Deadwood, South Dakota to Des Moines, Iowa

Saturday, October 22 – It was such a beautiful day as we were leaving Deadwood that we decided to visit more of the Black Hills.  First, we drove to Rapid City and set up camp at the Rapid City Elks Lodge.  Then, we took the Jeep and went for a drive.

First, we drove to Hill City and then south along the Needles Highway.  We’ve been to the Black Hills before, but we were in our old motor home then and we didn’t tow a car.  The Needles Highway has LOW and NARROW tunnels, so we couldn't go there.  This is a Suburban getting ready to go through one of the tunnels.

And a normal car in the same tunnel…

We never would have fit in the motor home.  Fortunately, we have the Jeep now and this is what we got to see.

After the Needles Highway, we headed for the Iron Mountain Highway.  In between, we saw several buffalo.  Notice that this little fellow’s feet are on the fog line at the edge of the road.  We are in the oncoming lane.  He was THAT close.  No zoom lens needed!!  Mom and Dad told me to keep my mouth shut while Dad rolled the window down to take this picture.  They didn’t have to tell me twice!!

This was the sign at the start of the Iron Mountain Road…

This is the view from one of the tunnels...

That's Mount Rushmore.  Wow!  While we only got 50 miles closer to Illinois, the extra miles exploring the Black Hills were great!

Sunday, October 23 – Today we left the Black Hills and headed east.   We drove about 265 miles to Mitchell, South Dakota.  The big event of the day was that we I saw the Missouri River for the first time!  I’ve never been this far east before.  At the rest stop overlooking the Missouri, there is a beautiful sculpture of Sacajawea.

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 Other than that, there was miles of road that looked like this…

And I mainly looked like this…

Monday, October 24 – Today we toured the World’s only Corn Palace, before we left Mitchell. 

The murals on the Corn Palace are made from several types of corn, other grains, and grasses.  Here is a close up of Willie Nelson’s guitar.  If you look closely, you can see a bird eating some of the guitar.

After touring the corn palace we continued on our way.  We stopped in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and walked around the falls.

Today I added TWO states to the list of states that I’ve visited - Minnesota and Iowa.  We left South Dakota and drove through part of Minnesota, before stopping in Forest City, Iowa for the night.  Today was a shorter day.  Only 250 miles.

Tuesday, October 25 – Mom and Dad had some work stuff that they needed to do and we had good wi-fi, so they worked this morning.  Forest City, Iowa is where Winnebago motor homes are built.  Mom and Dad wanted to take a tour of the factory, so they did that in the afternoon.  I was going to go too, but I found out that you have to wear closed toe shoes to take the tour.  If you've followed me awhile, you know that I have a pair of shoes and I HATE them, so I didn’t go.  Mom and Dad had a fun time on the tour, but photos aren’t allowed, so no pictures today.

Wednesday, October 26 – Today we left Forest City and went to Ames, Iowa.  This is where Mom went to college at Iowa State University.  She hasn’t been back there in about 30 years and she wanted to see what was the same and what was different.  She and Dad took a walk around campus. 

After touring Iowa State we drove on to Des Moines and set up camp at the Elks Lodge.  This was the most fun Elks Lodge that we have visited.  The people here are really nice.

Thursday, October 27 – Mom lived in Des Moines for 2 ½ years, after she graduated from college and before she married Dad.  We went by the places where she lived and the place where she worked.  Mom and Dad also toured the Iowa State Capital building and the Des Moines Art Museum.  Then, we came back to the Elks Lodge and played fetch in the empty field next door. 

Gotta go.  It’s time for my dinner!!!!