Thursday, September 10th and we’re back on the road, heading west again. The original plan was to stay on I90 all the way west but we decided to take a “dotted line” road across another bridge in downtown La Crosse and go thru the Richard J Dower State Forest on Rt 16 and then pick up I90 at the other end. The fog had rolled in over the Mississippi River and it continued thru the 1st portion of the scenic state forest hills and valleys. Minnesota’s answer to the Smokey Mountains!! When the wispy white mist lifted for the final time, we saw the hillsides were blessed with niches of well tended but old homesteads, nestled like clusters of like painted chess pieces. The fields were full of the usual beans, corn and black and white dairy cows. Small farm towns with “historic downtown” designations filled in the “in between spaces” on the 2 lane winding road.
Back on I90, we went MUCH faster but it did get tiresome with all the road construction and all the millions of bugs that committed suicide on the windshield of the van. We had ridden this road a long time ago on the bike when we were MUCH younger and it was MUCH hotter that time but we didn’t encounter all the bugs!! We did see lots of big bikes pulling trailers but all were going east. The farmlands spread out and the fields seemed as one that stretched from horizon to horizon. We stopped in Blue Earth for gas and learned that the Indians named the area because the earth actually was bluish in one spot. And we learned that the town was the home factory for the Jolly Green Giant and all his veggies!
Our 3rd state for the day was South Dakota and after a picnic lunch at the visitor center we easily found the Falls Park on the Big Sioux River in downtown Sioux Falls. Red granite rocks/boulders filled the river and the muddy waters raced over them where a mill had once stood. Now there are strategically placed observation places, plus an Overlook Café and an observation tower complete with gift shop. I have just enough space on my jacket for one more small patch and this red and white one will fill it nicely!
We HAD to stop in Mitchell to see if the Corn Palace had changed any since we were there last. The design had but the building itself had not. We got our picture and got back in the van. And while the Palace had not changed – we sure noticed that the town sure had!! Neither of us remembered it as being that big or busy!
The van is parked this evening in Chamberlain SD, which is right on the banks of the Missouri River. The Best Western Motel, ½ block from the river, was the best deal and obviously we have wifi!! In the morning, H will have a waffle! .
Tomorrow we’ll be Westward Ho again!
