The fourth day of our road trip brought us to Chamberlain, South Dakota, where, at a rest area overlooking the Missouri River Valley, the statue “Dignity of Earth and Sky” stands high on a bluff. The artist, Dale Claude Lamphere, created the sculpture of Sacagawea, the “Bird Woman” who served as an interpreter and guide to Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on their expedition to reach the west, and he wanted the piece to honor the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota people. He used three indigenous models, ages 14, 29, and 55, in a blend of art and history, to create “an enduring symbol of our shared belief that all here are sacred, and in a sacred place”.
A plaque at the base of the 50-foot-tall statue also states, “Standing at a crossroads, Dignity echoes the interaction of earth, sky, and people. She brings to light the beauty and promise of the indigenous peoples and cultures that still thrive on this land.” The statue was dedicated on September 17, 2016, and has become roadside attraction.
Getting here from New Hampshire was “a trip” in every sense of the word. We wanted to avoid the traffic and congestion of the northern United States, so we took the Canadian detour north of the Great Lakes, stopping for a night in Ottawa before crossing back over in Sault St. Marie. The problem with that plan was that we found ourselves with cell phone coverage and GPS guidance on Canadian roads.
It turns out that the problem was our carrier, Consumer Cellular. When we switched from our previous carrier, we thought the service included international calling, which we had previously. No, Consumer Cellular has a policy that requires one to call and unblock international calling each time one travels, and it shuts off again as soon as the trip ends.
Without phone or satellite navigation, we had to rely on our paper maps to find our way — which was not difficult on the main roads, but we had no idea how to get to our motel, and of course, pay phones are a thing of the past. We finally did find a pay phone at a rest stop and called ahead to the motel, writing down the directions. What they did not say is that road construction closed the road they told us to use, and we had to try and follow a confusing series of detour signs, adding at least a half-hour to our trip.
It was not all that long ago that we relied on paper maps and it did not seem to be a problem, but now that we’re used to GPS — and cells phones when we’re in trouble — going back to the old way seemed off-putting. I’ve reported on how our modern apps, including those in our cars, are being used to harvest our personal information for sale to merchants and others interested that knowledge, as well as opening the door to hackers, but they also make life so much easier. A physical atlas remains useful for plotting courses, but the GPS that is built into our phones has become almost a necessity.
Driving blind was not the worst of it. When we got to our motel and used that phone to call Consumer Cellular to activate international calling on our phones, we were told that they cannot do that while we are in Canada. We have to call while we’re in the United States. It made no sense, but we had to go a second day without cellular coverage to re-enter the U.S. and activate international calling — for a limited time.
Still, travel through Canada and then Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was calm — if long — because we were not dealing with bumper-to-bumper traffic. The foliage was at its peak and the roads were strangely free of traffic for the most part until we got to Minnesota and the long trek through flat countryside. Still, apart from the long days of driving, it has been a pleasant trip.
Reaching South Dakota with Mount Rushmore in our future, we will be continuing on and I plan to resume regular postings as the trip continues.
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