Last night, Lakota from the area met us at our campground. Today we are traveling together to meet with a Storyteller in Rosebud, SD.

The back roads took us through an amalgamation of the grass ocean and Badlands National Park. Yes! In the ever enchanting and random way of nature came the erosion sculpted hills framed by the flowing grass, always different and always captivating.

Driving into the very poor town in a golden bus and a truck holding two sweet bikes were attention grabbers to say the least. We pulled into the parking lot of our Rosebud accommodations, a former church, and found ourselves outnumbered by locals and especially little ones. A benefit was getting help from the kids who were happy to ferry in stuff and be part of the spectacle.

Settling in.

As we found in other parts of SD, this town is a food desert. There were 3 other people buying stuff and it was all packaged sweets. I asked about work. Not much was the reply.

I wonder why people don’t grow their own produce, raise chickens and goats or other small animals for eggs, meat, and milk, make bread, and so on. Then sell and barter for massages, etc. Like what I imagine an intentional community might do. Make killer singletrack so conscientious mountain bikers come. Or something else. Anything guys. The flow of money out of the town into CEO’s bank accounts is terrible and diminishable.

Much later, we sat around a fire and listened to the Storyteller explain what is Turtle Island and its very significant part in history. He was interesting for sure and the tale was a good one. The Teyuna then shared their stories and songs. The similarities between the two peoples, far apart in distance, was astonishing.

I slept on the bus for the first time. It was great and will be a knockout when the full on mattress is in place.