Day 6: Rapid City, SD to Sioux Falls, SD

Today was long, as anyone who has ever been to South Dakota might expect. We got on the road by around 8:00AM Mountain time. We decided to stop in Wall since it was the last decent-sized town for a long time. Yup, we went to Wall Drug and had their famous free ice water. Wall was pretty much just the way both of us adults remember it, a lot of junk shops crammed into one long building. The newest attraction is a huge animatronic T-Rex that roars every 12 minutes. Tessa thought it was hillarious ('What is that dinosaur doing mom?'). Geevee braved it out for a good while, moreso than some 10 year-olds, but eventually burst out crying as we had expected she might.

Then we found the ultimate entertainment for Tessa in the courtyard. Off to one side there are a series of nozzles in the ground and a huge fake water tower which all spray, pour and drip water in tune with various classic western tunes. She danced around in it and giggled up a storm and just had a heck of a good time. Oh yeah, and she got soaked. We took the opportunity to buy some outfits for Tessa and Geevee that we had been eying up partly because they were cool and partly because Tessa now had no dry pants or shirts.

After a quick lunch at the cafe, we were back on the road. The prairie was also pretty much just like we remembered it. Very, very flat. There were some great views of the badlands from the road, though we opted not to actually take the badlands loop this time, though we both loved it when we were headed the other direction. Wildlife was as scarce as topography, though there were tons of ranches with mostly cattle, but a few sheep, horses, and even llamas.

The morning hours were a little rough this time around. Geeves had her first wake up around Presho, just south of Pierre. Our stop here was at a rest stop just before town. There wasn't much there, just grass and a few pavilions to provide some shade. Tessa kicked a ball around and picked some flowers and got to see some horses up close and personal when a horse trailer pulled up.

On our next leg we covered serious ground, crossing into Central Time and over the Missouri river (pictured). We stopped in Mitchell (though not at the corn palace) for lunch and a supply run to KMart. Mitchell was a good bit more developed than either of us remembered, but largely the same speed bump on the road to Sioux Falls it always was. Lunch was good though

After that it was only 1 hour to Sioux Falls. It turns out that the exit was entirely closed down so we had a lovely drive down a country road through eastern South Dakota for 15 or 20 minutes before arriving at tonight's hotel. We arrived safe and sound and ready to hit the pool and wind down for the night.

As a side note, we are definitely in the upper midwest. The people are nice everywhere, dinner can be had for $25 for three people, and mosquitoes move in clouds. Sioux Falls may as well be Menominee Falls as far as culture goes.

In one more day we'll be in Wisconsin. That's all for now,

The Clarks

PS It's only 293 miles from here to 5 cent coffee and free ice water at Wall Drug.