Day Three of our travels was a whirlwind. The cats settled in much better, and even slept last night. We got our start at about the same time as yesterday. The mileage would be a bit less, but we had so much more to see.
Highlights:
- Loved watching the topography change from Missouri into South Dakota, then across South Dakota. The state seems greener than when we did this before.
- Took photos of the Porcher Sculpture Garden from I-90 because we didn’t want to pay the $14 per person entry fee. They have added a lot since our last trip, which is not a good thing. Sometimes less is more.
- Drove through Mitchell to see the Corn Palace and had lunch.
- Stopped at the Lewis and Clark Overlook and admired the new Sakajawea statue.
- Stopped to take photos of the man walking his dinosaur.
- Drove through Badlands National Park. Initially balked at the $20 per car entry. Totally worth it. Saw bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, and prairie dogs.
- Skipped Wall Drugs, despite the bombardment of advertisements. Noticed all the other billboards for tourist traps.
- Hotel is an old-style motel, but the rooms are adequate.
- Drove straight up to Mount Rushmore through one of the worst tourist trap corridors I’ve seen, apart from maybe Pigeon Forge.
- Mount Rushmore was stunning as usual. Thought it would be badly backlit. It was, but the setting sun over the monument made up for the lighting.
- Had dinner and ice cream at the monument. I ate buffalo stew.
- Came back and crashed at the motel.
States crossed:
- Iowa
- South Dakota
Mileage – 592.7 (including whatever we did getting up to Mount Rushmore.)
