Near Garryowen*, Montana, June 1, 2014

 

The day began with low clouds, chilly temperatures, and gray skies.  The weather seemed appropriate for a visit to a sad, lonely hilltop, the scene of the 7th Cavalry’s doomed efforts to follow orders to force several tribes on to a reservation. The Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho were steadfast in their resistance to  being ejected from their sacred lands and any attempts to end to their nomadic way of life. Although they won the battle, they lost everything a year later.

It’s not my intention to try to provide a history lesson about what happened at Little Bighorn on June 25-26,  1876, the year of the United States’ Centennial. The two leaders of note were George Armstrong Custer and Sitting Bull. Anyone interested in the details of the battle and the reasons why it happened can find a wealth of information on the internet. One web site that provides the Native American perspective is:  www.warpath2peacepipes.com/the-indian-wars/battle-of-bighorn.htm

Since this was a very brief motorcycles ride (19 miles round trip on laser straight roads from the RV park to the battlefield)  there’s nothing to relate of interest about the ride to the site.

Below, I’ve inserted some pictures from our visit to give you an idea of what we found at “Last Stand Hill.”

 

 

The above saying is on the side of the visitor’s center.

 

Because we had extra time today, we shopped for gifts and indulged in a real lunch at the Custer Battlefield Trading Post & Cafe near the entrance to the Battlefield.

Above: My Beemer outside the Custer Battlefield Trading Post & Cafe

The food was excellent and our server, Danielle, was efficient and friendly and encouraged us to try the homemade pies. It was a tough decision but we rose to the challenge. Her creation of cherry pie with ice cream and whipped cream was a masterpiece and Paco ate every crumb.

 

After a relaxing lunch, we took a different route back to the RV park so we could detour to Garryowen where there is a tomb of an unknown soldier killed in the first engagement between U.S. troops and the Sioux prior to the battle at the Little Big Horn. This is the only other tomb of an unknown solider in the country, the other, of course, is the one at Arlington National Cemetery.

 

 

With the sun finally breaking through and cheering us up, we started back to the RV park but first Paco wanted a photo opportunity in front of the “Floating Jesus” sign on the corner of Reno Creek Rd.

We then carefully rode along the gravel road up to our spot in the park and landed safely  at the Badger Den to plan our next destination: The Black Hills of South Dakota, Mt. Rushmore, and the Crazy Horse memorial.