Day 5

We were up bright and early again this morning and headed to The Corn Palace.  It was smaller than I remembered from our trip when I was younger.  We saw them taking the old down and preparing to put new corn art up .  When we left we found a gas station with wi-fi.  I was able to download the syllabus for my upcoming course.  Michael didn’t realize the amount of work I’d have.

We called ahead to a campground.  While we feel bad for those affected, the flooding in the Dakotas is working in our favor.  Tourism is way down and we were able to get a site for the next 4 nights no problem.  I am a bit nervous about the weekend as we will be headed to Yellowstone and it will be the 4^th. 

We called ahead and reserved a campsite not knowing when we would be getting into town.   On the way we saw signs for the 1880’s town.  It was many buildings of the frontier set up to walk through.  The best part was the movie memorabilia from Dances with Wolves.  There was a Tee-Pee, the surgeon tables, the stuffed “dead horse” from when Cisco was killed, and many other props.  Michael especially enjoyed seeing the Wagons that Kevin Costner’s character road on his trip out to the prarie.  There was also the truck from the Movie Thunderheart that starred Val Kilmer.  We ate lunch in an old diniing car that had been converted into a restaurant.  When we got back to the car the thermostat said 115.  Driving down the highway it cooled to 99.

Next we hit Wall Drug.  Of course the first stop there way for ice water and ice cream to cool off.  We walked around and visited various shops.  We even found the pharmacy.  I told Michael he should apply since it was tiny and there is no way they get that many customers.  We ate dinner there then trekked up the Black Hills.  My car did well (we were both kinda nervous) and we pulled into the campground around 8:30.  We had a hard time getting the camper off the hitch again but once we got settled it was a very nice site.

It stormed for a bit.  The thunder kept  me awake but Michael was snoring as soon as his head hit his pillow.  We are in bed every night be 10 or 10:#0 and up around 7:30.  This has helped with being able to be the first in the showers every day.