We departed the South Dakota Good Sam Rally, as a caravan of
five rigs, instead of four. Bill & Joann decided to change their plans and
join us! After an awesome 4 nights at the SD Good Sam rally, it reiterated the
fact that they don’t have to be big rallies to have a great time and meet
awesome RVer’s!
On Interstate 90 at Mile Marker 301 in the Rest Area is a
tiny wayside chapel. It proves that God is everywhere. There's a bible on a
small altar, along with a guest book, and a few benches for those who would
like to stay awhile. Outside there is a place to leave donations in a locked
container. I could not figure out who or why it was built!
Wow, that is a big crane! It is amazing to see all the work
that goes into setting the wind turbines.
We passed another huge field of sunflowers! Just beautiful!
Finally, I have been waiting to see her since I first saw
her picture! Awesome and beautiful, just don’t do her justice! The Dignity
sculpture is a stunning combination of art and history. She is standing on a
bluff overlooking the Missouri River Chamberlain. She towers over everything at
50-foot, the stainless steel statue was specifically designed by sculptor Dale
Lamphere to honor the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota people. He used Native
American models, varying in age from 14 to 55, in order to perfect the face of
Dignity. “Dignity represents the courage, perseverance and wisdom of
the Lakota and Dakota culture in South Dakota,” Lamphere said. “My hope is that
the sculpture might serve as a symbol of respect and promise for the future.”
Representing the rich Native American culture of South
Dakota, she wears a dress patterned after a two-hide Native dress of the 1850s.
She holds outstretched a quilt featuring 128 stainless steel blue diamond
shapes designed to flutter in the wind. During the day, her star quilt – a
representation of respect, honor and admiration in Native American culture –
glitters in the sun with color-changing pieces that move with the wind. At
night, the LED lights in the diamond shapes glow in the night sky, casting a
peaceful presence easily visible from the Interstate.The statue was a $1 million gift from Norm and Eunabel McKie
of Rapid City to all people of South Dakota. The couple announced the gift in
2014 to celebrate South Dakota’s 125th anniversary of statehood. “This gift
will mean a lot to South Dakota," said Gov. Dennis Daugaard. “In addition
to being the state of Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse, South Dakota will also be
the state of the Dignity statue.”
Since its installation in 2016, Dignity has wowed visitors
from across the globe. Some knew what they were searching for, some saw Dignity
from the road and quickly pulled off to investigate. While some came looking
only for a rest stop and found themselves mesmerized by Dignity’s quiet grace.
Whatever the reason, Dignity leaves an impression on her visitors. Her gaze
will never break and her beauty – and message – will be celebrated for
generations. Dignity stands proudly with an air of peace and tolerance,
inviting you to join her in taking in a breathtaking views of the Missouri
River and the beautiful South Dakota landscape. Dignity is also one of hundreds
of sculptures that make up the South Dakota Sculpture Trail.
The Dignity Statue is located at the Lewis and Clark
Information Center in Chamberlain. It is situated on the site of a Corps of
Discovery encampment. The center commemorates the Lewis & Clark 1803-1806
expedition as they voyaged through South Dakota. It features interpretive
panels and murals reconstructing the expedition journey.
You can walk on paths for a scenic view of the Missouri River
and the community of Chamberlain and Oacoma or on the second floor of the
center from the front of a replica keelboat. It’s a re-creation of the
expedition’s 55-foot keelboat, which sits both inside and outside the center
and appears to traverse a 30-foot wall of windows overlooking the Missouri
River. Exhibits inside the center depict items the explorers brought on their
journey and show examples of the wildlife the Corps encountered.
The Missouri River offers a “center point” for South Dakota.
Accordning to SD residents, the river splits the State to “East River” and “West
River.”
The Chamberlain Bridge, is a historic bridge connecting the
towns of Chamberlain and Oacoma across the Missouri River and Lake Francis Case.
The bridge was originally completed in 1925 and carried US Route 16 over the
Missouri River. It was only a one truss wide and four sections long. In 1953,
Lake Francis Case was created by the new Fort Randall Dam and the bridge became
obsolete. The Wheeler Bridge, also completed in 1925, was floated up the river
70 miles and the two bridges were joined to span the new lake. And, that is the
current “double barrel” bridge you will see today, it now carries I-90 Business.
This bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.
You can see the Chamberlain Bridge, the main path of I-90
crosses the lake on a modern bridge and a railroad bridge that crosses about
300 yards to the south of I-90, from the overlook at the Lewis & Clark
Overlook.
We are starting to see little hills.
Farmer’s fields as far as we can see!
I kept seeing signs for National Grasslands. What are they? They
are mixed grass prairie vegetation that provides shelter to the Greater Prairie
Chicken, the Sharptail Grouse, the Chinese Ring-neck Pheasant, and numerous
migrating birds. Other wildlife species
that make their homes on the Grassland include: black-tail prairie dogs,
badgers, coyotes, rattlesnakes, burrowing owls, raptors, jack rabbits, mule and
whitetail deer, antelope, and various rodents. The Fort Pierre National Grassland is comprised of
approximately 116,000 acres of federal land located south of Fort Pierre. The topography ranges from flat to gently
rolling hills with large drainages on the north and west boundaries containing
relatively steep slopes and creeks that flow toward the Bad River and the
Missouri River. The Grassland has
numerous intermittent drainages that have been dammed to create small to
medium-sized ponds that provide water for wildlife and livestock. Many of these ponds have become important for
waterfowl habitat and popular fisheries.
Oh look, a little bit of home … an Indian River Orange Juice
tanker!
For hundreds of miles, we saw billboards for Firehouse Brewing
Company. All totaled, we saw thirteen, yes 13, fire engines at the billboards
and 1 fire plane.
Hopefully, we will have time to check it out while we are in
Rapid City!
The Buffalo Gap National Grassland is one of 20 National
Grasslands. For visitors that enjoy getting away from it all, National
Grassland hosts an array of unique opportunities to do just that. The National
Grasslands contains a surprising diversity of plants and animals and are one of
the most extensive, productive ecosystems in the United States. The Buffalo Gap
National Grassland is administered by the USDA and encompasses nearly 600,000
acres located in scattered tracts within southwestern South Dakota.
Off to our south, we had our first glimpse of the Badlands.
Located in Wall, South Dakota, Wall Drug has always been a
popular stop on the road to the more populated areas like Mount Rushmore or
Rapid City. As a matter of fact, when the United States Air Force operated the
Minuteman missile silos east of Wall, the Hustead family offered free coffee
and donuts to the service personnel as they traveled to and from Ellsworth Air Force
Base near Rapid City. Wall Drug honors the men and women in the armed services
by providing them free coffee and donuts to this day.
One of the world’s most well-known tourist attractions, it’s
hard to believe Wall Drug Store got its start with something many wouldn’t even
turn their heads at today, the promise of free ice water. But in fact, the
Husteads turned free ice water into a million-dollar idea with a little
determination, quick thinking and a lot of signs.
Signs with catchy jingles like “Get a soda . . . Get a root
beer . . . turn next corner . . . Just as near . . . To Highway 16 & 14. .
. Free Ice Water. . . Wall Drug” drew weary travelers into the small-town drug
store to enjoy a refreshing break. Today, more than 2 million visitors a year
stop at the popular roadside attraction for a meal or activity, 5 cent coffee,
and ice water – which is still free.
To call it a drug store, is like calling a beef hot dog a
steak. An apothecary, is the smallest portion of this store. First off, you
need a map to find your way around! There are things for sale or old pictures
to see in every corner of the store!
There is a café, which seats over 500
people … biggest café, we have ever been in!
In 1931, Dorothy and Ted Hustead with their son, Billy,
moved into the back of Wall Drug Store. Dorothy, the Free Water Idea lady,
passed away in November of 1995. Founder, Ted, passed away in January of 1999.
Their son, Bill, died in October of 1999, after a battle with Lou Gehrig’s
disease. Bill’s wife, Marjorie, is still active in the operation of the drug
store today and is carrying on the legacy. Along with their son, Rick, who is
Chairman, his wife Patt and their daughter Sarah Hustead.
We kept seeing billboards for “Red Ass Rhubarb Wine” and we found
the winery just north of Hills City. We will have to check it out later.
We arrived in Hill City in the midst of a massive thunderstorm.
It made navigating and sightseeing tough. But we made it safely through, with
only 1 U-turn required! Thank God, I have an awesome husband and driver of our
rig!
We arrived at Rafter J Bar Ranch in the middle of a hail
storm! What a welcome!
Oh well, once all was done, there was no damage to the
RV or the car!
We had dinner at Desperados, a real fine western food cowboy
restaurant. Charlie had linguini, I had a chef salad, Nancy and Charlie had
walleye. Everything was delicious! Of course, when the owner’s name is Joshua “Porkchop”
Ripley, he must know how to cook good food!
We were also serenaded by a cowboy with a serious southern
drawl! After crossing into Mountain Time, we are really beat! Good night all.
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