Jul 20, 2011 - Driving South on I-29

Left a little later this AM with a big storm front chasing us south on I-29. We've been observing lots of flooded areas but everything not under water looks green and healthy. Tonight we are staying at a state campground near Brookings, SD, right down the road from the house Laura Ingalls Wilder grew up. Hope to be home in 6-10 days.

Oct 17, 2010 - Mall of Amercia to South Dakota

We left early today to try to beat the traffic heading to the Minnesota Vikings football game near the Mall of America in Minneapolis. Upon arriving at the mall we couldn't believe the size of it. When we walked in and saw three floors and an amusement park ahead of us we were amazed. There are 520 stores, amusement park, and an aquarium within the mall. Since we are not shoppers and we were there before the stores opened we spent the time walking the different floors to get our exercise in for the day. The mall was filled with Viking and...

Aug 7, 2010 - Terry Redlin Art Center, SD Art Museum, State Agricultural Heritage Museum, McCrory Gardens & Arboretum

Aug. 7 Watertown, Brookings, Flandreau, SD Terry Redlin Art Center, SD Art Museum, State Agricultural Heritage Museum, McCrory Gardens & Arboretum This morning we went to the Terry Redlin Art Center. We walked part way up the road and were picked up by a volunteer in a golf cart. They have a wonderful day planned. Food vendors, story time for the kids, 4 live concerts from 4pm to 10 pm then fireworks. I’m ready for a wonderful day of relaxing right here. We walked through the beautiful building his son designed. Terry Redlin is a...

May 20, 2010 - Driving to Brookings, SD

We drove though endless grasslands today as we headed for Brookings, SD. They seemed to stretch on forever from horizon to horizon only stopping where they met the sky. What a vast expanse! Houses, trees, anything that stood up above them seemed so out of place. WE stopped for a break in DeSmet, SD and were surprised to discover that Laura Ingles Wilder spent several years there as a child and used those experiences for her books. We visited her memorial which included the school she had taught in when she was 15, and the house she lived in...

Aug 25, 2009 - The Greatest B&B and Campground Ever

Day 2 was a long, 478 mile, run to the greatest campground in the West. You see, we were visiting our friends, Cathy and Vern, who not only provided us with hook-up in their drive way, but a great breakfast every morning. We spent 2 great days with Cathy and Vern seeing Brooking, SD while meeting several of their friends. We thank them for their wonderful hospitality.

Apr 7, 2008 - Not home quite yet but........

Just to let everyone know, we celebrated our 35th anniversary yesterday driving almost 400 miles in the motorhome and staying in a crappy state park for the night. Whoopee!! We left the KOA in Springfield, MO yesterday and drove to Kansas City and then onto St. Joseph. This was where we were going to stop for the night, but arrived about 2:00 and decided that was too early, so continued on until Council Bluff, Iowa, but then we couldn't find a nice campground. So one of the gas stations we dropped in recommended the Manawa Lake State Park....

Jul 21, 2007 - Moved to Brookings, SD

(Ron writing) Today we moved from Pierre SD to Brookings SD. Before leaving Pierre we refilled one of our two propane tanks and filled the truck with gas. Whenever I've filled the propane tanks before I've been charged by the gallon. Here I was charged by the pound. The attendant set the tank on a scale, filled it, and noted the weight. Must be some local law or custom. Also very interesting are the gasoline prices here in SD. I found this pretty hard to believe but it is true; the "plus" gasoline has an octane rating of 89 and the price...