- 480 Kilometres in 4 hours, Wall South Dakota to Keystone South Dakota. These interstate roads are good with a minimum speed of 40 MPH most people travel at 75 to 80 MPH. Rob (are we there yet) Ellis would love it.
- They grow a lot of corn in Iowa. Iowa is also littered with beautiful old barns and grain silos, a reminder of its simpler past. Having taken the inevitable more economically feasible route these buildings are now mostly left to the elements. A shame really.
Jens Barn and silo. Iowa.
- The Iron Mountain Highway to Mt Rushmore must rate as one of the world’s great scenic drives. The Road was built with “Pigtail bridges” and three tunnels were cut through solid granite to allow access and at the same time, frame a view of Mt. Rushmore. To my mind this is the way to see the sculpture. This and many other gems from Peter Norbeck a humble and very active politician from the days when they weren’t “in it for the money”.
Rock Stars.
Iron Mountain Hwy, “Pigtail Bridge”.
- In South Dakota they keep strange livestock and protect it vigorously.
South Dakota free range livestock.
5. Badlands National Park. Is like Mungo National Park in Australia only on a massive scale. it has an enormous wealth of fossils and visitors are encouraged to seek them out and report findings to the park rangers.
Multi coloured Badlands.
Not so Badlands.
- The owner of the town “Scenic” sold it in 2011 but there is a revival expected any moment. Just ask the cat.
Lot 43….Scenic. Going once , going twice, sold to the cat in the black suit!
Hotel Scenic.
- The town of Wall has some weird stuff. Of particular note is Wall Drug Store the Vegas of Drug Stores where they will give you free ice water and guide you to economic insecurity.
A Couple of miners, 49ers ex-ca-va-tin for ……
Hee Haw! The Last Long Horn Rabbit Round Up.
Wall’s Jurassic Park.
- Did I mention it’s Autumn. Most of America’s northern National Parks and for that matter any outdoor activity (except winter sports) seem to close at the end of September and reopen in the Summer. It’s a bit bureaucratic but at least the locals know what to expect. In Keystone for example, near Mt Rushmore, most of the shops are closed from the end of September till the beginning of May. On the plus side if you travel as we are on the fringe of the tourist season you see the autumn colours, wildlife and so forth without the crowds.
Autumn, sorry, Fall.
leschalmers 