Big Sioux Recreation Area.....

Finally we got to go camping again. It seems like it has been forever...

Rick wanted to shoot the MSAA State Target in Slayton MN so we of course made it a camping trip. We wanted to try a new campgrounds so we went to South Dakota. It is just over an hour from the shoot so it worked out perfect. We left on Wednesday afternoon for a fun weekend. We had all day Thursday and Friday to do what every we wanted. On Saturday Rick drove to the shoot and I just hung out at the campgrounds. Sunday we packed up and left for Slayton at 6:30...way to early for me.  After shooting on Sunday we headed home. It was a great weekend! And best of all Rick won for the SMFS class!!!

Our campsite at Big Sioux Recreation Area All the sites in the campground were very big and most were in the shade for at least part of the day. It was super clean and quiet even on the weekend. 

This is one of the trails we went on . They had hiking and biking trails. Some of the biking trails were paved and others were on dirt. It is fun to be able to use both. 

They had a archery field course at the campgrounds. That is part of the reason we picked this campgrounds. 

What we did not know was the only way to get the the archery range was to walk or bike! Rick managed to take his bow and all his stuff on the bike! 

The swing bridge on the way to the archery range. 

The course was very nice and had some changeling shots. 

If you look close you can see the ears of a tiny fawn! It was so cute hiding under the tree. I did not want to disturb it so I did not get a very good picture. We saw several deer while we were out hiking and biking. 

It was a super fun weekend and I would recommend the campgrounds! 

Happy Camping Everyone

Sharon

Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children. —Ancient Indian Proverb

Spring finally decided to make it appearance just in time for us to take our fist camping trip for the season. We went to Yankton SD again for an archery tournament and stretched the weekend into a 4 day mini vacation.

We stayed at Chief White Crane Recreation Area  We have stayed there many times and have always had a good time. Since it has been cold out and last week they had snow on the ground we pretty much had the campgrounds to ourselves.

Our favorite site is number 112P. It is a site that is at the end of the park so you get less traffic and it is next to the lake. All the sites in the park are very good size.

Like always the dogs love it when I take them on nice long walks. 

Morgan is always on the hunt. The coots were invading the campground and the dogs loved to chase them back into the water where they belong.

Rick was super excited to find out that the Lewis and Clark Recreation Area has a field archery range. The area is just 2 miles from the park we were staying at. On Sunday afternoon Rick shot the 14 target field course. They also have a practice range and an animal range.  

We checked out the campground while were were there and I think next time we go to Yankton we will give it a try. 

Lake Yankton in the morning. 

Lake Yankton at sunset. 

We always love our time in Yankton.  It seems like every time we go we discover something new. 

Heres to the next adventure....

Sharon 

Who are we? We are the department on campus that must know something about everything. What we deal with: A water leak or a person in cardiac arrest. A vehicle on the sidewalk or a vehicle that was just used in a drive-by shooting. A stolen bicycle or a missing person. A building on fire or an arsonist lighting a fire. People who are happy, sad, mad, high, intoxicated, mentally ill, threatening, suicidal, disrespectful, dishonest, friendly, apologetic and helpful. We have been pushed, hit, cursed, lied to and lied about. We have been thanked, hugged, and appreciated. We are a group of people who are dedicated to making Carleton the best it can be for the people who work, study and visit here.-Noel Williams

As I get ready to leave my life at Carleton I have been doing a lot of reflecting. The above title to my blog was written by my dear friend and coworker that left us over a year ago. He really said it best when describing what it is we do in our job. So many people would assume that all I ever did at work was unlock doors and sit around.  We have always been so much more.  My job has been stressful yet rewarding. I have so many happy memories and stories that are mixed in with the sad and stressful ones.....

I have often been asked what our my funnies memories so here you go.

I have two for you that both involve chickens!

Way back when I first started working day shift I got a call from the food service that they had a person dressed in a chicken suit bothering people. When we responded to the dinning hall we found a student in a full chicken suit standing by the egg that were being served clucking at everyone that took them. It was so funny! We just asked the student to move on and stop clucking...

Two years ago I got a call that there was a chicken in one of the dorms. Apparently a student had brought it back with him after break as a joke and the chicken had been passed around from room to room and ended up in a lounge. The chicken was brought to Security and I found a home for to live out its life.

When the college bought the old Northfield Middle School we use to walk all over in it. Students were always asking if it was haunted.  Well one day this was discovered on the windows in a inner walkway in the building...

We refer to them as the ghost birds

We use to have so much fun at work. I don't even know how to describe it. When you have a stressful job you just do things to be silly sometimes.  Again in the old middle school we were given permission to take some of the old lockers to use in the Security Office. Jim, Noel and I went over one afternoon to get them. While working on them Jim laid down on the floor like he was died and I traced his body in chalk like it was a crime scene. Gosh we laughed and laughed and to this day every time we bring it up we start laughing. When I tell the story to others they don't get why we think it was so funny....I guess you had to be there :)

I've also had a lot of sad things happen while I was at work. I had so many injured, sick and mentally ill students and visitors on campus that  I had to help. I also had a student die while I was on duty. I had to perform CPR on her. It was one of the hardest days I have ever had....So I guess it is okay for us to laugh at silly things to keep us sane...

I've walked so many miles while at work. One of the perks of my job was I was not stuck in an office all day. When I was not busy I was expected to patrol the campus. So rather then just drive around I walked. It is amazing what I saw.  I walked in the heat, cold, rain and snow. 

The wild blackberries I got to pick and eat every summer on campus. 

The last two summers they brought goats on campus for weed control. They were so entertaining.  We joked that we had to go say hello to the goats every morning. 

  

When they first opened the Rec. Center on campus on a dare my boss and I both got trainers for I think a 6 week program. It was the start of my running. I ran my first race, a 5K on Thanksgiving morning with my boss that year.

And then I ran my last race with him many years later. The Mankato Half Marathon. He was always telling me that it was on his bucket list to run one so I pushed him in to signing up. He cursed me until the day he ran it and of course beat my time.

There had been a core group of us that have worked together for years, Wayne, Klay, Steve, Jim,  Noel and myself. We were a family.  When Noel passed away it rocked us to our core. We have never really recovered. We tried each and everyday to make him proud and do what we knew he would want us to do.  Last Friday after 32 years of working here the College decided to fire my boss. When I found out I was so sad and disappointed in the people that made the decision.....Our family has lost another member so senselessly...

I knew it was time to go. After 19 years to the day I will be done working at Carleton College. It has been a great ride but it is time to go. I will miss so many people but will not miss the stress and heartache that came with the job...



"There is a middle path, but it goes in only one direction: toward the light. Your light. The one that goes blink, blink, blink inside your chest when you know what you're doing is right." -Cheryl Strayed

I think the above quote says exactly what I feel... I am ready for new adventures. I will always treasure my time at Carleton but it time to move on....

Sharon