After a futile search for deepfried cheese curds (sorry, Scott), we left LaCrosse and headed for Minnesota this morning, crossing the Mississippi on the edge of the "Western Frontier". Forrest snapped this picture as we crossed the bridge.
The Minnesota welcome sign greeted us on the other side of the bridge. They should also post a warning here: "No Starbucks can be found along I-90 for at least two states!" Sherry tried to spot one, but was disappointed. She finally picked up a pepsi to help get her up the road.
We did, appropriately, get to listen to Garrison Keillor's replayed July 4th special on public radio, followed by Click and Clack (car talk), as we crossed the state.
We really didn't make any stops in Minnesota, except to pick up some drinks at a grocery store and to get gas. Then we headed up the road to South Dakota. Even before we got there, we noticed an endless supply of corn on both sides of the road. Appropriately, this sign was in front of a cornfield.
Storm clouds passed through as we traveled, and we caught one funnel cloud on camera. Forrest was interested, Sherry was definitely not. If you click on the picture to make it full size, you will see the funnel just behind the car on the road. We barely saw any rain, and then it all cleared off by evening.
We stopped in Mitchell, South Dakota to see the Corn Palace, which Forrest last saw in 1972 (give or take a year) with Grandma and Granddad Williamson on the way to Missouri.
The 600,000 ears of corn and over a thousand pounds of nails and staples include these sculptures, which change every year. This one portrays Hoover Dam, which we saw almost three weeks ago!
The sculptures are influenced by the work of artist Oscar Howe, a Yanktonai Sioux Indian who designed the Corn Palace murals from 1948-1971.
This is a photo of the corn palace in 1964, birth year for both Sherry and Forrest. There is a Dodge Dart in the foreground.
This is the 1997 Corn Palace, Jeremy's birth year. You can see him in the left background of this picture (reflection).
Ian's birthdate was 1994. Looks like that was a good year for corn!
The best part of the Corn Palace visit for the boys was the Dip-n-Dots ice cream treat. They watched how this new ice cream treat is made on the Food Network with Sherry.
We snapped this picture of the landscape in South Dakota. The fields just extend to the horizon. Stark, but beautiful.
In Chamberlain we stopped at a rest stop and took this picture of the Missouri River at Lake Francis Case (one of four flood-control dams on the Missouri). This is a beautiful area with green, rolling hills. We decided to eat here, and headed into Chamberlain in search of Buffalo Burgers.
We found Casey's Cafe, which only had 2 buffalo burgers left, so we ordered two and added two regular hamburgers. Everyone got to try some buffalo burger. We also found this interesting little flyer with excerpts of Wild West tales. Then we noticed it is authored by Rick Steber, of Prineville! We were amazed and thrilled to find a little piece of home in this small roadside cafe.
We did, appropriately, get to listen to Garrison Keillor's replayed July 4th special on public radio, followed by Click and Clack (car talk), as we crossed the state.
We really didn't make any stops in Minnesota, except to pick up some drinks at a grocery store and to get gas. Then we headed up the road to South Dakota. Even before we got there, we noticed an endless supply of corn on both sides of the road. Appropriately, this sign was in front of a cornfield.
Storm clouds passed through as we traveled, and we caught one funnel cloud on camera. Forrest was interested, Sherry was definitely not. If you click on the picture to make it full size, you will see the funnel just behind the car on the road. We barely saw any rain, and then it all cleared off by evening.
We stopped in Mitchell, South Dakota to see the Corn Palace, which Forrest last saw in 1972 (give or take a year) with Grandma and Granddad Williamson on the way to Missouri.
The 600,000 ears of corn and over a thousand pounds of nails and staples include these sculptures, which change every year. This one portrays Hoover Dam, which we saw almost three weeks ago!
The sculptures are influenced by the work of artist Oscar Howe, a Yanktonai Sioux Indian who designed the Corn Palace murals from 1948-1971.
This is a photo of the corn palace in 1964, birth year for both Sherry and Forrest. There is a Dodge Dart in the foreground.
This is the 1997 Corn Palace, Jeremy's birth year. You can see him in the left background of this picture (reflection).
Ian's birthdate was 1994. Looks like that was a good year for corn!
The best part of the Corn Palace visit for the boys was the Dip-n-Dots ice cream treat. They watched how this new ice cream treat is made on the Food Network with Sherry.
We snapped this picture of the landscape in South Dakota. The fields just extend to the horizon. Stark, but beautiful.
In Chamberlain we stopped at a rest stop and took this picture of the Missouri River at Lake Francis Case (one of four flood-control dams on the Missouri). This is a beautiful area with green, rolling hills. We decided to eat here, and headed into Chamberlain in search of Buffalo Burgers.
We found Casey's Cafe, which only had 2 buffalo burgers left, so we ordered two and added two regular hamburgers. Everyone got to try some buffalo burger. We also found this interesting little flyer with excerpts of Wild West tales. Then we noticed it is authored by Rick Steber, of Prineville! We were amazed and thrilled to find a little piece of home in this small roadside cafe.
One other note: We only passed four trucks today, making the highway drive a delight. And there were no tolls! Tomorrow we are looking forward to less driving, more touring.
When we arrived at our hotel, we took time to call Cecily and wish her a happy birthday.
