1800's Town and Wall Drug

We had a restful night.  We opened the bedroom windows and let the cool air and breeze blow  in.   We ate breakfast burritos at the Cook Shack.  They were very good.  We secured the RV for Sandy and headed for the 1880's town.  As we left the  camp, this sign was posted.   It gave us a good laugh to start the morning.

"Dancing with the Wolves" was filmed in this part South Dakota.  The owner of the property this town is set loaned the film crew a number of Indian relics and antiques that were used in the film.   Also built were several buildings.  After filming the movie company left the main street buildings and 1880's town was born.  There are 30 buildings all of which were either part of the film or over the last few years torn down, moved to this town and reconstructed on main street.

This round barn is the entrance to the town.

The second floor of the round barn contains items used in the making of the film.

This was Kevin Cosner's make-up chair.  The sod building was used in the film as the cabin in which he lived.

One of the Indian teepees used in the film.

Main Street

A good place to take a bath after a hard day chasing cattle on the range.

At the saloon, Carol bought a sarsaparilla to quench his thirst.

Another view of Main Street.

On the wagon ride, this old guy would tell you stories about living back in the 1880's.  He was a funny guy and kept us laughing.    There were long-horned cattle and horses to see but the most unusual animal we saw was a camel.

This is Otis the Camel.  Apparently, back in the late 1800's camels were brought to this part of the country on an experimental basis to use as pack animals.  I guess that idea didn't pan out because camels are not prevalent in the U.S. as pack animals.

I can't remember the fellow's name but the mules are Tom and Jerry.

St. Stephen's Catholic Church.  During the move here from Dixon, South Dakota, not one of the stained glass windows were broken.  This church was built before South Dakota was even a state.

The sign says Dixon Dakota Territory.

No western town would be complete without a train and Carol can't resist climbing into the engine.

The next stop of the day was at Wall Drug.  Nothing ever changes in this store.  Because Carol is a veteran, he got a free donut and cup of coffee.  A cup of coffee at Wall Drug is still 5 Cents.

The return trip from Wall Drug passes through the Badlands so I couldn't resist a few pictures.  Tomorrow we plan to drive back through the Badlands and take a few hikes.

We were lucky enough to spot these big horn sheep grazing along the road.

The rest of the family was high above on a grassy butte.

We returned to camp about 3:30.  The temperature in the car said 91 but there was a strong wind blowing and the old saying is that "it is a dry heat."  Really, it was not uncomfortable to be outside.  We took Sandy for a walk and sat outside for a while.  We had a new neighbor move into a spot beside us.  She is a neat lady.  She is from Buffalo, New York and had just retired after working 42 years in a factory.  She decided she wanted to see the country before she got too old or sick to do so.  She is traveling in her van and sleeps in it at night.  I asked  how long she planned to be gone and she said she hadn't decided yet.  I think she is brave to pack up her van and leave on a trip across country all by herself.  I guess I have been married too long to think it would be fun to travel alone.  I also don't think I would be brave enough to do it alone.

Sandy has been very restless this evening.  This kind of restlessness usually occurs when she senses a storm coming.  The winds make us think a storm is coming, as well.  The residents of this part of South Dakota hope for the rain.  Anyway, we are inside for the evening.  We are going to watch one of Carol's all time favorite movies "The Outlaw Josie Wales."

Minnesota and South Dakota

As I begin this entry, I was not able to download any pictures.  We are camped at Badlands/White River KOA.  This KOA is about 12 miles off the interstate and located along the White River in a valley.  For the most part there is no internet or even cell phone service.  The brochure we were given states "Tower access is limited at this KOA.  If you can't get your provider, try going up hill outside the campground on either direction on Highway 44.  Remember, we are down on the river here."    The KOA provides internet service but in the evening hours so many people are trying to use it that service is slow or non-existent.  Anyway, I was able to get on the blog so I want to get our day in writing before this old feeble mind forgets.  I will try to post pictures either late tonight or early in the morning.

After a good night's rest, we got on the road at 8:00 a.m.  The day was cloudy but we don't mind.  This part of Minnesota is flat but green so they must have gotten enough rain.  We did see a sight we had never seen before on the road.  We saw a Bald Eagle trying to score his breakfast on road kill.  We have seen lots of crows and other scavenger birds eating road kill but never the mighty, American symbol Bald Eagle.  It surprised us to see the eagle so close on the road.

We cross the "Golden Stripe" again.  The Golden Stripe is similar to the Golden Spike of the transcontinental railroad only it commemorates the final connection of I-90 from Boston to Washington.  It is the longest continuous road in the U.S. of 3,082 miles.    We passed by Pipestone National Monument.  We didn't take the time to stop but it sounded interesting.  This site is sacred to the Indians as their ancestors quarried red stone from the rock quarries for their pipes; thus "Pipestone National Monument."

Once we crossed into South Dakota, the speed limit became 80 MPH.  We stayed in the right lane traveling a leisurely 60 MPH and let the rest of the traffic pass us by.  There was a strong wind blowing from the south so it hit the motorhome broadside.  This was even more reason to maintain a slow steady speed of around 60 MHP.

We stopped at a Welcome Center when we entered South Dakota and picked up some brochures on the area around the interstate.  Last year when we came east on I-90 we saw these huge set of horns peeking over the top of a hill and there were other metal creations in that same field.  We discovered that is part of the Porter Sculpture Park.  A farmer/artist created the metal pieces from scrap iron and farm implements.  The bull's head is nearly 60 feet tall.  Again, lack of time caused us to only observe and appreciate his work as we passed by on the interstate.

Interstate 90 is nearly 400 miles long across South Dakota. At mile marker 260 the interstate crosses the Missouri River.  On the eastern side of the river, a rest area has been created to honor the Native American culture in South Dakota.   A 50 foot sculpture stands on the bluffs overlooking the river.  The sculpture is of an Indian woman wearing a quilt across her back.  The quilt features 128 stainless steel blue diamond shaped designed to flutter in the wind.  At night, LED lights cause the diamond shapes to glow.   It was very impressive and the view across the river was beautiful.

We arrived at the KOA at 5:00.  We drove 450 miles in 9 hours.  We are set up for three days and four nights.  After supper, we sat outside enjoying the outdoors.  Their was a nice breeze blowing so we felt comfortable.  We haven't turned on the air conditioner but since we will be leaving Sandy home as we explore the area, we will turn on the air conditioner tomorrow.  This KOA has a "cook shack" which serves breakfast and supper meals.  The menu is posted at the office and it sounded interested so I am sure we will try it out sometime during our stay here.

This KOA is very different but nice.  It is almost like camping in years past.  We don't have the electronics, telephones, or television (we receive only two PBS channels).  We are camped under trees.  It is very dusty, first of all because of the terrain in the Badlands area; and second, because they haven't had much rain.  We were told this area is 7 inches behind in rainfall.  The showers are hot, the winds are cool, trees provide shade, and no interstate traffic sounds can be heard.  What more could we want for four nights?

The car is unloaded off the dolly and is waiting for us to explore this area tomorrow.

The morning sky as we traveled west on I-90.

Sandy's favorite thing to do when we are driving.  The chair gently rocks as we move down the road so she is being rocked to sleep.

The rest areas in South Dakota are very nice.

This is the Porter Sculpture Park  with the 60-foot metal cow.  Other sculptures can be seen.

It looks like I-90 is headed straight into the Missouri River.

View of the Missouri River from the top of the bluff rest area.

A family donated one million dollars to have this sculpture created and set at this rest area.

The back of the sculpture showing the quilt.

There are acres and acres of sunflowers grown in South Dakota.

We passed through a small part of Badlands National Park to get to the KOA.

The Adventure Begins

We spent yesterday packing and hooking up the car so we could leave early this morning.  We accomplished that because we pulled out of the driveway at 6:45 a.m.   We took 51 north to I-74 to I-80 and finally I-35 to Albert Lea, Minnesota.  It was a great day to drive, mostly thin clouds enough to not be bothered with the sun in our eyes.  According to MapQuest it was a 440 mile trip but somehow we managed to need 500 miles to get here.  The traffic was heavy on I-80 but thinned out on I-35.  We pulled in the KOA at 5:30 making it an 11-hour day.

This was the sight from the front window all day.  I took this picture in Illinois but it could have been taken in Iowa.  

We finally made it to Minnesota about 5:00 p.m.

We camped at this same KOA last year in this same spot.  

Last year the farmer planted corn.  This year it is soy beans.  He believes in crop rotation.

After eating supper, we took Sandy for a walk.  This is another view from the campground.

The KOA has a fenced dog-park area.  We were able to take her off  the leash and let her enjoy some freedom, the first of the day.  She is a good traveler, spending most of her time in one of the recliners sleeping.

The day was uneventful.  We spent time looking for a gas station we could pull the motorhome and car into.  We exited two times and the stations were undesirable.  Finally, we noticed a billboard for a Phillips 66 station and there were the letters "RV" in a circle in the corner of the sign.  We pulled off and the station had the needed room to maneuver our motorhome and car.   After that, we noticed other signs that had the "RV" designation.  I wish all gas stations on the interstate would indicate if they had space for a large RV.

Even though Iowa is basically an agricultural state, I do see beauty in the rolling hills covered with tall, green corn or soybeans.  From the first rest stop, we learned that Herbert Hoover was born in West Branch, Iowa.  At the age of 9 he became an orphan and at the age of 54 he was president of the United States.  His presidential library and grave site is in West Branch.  It might be interesting to learn more about him.  Also I saw on the map that the "Little Brown Church" from the song "Little Brown Church in the Vale" is located in Iowa   Knowing that song really dates me!  Also in Iowa is a Laura Inglas Wilder site, Amana Colonies, and Effigy Mounds National Monument.  The Effigy Mounds National Monument is featured on a recent quarter.  Who knew Iowa had a national monument?  All these things might warrant a return visit.

According to MapQuest, it is 460 miles to our next stop near Badlands National Park.  Hopefully, that mileage doesn't inflate like it did today.  When we get there, we will spend four nights and will unhook the car for daily sightseeing.  We have had the windows open and the night air is cool.  Should be good sleeping.