September 7, 2013

Today we made it through the Badlands on the way to Ellsworth AFB just outside of Rapid City SD.  Before the pics, I would just like to say...it's hot here.

With the exception of the first picture, the other 8 following were taken near the beginning of the eastern entrance to the Badlands National Park.  We took lots of nice pics but you know...pictures just don't do justice to being there.  Have fun looking at the rest of them and hope you can find Grammie.

When we got to Ellsworth AFB and before we checked in, we toured the Air and Space Museum. 

The base was busy during the cold war period and was home to a few Minuteman missile silos.

 Tags, removed along with the pins before the bombers took off on June 6, 1944.

 A B1-B bomber looking from the rear.  Can you find Grammie?

The date on this paper is December 7, 1941.

After touring the museum for a bit,
we did a partial in depth tour of a missile silo.

 This is the hatch that crew members had to crawl
into to do work on the missile and silo.

From inside the silo, looking up towards the 2000 pound hatch.

 The old guidance system was aided by sighting on the North Star through a hole, 

along with the degree measurements along the inside of the shaft.

Where's Grammie going.  No where I hope.  I think the missile has been deactivated.

We are now in the Mountain time zone so if you are used to reading the blog in the evening, 

you will probably be changing to the morning.

We are hoping that Rapid City doesn't get a hailstorm because if it does, the surface of the van will look like a chinese checkers board...the one with the marbles and indentations.

Our updated license plates seen now includes UT, LA, VT, SC and AK.  

I think Julie stifled the competition with her first 2 words.  Can't anyone do better?

Good night from Rapid City, SD

September 6, 2013 page B

First of all, please ignore one of the previous posts.  For some reason a web address appears and I haven't figured out what the problem is.  I have tried several things to no avail.

 On the drive to Pierre we crossed the "Wide Missouri"

When you drive for miles and notice the absence of trees, you appreciate Maine more.

Just before rolling into town, we passed 3 of these bad boys getting ready to harvest the miles and miles...

The crops did change however,  We saw a lot of Sunflower plants and Sorghum too.

We did make an unexpected stop along the way and stopped in the city of Mitchell to visit the Corn Palace.

We found Grammie across the street from the Palace saying hi to Mr. Corn Cobb.

The Corn Palace is actually a center of activity for meetings, gatherings and concerts.  The seating capacity is for 3000 people and even has a basketball court.

 

The outside front of the Corn Palace is changed each year.  If you look closely you can see corn of different colors, and various parts of the plant.

 In the early 1900's before it became the Capitol, there were several cities that were in the running for the Capitol.  After several years of competition and challenges, Pierre finally was selected. 

As you look at the desks in the Senate it appears that the desks were still the originals.  There was nothing to indicate electronics so I would imagine an oral Roll Call and voting procedure are still in use.

Meanwhile, outside of the building, the flowers were wilting as the temp reached 105 today.

We did also got over to the Cultural Center where there were many artifacts typical of life in the west.
There was however  a cloth Haversack found on the grounds at the Battle of Little Big Horn by Brings Plenty, a Mineconjon Sioux.

After a busy and hot day we had a meal at a Mexican restaurant.  We still have some final planning to do for our arrival in Rapid City tomorrow. 

Skip to version B

This morning started early.  We left Sparta for the trip to Sioux Falls, SD.  

On the way out of town there were some statues that represented life in Finland.  Not sure of the connection to Sparta but thought kids would like them.

We crossed over the Mississippi into Minnesota and took this pic while at the information center.

Finally got to Sioux Falls and stopped at  Falls Park along the Sioux River.  Caption reads "For which it stands".  We need more of these around the country.

A view of the Falls Park where the generating plant once operated.  Parts of it still remain.

This building is now a pub..and no it is not called the Old Mill Pub.  Dorothy, we are not in Skowhegan anymore.

Today we found Grammie making friends with the Buffalo.  

They were very common in the Falls area in the 1880's.

A good day at the Falls.

A pair of ducks having lunch at the Falls.

This building is all that remains of the generator plant that has since been replaced by a larger coal fired plant.

All in all a great day.  Oh by the way Alice drove 2000 miles.  Oops, she was driving when the odometer recorded 2000 miles since we left home.

September 5, 2013

This morning started early.  We left Sparta for the trip to Sioux Falls, SD.  

On the way out of town there were some statues that represented life in Finland.  Not sure of the connection to Sparta but thought kids would like them.

We crossed over the Mississippi into Minnesota and took this pic while at the information center.

Finally got to Sioux Falls and stopped at  Falls Park along the Sioux River.  Caption reads "For which it stands".  We need more of these around the country.

A view of the Falls Park where the generating plant once operated.  Parts of it still remain.

This building is now a pub..and no it is not called the Old Mill Pub.  Dorothy, we are not in Skowhegan anymore.

Today we found Grammie making friends with the Buffalo.  

They were very common in the Falls area in the 1880's.

A good day at the Falls.

A pair of ducks having lunch at the Falls.

This building is all that remains of the generator plant that has since been replaced by a larger coal fired plant.

All in all a great day.  Oh by the way Alice drove 2000 miles.  Oops, she was driving when the odometer recorded 2000 miles since we left home.

September 4, 2013

We left the Great Lakes Naval Base and headed for another Capitol Tour in Madison, WI  We arrived just on time for the second tour of the day and I think that Jim has done more than one tour.  He would be great for kids of all ages.

The Capitol Building is located on a strip of land between Lakes Monona and Lake Mendota

The outside of the building is made from Granite from 8 states in the US with Vermont being one of the main sources.  We were surprised that there was no typical airport screening when we entered the building.

The rotunda is claimed to be the 4th largest in the world measured by volume.

This is a view from an outdoor walkway outside the 6th level.  What a great view.

This is the conference room of the governor.  His office is just beyond the doors behind Jim, our tour guide.

After collective bargaining was all but eradicated, people are expected to give more.  A blood drive in the capitol???

When we got on to the elevator to ride to the lookout, the person asked what floor we were going to.  We responded 4.  He then commented something about the singers at noon...also something about getting arrested.  I almost asked him if peoples 1st amendment rights were being taken away.  There was no Where's Grammie pic for today, we didn't want you to see her get arrested.

There was a farmers market just down the street so we took a walk down.  Plenty of veggies for sale.  20 pounds of tomatoes for $10.  If we had some bread and mayonnnaise, Tom would have been in heaven by the time he got to Minnesota.

So this afternoon Tom realized that last night he laid his head less than 10 miles from the Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, Illinois.  Bummer.  Oh well, more golf ahead.

1765 miles down and in 7 more days we will be in Cheyenne visiting Doug and Robin.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. - See more at: http://constitution.findlaw.com/amendment1/amendment.html#sthash.zmFL5DkM.dpuf

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. - See more at: http://constitution.findlaw.com/amendment1/amendment.html#sthash.zmFL5DkM.dpuf

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. - See more at: http://constitution.findlaw.com/amendment1/amendment.html#sthash.zmFL5DkM.dpuf