South Dakota

Paul told you about our first night camping and our adventures the first half of today. He failed to mention my favorite moment from last night, though. Once the wind really kicked up and basically collapsed the tent on us we did a two-minute drill to break down the tent and everything in it and throw it all in the GOLF cart, then make a quick check of the site and pick up anything else blowing around. We finally get in just as the storm begins to really rage, and the conversation goes something like this:

Chip: Now what?

Paul: Turn it around so we can watch the storm!

Of course! So I did a 3-point turn and we watched the storm through the windshield for a while. Paul’s perspective on things is awesome and keeps me sane.

After the Corn Palace we were back on I-90 heading west. The nice part about today was despite the high mileage we never went more than two hours without a great diversion. After a brief nap for me (Paul was driving – I promise) we landed in the Badlands. This park is sort of like the Great Plains meet the Grand Canyon. It’s full of canyons, cliffs and rock formations one minute, then you turn a corner and it’s amazing views of the prairie. We kept taking picture after picture and oohing and aahing the entire time. Quite spectacular. Oh, did I mention it was 102 degrees at the guard house when we entered the park? I considered it a test drive for Death Valley. (We passed, of course, but don’t get me started about this ‘dry heat’ thing. Hot is hot.)

We also made a quick stop at a former minuteman missile silo. It’s amazing to think how recently we were stuck in the cold war with Russia, and how hundreds of ranchers across the Plains agreed to bury missiles in their fields pointed at Moscow to keep us safe. And apparently it worked. And now we’re free to talk about it. A lot to digest there.

The next stop was Wall, South Dakota, home of Wall Drug. The moment you cross into South Dakota you start seeing billboards for Wall Drug. They are everywhere. Fortunately, most of them are pretty funny. Wall Drug is the “South of the Border” of South Dakota. It is a magnet for tourists, and it delivers. We started with one of their famous donuts and a 5-cent cup of coffee. They also offer free ice water, which was popular today (the bank sign read 98 degrees at 5pm). Then we decided to have dinner (yeah, the donuts were our appetizers! I hope this catches on!) After dinner we walked around the complex, which has several restaurants, a zillion gift shops, a collection of cowboy art, a chapel, and a dinosaur (see Paul’s video). It was quite a place.

And now we’re in the parking lot of Mt. Rushmore waiting for the evening light show to begin. We’ve already been to our campsite and set up the tent. We’re really roughing this time – no running water! It’s a nice site though, and we already chased two deer away. We’re hoping the storms pass us by tonight and we’ll actually able to sleep in the tent.

More great license plates today. From Canada alone we saw Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and British Columbia. Also saw New Jersey and Massachusetts, so I guess we’re not the farthest from home any more.

Okay, turns out I’m terrible about checking the miles every night, so don’t be looking for that feature any more. Also, we’re offering a rosary every day on the road for various intentions. We intended to tell you those every day, but got a little behind. So here’s catch up:

Monday was for families who are hosting us during this trip.

Tuesday was for the Youth Apostles community.

Wednesday was for WoYAs on one of their saint feast days and for all the CLCs.

Today was for a special intention.

If you have an intention for us please let us know – we’d love to pray for you. And thanks to all who are praying for us! We’re having a great trip, and it’s clearly through God’s grace. (Seriously, if you were there last when the storm blew in you’d understand.)

Time to go watch the Presidents light up the sky!