Day 7
Packed up from Sioux Falls. Stopped by the post office and enjoyed my pop tart breakfast. The crazy of stoplights soon turned into quietness.
I-90 was the plan. Roughly 400 miles across South Dakota. Some parts was down to one lane for construction. Rest of it, 80 mph posted speed limit. Michelle had mentioned when I was in Madison I should try to to hit all the state capitals I could on the trip, great idea. Pierre is north, I guess they wanted to do the whole “middle of the state thing”. I’ve not read yet why Pierre is the capital but I bet it’s nothing like why Raleigh is. Writers note: Raleigh is the capital because of a tavern.
It’s good to get off the interstate and onto the back road. Even when the backroad is 70mph and two lane. I approached the Corn Palace. I wondered why it’s not in Iowa but didn’t stop. The craziest thing about this drive is the landscape changes. From flat areas of grass to rolling hills of grass to prairie. I saw a sign to Laura Ingles Wilder home. Map said another hour north. Can’t make it this trip but the younger Joey, the one that read every book by her would of been proud.
Pierre. It was along a lake, I was wondering where all the boats I was passing was going. What did they know that I didn’t. It was a small town with a capital. It would of been smaller if it didn’t have the capital. Grabbed a quick lunch and kept on going.
Cows. I see why they do good here. Lots of grass. There was less shade trees for them past Pierre. But more grass. Hills were taller, longer. The cows were all along the fences by the road. As much as I was looking at them. They were looking at me. “See Betsey, there is one of the red ones.” “Howie, finally, something not a truck!”
I wanted to see how far I could see. I tried it a couple of times. I guessed on the horizon and the odometer was 4 miles. Wall Drugs, the South of the Border of South Dakota. A sign every two miles then every little bit closer. I need to stop anyway, needed more gogo juice. It was as every sign said, trap. The kids would love watching a T-Rex eat something every 20 min. Buy the shirt, “I watched a t-Rex eat at Wall Drugs.” Now if you got around that, it was very cool to see how things would of been before it was a roadside trap…
Rapid City, time for a Target run. Up the mountains. Meghan was right, it’s pretty. The rock faces, trees and quietness. Made it to the campsite. Yes I’m camping. I was just going to sleep in a hammock, I know. More balls than you thought. Lol. Checked the weather and there was a chance of storms. Glad I got the $25 tent from Menards. Winds were howling, rain started around 10:30p and asleep I was after a belly full of bourbon and stew!
Time to put on my face. It’s Rushmore Day!
Enjoy the Show 