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Remembering my only other trip to south Dakota. About 1975 or 1976 with my grandparents and aunt Rosie. To go to visit my grandmother's family.
Oh, the arguing that went on between my aunt and grams - while gramps sat quietly waiting til they forgot subject, just to gladly bring it back up! This trip is a bit quieter ;)
Not to outshine the family! Met aunts, uncles and cousins - most farmers. First rodeo and atv ride! Great memories...
Back to present trip....
The black hills and the badlands seem to rule the west into the middle of the state.
Stopped in Sturgis just to say we did! So not bikers :). Last time here I can only remember all the bikers and probably how shocking it all was for a 16 yr old from northern Idaho!
Mt Rushmore was next along our route. I, critic that I am, was sure it would cost us about $50 to go have a look at our presidents and Crazy Horse. (apparently Crazy Horse is still not finished - doubtful in our lifetime). Apparently I was wrong. No fee from the federal government. Just $11 for parking. Make no mistake - we didn't stop, we would lose valuable time! Remember I'm with Steve. Granted, we are making a pleasure trip to see the country on our way to relocate to the east coast. And tho we did take a week to get thru the west - as we get closer to our goal we are getting anxious! I agree to drive on! Plus, it takes a bit to change years worth of habits ;)
Wall Drug! As we started driving in this part of the country, started to see the wall drug bumper stickers. Here is a blurb from an article from owner:
It was December 1931, Dorothy and I had just bought the only drugstore in a town called Wall on the edge of the south Dakota badlands. We'd been open a few days, and business had been bad.
I stood shivering on the wooden sidewalk. In this little prairie town there were only 326 people, 326 poor people.
Most of them were farmers who'd been wiped out by the Depression or drought. Christmas was coming, but there was no snow, no sparkling lights - just viciously cold air. Out on the prairie the cold whipped up the dust bowls. I could see a Tin Lizzie chugging along the two-laner. Suitcases were strapped to the running boards. Someone's going home for the holidays, I thought to myself. I wished they would stop, just for a cup of coffee, but they didn't. Here on Main street, no one was out.
Look forward 78 years later... Now there are people bustling all over the streets of Wall.
Looked to see population now (love having IPad for long road trip) and see 821. 13 farms. Wow, compared to the middle of California where I come from the last 20+ years - that's not even a neighborhood! But the flow of traffic across the state must help! I have to sure hope so!
This state seems to go on forever.... With mile after mile of flat land.
Tidbits of info on south Dakota:
De Smet is where Laura Ingalls Wilder and her beloved Almanzo Manly Wilder lived from 1879 to 1894. You can't help but picture what the little house on the prairie must of looked like as driving by!
Passed by George McGovern's (former US senator) home.
Lastly, a state that has a Flintstone Theme park is all good!
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