Still in South Dakota!

OK! Now we have really run out of superlatives!!! First the pictures.
1. Gerry riding a "Jackalope" at the famous Wall Drugstore in Wall, South Dakota
2. Judi and Lee enjoying one of MANY scenic spots we stopped at in Badlands National Park
3. This scenery is awesome!
4. Rattlesnakes love prairie dogs
5. A stop outside the park at Prairie Homestead to see a sod house which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

We continue to marvel at the beautiful and surprising country we are traveling through. We said good-bye to Mt. Rushmore this morning and drove along Interstate 40 to Wall, South Dakota. The Wall Drugstore was promoted in the 40's with free ice water to get people to stop on their journey east or west. Well, it was a huge promotional success! The drugstore takes up one long block and is chock-a-block with souvenirs, jewelry, toys, cowboy stuff, sundries, clothes, rides, water fountains, camping gear, statuary from dinosaurs to Jackalopes, free coffee and doughnuts to honeymooners, an animated cowboy band, and another cowboy quartet, restaurants, snack bars, and a soda foutain, exceptional native American and Cowboy paintings, rocks for the rockhounds, etc., etc., etc. I have never seen such a place!

We said we would only stay an hour and it was hard to tear ourselves away but we needed to get on down the road and we literally went 2 blocks and stopped again at a visitor's center for the National Forest Service devoted to the Grasslands. The exhibits were exceptional and we got a lot of questions answered that had occured to us as we drove through Montana and the Dakotas.

And then we drove into Badlands National Park. We entered to take the hour long scenic route bu we lost track of the time as we stopped at almost every scenic view spot. We took turns driving so everyone got a chance to sit in the front and enjoy the view. It was phenomenal! Around every turn was another incredible vista. Pictures do not do it justice. You are riding along with the rolling prairie on one side of the road and the earth drops away to some kind of other worldly moonscape on the the other side! We were stunned by the colors of the rock formations which were unlike anything we had ever seen. In addition to all the geological masterpieces, we encountered several prairie dog towns just along side the road. We were able to stop and watch the little critters who are in the middle of a huge disagreement between ranchers and the Park Service. Another one of those environmental dilemmas! All in all the Badlands was quite an experience. We ended up at the Interperative Center for more outstanding exhibits trying to educate and raise the awareness of millions of people who pass by every year. The National Park Service is our hero of the week!

When we exited the Park we came upon Prairie Homestead which is a private concession of a restored homestead with a sod house, chickens and geese, farm implements, outhouse, and a prairie dog town with white (!) prairie dogs. It was worth the $5 and the time. Judi encountered some more turkeys but couldn't get them to gobble to her in conversation. Thouogh she is not successful she does put her heart and soul into it and we have made her the official animal noise maker! Lee and I laugh until we are about to collapse!

Of course there were also the obligatory stops for souvenir shopping and eating and now it is time to hit the Post Office again to ship things home. I'm sure I have put on 10 pounds since we left! Great continental breakfasts at every motel we're staying in and then there are all the other meals! Oh well, we can diet when we get home. Big rainstorm with lightning when we came out from dinner tonight but it has slackened off and hope to have clear skies tomorrow. We have been so fortunate to enjoy wonderful weather. Have been on the road 2 weeks tomorrow!

From the Badlands we drove on a couple of hours to Chamberlain, SD which is on the west side of the Missouri River. Will stop by tomorrow to dip our toes in. We saw it today as we came in to town and that is a big river!!! We are staying at another Holiday Inn Express. This is turning out to be our motel of choice at least here in the midwest. Our room is huge, well decorated and new, many amenities, under $100, and I could live here! Did have a bit of a problem in Keystone yesterday. I forgot our room number and had to go to the desk. Some of the things and places are sort of melting together in my mind, so I am glad to have this blog to help me review where we are from day to day!!!!

It's been great hearing from many of you and be able to stay in touch with our family and friends. But, Jerry C. Why a picture of the men's room at the airport in Minneapolis? That has us stumped. We'll do it, but have to ask why! (LOL)

We're in a new time zone and it is now almost midnight! So better get some rest to be up for new adventures tomorrow. Stopping by the Corn Palace in Mitchell. We know it is hokie but there are some things you just have to do. Spending the weekend in Watertown, SD with Judi's stepson and granddaughter. Laura Ingalls Wilder here we come!!!!!

Love to all, The Gotta Go Girls