Where the HECK is Wall Drug!

Now the infamous drive down I-90 was ready to begin! We expected a long day of travel and a lot of hokey signs and stops and thats exactly what we got. The signs were great to help break up the drive, g
iving us something to look forward to. Along the way, we passed a truck decked out in hellfire and brimstone... literally! Apparently there

are a lot of people in South Dakota that need saving. Our first stop on the road was the Mitchel Corn Palace. The palace itself was rather unimpressive, especially after seeing the old photos showing how

elaborate it was in its hay day. But it was free and we didn't spend money on anything but postcards, so it was worth the trip. Next we stopped

at Al's Oasis to get some of the famed 5 cent coffee and fill up on some PBJ for the cooler. We ended up not getting coffee

since it was dine in only, but were able to snag the PBJ for our lunch. We made sandwiches in the parking lot and and I ate some buffalo jerky, then we headed back on the road. Finally about an hour later we reached Wall Drug! We

had a good time here taking some fun pictures, eating malts and donuts, and indulging in the free water. As we headed back to the car it was clear that a storm was brewing. All of the bikers were taking refuge at wall drug planning to weather the storm there, and it was smart that they did. We got hammered by rain

about 15 minutes after we left and it lasted for about 45 minutes as we drove toward Mt Rushmore. Thankfully by the time we reached the monument, the storm had passed and the skies were clear again. We took the presidential trail around the park and then

went back to the car heading for our next stop in Hot Springs, the Mammoth Site, stopping for a picture of the Crazy Horse Memorial along the way . The Mammoth Site was a giant sink hole where some 54 odd mammoths met their end and were fossilized for our enjoyment. We arrived about an hour before it closed for the evening, so we had to take the self guided tour. It was really fun and enjoyable, even though we had to rush a little

to fit everything in. After the site closed, we headed back to Rapids City to the Firehouse Brewery for dinner. The food was excellent, even though it was a little overpriced and the beer was good as well. The crowd was a little yuppie for my taste, but it was a fun night all the same. From there we headed to a rest area near by which would be our home for this night and the next.