October 28,2004 Valentine, Nebraska

29 October 2004
Valentine, Nebraska

Still here! Spent yesterday roaming the plains of Rosebud (reservation). Such a beautiful place, with distinct landscapes. Small river valleys and pine trees break up the rolling Plains. Spent a few hours with Elva Thompson and Harold White Horse. Have known Elva for years from my days at Crow Dogs Sundance. Harold and Elva run the White Horse Trading Post in downtown Mission, South Dakota. If you’re ever out this way it’ s a great little store with lots of locally made Lakota art along with a good selection of beads, music and herbs. A must stop on the Rosebud. Ended up at their home outside White River, South Dakota and spent a great afternoon. Harold has offered to take me around tomorrow and show me some of his special places, weather permitting. Tonight it’s cold and looks like rain.
Spent today traveling south down HWY 97 looking for more waterfalls on the North Loup. Ended up in the town of Mullen, Nebraska. In Valentine we were told to look up
Mitch Glidden at the Sandhill Motel in Mullen. Turns out he runs Glidden Canoe Tours. For sure he’d know but he was out of town so I got directed over to Big Red’s Café and Bar. Had a great hamburger and lots of help from the 10 or so folks hanging around the bar. This was a local bar full of locals. Back in the 60’s I would have been in serious trouble in this place. Even today I felt a bit uneasy and excused myself to go to the bathroom. Turns out the waterfalls we were looken for were the Carrier Falls and everyone had been there fishing most of their lives until the property fell into the hands of The Turner Ranch. As in… Ted Turner. Seems the land is now off limits and they do not allow anyone on the property. I’ve got calls into the Turner Headquarters to see if we can get permission the make photographs, but everyone seems to feel it’s useless.
Due to weather and prior commitments I’ll have to leave the area Sunday heading west again to hook up with the film crew in Rapid City or Denver. Unsure as to where yet. Do plan to return in the spring and do more work here. The land and the people here have a strong pull on my heart.

The Times they are a changing