveyed in a dispute between Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware in Colonial America. Naturally, the surveyors were Mr. Mason and Mr. Dixon. Good work, guys.

There’s barely time to read the info before we see “Welcome to Pennsylvania, the State of Independence.” Molly Pitcher highway comes next and another trip to Google. If you already know, skip this part. Molly joined the army in the Civil War, and, when not fighting, she served water to the troops, presumably in pitchers. I won’t comment on her dual role.

I look around and really do see spacious skies, amber waves of grain and purple mountains majesty. No fruited plains in sight, at least not right here. Factories for grain, harvesting equipment, truck stops, truck stores, and acres of hay dot the landscape. And here is our exit, to Carlisle, a college town surrounded by orchards, farmers’ markets, BBQ restaurants, hay fields, antique stores, and farms. We find our RV park, although it’s a long way from the highway, and are comfortably settled for the night.
Tomorrow, Day Five, is the big one. We’re on our way to Saratoga! More about that tomorrow.