CORN PALACE & LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE SOUTH DAKOTA

August 1, 2013

I have heard of the Corn Palace in Mitchell SD before but never thought about it as a destination point.  It is on I-90 and since we were close, why not?  The palace was built to celebrate the end of harvest.  It now is used as a venue for various local activities and state basketball tournaments.

I justified to Ray the reason to see the palace was so we could say yes when anyone asked if we had seen it.  I think Ray was more intrigued with artwork of the murals than I was.  I was fascinated that they continue the process of making murals.

 The palace is in the middle of town.  We did have the fifth wheel with us and we opted to park three blocks away on the street instead of trying to find a parking place closer.



There was parking across the street for RVs but we didn't know it was there and didn't want to take a change of not being able to get out.  Something we always have to think about.

Yep, its really covered in corn!

 The inside also has murals and also pictures of previous murals.

We had to stop at the "Corn"cessions and have a corn-on-the-cob and a corn dog.  The picture behind Ray is the first palace.

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE - DeSmet SD

Not on the interstate and 70 miles away from Mitchell, is the final home of Laura Ingalls Wider and her family.  I had to go and see where Laura lived on the prairie.  Ray, being the good husband, said you find the route and we will go.  The upside we saw a lot of corn fields and silos.  I was a little nervous being on state and county roads and Ray hates it when I say "I'm pretty sure I know where we're going..."  I mean who trusts a Garmin to be right?

The museum property has the first school house, the surveyors house, a replica of an old school house and a gift shop.  There is also a walking/riding tour through town where you can see shops and other places described in books.  There is a guided tour for $10 but we opted to walk on our own and took the dogs.

 The gift shop contains all of Laura Ingalls Wilder's books.  It was fun to look at them and remember reading them.  I think these were the first chapter books I read and was exited when I realized that there was a series of books.  This started my love of reading.  I also noticed families sharing the experience of the books with young daughters and sons.  It made me smile as they were selecting books, mementos, and dolls.

One thing that Ray and I both commented on was all the jobs Pa had.  The family moved a lot and Pa had many jobs - farmer, hotel manager, surveyor, carpenter...

 Up three blocks to Main, down four blocks and turn right and go three more blocks - there you are at the house pa built.  Never mind in you are in the Midwest and its humid...you're at the house that Pa built.

This was well worth the nerves about getting lost and not finding a place to park the truck and RV.  Now three more hours of travels to Prairie View RV Park in Granite Fall, Minnesota where ever that is...

CROSSING THE MISSOURI RIVER - CHAMBERLAIN SD

August 1, 2013

Typically travel days are uneventful and not something I think my friends will be interested in...but I do have a story today.  We arrived at Chamberlain on the Missouri River about three pm yesterday (Central Time).  Both Ray and I mentioned this is the first time either of us have seen the Missouri.  I think back to Lewis and Clark and the Oregon Trail.  Ray thinks Midwest and bugs.

The Missouri River in Chamberlain looks like the Columbia in width.  We have a campsite on the river front and really excited to enjoy the views of river traffic, i.e. ski boats.

We are low on food so we jump into the truck and head to town in hopes they have a grocery store that is mid-size or bigger.











The one grocery store in town was great.  Picked up what we needed and I discovered this new type of cart to take our bags to the car.  I was so excited I told the bag person that I wanted to take a picture.  He said people do not find these unusual because they use them at Walmart.  I didn't tell him I don't go to Walmart often.

The campground we are staying is called Cedar Point Resort.  There is a lodge, marina and the campground.  We can use the pool and facilities in the lodge.  The best part of this campsite is the powerful wifi!!!!  I am beginning to learn that free wifi means nothing when selecting a campground.  Its like saying you have cable TV and there is only one channel...

The man who registered us said this part of the Missouri flooded and they were still recovering from the damage.  I think the flood was three years ago.

The evening was great.  We BBQ and acquired new friends - don't know what they are called but we will have to check our slides throughly to make sure they do not travel with us.

6:30 AM (really 5:30 Central) and Louie is up.  I hear rain but I know that doesn't stop Louie from needing to go outside.  On goes the rain coat and out the door we go.  It starts to thunder.  I'm thinking, hmm this is the midwest... I probably should head back to the RV.  As I am helping Sydney up the steps the largest lightening strike occurs and I shriek as Ray is pulling me and the dog inside.

We sit at our table inside the RV and watch the storm pass over us and the sun rise at the same time.  Welcome to the Missouri River.

It's now 8 a.m.  - sky is clear and we're getting out of here.

I guess were not in the Pacific Northwest any more...today we are going to the Corn Palace and De Smet SD - home of Laura Ingells Wilder

BADLANDS SOUTH DAKOTA

July 30, 2013

Welcome to the Badlands National Park.  We arrived early in the morning and it was a pleasant 65 degrees.  We entered through the Pinnacles Entrance just 14 miles from Wall SD.  There is a loop road and we decided this will be our route for the day.

Sage Creek Basin Overlook Area

Roberts Prairie Dog Town Area

Yellow Mounds Overlook Area

Burns Basin Overlook Area

Mountain Goats

Fossil Exhibit Trail Area

 Fossil Trail

Castle Trail - look hard to see it.

Our favorite sign - because we were not pulling our fifth wheel.

Big Badlands Overlook Area

Tips:

1) Stop by the Ben Reifel Visitor Center

2) Do not eat at the Cedar Pass Lodge restaurant.

3) No dogs on walkways or trails.  However, our dogs loved looking at the prairie dogs, goats and cows from the truck.  They were allowed out of the car in the parking lot of the visitor center.