We drove across South Dakota in the past two days – from
Sioux Falls where we got new shocks for the ol’ pickup and what a difference it
made on the Interstates! Except for one
40 mile section just before our stop last night at Belvedere EAST KOA campground and they were tearing it up
and totally rebuilding it. The
washboards were beyond FIXING!!
We drove into Mitchell to see the famous Corn Palace,
rebuilt/recovered each year with frescos made of the products that South Dakota
produces. It looks like some of the
Casinos in Carson City NV – very ornate and ostentatious - except for the
materials used for the decorations!! Onion domes made of metal, LOTS of sculptures.
Today, it was BADLANDS National Park loop road. I would have hated to see it last year. It was crowded THIS YEAR, even with the
COVID-19 lockdowns still in effect in many places. The private and KOA campgrounds are still
only partially full, so we have been lucky in several instances. Today it was a “back - in space” when we had
asked for a pull-through. I went back in
the office and said, “SORRY we are not backing our one month old trailer
into that space.” We received a full
refund! Found a four night space at a
KOA just over the hill and out of the flight pattern for the airport and a
block from the nearest freeway!
We took the Badlands loop which went over two or three “passes” as well as some amazingly ROUGH road. We wondered if “the uplift” was still happening, creating even MORE amazing topography. Such rugged beauty, and desolate at the same time!
The trip through the BADLANDS had a delightful oxymoron –
wattle to prevent erosion for MILES on a road repair job IN THE PARK made
famous by the EROSION over millennia. We
laughed out loud!!
What an amazing and bountiful country we live in. Those farmers and ranches feed us and a good portion of the WORLD. And the truckers make sure the food gets to where it is wanted, if not always where it is needed. Thank a farmer / rancher and be sure and thank a trucker!!
Enjoyed! Praying your trip goes smoother (pun intended). We have been having mid 80 temps, but humidity is to be lower the next few days so that is good!
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