One of the things was my camera.
Mardi was pretty well out of it. She went back to sleep in the van.
Turned out to be a false alarm, so back to bed and surprisingly, back to sleep. But we were not well rested when morning came!
Today, might best be noted for the things we didn't see, rather than for those we did.
We passed up Mount Rushmore - everybody should see it once, then concentrate on Crazy Horse.
No visit to the Badlands. Once is enough. Take this picture and spread it out over 16 scenic highway miles and you get the idea.
No Mitchell Corn Palace. Even though they change the corn cob murals every year, once is enough.
No Wall Drug either.
They still offer 5 cent coffee! And free ice water. It was the ice water that got them their start. Their drug store was a few blocks off the highway and they came up with the idea of offering free ice water to travellers - in those days cars weren't air conditioned, the roads weren't the best, and ice water was a Godsend!
It now covers several blocks of the town and sells everything. We have visited Wall Drug every time we've had kids in the car. Almost a theme park!
But, we did stop at the Lewis and Clark Information Center in Chamberlain, South Dakota. It gives you a great view of the Missouri River.
And, it now includes "Dignity", a fifty foot high statue.
I first saw Dignity in brother Roger's blog a couple of months ago and added it to our trip itinerary. It has only been up for a year or so. It is meant as a symbol of peace in a sacred place. Beautiful!
Driving past some road construction today we saw large rolls of the same plastic that was used on the roads in the north. Have to research that sometime.
It's interesting that, although the speed limit for much of our journey through the states has been 80 mph, the majority of the drivers, us included, seem content to max out at 75 (120 kph). Very few cars go at, or above, the limit.
Once you get past the Missouri River you are in America's bread basket. Wheat, corn, soy, you name it. Mostly corn as you travel further east.
And now, we announce our BST candidates for the day.
You decide. My choice would be the dinosaur on a leash.
Tonight we're in La Crosse, Wisconsin, beside the Mississippi River. Just 12 more driving hours to go.
We'll go for the dinasour on the leash - too funny! As always lots of interesting observations. I made special note of the driving habit of the majority of cars on the road. Can it be said that a reasonable speed limit in appropriate areas with little wiggle room beyond is more effective than our often unrealistic 100K?
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