This day held some promise, with a slight risk pasted up and down most of the High Plains. I favored the area on the south side of the Black Hills, for reasons long forgotten. We watched a strong cell or two go up near Oelrichs, SD, and these exhibited some supercellular characteristics for some fleeting moments. We utilized an unpaved road (BIA Hwy 41) which took us southbound in front of the activity and eventually eastbound towards Pine Ridge, SD, in Shannon County. This county is a bleak, desolate and very poor Indian Reservation, culturally speaking. “Plight” is the word of the day, boys and girls. Along one stretch of dirt road, we pulled off and looked for a safe place to park and watch the storm clouds to our west. Well, apparently we went a little too far off of the “main road”, because a local came up to our vans and started lambasting us with obscenities. He made it known that he did not want us anywhere near this area. I am sure that his girlfriend who was in his vehicle was filled with pride with this display of congeniality. I suspect that he had a drug lab just over the hill —- just a wild guess. He followed us halfway to Pine Ridge. What fun!
Did anyone get a picture of this angry Injun before he yelled “Get that $#%&(@ camera out of my face”?!!
Anyway, at that point the storms were becoming less and less organized and merely weak outflowing patheticus junkus. We baled south to the friendly confines of Nebraska.
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