The Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD is worth skipping. This building is the local auditorium most frequently used as the high school gym. Interesting exterior but no big deal.
Turns out this is the home town of George McGovern [Peter is the source of this political info] -- you would never guess it from the town. Absolutely no mention anywhere -- not unexpected when the local TV news in the Hampton Inn breakfast area is set on Fox Morning News.
I headed west, crossing SD.
I spent the afternoon at Bad Lands National Park -- wonderful, beautiful park. Hikes off the main road all laid out by the Park Service.Next stop: Rapid City SD, 2nd largest city in SD before visiting Mt Rushmore this AM. Impressive monument. The Natl Park guide was great, but short with protruding ears [noticeable with his hat]. They were filming at the park -- the ranger selected for filming was not Shortie but a handsome ranger who could be in the movies. Other high light: 3 big white sheep came down and hung out in the trees right near the path around the monument.
I went to the Crazy Horse monument afterward -the family involved is totally into private enterprise; they are refusing federal grant money, have been working on this since 1947 and the face was completed in 1998. [Face is as big as all of Mt Rushmore]. I am not sure if private fund raising will get this done in this century. Felt way too commercial since they need to pay. Most outrageous fee: $125 to take a van trip right up to the dig sight. I passed even though I was informed that this was totally tax deductable. Evidently they are refusing federal funds but are a charitable organization.
Next stop, on the way to Devil's Tower, was Jewel Cave. Didn't work out to visit --out of snyc on timing for tours. Impressive facility with very few visitors [4 cars but room for 200].
Great drive to eastern Wyoming -- to Devil's tower. Even more impressive than the Bad Lands, I think because of the amazing geological shape. I lucked out -- only open Wed through Sunday [who knew that the Park Service has reduced days in the off season]. Half way around the tower, in a lovely sunny spot, a group of us watched two climbers coming down while 3 others climbed up. The walkway around the tower is a place of tranquility, at least at the end of the day.
Tonight I am in Gilette, Wyoming. Busy town complete with a open pit mine [I assume the dark stuff is coal], oil production --I passed WY oil wells on the way along I 90, and is a big train center.
Trivia:
WY Local restaurant had terrific steaks -- prices compete with DC.
Radio has farm report as part of local news. Grain prices first in SD but cattle prices come first in WY. Wyoming Public radio fund raising time: with $ for $ match, they were hoping for 4 new members during ATC -- I know the population is smallest state but this seemed a tiny goal.
Lots of trailers in SD and WY -- both in small cities [all cities seem small] and rural [poorest of all]. Must be frigid during the winters here.
93 Octane gas for my audi is non-existent. ultra is 91 or 92 [BP has 92]. Car seems to run fine. Gas stations are not so frequent -- I look for stations before I get below 75 miles to go.
5 comments:
I don't travel all that much these days but your posts bring back some memories of the 1970s-80s. I drove the old AMC Hornet along the same paths. Chris was in Berkeley at the time. Bob Seeger's band was on the tape deck(later stolen at the Harlem hospital parking deck).
It sounds as if the prairie has become a little drier and windblown. Trailer homes were the norm then also. One thing I would say is that when I saw the movie "The Last Starfighter" I did think about the folks who live out there.
Enjoy passing through.It sounds excellent. I have a sense that for people living there that leaving for the coast is a respected ambition.
Kathleen: I can't believe you said that The Corn Palace in Mitchel, SD is worth skipping. It's pure Americana. the whole town decorates the main arena in corn every year with different designs,etc. where else in the usa can you see this? we had a great time there! (of course, i like country music too, so , maybe that's the root of the problem!). anyway, for the other folks who read this, Mitchell, SD has both the corn palace, as well as one of the original Cabela's hunting and fishing stores...a great place (if you like that kind of stuff). it's also very famous for grouse hunting, i think.
we went thru wyoming as well (went further south to cheyenne....liked your comments on the steak...lots of cattle out there just waiting to be eaten!!!
good luck finding high octane gas..don't think you'll see it until you hit the coast again.
keep on trucking!
(this is chris writing (not ellen), but even she enjoyed the americana stuff in mitchell,sd--but she could have cared less about Cabela's store)
did you make it to Walled Drug? now there's a place that you have to go to, but it's also a place that once you get there, you wish you hadn't stopped...classic stuff in the western dakotas....
oh,1 other comment: i agree the crazy horse monument is worth skipping....it's going to take another 300 years for them to complete it. we also skipped. we actually went there, but they wanted an ungodly amount of money, and we passed.
but the whole country side in the black hills is gorgeous with great hiking
I did make it to Wall Drug -- can't believe it isn't mentioned.
Will update.
Per Tim's comment -- one clerk told me today in Cody that no one comes back once they leave for college or bigger city life. There isn't much scope for young people.
Regarding safety, in same store, woman who is originally from Woodbridge, VA commented that she leaves town for a week without locking her house and leaves her keys in the car when she comes to town. Not sure how she'd fare in the Harlam hospital neighborhood.
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