We are in South Dakota

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Yes, we are still around! I know it has been awhile since I posted on Sunday, April 7th and that post did not even catch the blog up to that date then. Now well I have a lot of catching up to do...lol

Were to begin is the question? I have a lot of pictures and notes to fill in the time between the beginning of March and now. It has been a busy, whirlwind of a summer since we crossed the Mackinac Bridge on April 24th. There was a 1st Communion on April 28th, our daughter-in-law made two visits to the UP with our grandchildren, we made three visits downstate to our son and daughter-in-law's home. (One of the visits was to watch out son be Commissioned into the Naval Reserve) There were birthday celebrations and we attended a dance recital. We watched two different children's plays, attended three band concerts (one of which was a marching band) and a orchestra concert. Plus, we attended a couple of track meets and several soccer games. I even attended a middle school open house. In between Tom spent quite a bit of time helping our daughter get her house ready to be put up for sale. When I say it has been a whirlwind I think you get the idea. So there was no time to work on the blog but I did take time to read blogs to see what everyone was up to.  

After thinking about it I have decided to start with where we are presently which is the Red Barn RV Park in Tea, South Dakota. Why we are here will unfold below.

I did not take a lot of pictures of our drive here but I will take some more when we back track east, more on that in a future blog.

Crossing the Mississippi officially in the West for a few weeks.
We crossed by La Crosse, WI.

Just a few pictures as we left Wisconsin behind and crossed
into Minnesota. 

Leaving the Walmart in Albert Lea, MN I spotted this
restaurant. How cute is that name?

First stop in South Dakota the Valley Springs Welcome Center.

We made it to Tea, SD

We were on our way to South Dakota and all our grandchildren were starting a new school year.

So why September in the Sioux Falls, South Dakota area? As most of you know we are full time RVer's and as such if we want to bank and vote we need a legal permanent address. Sioux Falls, SD which is in Minnehaha County is where we chose to do this. We rent an address with a mail service here called, Your Best Address. When we made this decision we became residents of South Dakota and this is where we are registered to vote.  One of the things  that comes along with being registered to vote is the possibility of being called on to be available for Jury Duty and earlier this year I received such a notice.  I must say the Clerk of the Courts I spoke to was very understanding and accommodating. When I first received my notice I called in and we changed my month from April to October. Then when I had to call and change from October to September again very understanding. So that is why we are here. 

For the most part we have been enjoying our time here. I say for most part because we did have to have some work done on the motorhome's engine which involved spending a couple of nights in a hotel. The fun part about living fulltime in a motorhome when it needs to be inside a diesel shop for an extended time.  The good news the diesel shop, I-State Truck Centers, fixed the problem along with giving us a small discount.  

Over the years we have been very blessed/lucky to find business willing to help us out and get us back on the road quickly. This past month we had a issue with the front tire on the driver side of the motorhome. We were parked at the Walmart in Tomah, WI and Tom saw what looked like oil leaking out of that tire. After making a couple of calls we found a place, Allstate Peterbilt of Tomah, willing to look at. What he said on the phone was they could look at but they were booked up solid and would not be able to work on it. When we got there he looked at it and said I will send out the next mechanic that finishes what they are doing to fix it. It turns out it was the wheel hub leaking and the seal needed to be replaced. Yes, they charged us but not an unreasonable amount. We have been having trouble with our Jeep battery losing its charge when we are towing. When this happens we cannot disconnect it from the motorhome. Luckily we can still tow it. We stopped at Sturdevant's Auto Parts in Sioux Falls they could not help us but sent us to Tires, Tires, Tires. They put it on there charger and it charged right up and they could not see anything wrong with the battery itself. No charge. Then the Jeep needed to have the electrical system checked out and that was luckily under warranty. Tom was back there today we picked up something in one of the Jeep tires and it has a slow leak that needed to be fixed. He was there a couple of hours, same gentleman who helped us with the battery, after fixing the tire said because of your wait no charge. Yes, there are good people in this world and we have been lucky to come in contact with several of them over the years. 

St. Michael's Catholic Church.
Where we have been going to Mass while we are here.

Back in April of 2023 we came this way to get our Driver's License renewed and we spent several hours walking around and taking pictures at the Falls Park (this is that blog post). We were having a lot of trouble with our Jeep at the time and never went back to see it with the lights at night. It was on my list for this time.

We stopped earlier in the day.

Then we went back later in the evening.

We thought there would be spot lights directed at the water but
there are just the lights around the park. Still pretty at night.

Early morning breakfast at Rosie's. We turned the corner and 
both said, we have been here before. A tiny "hole in the wall"
the menu is on the napkin holder and the wall. Nothing fancy
but the food is and the coffee is not bad.

We  had  brunch downtown two different times.
Once at Josiah's Coffee House and another time at 
Phillips Avenue Diner. 

Both times when we ate downtown we took a walk on Phillips Street. Below are some of the pictures I took.

Fountain on Phillips Street.

Two of the utility boxes in Sioux Falls wrapped with 
vinyl art work.

Built in 1926: The State Theatre emerged as a cultural jewel in Sioux Falls, conceived to showcase the allure of silent films and the charm of vaudeville performances. Built by Henry Carlson Construction and operated by Moses Finkelstein and Isaac Ruben, the State Theatre was known for its Beaux Arts-inspired design and majestic architecture.

The Golden Age: The State Theatre became the premier destination for filmgoers throughout the 1930s and 40s. In 1956 it hosted the world premiere of THE LAST HUNT, starring Steward Granger, Russ Tamblyn and Venetia Stevenson.

The Unfortunate Closure: In 1990, amidst the changing landscape of Sioux Falls, the State Theatre faced solemn closure. Reasons for closure were cited as too many movie theaters and mechanical problems. Ironically, the last movie to show at the State was OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS. The Theatre was listed for sale for $150,000.

 

Reading about this theater's history there was a group determined to save this theater from the time it closed until it reopened in 2020. It is still an ongoing project and there are more renovations to be done.

In 2005, the Sioux Falls State Theatre Company, a 501c3 non-profit, was formed to save the building and restore it to its original grandeur.

Reopening: On December 11th, 2020, after nearly 30 years of being closed, the Sioux Falls StateTheatre opened to the public with a showing of WHITE CHRISTMAS.

SculptureWalk Sioux Falls is the largest annual exhibit of public sculptures in the world. Our mission is to bring art to the people, and our guiding principle is to be the highest quality, most professional, financially strong, artist friendly, year-round outdoor sculpture program in the United States.

Curated by a blind jury of local dignitaries and art enthusiasts, works are graciously loaned by the artists and installed in the spring throughout downtown Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to be continuously displayed all year. The public votes for the “People’s Choice Award” from May through September, and the favorite sculpture is awarded a cash prize and special recognition. Also, industry experts select “Best of Show” awards, which honor works achieving the highest levels of artistic merit and creativity. The winning piece is purchased by the city of Sioux Falls to be put on permanent display.

Below are some of the sculptures we walked by on Phillips Street. 

When Tom planted these three Ocotillo cuttings back in February I really was not sure they would take. I had read two things that cuttings would grow in a pot and it does not hurt the Ocotillo to take cuttings. When they were planted the stems were filled with tiny green leaves which, as I figured, in no time all dried up and fell off. I had also read it could take several months for the cuttings to root. I have not dug them up as of yet to see if they have any roots. The surprise was last week when the one cutting sprouted leaves...:)

September 18, 2024

So this is a quick update as far as what we have been doing since we left the UP on

August 28th.

We are glad you stopped by!

If you have time to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you.

Two Travel Days

Friday, April 28, 2023

When we got up Friday morning the rain was coming down at a nice steady pace another words it was pouring. We sat and had our coffee and contemplated staying one more day. Then the rain stopped and we got our act together and pulled out later then we planned. It was 10:40 and a not so warm 45 degrees. The Stinger "B" is heading south today hoping for warmer weather but not expecting to actually find it. There is a rest area just past Council Bluffs, Iowa in 199 miles and that is today's destination.

Going by Tea, South Dakota

I did nothing to enhance this picture.
The sky may be grey but this field is "sunny"

I was pleasantly surprised the camera pretty much 
picked up the colors I was looking at.

"Whitwam's Wigwams."
This one is near Vermillon, SD and is where we stopped for lunch.

Missouri River

This is the first train we have seen in over a week
and it is moving.

It is raining.

Lewis and Clark Trail

Since August 2010, the 24th Street Bridge in Council Bluffs
 has been home to the artist Albert Paley's "Odyssey." 

As Tom and I travel down the roads in this wonderful country of ours every once and a while we pass by something that prompts me to say out loud,  I wonder what the heck that was about? Most times when I try to research what it is I find nothing and I am left with the mystery of what it was. Then there are the times a picture pops up that matches the one I took and there is an explanation of what it is. Today was my lucky day.

A monumental gateway commissioned by Iowa West Foundation, Odyssey is sited over Iowa Interstate 80 at the S. 24th St. Bridge in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Consisting of four massive mixed-metal sculptures Paley’s Odyssey is a gateway for both the State of Iowa and the City of Council Bluffs. It creates a destination . that can be seen from miles away. For drivers passing under the bridge, the sculptures tower up to 100 feet above the interstate, establishing a true sense of place.

Bringing "Odyssey" to Council Bluffs was a partnership between the Iowa West Foundation and Iowa DOT. The Iowa West Foundation commissioned and purchased the artwork, and Iowa DOT engineers designed sculpture platforms and made sure the sculptures were structurally sound and able to withstand the wind, ice and snow common in Iowa winters.

Albert Paley (born 1944) is an American modernist metal sculptor. Initially starting out as a jeweler, Paley has become one of the most distinguished and influential metalsmiths in the world. Within each of his works, three foundational elements stay true: the natural environment, the built environment, and the human presence. Paley is the first metal sculptor to have received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Institute of Architects. 

Four sculptures, created with three different metals
 (stainless steel, weathering steel and bronze plate) make up "Odyssey."

I really like when the name of the highway
is painted on the highway.

We are parked for the night at a Rest Area just passed
Council Bluffs. This was today's destination.
Mission accomplished.

The wind was with us all day but as luck would have it it was coming our of the north and so we had a tail wind. Stopped for the day the parking was east/west and we could feel the wind hitting on the driver's side of the rig. It really was not that bad nor was the noise from the highway. We both had a good nights sleep.

Saturday, April 29, 2023

When we pulled out of the rest area Saturday morning we had no idea where we would be stopping for the night. I had  called a couple of Walmarts and both had told me no overnight parking allowed. Checking the route we had planned on taking there were no rest areas listed. I had done some research on City and County Parks along the route and I could not find any information about what size rigs would fit in their sites so that option was out. So in the end we made the decision to continue south to the Missouri Welcome Center to see if they would be able to give us some help.

Sitting having my coffee this morning this little guy 
landed in the tree out our front window.

Walking back to check our lights and roll
I decided to snap this picture.

Pretty much the whole ride today on I-29 we could see the green.

Then in the sky I could see a coffee pot.

Missouri 
The Show-Me-State

Then we spotted the Welcome Center and pulled in. Going inside to check for information we lucked out, the two woman working were both welcoming and helpful. Armed with the information they gave us we went back out to the Stinger "B" and looked at our options. The decision was to turn east at St. Joseph and take US-36 across to Hannibal where we would cross into Illinois. If you are wondering, the answer is yes, we are farther south then we planned but sometimes things work out better then you think they will. Before we left the Welcome Center we made some calls, did some checking, and decided to stop at the Pershing State Park for two nights which stretched to three. More about that in the next post

First Lilac spotting.

A dandelion and a "wish".

I spotted this guy across the way at the Welcome Center.

We passed by several Redbuds today.

Almost to our exit where we will turn east.

We were coming up a hill and this guy looked like he
was heading for a landing on our right.

Tom drove us down and up several times today.

This would be a first.
We have never seen anyone working up on a water tower before.

It has been a while but today we passed a vehicle.
It was interesting, to say the least, the way whatever 
this was, was tied down. They had a sun roof and the
ropes did go down in through it.

We have turned on to MO-30 which will take us to our stop
Pershing State Park.

Pershing State Park is a public recreation area covering more than 5,000 acres (2,000 ha) off U.S. Route 36, three miles west of Laclede in Linn County, Missouri. The state park was named in honor of General of the Armies John J. Pershing, who led the United States forces in Europe in World War I and who grew up in Laclede.

Looking out our front window, Saturday afternoon 
just after we pulled in. What we can see are
families and children enjoying their weekend.

When we stopped Friday for the night the wind was still blowing strong coming out of the north. Parked we were looking towards the east out the front window of the Stinger "B". I saw this little guy land way out on this branch facing north. I mentioned to Tom in this wind he must be holding on for dear life. A quote I have in my collection came to mind and it is under the picture below.

“A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking,
 because her trust is not on the branch but on it’s own wings.
 Always believe in yourself” – Unknown

We are glad you stopped by!

If you have time to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you.