Day 2

 Day 2

Went to bed last night with tornado warnings! 😕 We were to tired to be concerned about it.  We figured if they were really serious about the warning they would like flash lights and knock on doors if it was going down for real.  So we prepped for bed.  We turned the lights out then realized we did not know where in the heck the remote was. We looked around for a hot minute and decided screw this we will just unplugged the TV.  That's what everyone does, right?!?!

When we woke up this morning the trees were all bending over and the wind was blowing extremely hard.  Turns out according to the news the wind would be blowing most of the day from the North @ around 26 miles per hour.  I knew the wind was of significance, but I never realized how much of a pain in the butt it would be.  I do believe we are now all suffering from whiplash in our necks.  Every time you would pass a Semi your neck would get whipped to the left side. Crazy !!! 

First Stop today Falls Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota



Pretty cool place. The falls were created 14000 year ago.  Among the first to discover it was the Native Americans.  They told the Europeans about the falls.  The park is 126 acres with a cafe and an observation tower. 

The falls are a total of a 100 ft drop and has 7400 gallons of water go over them every second!













View From the Observation Tower




I would also like to point out Dad and I are wearing matching sweatshirts. What you can not see is that Tonya and Brenda also have on the same sweatshirt. Due to the incredibly fierce winds combined with a slightly low temp we had to make a Wally World run this morning and buy sweat shirts.


Second Stop
The one and only Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota. 

The Corn Palace was established in 1892. The original plan was to spark interest in the town to bring outsiders in.  Now the palace has 1/2 million visitors a year and is a gathering place for all in the town.  Graduations, Proms, basketball games, and numerous other events are held there through out the year.

This place is so Shucking Cool!



Every year there is a theme for the building.  This past year was under the big top this was for 2022.  The big top theme was put into place from August through October.  In October it is complete and hangs on display until June of the following year.



All of the murals in the pictures below are inside in the auditorium.  They do not rotate with each theme for the year.  They do however have to be redone every 10 years.




Every single design that is put up is done in the same fashion as the pic below.  The ears of corn are cut in 1/2 long ways then cut to the specified length.  After wards they are stapled on the boards for the display.


This is some of the artwork that once chose would get blown up and prepared to mounting onto the walls







Third Stop

Badlands National Park

Just added pics for tonight













Fourth Stop

Wall Drug in Wall, South Dakota
 Just adding pics for tonight

Wall Drug was established in 1907.  Today it is a 76,000 sq. ft. facility that is home to many quirky things along with tons of necessities for camping, cowboying, and a kajillion things that you absolutely do not need but buy any how.

Pics below are from the backyard of Wall Drug.

First set is of us with the infamous Jackelope.  This is a mythical creature of a combined Jack Rabbit & Antelope.  Now that I am posting these pictures, I am thinking of something I definitely don't need but now desire.  I do feel I need to get a mounted jackalope for our house! 😁 Brenda is going to love it!!!





The Broncin Buck
This guy was about our speed at this point in the day





Here are the dorks waving goodbye to everyone from the caboose!



Now we are out of here we are taking our stage coach off into the Wild Wild West!



I think it is awesome that they put in this wonderful play park for the kids.  There is even a small splash park to cool off in. 

Lodging for the night


Very nice clean cabins.  Beds were super comfy.  Here is our cabin #18.


decent view

Our trusty steeds


Took a walk around the property this morning and grabbed a few pics







I think its great that they have a playground for special needs kids but felt it to be a little strange that they advertise that the slow children are playing there.


This is very disturbing to me.  This was one of many statues on the property.  This one was in the park! Anyone notice anything about this pic?  BALLS   holy schnikes batman they are huge.



I would love to tell you we sat out on our front porch and drank our coffee but that was impossible!  This place is infested with mosquitos.  During my brief walk this morning I was attacked by hundreds of them.  We still have not ruled out the possibility of needing to get an infusion from them sucking all of my blood.


Not sure what we shall name this mosquito but he deserves to be in our vacation photos because we are now blood brothers for life!











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