We, or I should say Ray, is worried about winds across South Dakota and so we leave early this morning while it is calm. I am excited to see a sign announcing the town of Desmet, home of Laura Ingalls Wilder, whose family was the first resident, and who later returned to raise her own family. I loved her books and spent many hours reading them to our kids. Seeing the long stretches of prairie made her stories come real.
It is all about corn today as we drive across the plains. The town of Mitchell is famous for the “world’s only corn palace” which historically was made to celebrate its prosperity and to be an agricultural showplace of the world.
The Palace is redecorated each year with naturally colored corn, other grains and native grasses – 13 different colors or shades of corn (red, brown, black, blue, white, orange, calico, yellow and even green). A different theme is chosen each year, and murals are designed to reflect that. Ear by ear the corn is nailed to the Corn Palace to create the scenes. The decorating process usually starts in late May with the removal of the rye and dock. The corn murals are stripped at the end of August and the new ones are completed by the first of October. It is quite a unique place!
As we drive, I find some interesting corn facts: 40% of US corn is used for ethanol, 36% for feed, 20% for exports and the remainder for other processing like corn syrup. Dry millers produce flakes, grit, meal etc and wet millers for ethanol, syrup, oil etc.
The Chamberlain rest stop has a gorgeous overlook of the Missouri River. At the beginning of the path is a 50 ft sculpture “Dignity” which represents the courage, perseverence, wisdom of Lakota and Dakota cultures.
By early afternoon, we reach the Badlands National Park, 244,000 acres of spectacular landscape. We drive the 30 mile scenic loop road with many overlooks and viewpoints. What a beautiful place, so peaceful and majestic, with spires and canyons, gray rock with red striations.
I also get my first chance to tow today. Ray finally relents… it is really not that hard; both car and trailer are great.
Our last stop today is the KOA in Rapid City and dusk falls as we arrive.
