Today was our first of two days of school programs and recitals in the western part of South Dakota. We arrived in Spearfish on Tuesday night, after a daylong drive that involved a pleasant diversion through Badlands National Park. Some of the things there are absolutely stunning. A lot of it reminded me a great deal of the things I saw when I was in Arizona last year. I have photos up on my Facebook profile, but if you're not on Facebook, you can see the photographs by clicking here.
Today we did two school concerts, and then split a recital with the quartet at Black Hills State University, a school with just 4,000 students and a recital hall that completely shames any of the music facilities at my alma mater.
Afterwards, we went to Roma's for some wine. Now, I had made mention earlier in the trip of my desire to take our Ford Expedition 12 miles west, so that I could check Wyoming off the list of states I have visited. As you can see from the map below, we are practically in Wyoming already.
View Larger Map
I would have been perfectly content to make this sojourn by myself. I mean, I wasn't going to Wyoming to see anything. I simply wanted to go to Wyoming for the sake of going to Wyoming.
But after a few bottles of wine went around the table, it was clear that I would not be going to Wyoming alone. So the quintet piled into the vehicle, and off we went to Wyoming.
Given the limited scope of the voyage, the trip was wildly successful.
Now, JP, our oboist, pointed out that this picture does not prove that I am in Wyoming, since that picture could theoretically be taken from South Dakota. So I also offer you the following photographic evidence of Exit 199, which is a full seven miles into the Equality State.
And with that, I need to update my map...
I also got to see the most amazing night sky, easily the best I've seen since I left Banff a few months ago. There are so many stars visible that it actually becomes difficult to find the constellations.
Montana is just fifty miles from me, but that will have to wait for another time. Tomorrow it's off to the cities of Lead and Deadwood for three more shows, with a possible trip to Mount Rushmore later in the afternoon.
Today we did two school concerts, and then split a recital with the quartet at Black Hills State University, a school with just 4,000 students and a recital hall that completely shames any of the music facilities at my alma mater.
Afterwards, we went to Roma's for some wine. Now, I had made mention earlier in the trip of my desire to take our Ford Expedition 12 miles west, so that I could check Wyoming off the list of states I have visited. As you can see from the map below, we are practically in Wyoming already.
View Larger Map
I would have been perfectly content to make this sojourn by myself. I mean, I wasn't going to Wyoming to see anything. I simply wanted to go to Wyoming for the sake of going to Wyoming.
But after a few bottles of wine went around the table, it was clear that I would not be going to Wyoming alone. So the quintet piled into the vehicle, and off we went to Wyoming.
Given the limited scope of the voyage, the trip was wildly successful.
Now, JP, our oboist, pointed out that this picture does not prove that I am in Wyoming, since that picture could theoretically be taken from South Dakota. So I also offer you the following photographic evidence of Exit 199, which is a full seven miles into the Equality State.
And with that, I need to update my map...
I also got to see the most amazing night sky, easily the best I've seen since I left Banff a few months ago. There are so many stars visible that it actually becomes difficult to find the constellations.
Montana is just fifty miles from me, but that will have to wait for another time. Tomorrow it's off to the cities of Lead and Deadwood for three more shows, with a possible trip to Mount Rushmore later in the afternoon.
3 Comments:
That is one of the best where-I've-been map applications I have ever seen. Where did you get it?
Check the bottom of my Facebook profile and it, too, can be yours. :-) It's just a screen capture of part of the map.
Piss your next bottle of wine on Bill Hickok's grave for me will ya, Spot? That murderous thug shot my three greats grand daddy!
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