Buffalo Gals

This past weekend, my glampy farmgirl pals and I went on what might be our last glamp-out of the year. The outing included witnessing the annual buffalo roundup at Custer State Park in the nearby Black Hills.

Come along for the ride!

So, we made the hour+ road-trip to a campground near Custer. The plan was to take in the buffalo roundup, an outdoor art fair, antique shopping, and, of course, glamping in the piney woods in coolish autumn weather. I’m happy to report that we successfully checked everything off our list! Below are some photo high-lights …

After what can only be explained as divine intervention, we managed to get to the buffalo roundup area where we could park together [we took two vehicles]. We had gotten separated by many miles! Mind you, this event draws nearly 10,000 other spectators and their cars. The lines into the park went for miles. That we ended up in near proximity to each other and were able to reconnect was a miracle since regulation of traffic was tightly controlled. Yet, we did and we also ended up getting ‘front row’ seats – the media row – on a hill directly overlooking the area where the buffalo would pass through.

(I must also confess here that I have serious ‘crowdaphobia’. By the time we were in the middle of thousands of cars, all I wanted to do was LEAVE which was not going to be an option until the whole spectacle was over. Miracle? We were the 6th car allowed to leave when people were released after the roundup. With open space before me, my anxiety lifted!)

Before that, Jennie let me borrow her camera to take photos…and that gave me something to do while I wrung my hands over being trapped in a crowd. [I forgot my own camera at home.] Witnessing the buffalo topping a hill also made me forget my troubles. It was like a video still from the movie Dances With Wolves. Here are progressive photos of the drive.

There were multiple vehicles and lots of riders to help keep the herd together and on course.

The buffalo flushed out a group of elk – cows & calves – from the timber.

And, bringing up the rear was the flag bearer.

Meanwhile, back at camp, we stoked the built campfires and had our electric heaters going in our glampers to keep them cozy and warm. I stacked two Hudson Bay wool blankets on my bed!

Below, Anita and Michele get a fire started. Michele’s niece, Riley, joined us on this glamp-out.

Jennie and Anita …

My cozy nest, below. One night we fixed ‘hobo supper’ — burgers, potatoes, carrots & onions — wrapped in individual bundles in foil – cooked over the fire for about half an hour. I made a salad.

One on of the shopping stops, I found and bought the WONDERFUL book Trailerama, a must-have for glamper lovers. See above. We spent more time in our trailers this trip because it was so cool. I had morning visitors for coffee.

Donna and Riley, above. Anita and Kelly below. Our new glamping sister, LaDonna, joined us and she brought her bio-sister, Kelly.

While we were out on our shopping safari on Saturday, we stopped for lunch at a Bavarian restaurant in Hill City [The Alpine]. We had Weinerschnitzle, Bratwurst with Spaetzle and a host of other delicious goodies.

Over the weekend, we escaped the ‘news’ … so much of it is bad nowadays. We enjoyed fresh mountain air, the colors of fall, friendship, campfire giggling, and the sanctuary that Nature offers when you veer a little ways’ off the beaten path. The girls and I are talking about one last trip before winter roads put an end to our glamp-outs. I hope we can sneak away one more time. Glamping has been such a delightful addition to our lives. It isn’t always easy to get away, but MyOhMy, it is so worthwhile. Camping has been a lifelong love of mine and I’m so HAPPY that glamping has allowed me to recapture and reinvent my campy-glampy self! There are now nearly 9 of us glampers and BoyHowdy, WE ARE HAVING FUN.

Happy Trails to you all…and enjoy Autumn wherever you are!