Day 18 - Mitchell, SD to Rapid City, SD

After a continental breakfast we were on the road about 8:00, however before leaving town we just had to visit the Corn Palace. Built in the Moorish Revival style, it serves as a multi-use facility for the community and region.

Traveling West on Interstate 90 we began to notice subtle changes in the landscape. Corn and beans no longer ruled the fields. Along with the usual suspects sorghum and sunflowers starting showing up. For some reason these newcomers seemed to favor the North side of the Interstate. Bales of hay also made an appearance, along with the cattle they would feed come winter.

As we drove West, South Dakota continued to provide an abundance of road kill for identification. Opossum, raccoon, skunk and deer all had recently departed life on this stretch of Interstate 90. Just before crossing the Missouri River near Chamberlain we stopped by the Lewis and Clark Keelboat Visitors Center. It was closed. While Barb's designer shoe wouldn't allow her to walk out to view the river, I pressed on until encountering the poisonous snakes sign. Shorts and sandals? No way.

Lady Bird Johnson, a lifelong advocate of beautifying America's highways, would not be a happy camper on this section of Interstate 90. Billboards, billboards and more billboards, all proclaiming a fantastic, exotic, wonderful something that must be seen by the entire family. Original 1880 Town, Al's Oasis, Wall Drug Store and Reptile Garden are but a few. Having extra time we opted for Wall Drug Store. Drug store? More like a shopping arcade with gift shop, restaurant and a store with more cowboy boots and hats than any place outside Texas. Oh, and yes there is a drug store.

After checking into our motel we headed for a full service car wash. They did a great job, removing several layers of South Dakota's finest from the front bumper and grill. I suppose they will reappear tomorrow, but for tonight Honda will sparkle in the moonlight.

Next up? Cabela's of course! Number four for trip and I think we may just be running out of things to buy. One small purchase and we headed to On The Border for Fajitas and Dos Equis. Back at the motel my flask is again running low as I try to bring you up to date on our doings

Tomorrow we will be leaving early for a drive to Riverton, Wyoming. Getting close now. Three days and we should be home.

In closing, a little South Dakota thing: When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty. 307 miles today.

Posted from my iPad2