A Landing a Day

First timer?  In this formerly once-a-day blog (then every-other-day blog and now a two-or-three-times a week blog), I have my computer select a random latitude and longitude that puts me somewhere in the continental United States (the lower 48).  I call this “landing.”  I keep track of the watersheds I land in, as well as the town I land near.  I do some internet research to hopefully find something of interest about my landing location.  To find out more about A Landing A Day (like who “Dan” is and what the various numbers and abbreviations mean), please see “About Landing,” (and “Abbreviations” and “Cryptic Numbers”) above.

Dan –  After 8 OSers in a row, was 3 USers in a row too much to ask?  Well, the LG has answered with an emphatic “yes” . . . ND; 56/44; 2/10; 18; 155.8.  Here’s my landing map, showing my proximity to Glen Ullin:

Here’s a slightly broader view, showing the proximity of the fair town of Glen Ullin to the straight scar across the countryside known as I-94:

I can just imagine that when the route of the interstate was being planned, the town fell into two camps:  1) those who wanted the interstate to pass within shouting distance of the town and 2) those who would be happy with the road being a couple of miles away.  Obviously, camp (2) won.

Anyway, here’s a broader view:

I landed in the watershed of the Heart Butte Ck (a couple of pictures of Heart Butte later); on to the Heart River (2^nd hit); on to the Missouri (354^th hit); on to the MM (754^th hit).

From the town of Glen Ullin’s website:

History of the Name

In May or June of 1879 the Northern Pacific had laid the tracks through the area that is now Glen Ullin. Four years later two land agents – Major Alvin E. Bovay of Ripon, WI, and Isaac Richardson of Cleveland, OH, organized a group to settle in western North Dakota. They decided on the spot that is now Glen Ullin.  Major Bovay chose the name Glen Ullin from one of his favorite pieces of literature, “Lord Ullin’s Daughter.”  The word Glen is a Gaelic word meaning valley, decided upon because of the location in Curlew Vally, a beautiful glen.

Note the “Lord Ullin’s Daughter” connection – it’s an epoch poem by Scottish poet Thomas Campbell (written around 1800).  Before you read the words, a little background – the Chieftain is the Chief of a Scottish Clan on Ulva Island (an island on the western Scottish coast); Lord Ullin is an Englishman, and tensions were running high between the clans & the Brits.  Also, a “ferry” is a body of water (in this case, Loch Gyle).  I suggest you take a deep breath and actually read this poem.  I liked it.  If you get a little confused, there’s a synopsis after the poem. . .

Lord Ullin’s Daughter

A Chieftain to the Highlands bound,
Cries, ‘Boatman, do not tarry;
And I’ll give thee a silver pound
To row us o’er the ferry.’

‘Now who be ye would cross Lochgyle,
This dark and stormy water?’
‘Oh! I’m the chief of Ulva’s isle,
And this Lord Ullin’s daughter.

‘And fast before her father’s men
Three days we’ve fled together,
For should he find us in the glen,
My blood would stain the heather.

‘His horsemen hard behind us ride;
Should they our steps discover,
Then who will cheer my bonny bride
When they have slain her lover?’

Outspoke the hardy Highland wight:
‘I’ll go, my chief – I’m ready:
It is not for your silver bright,
But for your winsome lady.

‘And by my word, the bonny bird
In danger shall not tarry:
So, though the waves are raging white,
I’ll row you o’er the ferry.’

By this the storm grew loud apace,
The water-wraith was shrieking;
And in the scowl of heaven each face
Grew dark as they were speaking.

But still, as wilder blew the wind,
And as the night grew drearer,
Adown the glen rode armed men-
Their trampling sounded nearer.

‘Oh! Haste thee, haste!’ the lady cries,
‘Though tempests round us gather;
I’ll meet the raging of the skies,
But not an angry father.’

The boat has left a stormy land,
A stormy sea before her-
When oh! Too strong for human hand,
The tempest gathered o’er her.

And still they rowed amidst the roar
Of waters fast prevailing;
Lord Ullin reach’d that fatal shore-
His wrath was chang’d to wailing.

For sore dismay’d, through storm and shade,
His child he did discover;
One lovely hand she stretch’d for aid,
And one was round her lover.

‘Come back! Come back!’ he cried in grief,
‘Across this stormy water;
And I’ll forgive your Highland chief,
My daughter!- oh, my daughter!’

‘Twas vain: the loud waves lash’d the shore,
Return or aid preventing;
The waters wild went o’er his child,
And he was left lamenting.

Synopsis:

In 1795 Campbell visited Mull, one of the largest islands of the Inner Hebrides (Argyllshire, Scotland), and there sketched the ballad “Lord Ullin’s Daughter,” which he reworked in 1804 and finally published in 1809. (3) The ballad is the story of an attempted elopement which results in the deaths of the couple. The fleeing lovers, the young “chief of Ulva’s isle” and his “bonny bride,” Lord Ullin’s daughter, have been hotly pursued by Lord Ullin and his horsemen for three days. Both know that the young man’s life will be forfeit if they are captured. They approach a boatman to whom the young man offers money if he will row them over the ferry; that is, if he will take them across Lochgyle. The boatman, a “hardy Highland wight,” agrees to row them across in spite of the raging storm, not for money, but for the sake of the “winsome lady.” As the pursuers approach, the boat puts out into the stormy loch. When Lord Ullin reaches the shore, he is forced to watch his daughter and her lover drown as he calls out to them, vainly promising forgiveness to the young man if only they will return.

Here’s a picture of Lochgyle (known now as Loch Na Keal):

Here’s a map of the Isle of Mull, showing that Loch Na Keal is actually an arm of the ocean.  Likely, the ill-fated boat ride was south to north heading over to Ulva (the Chieftan’s island) . . .

Here’s a broader view, with the “A” on the Isle of Mull:

Back to the poem.  This is a painting by Albert Pinkham Ryder, depicting the poem and entitled “Lord Ullin’s Daughter”.

About Mr. Ryder, from Wiki:

Albert Pinkham Ryder (1847 – 1917) was an American painter best known for his poetic and moody allegorical works and seascapes, as well as his eccentric personality. While his art shared an emphasis on subtle variations of color with tonalist works of the time, it was unique for accentuating form in a way that some art historians regard as modernist.

What do I know about art?  Practically nothing, but I can see why he’s considered a modernist.

Returning to Glen Ullin; there’s a bonny photographer who has visited these parts by the name of Dee Brausch.  The wee lass has sprinkled her pictures all over Google Earth via Panaramio.  I found the ones near Glen Ullin to be delightful, and will share them with you.  I’ll start with this view of the countryside just south of the Glen:

Here’s the Glen Ullin Roller Mill:

Moving on to Heart Butte, located southwest of my landing (after which the Heart Butte Creek is obviously named):

And here’s another shot of the Butte:

Here’s an absolutely stunning shot of a road west of Glen Ullin:

Speaking of stunning, check out the sunflowers just outside of town:

Only one mile west of my landing spot is an old abandoned farm.  Dee visited there and took these two pictures:

I’ll close with this sunset shot over a lake just north of Glen Ullin:

Hats off to photographer Dee Brausch!!!

That’ll do it. . .

KS

Greg

© 2010 A Landing A Day