In Montana and Wyoming we were beginning to see ranch land with grassland and then planted alfalfa fields for hay and lots and lots of hay bales and pronghorn antelope.
In South Dakota we were seeing more planted fields with corn and lots of sunflowers, some corn and either milo or sorghum, I think. The weather has been nice and sunny and comfortably warm. We would never get anywhere if I took all the pictures of old run down shacks and out buildings that I wanted. The way it is by the time you see it you have passed it. I guess I will have to come back riding a bike in order to stop fast enough to get the pictures. I did get a cute picture of a metal guy leading a huge metal dinosaur near 1880 Town on I90 Exit 170.
We spent overnight in the R&R Campground in Mitchell, S.D. Nice place. We have stayed in several Passport America parks at about $18/night and they were nice. Passport is very worth belonging to, I think and we did this by calling the night before on a holiday weekend. It had rained the night before and was still threatening and cooler. We drove to the Corn Palace in town and toured the inside and out. This is an auditorium where they play local basketball games, have concerts, proms, etc. This is the 3rd one built since 1892. It was built to showcase the crops grown in the area and to attract immigrant farmers to settle here and also a festival was planned to celebrate the harvest. Renowned entertainers were brought here and area crops were exhibited to celebrate the fertility of the land and the productivity of the people and this continues today. It is also known around the world as a folk-art wonder on the prarie of South Dakota. Each year a new decorating theme is choses and the outside of the building is stripped and redecorated with new corn and grain. In early summer the process begins with removal of the old grasses and grains. Over the summer, 3,000 bushels of milo, rye, oat heads and sour dock are tied in bundles and attached. The corn murals have to wait until late summer when the corn crop is ready. The corn they now plant in a separate field in order to grow the colors and keep them consistent: red, brown, black, blue, white, orange, calico, yellow and green. Over a half million ears of corn are sawed in half and nailed to the buildings following patterns created by the local artist. All summer long you can watch this process being completed. This year's theme was transportation so their were pictures showing all the different modes of transportation. Inside there is a lobby with a couple of food areas and gifts to buy and then the auditorium with bleachers on one side and a stage on the other with mural above the stage and high on the side walls. These permanent murals were created byOscar Howe a Sioux artist and South Dakots artist laureate. Along the walls their are pictures of all many of the past completed palaces thru the years. This is the 3rd one. The first burned and I think the second they tore down because it was all wood and the city had passed an ordinance against public buildings being all wood but they discovered that it was too small also. The first was built in 1892, then 1905 and the present one in 1921. They used to decorate both sides as well as the front but the city built their city building right next to it and eliminated one of the sides. It costs around $130,000/year to do this. It is an interesting sight.
The next evening we had rain and lots of strong wind and the next day as we drove toward Mankato, MN we had strong side winds and gloomy weather but we made it here to the little town of Garden City in a county fairgrounds campground. One of only two campers surrounded by trees. Very nice and inexpensive. This is as close to his cousins house as we could get. Patsy and Pete live back in the woods with no way to take in the RV. Their house will be the center of all the activity. We went there last night and had brats and beans and enjoyed their company. Penny and Ray are flying in today and and we are to meet them at his Uncle Ben's house in Edina which is near Minneapolis. His wife just died a few weeks ago.
Recived a call last night from Mr. Lambert from whom we bought the melons and whose father-in-law worked on the railroad. The father is hard of hearing so he transmitted info back and forth and at least I know where the home office for the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe RR is which is Forth Worth. I will see if they have any info on my grandad.
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