Day 89 - Friday - Routine Tasks
We're staying a second night in Wind
Cave and since we've already done
the cave tour and the weather isn't conducive to above ground walks, we decide
to catch up on the business of daily living.
Both of us need to use the computer, and there's no reception in the
park, so we hop in the car and drive down to Hot Springs.
We remember a cafe where we had a good cup of coffee and
were able to use our cell phones, so we move in there with both of our
computers. The cats, meanwhile wonder
where we've gone. W e spend a few hours
and get a lot done. The staff of the
café doesn't mind a bit.
Once done we realize it's way past lunchtime. The manager of the cafe lets us split the
lunch special, which is a BLT sandwich with
a cup of soup (gazpacho) and second side
dish, plus an iced tea, He's really a
gem, as he gives us the sandwich with no bread but extra lettuce, the way we
like it. He lets us have 2 cups of
gazpacho instead of the side, and we each get a tea. All this for $9. And did I mention that Vicky, who herself
makes a mean gazpacho, declared it a hit.
The Friday Farmers' Market has just opened so we go check it
out. We get some fresh greens, but
generally find the prices are really high
maybe this market is designed for tourists rather than locals!
Then it's back to the campsite. Last night we had a couple of really meaty
lamb chops that Vicky had picked up in Gillette, and tonight will be more of
the same. However, while last night the
rain forced us to cook inside, so far today the rain has held off and Vicky
soon has a roaring fire going in the graye at our site and puts the lamb on to
grill.
That's when the skies decide to open. It's a pity someone didn't have a camera to
record us holding umbrellas over both ourselves and the grill to allow the
cooking to continue. Unfortunately the
rain had done its work before we got out there, so the chops are once again
cooked inside. Still, they're really
juicy and flavorsome, and the fresh broccoli from the Farmers' Market completesa
special meal.
The temperature has cooled considerably so Vicky decides to
give the ranger program a miss, but I head up to the amphitheater and, sitting
on a wet bench, nevertheless learn a lot about prairie dogs. Did you know they have different words
(calls) for "medium sized human wearing a green jacket" and
"small human wearing a red jacket".
Yes, research has actually been done on this. They have a huge "vocabulary" and
it's different among the 5 species of prairie dogs.
The talk busts several myths: prairie dogs can not transmit plague to cows
(although they can transmit it to dogs, cats and humans which is why you should
never approach too closely); prairie
dogs do not abandon their burrows after eating themselves out of house and home
- in fact many burrows are used for years.
The talk is good. The
rain holds off. I have to dry the seat
of my pants when I get home.
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