Day 6: The Great Sibling Trip 2017

About Us

            We are a brother (Detroit, MI) and sister (Houston, TX) who love to travel together to parts unknown. This year my sister flew into Detroit and we began our journey West. Stops include Davenport, IA, the Amana Colonies in Amana, IA, Marengo, IA, Des Moines, IA, Omaha, NE, Grand Island, NE, Rapid City, SD, Sioux Falls, SD, several cities in MN including Mankato, MN, Wisconsin Dells, WI, Marinette, WI, Mackinaw City, MI and back to Detroit.

            We are also stopping for selfies and pictures along the way at some very interesting and unusual out of the way places that you will see in the blog. Enjoy!

Fun Facts:

• Total Miles Driven so far: Over 2,000
• Average Miles Per Gallon: Well over 52 MPG
• Car being driven: 2016 Prius 4
• Miles Driven Today: Over 370 Miles
• Speed Limit in South Dakota on I-90: 80 MPH

     Let me tell you, we packed another full day in.  We drove from Rapid City, SD to Sioux Falls, SD with many, many stops along the way.

     Highlights:

• Wall Drug
• Minuteman 2 Missile Launch Site
• Badlands
• Giant Prairie Dog
• Corn Palace
• Closed Rest Area (Again!)
• Found 2 more Geocaches
• Prius Owners
• Buffalo Burger
• Stairs and more stairs
• Heat Factor: up to 96 degrees today

     We drove from Rapid City to Wall, SD to visit Wall Drug. We went there many times as children while on vacation but wanted to return as adults to see how it has grown. It now takes up at least one city block. Here are some fun pictures that we took. 

Here Cigar was poking out my eye!

Helloooooo!

It's Bucking!

     After leaving Wall Drug, we headed for the Badlands but ended up taking a wrong road and drove onto a Minuteman Missile Launch Site. Thankfully, it had been decommissioned and someone was there to explain everything to us. If you want to see how an ICBM launch sequence goes, take a look at this video . This is us at the launch silo.
   

Cover over the Control Room

     The badlands are a cross between the surface of the moon and the Grand Canyon. Words cannot describe the wonder of it all. While stopped at one of the scenic turnoffs, we ran into some Prius owners so we exchanged feedback on our cars. I think they are going to go out and buy a new one based on what we told them.

     There sure seem to be a lot of stairs to various scenic areas. In fact, the very first one had the most and while we were huffing and puffing up the stairs, some young kids ran by us...GOING UP! It is no fun getting older and feeling it in our knees and joints.

     On the way out of the Badlands, we ran across this giant Prairie Dog and prairie dog art. There were also many prairie dog holes with those darn things popping up and down from their holes in the ground.

     We were driving in heat that rose up over 96 degrees. It was HOT. When you opened the window of the car, it felt like a blast furnace door had been opened. We were drinking lots of water and needed to stop at the next rest area. Of course it was closed for some reason. This brings the total to at least 4 rest areas that have been closed on the freeway. 

     We stopped in Presho, SD for lunch and I had to order the Buffalo Burger. I used to eat them all the time when I worked in South Dakota years ago.

          The last stop before Sioux Falls was in Mitchel, South Dakota to see the Corn Palace. They take corn and parts of corn and use them to create murals on the front of the building and on the inside. Here are some pictures of it. This year's theme is Rock of Ages and they had Willie Nelson on one of the front murals.

      We also did some geocaching in South Dakota.  We were 2 for 2 today. They were located in some creative locations.

     The final fact was a cashier at Culver's that we went to for dinner. As our cashier was taking our order, the female cashier next to him was taking order and boy was she LOUD!!! I mean my ear was hurting! We sat as far away as possible and there was a tall wall separating us and we could still hear her. Wow!

More tomorrow!