The Life and Death of Al; a Story of the Traveling Tripod
Dakota and Lisa started to feel the weariness of the quarantine that spanned for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyday was the same. Wake up. Go to work, probably remotely. Go on a neighborhood walk. Go to sleep. Repeat, but hey, at least gas prices were good. Their big romantic getaway to Hawaii was cancelled the week before takeoff since the state extended their ban on allowing tourist to enter the state. That gave Lisa the idea. They may not be able to fly many places, and health protocols seemed to fluctuate per county let alone per state. However, what was to stop them from driving? With the refunds of their failed trip trickling in and the time off already approved, Lisa planned a roundtrip to South Dakota. Meanwhile Dakota started buying supplies for their new destination; the cheapest and most sought over purchase was “Al,” the ‘albino’ tripod.
The minute the clock struck 5 from the office clock, Lisa and Dakota threw their bags in the car and drove to Amarillo, TX for the night. At breakfast Dakota asked where their first stop was on the roundtrip, 16 hours is not meant to be spent in one sitting. However, 7 hours was worth the wait for the the Southwest Gyro Duo at the Cadillac garage turned brewery that is Parts & Labor Brewing Company. One can’t drive that long only to do more sitting at lunch, though, so the pair went for a walk at North Sterling State Park which is where Al made his debut. His weak jaws that extended to hold a phone or camera forced Dakota to get creative with supporting the tripod for the many photos that followed of the couple at the beautiful reservoir. With legs and backs finally stretched and acclimated to walking instead of driving, they returned to the road.
Only two hours in the car this time, they made one last stop in Alliance, Nebraska before their final destination. What is in Nebraska, you might be wondering, and the answer is far more interesting than you’d imagine, Carhenge. Carhenge is a replica of the iconic Stonehenge monument made completely of vintage American cars. There are a few other installations and a small gift shop to entertain the visitors. Propped by the stability of the grey coated cars, Al once again dutifully took cute, silly, and candid photos of the road trippers while they fought to pose before the timer went off. Postcards sent, legs stretched, and many jokes shared with strangers, Lisa and Dakota had dinner before braving the last stretch of their drive to Custer, South Dakota.
Bright and early, Lisa and Dakota went to the ever stunning Sylvan Lake, and they decided to break in their new hiking boots by attempting Black Elk Peak. Camelback drained and protein cookies shared in quiet spots next to the trail, they gaped at the beauty of the wildlife and views from the peak. Al once again played his part as their invaluable travel aid by capturing the beauty of the spacious leisure spot at the top of the hike. Exhausted yet filled with the awe of the beauty South Dakota has to offer, they went for the unbeatable bear can chicken entrée Mount Rushmore Brewing Company serves. They ended the night touring the Crazy Horse museum before catching the history of the monument projected on the mountain which was narrated through a local radio station.
The next day they decided to visit some of the outstanding waterfalls South Dakota has tucked away off highway 90 and 14A. Bridal Falls was the first stop, and visiting the falls is not quite the easiest feat. While there is an outlook point to see the majesty of this stop with a sign outlining interesting facts about the area and falls, it is possible to get up close and personal with them if you’re not afraid to get your feet wet. Dakota and Lisa hiked down a short cliff before removing their socks and shoes and wading in the shallow pool separating them from the falls. After putting their shoes back on, they navigated their way towards the final drop of the falls. They were not the only ones that made this journey, and while they attempted to set up Al at a high vantage point, a Chicago visitor offered to take their photo instead. Lisa and Dakota could not stop laughing and feeling like their choice to take up his offer was validated after he proceeded to yell at other passerby’s to move for the perfect photo of the couple he had only just met. Admittedly, Lisa and Dakota got a bit greedy because they believed Al could get another incredible photo on the other side of the falls. As they set up, Al’s jaw snapped off. Tragedy befell the couple as they realized that there was no possible repair for him, so they did the only thing they could think of to honor him. They buried him as close to the top of Bridal Falls as they could manage. A beautiful resting place for their fallen photographer. They carried his memory in their hearts as they visited a few other waterfalls and lamented the loss at Mount Rushmore later that evening.
The last morning in South Dakota was celebrated by Dakota and Lisa in a hot air balloon. While their seasoned pilot showcased the beauty of Black Hills, Dakota and Lisa tried and failed to see Bridal Falls from their altitude to pay homage to Al one last time.