No, I will not be sleeping in a covered wagon, rocked by gusty prairie winds. Neither will I be lying near a campfire, listening to coyotes and enjoying the fabulous bowl of stars overhead. In fact, I will be in a hotel, with all its modern conveniences.
Nevertheless, one can easily feel exposed on the vast, flat landscape of the Great Plains. Unobstructed by ridges or trees, the omnipresent wind creates a blast furnace effect in summer and life-threatening wind chill in winter. Massive thunderstorms, visible for hundreds of miles, threaten from the horizon and rivers tend to be either raging or dry. It is a beautiful but challenging environment, far from the countless amenities offered in large, modern cities.
No doubt, I'll survive my night in the hotel. After a free breakfast in the morning, I'll "saddle up" and head for home. Fortunately, we have satellite radio to ease the journey.
