I know you’re wondering what I’ve been up to after a summer of radio silence. I couldn’t think of anything to say, to be honest. But then things got interesting.
A week ago I was in San Diego. Two days ago, I was in Utah. Now I am in Wyoming. And in a day or two, I will be in North Dakota. WTH?
Well, I like to say I got a wild hair. What happened was this:
I planned to spend the summer in Flagstaff, AZ saving my pennies like a good girl, but then it started raining. And raining. I was afraid I’d get stuck in the mud on the dirt road leading out of our encampment, so I said so long to old and new friends, and drove into town.
Soon, a friend invited me to join her near the north rim of the Grand Canyon. An hour after I got there, a text arrived from Son #2 in San Diego: “Mom, could you please come help me move?” He was trying to wrap his head around packing and moving to Pasadena, after living in our tiny apartment since he was nine.
He needed his mommy, so of course, I texted back, “Coming,” because I can’t say no to that kid. So Scout and I spent August in a sweltering San Diego. Trust me, you do not want to be in a van in such conditions. But I parked in the shade on a lake, with a fan blowing wet air, so we survived.
When that was done, we headed joyfully to St. George, Utah, where my friend was waiting. It was gorgeous and dry there, though once again: too warm for me.
View of Zion from our camp outside St. George, Utah
As we worked on our knitting projects on a blessedly cool evening, I remarked, “I wish I could go to North Dakota to support the water protectors.”
All summer, Native Americans have protested an oil pipeline set to go under the Missouri River near their reservation. They are worried about a leak that could contaminate their water. I had watched unfolding events at the protest site in the news for weeks.
And within a minute or two, the decision was made.
Plans were hatched.
We left two days later and have been on the road since then. We should arrive at Sacred Stone camp in a couple of days.
Why do two white ladies think they can do any good for Sioux protesters over a thousand miles away? For one thing, we were invited (and so are you). For another, it’s time to stop sitting and moaning about all the injustice in the world.
It’s time to stand up and help
Is it dangerous? I have no intention of being on the front lines. I am not ready for that. But I can support the ones who are and make it easier for them to be there every day.
I can cook for them, or drive, or watch their kids. I can bring what food and supplies I can afford. I can humbly ask what they need from me, and then do that. (p.s. Here is a list of things you can do, right from home.)
The trip has been spectacular. We have driven through, camped, and knitted in amazing places along the way.
Camped on a high ridge above Green River, Wyoming
But there was one godawful spot near Provo on the banks of Lake Utah, a salt lake that has receded dramatically from the drought, leaving a sulphurous odor. We were too tired to go farther, not realizing smell wasn’t the only problem. Flies apparently love it there, and they love small spaces like my van.
Flymageddon!
It was a biblical plague
I do not exaggerate when I say there must have been a thousand flies in the van yesterday, all sleeping on the ceiling in the morning chill. While they slept above my head, I woke early and drove as fast as I could, with AC going full blast, to the nearest car wash (and industrial vacuum.)
Mormon observers must have thought it was a devil van when I opened the door and dozens of flies spewed out. But there were many more still stunned by the AC on the ceiling. I vacuumed them up until the heat of the sun turned the remaining hundred or so into flying flies again.
We drove to Green River, Wyoming, where I’ve just squashed all but a dozen or so of the remainder, thanks to another cold morning.
It felt evil, ambushing them in their sleep, but I have no remorse
So, now I have caught you up on my busy summer. I thought I had nothing to say, but now I do. Stay tuned.
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Okay! Sounds like the travel is fun, LaVonne – but, I’m confused????
The post is titled South Dakota or Bust, but the article is all about going to North Dakota. Am I missing something?
I think I met Pish at the 2016 ill-fated Summer RTR in Coconino NF. As I recall, I saw you there, too. I had to leave on Friday to head to some meetups in CA along with a big family reunion and some birthday celebrations. I’m back east in WV currently – HOT and HUMID here.
Oh crap, I can’t believe I did that! Thanks for pointing it out.
More power to you two ladies. I wish I could go and support the protesters in the Sacred Stone Camp as well. Keep us posted.
Hi LaVonne,
I enjoyed this post. I have a blog, too, and have not written anything for nearly a year because nothing of any great interest has been going on, so I completely understand your ‘radio silence’ but it’s good to have you back. You’ve been missed.
I wrote a comment a while back – I’m the woman whose van died and I ‘ended up’ getting a job – a plain old job. It’s been all right because I actually do like the job (for once in my life) and it has provided me with health benefits. That turned out to be a huge factor for me since, just a month and a half ago, it was discovered that I had an enormous cyst on one of my ovaries and I needed a hysterectomy – STAT! I’m 59 and have three grown children and wasn’t using those parts anymore, anyway, so no worries there. I’m glad (for financial reasons) I was in the right place at the right time. But, I still have a significant co-pay, so it also means I’ll need to work a while longer to save up money for future travel. People have said to me that ‘everything happens for a reason.’ I know they’re just trying to be comforting, but honestly, I’m tired of hearing it. I don’t believe that. Stuff happens. Period. I think it’s just that we humans like things to make sense, so we apply reason after the fact. But, I digress. I’m in a good place and, after paying my bills, I’ll start saving up again.
Anyway, one of the things that particularly caught my attention in this post was the fact that you’re a knitter – I am, too. In fact, while I was recovering from surgery I knitted a few things for friends, usually while watching documentaries on youtube! Knitting sometimes saves my sanity and it surely did in this case.
But, of course, the big issue was your decision to go to North Dakota, for which, Kudos. I hope that things will turn around there. It’s not looking good right now what with the recent court decision. Thank you for the links for ways to help. I am looking into what I, personally, can do.
Love your blog!
Jan
I adirectly your courage and determination. You have inspired me to ask myself. What can I do today to make the world a better place. Stay safe and keep us posted
Thank you, Sandra. I’ve been feeling guilty for a long time for not taking active part in the causes I believe in. The nomad life finally allows me to go to one of them. I hope I can be of use.
I looked through the links, but I couldn’t find an actual location for all this. Where in North Dakota?
Cannon Ball.