I was trying to make it to Iowa. Almost made it. Three miles short. Damn.
We started the morning leaving Keystone and saying good bye to Mount Rushmore. Headed East our first stop was Wall, SD and THE FAMOUS WALL DRUG. Wall Drug is the South Of The Border of South Dakota. People tell me that it is a pretty big deal. The signs start hundreds of miles away and let you know that have free ice water and 5 cent coffee. Of course, we had to check it out. It was a big tourist trap and had all sorts of things for sale. Ralph was looking for trash bags and I was looking for an Auxiliary Cable. Neither of us found what we were looking for so we sat our front. I wondered back around looking for Vaughn. We couldn’t find him. I text him. He comes out a few moments later with a Root Beer Float and a grin from ear to ear. One thing I have learned about Vaughn is that he loves Root Beer. He tries it wherever we go. I asked him about the float and if he felt it was better than the carnivals. Decorum will not allow me to let you know his answer.
We leave Wall and head to the Bad Lands National Park. It is a short 8 mile trip down the road. The Bad Lands are amazing. We drove around for awhile and stopped several times for pictures. I don’t know if the pictures will ever do it justice. What was also amazing is that on one side of the road is Grass Lands and then WHAM, Bad Lands. Magical.
We said good bye and headed towards the Minuteman Missiile National Site. We stopped and it was quite informative. We saw a short film and looked at the displays. I really reminded me of the beginning of War Games. I was expecting Leo from West Wing to shoot a guy for failing to turn the key. No Leo. No shooting. Shame. The actual silo was 15 miles back the way we came, so we decided to forgo it.
Our next stop was Al’s Oasis which is along the Missouri River. It was like the Wall but smaller. We had dinner and moved along. Stopping at the scenic overlook on the other side of the river, we saw the vast expanse of the land and river before us. We also saw the statue “Diversity” Quite the site and probably beautiful when lit at night. We will still got miles to go people, so we left.
Next on our list was the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. Just thinking on it, I never got a picture with the sign. Oh, well. However, after a few detours we found the palace in all it’s corn glory. It was decorated outside for the U.S. Military. Quite nice considering it is corn. As we are leaving town, we stop for gas, drinks and a rest room break. Ralph doesn’t have to go. So we fill up and leave. 10 miles down the road, who has to stop? Ralph. I immediately thought of my son, Jack. Anyways, I found a new gas station. Deeper and deeper we go.
We decide to stop for the night in North Sioux City, SD. Almost made it.
Tomorrow, Kansas City and the World War I Museum. Maybe some gambling. Ralph may own KC soon.
SIDENOTE: A story I said I would post because some people don’t read but merely like the post.
There is a young lady named Lillian who dreams of being a Mermaid. It is her lot in life. Internally, she hums tunes to the Little Mermaid all day and into the night. She wears bright colors and lets her hair flow in the pool so she can recreate scenes from the film. I was recently told that while she sleeps and actually dreams of being a Mermaid, that if is awaken too soon or too hard, she kicks with both legs as she swims. A girl can dream, can’t she?
72 and you. 