God, How I Love Traveling the Plains

Miles Traveled Today: 487.5

Delayed post due to lack of internet service:

Picture # 1: This picture is so typical of the western plains where one can see miles and miles of these round bales of hay. What makes them unique it the vast quantities spread out across the endless stretches of grasslands. Besides, you gotta love that blue Montana sky. Today's weather was superb with temperatures ranging from the low 60's in the morning to the high 70's in the afternoon. Before everyone asks, yes I'm traveling alone, the camera is setting on my riding gloves set to a ten second timer. Yeah, I had to run my butt off and claw my way up onto the bail before the shutter activated. There's just something about one of these bails that brings back a smile to my face. Have that affect on anyone else?

Picture # 2: With some of these farmers planting and harvesting tens of thousands of acres per season, it's no surprise the landscape is covered with Goliath sized machines such as this New Holland TJ450 series tractor. I think many of us take for granted how vital these farmers are to the very survival of American families. It is from these regions of the country that our grains are grown and harvested on such a vast scale by hard working men, women and families that have known little else but hard labor their entire lives.

For those interested in specifications:

HP: 450

Engine: 6 cylinder Cummins Turbo Charged diesel

Bore/Stroke: 5.40" x 6.70"

Displacement: 915 c.i.d.
Torque: 1745 lb-pounds.

Oil Capacity: 52 Qts.

Transmission: Powershift

Forward gears: 16

Reverse gears: 2

Fuel tanks: 300 gallons

Fully articulating 8 wheel drive

Engine idle speed: 875 RPM

Rated engine speed: 2000 RPM

Fuel tanks: 300 gallons

At today's price of diesel, that's getting pretty close to a $1300-1400 dollar fill-up! Try that on every couple of days and see if you still want to complain about the cost of a loaf of bread at the market.

Picture # 3:

Just another example of farming in the western states. Silos such as this row are a common sight on every farm you pass. While I don't have exact figures, a typical silo in this size range of approximately 26' high and 30' diameter will hold approximately 290-300 tons of silage. while that may seem like quite a bit, consider the capacity of some of the larger ones that stand as tall as 80' high with a 30' diameter. These colossal giants have storage capacities in the 1,480 - 1,500 ton range.

Picture # 4: These elevated burial platforms are symbolic of what some Native American Indian tribes used following the death of a family member. The fundamental character of the belief in immortality is evidenced by their burial ceremonials. When a member of the tribe died, the body was covered with skins and bark and placed upon an elevated platform such as the one pictured here. No......this is not an actual burial platform but simply an example of how one was constructed.

Beside the corpse was often placed food and drink, a change of clothing, and favorite utensils and ornaments which would be needed by the spirit in its long journey to the other world. A dog was sometimes killed to provide the deceased with a companion, and after the introduction of horses, ponies were also sacrificed so that the spirit might ride into the next spirit world.

For the first few days a fire was kept constantly burning to furnish light and warmth for the journey. The body remained upon the scaffold for a fixed period, which, however, seems to have varied from one to four or even six months according to local tribal custom. During this time the relatives frequently resorted to the foot of the platform to wail and mourn, although in warm weather the stench from the decomposing body became so intolerable that the women sometimes fainted while performing this respect to the deceased.

The Perfect End to a Beautiful Day of Riding And now for the best part of the day: After driving for approximately 400 miles today in beautiful weather, I begin thinking about where I was going to stay the night. I had no interest in a motel and not much more in another campground. I begin longing, as I have for many years, to sleep on the prairie similar to the old cowboy days. As I drove along, I began contemplating my chances of finding a suitable location. It had to be far removed from the noise of traffic and somewhere out of sight of anything man made.

Knowing that this is all personally owned farmland, I figured my chances of driving up to a farmhouse and convincing a total stranger to let me sleep in his field was about as good as winning the Michigan lottery. Figured I'd wind up looking down the business end of an old Iver Johnson double barreled shotgun or something of the kin.

Finally, as the sun was getting low in the western sky, the urge to fulfill my dream grew stronger than I could resist and that is exactly what I set out to accomplish. I had no idea how many ranchers I would have to approach but my mind was determined to get permission to sleep out on the prairie if I had to ask fifty. Little did I know, that I was about to learn I didn't even know the real definition of "prairie."

About five miles west of the tiny town of Rudyard, Montana, I wheeled the Freedom Machine left onto a dirt and gravel county road headed south into nowhere. After several miles of nothing but beautiful prairie, I came upon the first inhabited dwelling and the home of Fred and Elva Elling.

(to be continued)