Today we are crossing the entire state of South Dakota… 5 and a half hours at a minimum but of course, we have a few stops to make it longer but way more fun 🤩

Before we left town, we stopped by Lynn’s Dakotamart for Mom’s Cafe supplies, and caught a glimpse of the Bulls of Custer – kind of like the painted jeans around Greensboro or the pigs in Lexington.

We left Custer and passed by Crazy Horse one more time

And then we were on the road again 🎶 but the speed limit is 80 miles an hour so you can do some moving!

First Stop: Wall Drug. Everyone who has been to South Dakota said we “had to go by Wall Drug” so we did. The town of Wall is literally this one main street that has t-shirt shops, and jerky.

We’re not sure how Wall Drug used to be, but now, its pretty much the South Dakota version of South of the Border. Complete with the signs on the highway saying “10 Miles Ahead.” All they were missing was the “Pedro Says…” part of the signs.

I did see a few signs I could relate to and got the boys to pose for a couple of photos

After Wall Drugs, we headed to Badlands National Park, and found our favorite little peeps – prairie dogs! This one even looked like he was posing for me.

The Badlands are unreal – hills and valleys from the rocky clay ground with the different colors of the soil showing through from years of erosion. It is so strange to go from the green landscapes to this barren looking soil. Every turn was a different view or mountain, and cooler than the last. There were rainbow colored rocks and some bleached by the sun. I can’t imagine what happens here in the winter when it snows.

Although I could have done without seeing this!

But we did get some great family pics for our Map and a few framers!

Remember a few days ago when I said you could see the end of the storm? Well, you can see the storm coming too.

Since we already had hours on the road, what’s 20 miles of backtracking to see a nuclear missle? The Minuteman Missile National Historic Site is in South Dakota and built on and near nuclear missile silos. The Historic site was built in 1999 to represent the Cold War, Arms Race and the development of intercontinental missiles. The missiles were stored in South Dakota because it was the center of the United States and could be in Russia within 30 minutes. The control center and the missile site (the one we were allowed to see 🤨) were about 10 miles apart. The primary museum is small but has a lot of information about the Cold War, and the arms race. Until this, I don’t think the boys really understood how scary it was growing up during this time. I can remember being worried that Russia would invade. Red Dawn was real to those of us growing up in the 80’s.

Anyway, the museum had great information on the arms race and the back and forth conflict with Russia, including the Cuban Missile Crisis. We watched a video on fallout shelters and what to do “if you see the flash.”

The silos and control center were manned 24 hours a day with several soldiers on duty. Any launch always required multiple levels of agreement. From the displays, it appears that there were several times that one person’s rational thought saved the world, and one time it was not too far from home…

From the museum/visitors center, you travel 4 miles to the control center, which is cleverly disguised in plain site. I wonder how many people drove past this area without ever knowing what was really there? The soldiers were stationed here for extended periods of time and had everything they needed on site – a cook, basketball court and eventually a satellite for television. This part you could only enter with reservations and tickets (and I’m sure a background check)

We left the control center and traveled another 9 miles to see the missile silos themselves. The silos are underground, but if you travel down this non-descript road, and up to this non-descript area, you’ll find missile silos. And I’m sure, based on the trust I have in my government, that everything is safe and disarmed 😏

This site was supposed to close at 3pm. As we were leaving at 2:45, the Park Ranger showed up. She locked the bathroom and then started locking the gate when Mike stopped to talk to her. (She reassured him nothing was still armed here but they inspected routinely and kept a dehumidifier running… um, why do you care if it’s humid down there if it’s not a working silo 🧐). But the best part was the people coming behind us, by now it is 2:50. And the park ranger says “hurry and I’ll let y’all in.” Um ya think? It’s not 3pm yet. 🤦🏻‍♀️

But still needed some family pics by the missile! Nothing says family vacation like warheads 🤣🤪🤣

From the silos we drove,

And drove…

and drove.

We did see a tractor trailer hauling one of the blades for the wind turbines. Wow! Look at the size of this thing! And notice the tires on the end, they’re operated like an RC car from the cab of the truck.

We also passed Porter’s Sculpture Park in Montrose, South Dakota. Think of a large collection of large animals and stuff made from scrap metal.

And then we drove some more. We have crossed the entire state of South Dakota today.

The hotel for tonight in Brandon, SD is great and includes a small waterpark. Since we have driven and driven and driven today, we decided to order dinner to go from a nearby restaurant, eat in the room and enjoy the water park until it closes at 10pm.

For the first 30 minutes of each hour, the slide runs and you can’t use the pool or basketball goal, then the last half hour, the slide is closed and the basketball goal/pool is open. Meanwhile there is a large whirlpool and splash/play area.

It was a great way to get rid of some energy and wear them out. The hotel is booked solid tonight and no rollaway beds, so the boys are sharing a sleeper sofa. espeut thanks to the waterpark, they are snoring away right now.

Tomorrow we have a short drive (100 miles) and then a day at the oldest amusement park west of the Mississippi.