Day 2

 

Saturday, September 8^th,   ( from Trine's Journals)

 

Rest Stop Somewhere in Montana

                Under a dark but star-filled sky we packed up the truck and left the rest area. It was not until several miles later that our sleepy eyes and neurons finally observed and processed the fact that during the late evening yesterday, we had actually crossed the border into a new state: South Dakota, no celebration this time, only the question “where is the next coffee stop?”

                With Jerry behind the wheel it didn’t take long before we arrived at our destination: Mitchell, SD. Only two words I can think of can describe this place “Corny and Amazing”.  This was the hometown of the world’s first and only Corn Palace . The first structure was built in 1892. A wooden structure completely covered with intricate designs of all the different parts of the corn plant. Today the palace is a brick building only partially covered in corn. The palace has lost the character it once had. However, because of all the photos stored in the building it is still worth a side trip, especially as it is located right next to the interstate and it is free to go visit.

                Out here in the Midwest there is this tremendous vast amount of good farm land where lots and lots of corn and wheat is being harvested and yet, Jerry and I had to land in the Bad Lands! Despite the name this is an awesome place to see, maybe not quite the ideal place to run a combine as it is a myriad of columns and eroded sand creating a mini canyon land. The rocks are not the East Coast type, this is sandy rock with a red earth tone color. Looking over the landscape you can see the red striation in the rocks. The name Bad Lands could only be fitting for a farmer’s vocabulary as it is so beautiful and spectacular. Erosion caused this type of landscape, leaving mounts of dirt in different places but always with a flat table top. In one part of the park the rocks also had a yellow and a green color to it. Great place to spend a few days of backpacking and exploring.

                Exploring I wanted to do but as the saying goes “So little time and so much to do”. We had our schedule full and took in the different nature as you would order a sample platter at a restaurant; Try a little bit of everything and then come back later for the ones you really liked.

                Jerry was developing a bit of a cough, must be all this red dry dirt. Find a pharmacy we must. Seems like we saw multiple signs for a particular pharmacy during the last 300 miles! Wall Drug it was. This used to be a pharmacy and to stay in competition they once offered Free Ice Water to all frontiers. Apparently it kept them in business along with their 5¢ cup of coffee as the store is still standing today, however it has grown a “little”. The store takes up a whole city block and is like any tourist trap with lots and lots of souvenirs. Fifteen minutes was all we needed there as that was how long it took to find the cafeteria with the coffee and the world’s best homemade donut.

                Back on the road all I could think of was “why did I only get one donut”? It truly was the best homemade donut I had ever had. The only thing that could alleviate my donut pain was the excitement of getting close to Mt. Rushmore .  Having heard, read, and seen this place in movies, I was so thrilled by the thought that today I would be standing right in front of it. The town next to Mt Rushmore seemed like a smaller version of Gatlinburg, TN – a tourist trap. I was glad we were here after the tourist season, I can’t imagine how crammed these little roads must have been with all those huge RVs. The curvy roads led right by the big monument. There, there it was right up there above the tree tops. I could see all four of the presidents carved into the rock face. We entered the park and found a parking space, it wasn’t that hard as it was almost 6pm and most people had left for the day. We followed the walkway which led us into the flag alley. All fifty states were represented by their flag and at the end of the alley up on the mountain side were the stone carvings. Even from way below the faces seemed huge. It was easy to recognize the faces. From left to right: Washington, Jefferson, T. Rosevelt, and Lincoln.  What a piece of history gathered right here. These four presidents had helped shape the USA, to what it is today, though I am sure they would have shaken their heads by the thought of the political scene today.

                I had to chuckle a little, thinking of this great American monument because it is designed by a Dane – don’t ever underestimate those Vikings. Borglum was the Architect behind this masterpiece.

                With the sun going down and a cold wind blowing I most certainly felt the urge to go back to the warm car and the search for a good place to cook dinner. We never stopped to cook dinner, instead while munching on crackers, bananas and bagels we left South Dakota and entered the state of Montana. The scenery consisted of rolling hills and a sky that seemed to stretch forever. It was late before we pulled into a rest area. 

 

 

to Corn Palace           to Badlanda           to Wall Drug           to Mt Rushmore           to Road Trip Menu