Make time for fall adventure in the Sandhills!!!

It's ever changing...the skies, water, foliage...and it's all here for you to enjoy! Come and take a peek at what your fall season, family fun, adventure could be like!

There were still campers at Merritt Reservoir enjoying the colorful storm rolling in. Only a small amount of rain fell, but left behind this remarkable scene below!

Berries - big deal? Not necessarily. They attract wildlife. Are you a bird watcher? There were several species flying around getting their fill. For the more disciplined, they may have gotten a great photo of them nibbling; however there were other distractions...

...the stellar colors of the screaming yellow and lime leaves against the brilliant blue of the sky.

 There's something magical when the sun hits the fall grasses...what luminance!

With the time change, the sun will be setting earlier, but you can still see fascinating things like these pods which have gone to seed.

Creeks are flowing swiftly and beautifully! This is Fort Falls which will flow into the Niobrara River!

Hiking anyone? Some thoughtful group of people put stairs for the deer to climb up and down the steep inclines of the Sandhills. Not really! They're there for you and your family - yes your furry family as well - to enjoy. Do yourself a favor and wear sturdy shoes, not flip-flops!!!

There's more to the family adventure....in Valentine there will be the kiddy parade Friday, October 30 beginning at 4:00 p.m. Booohhahahahaah!

Nothing incredibly scary like a dark forest reflected in the lake, or a giant spiders web ...

Scary like a lion perhaps??

The parade has some interesting characters...some you may recognize like the Mario Brothers! Some aren't so recognizable. Their shadows are also disguised as well...very clever! Line up at First and Main Street and let yourself be seen...4:00 p.m.! 

After the parade and trick-or-treating for candy, with special thanks to Valentine's businesses, kids can continue to the square in front of the Justice Center for more fun! Giant Jenga anyone? Video games? 

Looking forward to your presence at Moonlight Madness after these activities! From 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. it's hard to say what madness will be going on inside participating businesses. Sales? Of course. Oddities? Naturally! There's one way to win prizes and Chamber Bucks...keep a keen eye out for something that doesn't quite belong!!!

Enjoy your Sandhills Adventure this fall!

And let our sponsors help you with your four season, family fun, vacation plans!!! Trade Winds Lodge, can help you with accommodations, and you can get excellent food to go at Henderson's IGA. 

Why not plan a leisurely fall trip down Niobrara National Scenic River with  Brewers Canoers and Tubers ?

Nim-Rods Bait Store has all you could ever need or want for your fishing excursion - poles, live bait, bobbers, jigs, hooks, and plenty of refreshments! Berry Creek Gun and Pawn Shop, has everything you could ever want in the way of firearms, ammo, and reloading supplies - conveniently located right down the street from The Quilting Cupboard, which has western prints, wool, cotton and batik fabric, along with patterns from Fear Not Pattern Co perfect little projects for this season! 

For a one of a kind gift that is uniquely yours, head over to Outback Screenprinting and Embroidery at their new location!!!. 

The Valentine Chamber of Commerce has a plethora of brochures that will have you coming back this fall... make sure you stop by and pick some up today!

Remember...the Sandhills are your four season, family fun, ticket 4 Adventure....come find out why at SandhillsWesternVacations.com!!! And while you're here for your Halloween and Moonlight Madness adventure, remember there's a lot more coming up! Stay tuned...we welcome you and your family!!!

Happy Labor Day!!

For those of you who couldn't make it to the Sandhills for Labor Day Weekend...here's a little bit of the Sandhills brought to you!

It's not terribly hot at the moment, and the cicadas are droning on and on and on...signaling that there isn't much left of summer.


Using the power of your imagination, this could be you enjoying the splendor of Smith Falls!

 The giant rock at the middle right, fell from the falls in 2009, due to the heat, cold, and ice; changing its face forever.

After the water flows over the falls it continues down a small stream, over the small, cascading falls and out to the Niobrara River.

 

 

Again, using the power of your imagination...pretend you're here.

With your family.....friends....extended family...school buddies. Whatever. The tents are up, smoke from grill fills the skies, and you know it's Labor Day Weekend. Can you smell the hamburgers? Steak? Maybe it's s'mores? All of which can be found at our local Hendersons IGA.

Some mammatus clouds fill the sky as evening descends. The backside of the hail storm Hay Springs got?

Here's a Labor Day worthy sunset - no matter what type of weather you're experiencing. Cool winds, not too much humidity, and a crispness that indicates fall is around the corner and the end of the droning of these cicadas.

Really, The Sandhills are beautiful regardless of the weather! Actually, it's their moodiness that make them such a fantastic place to visit...Happy Labor Day, even if you're on work break checking this out on your phone, tablet or desktop. We're always open for adventure and you're always welcome!
Check out the sponsors of SandhillsWesternVacations.com and make your reservations for next week, or next year. Stay at Trade Winds Lodge or Valentines Niobrara Lodge. You may want to make reservations now for the annual Old West Days and Nebraska Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

It's not too late to enjoy the fall colors on a trip down the Niobrara with Brewers Canoers. The scenic Niobrara River is a little quieter this time of year.

May you enjoy your pretend visit to the Sandhills of Nebraska!

Vacation Planning for the second annual Andrew Claymon Memorial Fishing Tournament

It's May and time to definitely begin thinking about your Vacation. Planning a vacation is going to surge up the adrenaline, a count down to the day, and bring about a thrill of exhilaration!

Here's a few things that are new and haven't been advertised on Sandhills Western Vacations Web site. The first is about the second annual Andrew Claymon Fishing Tournament that will be held on June 9, 2012. It's an opportunity for adults and youth to team up and catch fish. Of course, there's always bonding moments, and memories of a day out on Merritt Reservoir, surrounded by the Sandhills of Nebraska.

Andrew's mother, Joni, shares how the fishing tournament began:

Andrew was a 15 year old energetic, athletic and happy freshman in high school. He was playing on the high school basketball team, lifting weights, snowboarding, hunting, fishing, learning how to drive and hanging out with friends. In early December 2008, Andrew noticed some weakness in his left arm. On December 31, 2008, after returning from holiday break at his grandparent’s house in Nebraska, Andrew had a MRI of his spine. The MRI revealed a large tumor in Andrew's epidural space of his spinal column. The tumor started at the base of his brain and ran about halfway down his spine - 8-10 inches long. The tumor had filled the space where the spinal fluid runs and was compressing his spinal cord. Instead of going to a friend's New Year's Eve party at the local bowling alley, Andrew was taken to Children's Hospital in Denver to begin the battle of his cancer, chordoma. Chordoma is extremely rare in children as on average there are only 5 children diagnosed annually in the entire country. It was discovered that the cancer had also metastasized to both of his lungs and many of the vertebrae of his spine.


Andrew at Merritt in June 2008; six months prior to him being diagnosed with cancer (he still has his hair).

In early January 2009, Andrew started an intense 54 week chemotherapy plan, as well as, 5 weeks of radiation to his entire brain and spine. While still on chemotherapy treatments, a CT scan on December 7, 2009, revealed a large inoperable mass in his right lung that had spread systematically to his blood and lymphatic systems, Andrew was given 6 - 12 weeks to live. Andrew instead lived for 7 months and lived greatly. He went on several duck hunts, pheasant hunts, ice fishing in North Dakota, bass fishing on Falcon Lake in south Texas where he caught his largest bass ever and spent every day living his life as fully as possible.

Andrew had always dreamed of having his very own fishing boat so we bought him a boat and took it to his favorite lake, Merritt Reservoir, in early April and spent as many days as he could in his boat on the lake fishing. He also wanted to get “his dream job" at the bait shop at Merritt Reservoir. We moved to Merritt in mid-May and lived out of a camper so Andrew could work his dream job. He was able to work for 3 weeks in May and early June before the need for oxygen and pain medications prevented him from continuing work.


This is Andrew at Merritt in May 2010, about 6 weeks before he died.

Scans on June 2, 2010, revealed the cancer spreading to numerous places in his body and the doctors said that it was absolutely astounding that he was able to work and fish and not be in extreme pain. Andrew was determined to continue living in a camper with his family on the shores of Merritt Reservoir and fishing when he was able. Five days prior to his death on July 5, 2010, it was time to leave his favorite place on Earth, Merritt Reservoir. We moved Andrew to his grandparent’s home in Arnold, NE, where he bravely told his close friends and family good-bye and peacefully went to Heaven.

A few days prior to Andrew's death, his mother was talking to him about ways that he might want his memory kept alive after he died. Andrew had fished in a youth/adult fishing tournament at Lake McConaughy the past six years. His mother asked him what he would think about his family organizing and hosting an annual youth/adult fishing tournament at Merritt Reservoir in his memory. His eyes lit up and he said, "that would be cool".

That was all it took. On June 12, 2011, at Merritt Reservoir, we proudly hosted the innaugural Andrew Claymon Memorial Fishing Tournament and the second annual will be held on June 9, 2012, again at Merritt Reservoir. We plan to have this be an annual event in memory of our boy who loved to fish.

This tournament is a non-profit event with all of the sponsorship funds and entry fees going back into the tournament in the form of expenses and prizes. Our primary goals are Andrew's memory, a fun
day at Merritt Reservoir and youth fishing.

Here are the rules and regulations for the tournament:

The second annual Andrew Claymon Memorial Fishing Tournament will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at Merritt Reservoir. The team format is youth/adult; youth 17 years or younger as of June 9, 2012, and adult 18 years or older as of June 9, 2012. Fishing hours will be from 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. One team per boat and no spectators are allowed in the boat. A rules meeting/tournament dinner the night before at the Merritt Reservoir cabins/restaurant area and an awards ceremony immediately following the tournament at Beeds Landing boat ramp area.

The cost for entering the tournament is $60.00 and includes entry into the tournament, 2 tournament t-shirts, 2 hats, dinner on Friday night and a prize for every youth fisherman! Online entry is available atwww.andrewclaymonfishing.com or a mail in entry form can be sent to you by contacting Joni Claymon at jclaymon@vail.net or 970-926-1013. Teams will be “numbered and released to fish” based on the order that the entry forms are received.


Many of the tournament participants posing for a group photo.

There will be two age groups for prizes: 10 and under, and 11 to 17, with prizes and trophies going to the top three in each age group based on "total heaviest catch" of all allowed species. The prizes for top three in each age category are numerous and include one or more prize(s) from the prize table (value ranges from $10 - $40 per prize), cash, gift cards to Cabela's, etc.

Trophies will be awarded for "heaviest" fish in four categories - walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass - and an "overall heaviest fish" trophy from all allowed species. Every youth participant gets a prize from our prize table which consists of prizes for all age ranges that focus on outdoors, fishing, camping, etc.


Lexie, Andrew’s cousin, is sitting on Brian, Andrew’s brother. There's lots of fun to be had at Merritt Reservoir.

The following species are allowed to be caught and included in the "total weight caught": bluegill, crappie, perch, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike. No catfish, muskie, carp or drum are allowed in “total weight caught”. All Nebraska state 2011-2012 fishing regulations (bag, possession and length limits) will be enforced.

One of the highlights of last year’s tournament was the participation of two team members from the University of Nebraska Husker Bass Anglers fishing team. Before cancer took his life on July 5, 2010, Andrew Claymon had planned on attending UNL and being a member of this fishing team.


Husker Bass Angler team members from L to R: Jeff Brokaw and Noel Scott with the team of Adam and his son Dylan Naslund of Cody, NE, who won the random drawing to fish with the Husker Bass Angler team members the next day. They also won second place in the 10 and under age group.

Last year was a drawing from all youth participants and the winner of the drawing won a fishing outing for several hours on Sunday with these 2 team members. The same drawing will be held again this year in addition to the following drawings:

· Package 1 night cabin and 1 day guided fishing at Merritt – donated by Andrew’s grandparents, Jim & Sherry Davenport

· 1 day guided fishing trip for 1-4 people on Merritt Reservoir with John Nadolski – donated by John Nadolski

· Guided parent/child kayak trip with Kayakjak’s Outfitters, Benklemen, NE – donated by Marty Hughes

· Book a medium cabin for 1 night; get 1 night free at Merritt Trading Post Resort – donated by the John Bauer family

· Free fish mount with Niobrara Valley Taxidermy, Adam Naslund – donated by Adam Naslund



Third place finishers in the 11 – 17 age group, Brianna and John!!!

Please join us on June 9, 2012 at Merritt Reservoir for a fun day of fishing, great prizes and awards, the enjoyment of watching kids fish and their love for the outdoors; all in memory of Andrew. Sponsored by Cabela’s, Cherry County Visitor Promotion Board, Arnold Insurance Agency, Beshaler Gravel, Colorado Walleye Association, John Nadolski Fishing Guide Service, Jordan’s Sports Bar and Cafe, Merritt Trading Post, Mills Hardware, Nebraska Walleye Association, Pinnacle Bank, Winner’s Circle Auto Center (Ryan Porter), Young’s Marine and the Claymon and Davenport families.


We'll learn about the second fun event that will be taking place here in the Sandhills...stay tuned and get your swing perfected!

Lots to do at the City Park!

The Valentine City Municipal Park allows camping for a small fee, however, there are no electric or sewer hook-ups. There are rest rooms though. A new disc golf course is set to be installed within the next few weeks.
What's really great is that several people got together to help the Valentine Trails Coalition fix up the trails that are along the Minnechaduza (Minnie-K-duz-a) Creek. They re-surfaced some of the trails, fixed a bridge near the Moosman Bridge, and several folks picked up trash, totaling 11 bags.

Doesn't that look nice and cool...brand new, just grown GREEN! 

But wait - how did those stairs get there? Trolls? Gnomes? 

You'd have to ask Al. 

That's Al in the white hat, and the boys probably wouldn't like being called trolls or gnomes. They're not wearing those slouchy pointy hats, or the turned up shoes after all. 

They got a text from their coaches to head over and help! 

City Council members Neil Wescott, top, and Toby Miller, bottom, removed some of the ghostly, skeletal, trees remaining after Big Rock Fire which burned 3,000 acres in 2006. 

Neil is using a grinder to knock over the smaller trees and Toby has a grapple on the front and removes the trees that are too large to turn into mulch.  

As you can see here, not all of the park was burned. Actually, the fire kind of jumped over it! Here is the Minnechaduza Creek where the Turtle Races will be held later in July! You could win $700!

The trail really hugs the creek in some places....

 And in others, it opens to a large panorama of stellar beauty and blue skies!

Majestic oaks tower overhead. 

 The trail goes near these little trees too. 

Caught in action! Here Neil and Toby work to remove a large pine that had fallen into the river. They used a giant cable and pull it out. 

Woah! Head's up Al! Neil throws a log onto the bank and removes other debris in the river so it will flow freely. 

It's tedious work to re-surface the trail. Wheel barrows are filled with a fine gravel material which is pushed as close to an area as possible. Then large five gallon pails are carried to the inaccessible areas and are raked. Too bad the gnomes and trolls weren't available to do that part. 

 So now we're left with a clean park ready for people who want to camp. A free flowing Minnechaduza Creek. And trails that have been cleared of overgrowth and resurfaced. 

Come and enjoy what Valentine has to offer you! 

Remember to get your turtles from the Valentine Chamber of Commerce for the 

Turtle Races, July 16, 2011.  You could be the $700 winner!