May 5, 2013 - Onto Murdo, SD

We awoke this morning and it was still misting rain and 40 degrees. We pulled out and stopped by the dump station. After that we headed on our way towards Rapid City. Once we got on I90 we headed west and the farther we got the more the weather cleared. The country side started getting more hilly. It went from rolling hills and corn fields to ravines and gulleys. As we got to Mitchell we stopped at the Corn Palace. It is a building that they cover with corn. They use the different colors of corn to create murals on the exterior and...

Sep 1, 2012 - Fun things to see along I-90 in South Dakota

Knowing it was to be hot, we were up and out of the campground early, we had several things to see right along I-90. Our first stop was the Petrified Garden where many different kinds of petrified plants and trees from the Black Hills and Badlands area have been gathered for the public to enjoy. It was amazing to see petrified moss, trees that were packed full of agates and gems, wood that still was covered with petrified bark and the biggest petrified log found in the area. It also was home to a house moved there from the Pine Ridge Indian...

Jul 18, 2010 - Murdo, 1880 Town & Wall Drug, South Dakota

We stopped at Murdo, SD to see the old cars they were suppose to have. All we seen was old cars all over the little town. We had breakfast at the local diner and then hit the road towards Deadwood. In Route we stopped at 1880 Town and Wall Drug. 1880 Town was really interesting, but Wall Drug was a little disappointing. It was just a bunch of shops with stuff we really didn't need. They did make a pretty good cup of coffee.

May 19, 2010 - Through the Badlands

Today, under cloudy skies we followed the signs to Wall Drug, Wall, South Dakota. In 1949 my mother and I followed similar signs across South Dakota while we were on a cross country trip. Today, Wall Drug is about four times as big with 10 times as much stuff, and the animated manequins are inside instead of in the windows; but they still offer free ice water and free coffee to vets. After taking a few pictures, we headed through the Badlands, across a vast expanse of grasslands with a prairie dog colony or two, and past an old soddy...

Sep 24, 2009 - Murdo, SD

Thrusday, Sept 24 – Traveled most of the day across South Dakota via Hwy 90. The weather was good and you could see and feel how big South Dakota is. The sky seems so much larger and the land seems empty. Murdo, a very small town, a place to spend the night. We ate at a local bar/restaurant. Most of the people in there were truck drivers and locals. The campground was a bit pricey for just spending the night. No walmarts in this area.

Sep 20, 2009 - Update

Met with the neurosurgeon this morning. The 4am CT scan showed increased fluid so the drip from the tube coming out of his head was opened wider to allow more fluid to come out faster. Don't want it to come out too fast because that is dangerous. Regulating that thing is quite a science. Everytime Tom is moved the drain is closed then when he is repositioned a level is used to make sure the bed is in the exact position for drainage and then the drain is opened again. Ever since the drain has been increased he seems more alert. He no longer...

Sep 12, 2009 - "NEW" Murdo, SD

Thrusday, Sept 24 – Traveled most of the day across South Dakota via Hwy 90. The weather was good and you could see and feel how big South Dakota is. The sky seems so much larger and the land seems empty. Murdo, a very small town, a place to spend the night. We ate at a local bar/restaurant. Most of the people in there were truck drivers and locals. The campground was a bit pricey for just spending the night. No walmarts in this area.

Aug 24, 2009 - Murdo,South Dakota

8/24 MONDAY We left Sundance this morning and drove to DEVILS TOWER, about a 50 mile side trip. We ended up in Murdo, South Dakota with a good wifi. So I down loaded two pics of the Devils Tower, Gayle talked to Ky today and told her we would be in W.V. by 4:00 Fri. Thanks for the note from "The Sorensen kids" today. We sure enjoy the notes every one has posted on this journal. Darryl

Jul 11, 2009 - the next state

The drive here was uneventful - no complaints about that. This is the part of the drive where we are coasting downhill and the west wind is supposed to be pushing us along boosting the gas mileage. Instead we were buffeted by winds from the south making the intrepid driver feel like he was steering a bucking bronco. It is nice to see that the price of oil is going down again, just in time for the drive home. We made a quick stop at Wall Drugs on the way here. It's almost illegal to cross South Dakota and not stop at Wall Drugs. This...

Jul 2, 2008 - Murdo, SD

Very early this morning we were awakened by a violent thunderstorm. It was tough sleeping with the rain pounding on the roof. After the storm passed, we all fell back asleep and awoke at 0745, a new record - much to Sheri's delight and my dismay. We broke camp at 1030 and headed east. For lunch, we stopped in Wall. After eating a quick sandwich in the rig, we headed off to Wall Drug for the complimentary donut and coffee for veterans. I flashed my ID for my free donut and coffee. I bought an extra coffee (5 cents) for Sheri and an extra 5...

Jun 28, 2008 - On our way home!

Day 42 - 59 and sunny! We are now officially making our way home, not stopping for many sights, since we are basically retracing our path from May. Seems like so long ago! Things are green now, and flowers are in full bloom. The weather is warmer (bye bye, jeans, hello, shorts!) and all the farm animal babies are much bigger. It is interesting to see the changes that have taken place in 6 weeks. We did pass through a new town in SD, one that we missed on the way up: Belle Fourche (pronounced "foosh"). For you movie trivia buffs, can you...

Mar 29, 2008 - Mount Rushmore & The Badlands

Mount Rushmore and the Badlands – Really great, enormous. The presidents’ faces carved on this mountain are from 150 years of history. George Washington (1st president), Thomas Jefferson (3rd president), Theodore Roosevelt (26th president) and Abraham Lincoln (16th president). The sculptor, Gutzon Borglum stated, “"A monument's dimensions should be determined by the importance to civilization of the events commemorated. We are not here trying to carve an epic, portray a moonlight scene, or write a sonnet; neither are we dealing with mystery...