Slow at getting around this morning. We spent some time trying to decide where to stay tonight. Finally choose a KOA at Albert Lea, Minnesota which is only 200 miles from here. There was a nice sunrise to start the day.
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This wind generator belongs to the KOA and must supply all or part of the electric power.
Since we had the time, we decided to see the Corn Palace. We are glad we did. It was very interesting to see the corn murals. The first corn palace was in 1882 and over the years there have been 34 other corn palaces in 24 cities. Mitchell's Corn Palace is the only one left. Some 275,000 ears of corn are used each year to create the murals. Local farmers plant 12 different colors of corn. The corn is carefully sliced and nailed into place. Bundles of ryegrass and sour dock are used to frame the murals. Each year there is a different theme and this year the theme is "Rock of Ages."
Carol and I and the kids had been here years ago but were unable to see the murals because there had been a fire. I mentioned to the man at the KOA about the fire and he said he didn't remember a fire. I also mentioned it to the hostess at the Corn Palace and she said she had been here 50 years and did not remember a fire. I was feeling like a crazy person but on the wall of the history of the Palace was a paragraph about a fire by an arsonist in 1979 that burned the murals. So I am not crazy...there was a fire. We were here in 1979. Sometimes, I can't remember why I went into a room but I sure do remember that we were unable to see the Corn Palace murals because of a fire! |
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| Willie Nelson |
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| Elvis Presley |
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| Sporting events and concerts are held inside the palace. The walls inside held photos of previous years' themes. Some of the people who have performed here are Bob Hope, Lawrence Welk, The Osmonds, Jim Nabors, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Trisha Yearwood, The Oakridge Boys, and many more. LeeAnn Rimes will be at the Palace in December. |
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| Carol shared a bench with an old timer. |
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| After we left the Corn Palace, we headed east on I-90. Suddenly these bull horns appeared on the horizon over a small hill. Because of the size, the horns caught our attention. As we crested the hill, we could see the rest of the bull head along with a huge hammer, a bee hive with a bee circling it, and other metal art. I don't know if the farmer who owned the field created the metal art or if he just buys it and displays it on the hill. Either way, it caught our attention and brought some interest to most other views along an interstate. |
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About 12:30 we stopped for lunch at a Minnesota Welcome Center.
The surface of I-90 in Minnesota was very rough so we bounced along for almost 100 miles. Things that don't normally rattle were rattling. In addition to the bouncing, the wind was blowing from the south against the side of the RV. Carol did a wonderful job of keeping the RV moving forward while keeping it between the two lines on the road. There was also road construction to deal with. He drove slow and steady and kept us safe. In this part of Minnesota, there are large wind farms stretching nearly 100 miles. At Blue Earth, Minnesota, we passed over "The Golden Spike." I-90 is the longest interstate in the US. Much like the building of the Continental Railroad, one road crew began in the east and the other in the west. They met at Blue Earth, Minnesota and painted a gold stripe across the lanes of the interstate to commemorate the completion. |
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| This is the entrance to Albert Lea KOA. After a long day on the road, it was very inviting to drive through this row of trees into the campground. |
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We are parked in the last row which overlooks a corn field. The site has a large tree on one side and a huge cedar tree on the other. We feel like we are camped in the country. The only thing that spoils it (and this is the same complaint about most KOAs), is that it is right next to the interstate so we can actually see the traffic on the highway. We wanted to sit out and enjoy the view and cool breeze blowing, but the mosquitoes were too plentiful to be outside.
I think tomorrow we will be camped near Madison, Wisconsin for our last night of this trip. |
A nice sunset over the corn made the circle complete from corn in the morning to corn in the evening.
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