Our Travels

We've been in South Dakota since Saturday night. After a miserable night camping at a complete dump in the middle of nowhere (including eijts who were shooting off fireworks IN the campground at 1am) we got up early and headed for our first of many wonders:


The Mitchell Corn Palace. Justifies about 5 minutes...


Wall Drug (about 15 minutes worth of entertainment, spent mostly parking and looking for the free ice water)



And of course, that well-known South Dakota landmark: The world's largest bull head sculpture. The hits just keep coming. 

Life is always good when you can begin your day at a bakery outlet. Hey, it's Day-old when you get it home, anyway.




Then, like a beacon in the darkeness -- who knew -- the SPAM Museum. (Cleanest bathrooms onthe entire trip, too)

Just as a footnote, they dud hand out samples at the museum. Eli liked it but Michela almost barfed in the museum.

I felt the same way.

Some key nuances to appreciate in these two photos"

1) yes, I went out and purchased ice-cold adult beverages for my lully wife here in Cedar Falls, Iowa. So what if it was 24oz cans of Keystone Light??

2) Note Eli setting up the campsite as we recreate. He is becoming very capable at all manner of sherpa duties (as is Michela)

3) the kids cooked their dinner that night, too. (it was a BIG deal when you made ramen noodles for the first time, too...)


 

 

 

 

Can you name this field? It's in Dyersville, IA and was everything I had hoped it would be...

No admission charge, beautifully maintained field, just families playing baseball together. We spent a few hours here.

Galens, Il came highly recommended. We stopped here and visited the Ulysses S. Grant house before crossing the Mississippi



 

Michela took advantage of a hot trip across Illinios to rock out at a gas station.