This week was the launch of my new three-part podcast series for Travel South Dakota - with Armchair Productions. It was so much fun writing and hosting the series - and even more fun travelling through beautiful South Dakota for the series.
You can find the podcast on Spotify (and where all good podcasts are found!). The podcasts will also be on inflight entertainment (Singapore, Cathay, Fiji, etc) and through the new American Public Television Podcast Studios. Here is the trailer for the podcast:
It's perfect timing too, because Episode 1 is about the annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup, which takes place next week (September 29th). A crowd of 20,000 people will set up chairs and blankets to watch sixty cowboys and cowgirls saddle up and bring in a thundering herd of over a thousand buffalo. Last year I wasn't just watching it - I was in it. I was getting thrown around on a back of a truck chasing buffalo. To get a real taste of the madness (and the dust) you can listen to Episode 1 here. You'll hear one of the riders Molly as she cracks her whip and corrals the galloping beasts. You'll also meet Lakota rider and manager of Bear Butte State Park, Jim Jandreau, who tells us what the buffalo means to the Lakota people. At the end of the long and tiring ride you hear Molly’s 87-year-old dad, who had just taken part in his 53rd roundup.
Here's a few snaps I took from last year's event:
It was an early morning start - for me and the riders.
Getting the horses ready.
Heading out from the stables.
The dust flies and the ground rumbles as the chase begins.
Move 'em on, head 'em up, Head 'em up, move 'em on. Rawhide.
Over 1,300 buffalo being rounded up.
Part of the crowd as we near the corals.
87-year-old Bob Landis (and his horse) at the end of the ride.