A lunch break on the Missouri River...

 When we left Mitchell...we headed west...it was a pretty day...perhaps one of the warmest on our journey...

 More golden colored fields...not yet plowed under...

 We arrived in Chamberlain...it sits on the Missouri River...we stopped at a visitor center high on the hill above the town...

 There was a trail next to the center and we decided we would take a little hike to see if we could get some good views of the river...

 There were lots of bushes with these berries on them...not sure what they were...but they were a pretty ice blue...

 Not sure what I expected...but the river was a lot bigger than I expected. They said it was very low, however, because of the drought. Being from Southern California...bodies of water fascinate me...especially rivers...we don't have those here!

 Chamberlain was a pretty town from up on the trail...

 We stopped across the river at Al's Oasis...quite an adventure...

 There were all sorts of shops and a restaurant and hotel here...

 This is another thing I was surprised at...bullets in the grocery store...yes you heard me...the grocery store...and so many! They sell bullets here...but behind the counter under lock and key...not the grocery store...right next to the produce...well...if you call it produce...more like apples and potatoes...that's another thing that surprised me about South Dakota...but that's a whole different story!

We headed off down the road...next stop...Pierre...the state capital...

Until next time...enjoy the day!!!

Mitchell, South Dakota

 It was a pretty day when we set out from Sioux Falls to Mitchell...more rolling hills and farms...

 But we noticed that there are always interesting things to see along the way...

 Getting closer...

 We arrived in Mitchell...now to find the Corn Palace...he didn't seem to know...

 Oh...there it is!

 Nice to see a friendly face to greet us...

 This place is really different...and oh so cool! Corn murals on all the outside walls...inside too!

It was as awesome as we had read about... 

 Here's a close up so you can see they really do use corn still on the cob!

 Here's how it looked 100 years ago...

 Yet another water tower...I sure love these things!

 We noticed there sure are a lot of casinos in South Dakota...they're everywhere!

 More huge buildings for small towns...I thought that was kind of funny... enormous building in such tiny towns...

 The main drag...pretty!

 Interesting place...Mitchell...

Another thing I love...I've probably said this a lot...all the Fall decor that's everywhere...love it!!

Another great day spent in South Dakota...

until next time...enjoy the day!!

Driving to Sioux Falls...

 We arrived in South Dakota...and continued driving south...

 It was more farmland and rolling hills...

 Lots of cattle a horses grazing...

 I love looking at all the barns and small farms...

 More water towers...sorry...but I love them!

 This is cowboy land...and you thought it was Texas!

 I love all the lakes too...we don't have these at home...oh...OK...a few...but nothing like this...

 We stopped in De Smet...this is the first schoolhouse where Laura Ingalls Wilder went to school...her sister Carrie too. We arrived here on Sunday...so no one was around for a tour...disappointing...but sometimes that's how it goes when you are traveling...you have to roll with it.

 I just love all the homes here too...and how everyone decorates...even those in really rural areas...

 Lots of rivers too...with train bridges...

We arrived in Sioux Falls where we stayed the night...it was a long drive but full of so much to see...

I can't explain how much this trip has meant to me...so many people I know would chose exotic places for vacation...I chose the heartland...I am so glad that Don chose it as well...

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!