Time to head north

June 10 -   We were ready to leave by 8:20!  The drive is longer than we first thought, so it

was good to get on the road a little earlier.   We got a good bye hug from Sharon and a

Tiny house in progress in
our campground

shout out from Bruce from the shower!  Looking forward to our time together in Idaho in July!  Be safe!

Before I forget, I counted dead deer (I know it’s morbid) but there were so many dead animals along the roads today I counted 7 deer and 3 raccoons.  There were plenty of others but I would have needed Bill to write them down as I drove!

The weather was great, sunny skies and not too hot.  It got down to 45 last night and we had the heat on and for a bit this morning to take the chill off.  Tonight the low here in Plankinton, SD will be in the 40’s.

We backtracked a bit east and then headed north in a zigzag fashion.  There were no interstates going where we were until the last 21 miles today.  We left the flatlands of corn fields and other plantings and into rolling hills with fluffy white clouds in blue skies.  We drove for miles along railroad tracks that carry harvests and feed

to wherever and receive fertilizers and such for the crops.  This is the true “Bread basket of America” according to Bill.

We took a 10 minute potty break in a parking lot and stopped for lunch later in another parking lot as there are no “rest” areas along these roads.  We met up with several road crews as we expect each summer but for the most part the roads were all pretty good today.  We did get a rock that chipped the windshield on my side that we will see about getting repaired when we stop for 2 or more nights.

Working with what I had

Once we were heading directly north to our first actual stop, the double window shades on the driver’s side window, one end fell from the ceiling.  It’s ALWAYS something!  It was shimmying and shaking and I was afraid it would tear the other end out so since there was no traffic at all and no place to pull off the road so I just pulled over as far as I could and put my hazard lights on.  Bill had gotten a leather strap from a belt guy when we were in Branson and it was on a hook behind the driver’s seat.  I got it and tied it around the hanging end and looped it over the hook for the front shades until we can take a look at it.

Old building, now where al the
cheese is made

Our touristing today was minimal but we visited the Dimock Cheese factory in Dimock, SD.  When Bill looked it up the address took us to their old place in town that is now where all of the cheeses are made.  An employee there gave directions to the new “show place”.  What a beautiful place they have.  In addition to numerous varieties of cheese they make, they showcase many South Dakota made products from frozen pizza to popcorn.  Being the “cheese hounds” that we are,

Bill, the Cheese Head

we left with 6 packages of cheese and 1 summer sausage.  Of course we did do a lot of sampling!

Only about 20 miles north of Dimock is Mitchell, SD, home of the only surviving corn palace.  This was our 3^rd time going and if we lived closer we’d go every year to see the new design on the outside of the building.  Apparently it was a popular “competition” from the 1890’s, in to the 1900’s in numerous farm towns throughout South Dakota.  Mitchell’s first Corn Palace was built in 1892 and is the only one still in operation.  The building itself has been changed and now the arena is used for hosting 3 ring circuses, indoor bull riding and basketball.  There is a history of the palace that is very interesting and the exterior is changed each year.  Designs are made from corn, rye, oat heads, and sour dock for the colors and textures.  This year’s theme is “Salute to Military” and it is so well done!   They have a large parking area for RV’s so that was convenient. 

From there it was only 21 miles to Plankinton to the Hills RV Park, right off the interstate.  It’s a small campground, long full hook up sites and a small swimming pool.  Every site but one has a tree so Bill asked for that site to make sure the satellite works. 

Bill washed the front of the RV AGAIN!  There are bugs everywhere.  We had our leftover meatloaf and the leftovers Sharon sent home with us.  We finished off the fresh broccoli and I heated canned corn for Bill.  I had the half of the casserole and it had rice so I was good!  Just as tasty as last night!

 
Time to watch some TV and try to post some journals