A new strategy

As much as I enjoyed being up front at the ranch, I think my new digs by the Branding iron will serve me better. Today was a tough day to judge that even tho I worked on 2 folks right off after moving. Notoriously on Wednesday of the rally everyone rides to Wyoming to visit Devil's Tower. That must be where everyone was today as it has been a slow day on the ranch. Now with an impending storm upon us, the roar of the bikes racing back to ranch is deafening. Most everyone I have encountered are seasoned riders and even tho it is annoying most don't mind the rain. The hail is an entirely different story. I talked to a few guys the other night were caught in that storm I described to you when the hail had beaten our trailer like a red headed step child,. They described getting caught in the hail like being ripped apart. They had to pull off and hunker down beside their bikes until it passed.
Last night we enjoyed a fire out by the general store. The stars were magnificent and I am excited to see the meteor shower that is due on the 10th-13th. One of the regular visitors to the ranch is a fellow named Chico.
Daniel's nickname for him is HoDeDo. He gained that name because when he was helping on a project his most important task was to hold the door. Chico is a full blooded Sioux indian that grew up in the Black Hills. I was teasing him last night and said I just

want to see if what they say is true, if you are a true Indian you won't be able to be photographed.  The expression on his face shows he was just as nervous as I was to see the outcome. Despite the fact that you can see him, I guarantee Chico is full blooded Sioux. A nice guy with a very colorful past.
I learned around this fire the meaning of Nemo. By the dictionary it means No One - Nobody, but the lore goes that when people from Custer's group came upon this land they discovered black sands along the water bed. That means there is gold here so Nemo backwards is Omen. A good sign.

I talked about the outdoor theater here at Nemo and the guys finally found the time to en joy a 'shoot em up' as Daniel put it.

We have made it to day 4 of the rally. Thursday is the day when allot of the groups leave and an entirely new set of campers come in. Today, 47 tenters and 36 rv-ers are scheduled to come in. The weather has certainly hindered some folks from coming out to South Dakota. I know I sure would of had second thoughts about spending so much time in the rain and sleeping in a tent would have been horrible.

The nice thing about rally is the new people you meet. Staying at one of the cabins is a group from Mississippi. Brenda, the blonde sitting in the picture has the cutest accent. She is a real southern fireball. 

I got to talking to her about health stuff and I sent her away with a sujo ring and bracelet to help with hers.

I am really missing home and despite the work or lack there of I am having a good time. I don't think I have ever been this relaxed. Not that I was up tight before I left, you would have to ask the people around me, but this type of calm only comes after spending time in the mountains and around like minded folks. I think I have Marilyn talked into coming home right after the rally so I will be home a few days ahead of schedule.

The Nemo Fire Department has kicked butt on serving breakfast to the masses. This is the view on the way up the hill to breakfast.

Marilyn took advantage of the freshly cut hay in the ditch and the horse promptly rewarded her with a dump!