Ed & Melinda's Fabulous RV Adventure
On June 11, we left our humble home in Florida for a summer adventure in a 32-foot Jayco motor home. Here are the highlights from the trip:
June 12 – Graceland, Memphis, TN – I’ve always had a nagging regret for not visiting Graceland years ago when I drove through on a cross country move. I was ecstatic when Ed said he’d like to visit the “Blingdom” of the King of Rock, too. We arrived before 10 a.m. and had a short wait for Tour 4. The tour features an excellent audio guide with commentary by Elvis, friends and relatives and takes you through the bottom floor of the house, the basement, his backyard publicity office, the “trophy room” and the $200,000 handball court. That was a lot of money back in the day, especially when you consider Elvis bought Graceland when he was 23 years old for $100,000. We saw it all (or all that was open to the public): his 15-foot white couch, the avocado green and harvest gold dark wood kitchen, the Jungle Room/impromptu recording studio, and the bocoodles of gold records and sparkly jumpsuits. Elvis was not wealthy growing up, and his taste in interior décor pretty much reflects that. Graceland has a homey, lived-in appeal for all its put-on airs. What I want to know is: how did they lay shag carpet on the ceiling?
After the tour, we had lunch at the Chrome Grill across the street at the tour complex, and then did the obligatory souvenir shopping. Paying homage to the King of Rock and Roll isn’t cheap, but it’s probably the only time we’ll go, so it was worth it. Besides, I got to stand next to Elvis’s grave, just like Bono and the guys from Spinal Tap. How cool is that?
June 13 – Checotah, OK – Stopped for lunch in the RV and happened upon Old Settlers’ Day in this dried up eastern OK town. Their claim to fame other than having old settlers? It’s the hometown of American Idol Carrie Underwood. We also happened to go through David Cook’s hometown in MO. Next time: I want to make a detour to see Sequoyah's cabin in eastern OK. Did you know the Cherokees were the only American Indian tribe to have a written language? They can thank Sequoyah for that.
June 14 – Amarillo, TX – Had an awesome Mexican lunch at Rosa’s Tortilla Factory and Café where you can watch them make the tortillas through a window. Although Rosa’s is kinda fast food, it was one of my favorite meals of the trip. The homemade salsas that run the heat spectrum are amazing!
June 14 – Santa Rosa State Park, NM – This park is a ways off the Interstate, but worth the drive, and one of the nicest places we stayed. This was the first time we realized we had outrun the humidity; stepping out the RV, the air was balmy and warm with the smell of sage and juniper. We went for a walk and enjoyed a desert sunrise here. Also saw rabbits and our first pronghorn antelope.
June 15 – Petrified Forest National Park, AZ – We stopped at the Visitor’s Center for an excellent little film on the Petrified Forest and some souvenir shopping. It is so cool what time and pressure does to wood! Brought home some chunks from the gift store to show to my students. Next time we’re in the area, I definitely want to do the 28-mile loop of the park.
June 16 – Grand Canyon, South Rim, AZ – Arrived at the entrance to the park around noon, parked, and caught the convenient shuttle bus to the Visitor’s Center. Browsed the bookstore, then headed for the canyon. If they got one thing right, it’s the name of the place – it really is GRAND. Even the pictures taken with my cell phone give a sense of the grandeur of this natural wonder. It was a cool day with sprinkles, so we wore jeans as we walked along the rim admiring the sights and wondering at the stupidity of people who go beyond the rails to “get a closer look.” Parents pushed their kids out there, for goodness’ sake, just to get a picture. Crazy. We caught the shuttle up to the historic Bright Angel Lodge for lunch, and then took in a Navajo dance performance at the Hopi House. Despite the estimated 4.2 million visitors a year, the Park is well-run and still a favorite family destination. We had dinner at the Cameron Trading Post where we ogled a Native American rug that cost $15,000! I'll take two!
June 17 – Fillmore, UT – Our stay at the KOA here was unspectacular, but we were able to pay a visit to Ed’s paternal grandparents’ grave. Fillmore is Ed’s hometown, although he says he left the area when he was about 6 months old. He reminisced about his grandparents and we took some pictures. This is the day we planned on going to Zion National Park, but were persuaded otherwise by their policy regarding RVs. Instead, we drove over Cedar Mountain on Hwy 14, summiting at 9936 ft. That was one scary, hairy drive, and I was driving!
June 18 – Great Salt Lake, UT – I was impressed by the beauty of the Utah mountains, realizing how much I missed the West. Drove out to the Saltair Resort at the Great Salt Lake, the third such resort on the site, and was immediately intrigued by the history of the place, once called the “Coney Island of the West.” They used to have a roller coaster, a dance floor that could accommodate 3000 couples, and train service from Salt Lake to the resort. The Saltair Resort has been featured on album covers and in movies, most notably in the schlocky 1962 horror movie Carnival of Souls. Little schlock now – just some new trees, public bathrooms, and a gift store trying to make a go of it. The Resort is now used for private events and concerts. Bought and read a fascinating book on the Great Salt Lake and its history. I remember seeing pictures of people floating in the lake, but these days it’s too far to hike to give that a go. Still smells briny, though!
June 19-21 – Guffey, ID and Idaho City, ID – We arrived at Ed’s sister’s in Guffey just in time for his mother’s 80th birthday celebration on June 20. Ed enjoyed visiting with his family, including his brother Don that he had not seen in 32 years. We went to the Warkhawks Museum in Nampa with Don and his family. The museum is filled with personal effects and memorabilia from World War II, and is worth a visit for those interested in the period. On June 21, we drove up to Idaho City with Ed’s sister Virginia and her husband Marion. Idaho City was a booming gold town at one time – the most populous city in the West – but is in desperate need of vitalization these days. We visited the local museum and trekked through the hilly pioneer cemetery before getting chased out by bloodthirsty mosquitoes. We enjoyed excellent meals and hospitality during our visit.
June 22 – LaGrande, OR – Drove about three hours west to LaGrande to visit Ed’s stepfather Bob and his wife Lola. Feasted on fabulous Chinese food at Moy’s Dynasty and took an auto tour of this small, charming college town. We stopped here, too, on our way back from Portland.
June 23 – Portland, OR – Driving up through the scenic Columbia Gorge, we stopped for a picnic lunch at Horsetail Falls. I began to get very “homesick” for OR; it was a bittersweet feeling to see all the pines and hills again. We visited with Ed’s stepson Eric and his family. We had excellent Mexican food at El Indio and went to watch grandson Austen practicing with his All Stars team. We camped at the Rolling Hills RV Park which was, unfortunately, next to the treatment plant! Phew! Unfortunately, we were not able to visit with stepdaughter Andrea and her family on his trip.
June 26 – Pocatello and Idaho Falls, ID – On our way to Yellowstone, we stopped in Pocatello to see the replica of Ft. Hall, an important trading post on the Oregon Trail. Also walked through the Bannock County Museum and watched the bison and antelope graze. In Idaho Falls, we took in the Titanic: the Artifact Exhibit at the Museum of Idaho, a fascinating collection of personal items salvaged from the doomed ocean liner. I couldn’t believe there was perfume that still retained its scent after spending 97 years at the bottom of the ocean! The exhibit was informative and moving. We were both given “Boarding Passes” when we purchased tickets, and the identities of actual passengers on the ship. Ed was John Jacob Astor IV and I was a single, female doctor with her “male guest.” I survived, but Mr. Astor didn’t. Met the author of a book on the Titanic and had him inscribe a copy for me. Then, on to Saint Anthony where we parked the RV at brother Don’s and visited with his wife Donna (Don was driving a Big Rig somewhere in IN at the time). Ed grilled steaks and corn on the cob and we ate plenty.
June 27 – Yellowstone National Park, WY and Cody, WY – Drove through West Yellowstone to the West Park Entrance. Parked at the Visitor’s Center and had lunch at the historic Old Faithful Lodge. I don’t remember what Ed had, but I had a wonderful grilled Portobello mushroom “cheese steak” sandwich with onions and peppers on a soft, steamed bun. After lunch, we explored the Lodge and ended up on the second floor exterior balcony in time to watch the geyser go off. What a sight! We didn’t see bears on this trip, but we did see a bald eagle, bison, and elk. There were also many fly fishermen going after trout in Yellowstone’s rippling mountain streams. We drove through the Park admiring Lake Yellowstone, the distant Teton Mountains, and the dissolving snowpack. Just the week before our visit, a man had been severely mauled by a bear. I was quite content to take in the scenery from the RV, thank you. We exited the Park through scenic highway 14 and wound our way out of the canyon to Cody, WY, named for the famous and flamboyant “Buffalo Bill” Cody. After hitching up at the Ponderosa Campground, we walked downtown for dinner at the historic Irma Hotel, built by Cody in 1902 and named for one of his daughters. Although it was full of tourists, the restaurant still held onto some of its old time Western grit and glamour with it’s long wooden bar, mounted trophies, and fancy chandeliers. Ed enjoyed a half rack of ribs. I wish I could say my dinner was as good, but guess it was good enough to just sit in a place like the Irma Hotel and soak up the historical ambience. After dinner, we walked and window shopped downtown before heading back to the RV. The local Dairy Queen was dangerously close to the campground. We almost succumbed to a nightly Blizzard habit while in Cody!
June 28 – Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, WY – We spent the day at this gorgeous complex preserving and celebrating the West. The HC has five museums under one roof: a Museum of Natural History, a Museum of the Plains Indian, the Buffalo Bill Museum, a Museum of Western Art and the Colt Firearms Museum. The $15 adult admission is good for two days, and you’ll need it to see all the exhibits and take in the outdoor sculpture garden. Ed said his favorite was the Buffalo Bill Museum; neither of us really knew who Buffalo Bill was, and certainly, before our visit, had no idea that he was the “real deal” – a scout for the US Army, an explorer, a showman, and the community-minded founder who pioneered the town named for him. The Museum of Natural History was marvelous, totally interactive, and cleverly laid out. The Museum of Western Art was full of Remingtons and Bierstadts along with less well-known and moder works. The special exhibit featuring Charles Fritz’s Lewis and Clark paintings was exceptional. The artist read the journals and followed in the explorers' footsteps to insure total accuracy of the paintings tracing the entire journey to the Pacific and back again. One of the highlights of our visit, however, was lunch in the Mustang Grill where I finally got my buffalo burger. It was tasty! So tasty, in fact, I had another one the next day. If you’re ever heading to Yellowstone, give yourself a few days in Cody. It’s a clean, friendly Western town with lots to do. Excellent cranberry, feta, walnut and grilled chicken salad for dinner at the Sunset Restaurant.
June 30 – Sturgis, SD, Mount Rushmore, and Wall Drug – Drove through the Big Horn National Forest on our way to South Dakota. Spent a night in Spearfish, and then drove to Sturgis to take in the Motorcycle Museum, a fine private collection of bikes old and new. Ed even found a Honda 750 like the one he used to have. I had no idea there were motorcycles back in 1909! The stylish Indians are my favorite. Sturgis is the site of the biggest motorcycle rally in the world every August. At the 1990 rally, there were 300,000 motorcycles! We enjoyed the bikes and the wonderful history of the rally posted on the walls. Great museum for the $5 entry fee. Drove to the awe-inspiring Mount Rushmore and, yes, it really is a “national shrine.” Watched a movie about the sculptor Borglum and the work that went into the memorial that features Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln. Walked the Presidential Trail to get a closer look at the sculpture, caught our breath, and went souvenir shopping.
After leaving Mount Rushmore, we wound through the Black Hills, historic gold country, and back to the Interstate. I was anxious to get to our next destination: Wall Drug. Wall Drug is probably the most famous tourist attraction outside the United States, known to people who have never even been to this country thanks to the Wall Drug bumper stickers spotted worldwide (and now on our RV)! Wall Drug lived up to the hype, a touristy, family-friendly stop where you can wander through gift stores, have your picture taken on a plaster jackalope, and have a cup of 5-cent coffee in the café. The story behind the place is inspirational: Bill Husted, the local pharmacist struggling to make it in the dusty town, started giving out free ice water to tired tourists. Before you know it, Wall was the town revitalized by the local drug store. It’s a tremendous American success story. The Legendary Hot Beef Sandwich served open face on squishy white bread with mashed potatoes and gravy was pretty good, too.
July 2 – Corn Palace, Mitchell, SD – On our push for home now, we decided to stop at the Pioneer Auto Museum in Murdo, SD, the only regretful decision of our trip. The 250 old and collectible cars were housed in shameful condition; even the draw of a genuine General Lee from the TV show wasn’t enough to make us glad we stopped. Most of the autos were sitting on wooden blocks or on rotting tires; many of them were housed in sheds with no climate control. Such a sad sight for someone who loves beautiful old cars! We left and moved on for a quick stop at the Corn Palace, the front of which is redecorated each summer with – you guessed it – multi-colored corn! After browsing a gift shop offering everything corn, we got some postcards and took a few pictures at this “most famous folk art building” in the country. Next time: I'd love to see the "Little House" homestead in DeSmet, SD.
We returned home late on July 5 . . . already talking and planning our next RV roadtrip!
June 12 – Graceland, Memphis, TN – I’ve always had a nagging regret for not visiting Graceland years ago when I drove through on a cross country move. I was ecstatic when Ed said he’d like to visit the “Blingdom” of the King of Rock, too. We arrived before 10 a.m. and had a short wait for Tour 4. The tour features an excellent audio guide with commentary by Elvis, friends and relatives and takes you through the bottom floor of the house, the basement, his backyard publicity office, the “trophy room” and the $200,000 handball court. That was a lot of money back in the day, especially when you consider Elvis bought Graceland when he was 23 years old for $100,000. We saw it all (or all that was open to the public): his 15-foot white couch, the avocado green and harvest gold dark wood kitchen, the Jungle Room/impromptu recording studio, and the bocoodles of gold records and sparkly jumpsuits. Elvis was not wealthy growing up, and his taste in interior décor pretty much reflects that. Graceland has a homey, lived-in appeal for all its put-on airs. What I want to know is: how did they lay shag carpet on the ceiling?
After the tour, we had lunch at the Chrome Grill across the street at the tour complex, and then did the obligatory souvenir shopping. Paying homage to the King of Rock and Roll isn’t cheap, but it’s probably the only time we’ll go, so it was worth it. Besides, I got to stand next to Elvis’s grave, just like Bono and the guys from Spinal Tap. How cool is that?
June 13 – Checotah, OK – Stopped for lunch in the RV and happened upon Old Settlers’ Day in this dried up eastern OK town. Their claim to fame other than having old settlers? It’s the hometown of American Idol Carrie Underwood. We also happened to go through David Cook’s hometown in MO. Next time: I want to make a detour to see Sequoyah's cabin in eastern OK. Did you know the Cherokees were the only American Indian tribe to have a written language? They can thank Sequoyah for that.
June 14 – Amarillo, TX – Had an awesome Mexican lunch at Rosa’s Tortilla Factory and Café where you can watch them make the tortillas through a window. Although Rosa’s is kinda fast food, it was one of my favorite meals of the trip. The homemade salsas that run the heat spectrum are amazing!
June 14 – Santa Rosa State Park, NM – This park is a ways off the Interstate, but worth the drive, and one of the nicest places we stayed. This was the first time we realized we had outrun the humidity; stepping out the RV, the air was balmy and warm with the smell of sage and juniper. We went for a walk and enjoyed a desert sunrise here. Also saw rabbits and our first pronghorn antelope.
June 15 – Petrified Forest National Park, AZ – We stopped at the Visitor’s Center for an excellent little film on the Petrified Forest and some souvenir shopping. It is so cool what time and pressure does to wood! Brought home some chunks from the gift store to show to my students. Next time we’re in the area, I definitely want to do the 28-mile loop of the park.
June 16 – Grand Canyon, South Rim, AZ – Arrived at the entrance to the park around noon, parked, and caught the convenient shuttle bus to the Visitor’s Center. Browsed the bookstore, then headed for the canyon. If they got one thing right, it’s the name of the place – it really is GRAND. Even the pictures taken with my cell phone give a sense of the grandeur of this natural wonder. It was a cool day with sprinkles, so we wore jeans as we walked along the rim admiring the sights and wondering at the stupidity of people who go beyond the rails to “get a closer look.” Parents pushed their kids out there, for goodness’ sake, just to get a picture. Crazy. We caught the shuttle up to the historic Bright Angel Lodge for lunch, and then took in a Navajo dance performance at the Hopi House. Despite the estimated 4.2 million visitors a year, the Park is well-run and still a favorite family destination. We had dinner at the Cameron Trading Post where we ogled a Native American rug that cost $15,000! I'll take two!
June 17 – Fillmore, UT – Our stay at the KOA here was unspectacular, but we were able to pay a visit to Ed’s paternal grandparents’ grave. Fillmore is Ed’s hometown, although he says he left the area when he was about 6 months old. He reminisced about his grandparents and we took some pictures. This is the day we planned on going to Zion National Park, but were persuaded otherwise by their policy regarding RVs. Instead, we drove over Cedar Mountain on Hwy 14, summiting at 9936 ft. That was one scary, hairy drive, and I was driving!
June 18 – Great Salt Lake, UT – I was impressed by the beauty of the Utah mountains, realizing how much I missed the West. Drove out to the Saltair Resort at the Great Salt Lake, the third such resort on the site, and was immediately intrigued by the history of the place, once called the “Coney Island of the West.” They used to have a roller coaster, a dance floor that could accommodate 3000 couples, and train service from Salt Lake to the resort. The Saltair Resort has been featured on album covers and in movies, most notably in the schlocky 1962 horror movie Carnival of Souls. Little schlock now – just some new trees, public bathrooms, and a gift store trying to make a go of it. The Resort is now used for private events and concerts. Bought and read a fascinating book on the Great Salt Lake and its history. I remember seeing pictures of people floating in the lake, but these days it’s too far to hike to give that a go. Still smells briny, though!
June 19-21 – Guffey, ID and Idaho City, ID – We arrived at Ed’s sister’s in Guffey just in time for his mother’s 80th birthday celebration on June 20. Ed enjoyed visiting with his family, including his brother Don that he had not seen in 32 years. We went to the Warkhawks Museum in Nampa with Don and his family. The museum is filled with personal effects and memorabilia from World War II, and is worth a visit for those interested in the period. On June 21, we drove up to Idaho City with Ed’s sister Virginia and her husband Marion. Idaho City was a booming gold town at one time – the most populous city in the West – but is in desperate need of vitalization these days. We visited the local museum and trekked through the hilly pioneer cemetery before getting chased out by bloodthirsty mosquitoes. We enjoyed excellent meals and hospitality during our visit.
June 22 – LaGrande, OR – Drove about three hours west to LaGrande to visit Ed’s stepfather Bob and his wife Lola. Feasted on fabulous Chinese food at Moy’s Dynasty and took an auto tour of this small, charming college town. We stopped here, too, on our way back from Portland.
June 23 – Portland, OR – Driving up through the scenic Columbia Gorge, we stopped for a picnic lunch at Horsetail Falls. I began to get very “homesick” for OR; it was a bittersweet feeling to see all the pines and hills again. We visited with Ed’s stepson Eric and his family. We had excellent Mexican food at El Indio and went to watch grandson Austen practicing with his All Stars team. We camped at the Rolling Hills RV Park which was, unfortunately, next to the treatment plant! Phew! Unfortunately, we were not able to visit with stepdaughter Andrea and her family on his trip.
June 26 – Pocatello and Idaho Falls, ID – On our way to Yellowstone, we stopped in Pocatello to see the replica of Ft. Hall, an important trading post on the Oregon Trail. Also walked through the Bannock County Museum and watched the bison and antelope graze. In Idaho Falls, we took in the Titanic: the Artifact Exhibit at the Museum of Idaho, a fascinating collection of personal items salvaged from the doomed ocean liner. I couldn’t believe there was perfume that still retained its scent after spending 97 years at the bottom of the ocean! The exhibit was informative and moving. We were both given “Boarding Passes” when we purchased tickets, and the identities of actual passengers on the ship. Ed was John Jacob Astor IV and I was a single, female doctor with her “male guest.” I survived, but Mr. Astor didn’t. Met the author of a book on the Titanic and had him inscribe a copy for me. Then, on to Saint Anthony where we parked the RV at brother Don’s and visited with his wife Donna (Don was driving a Big Rig somewhere in IN at the time). Ed grilled steaks and corn on the cob and we ate plenty.
June 27 – Yellowstone National Park, WY and Cody, WY – Drove through West Yellowstone to the West Park Entrance. Parked at the Visitor’s Center and had lunch at the historic Old Faithful Lodge. I don’t remember what Ed had, but I had a wonderful grilled Portobello mushroom “cheese steak” sandwich with onions and peppers on a soft, steamed bun. After lunch, we explored the Lodge and ended up on the second floor exterior balcony in time to watch the geyser go off. What a sight! We didn’t see bears on this trip, but we did see a bald eagle, bison, and elk. There were also many fly fishermen going after trout in Yellowstone’s rippling mountain streams. We drove through the Park admiring Lake Yellowstone, the distant Teton Mountains, and the dissolving snowpack. Just the week before our visit, a man had been severely mauled by a bear. I was quite content to take in the scenery from the RV, thank you. We exited the Park through scenic highway 14 and wound our way out of the canyon to Cody, WY, named for the famous and flamboyant “Buffalo Bill” Cody. After hitching up at the Ponderosa Campground, we walked downtown for dinner at the historic Irma Hotel, built by Cody in 1902 and named for one of his daughters. Although it was full of tourists, the restaurant still held onto some of its old time Western grit and glamour with it’s long wooden bar, mounted trophies, and fancy chandeliers. Ed enjoyed a half rack of ribs. I wish I could say my dinner was as good, but guess it was good enough to just sit in a place like the Irma Hotel and soak up the historical ambience. After dinner, we walked and window shopped downtown before heading back to the RV. The local Dairy Queen was dangerously close to the campground. We almost succumbed to a nightly Blizzard habit while in Cody!
June 28 – Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, WY – We spent the day at this gorgeous complex preserving and celebrating the West. The HC has five museums under one roof: a Museum of Natural History, a Museum of the Plains Indian, the Buffalo Bill Museum, a Museum of Western Art and the Colt Firearms Museum. The $15 adult admission is good for two days, and you’ll need it to see all the exhibits and take in the outdoor sculpture garden. Ed said his favorite was the Buffalo Bill Museum; neither of us really knew who Buffalo Bill was, and certainly, before our visit, had no idea that he was the “real deal” – a scout for the US Army, an explorer, a showman, and the community-minded founder who pioneered the town named for him. The Museum of Natural History was marvelous, totally interactive, and cleverly laid out. The Museum of Western Art was full of Remingtons and Bierstadts along with less well-known and moder works. The special exhibit featuring Charles Fritz’s Lewis and Clark paintings was exceptional. The artist read the journals and followed in the explorers' footsteps to insure total accuracy of the paintings tracing the entire journey to the Pacific and back again. One of the highlights of our visit, however, was lunch in the Mustang Grill where I finally got my buffalo burger. It was tasty! So tasty, in fact, I had another one the next day. If you’re ever heading to Yellowstone, give yourself a few days in Cody. It’s a clean, friendly Western town with lots to do. Excellent cranberry, feta, walnut and grilled chicken salad for dinner at the Sunset Restaurant.
June 30 – Sturgis, SD, Mount Rushmore, and Wall Drug – Drove through the Big Horn National Forest on our way to South Dakota. Spent a night in Spearfish, and then drove to Sturgis to take in the Motorcycle Museum, a fine private collection of bikes old and new. Ed even found a Honda 750 like the one he used to have. I had no idea there were motorcycles back in 1909! The stylish Indians are my favorite. Sturgis is the site of the biggest motorcycle rally in the world every August. At the 1990 rally, there were 300,000 motorcycles! We enjoyed the bikes and the wonderful history of the rally posted on the walls. Great museum for the $5 entry fee. Drove to the awe-inspiring Mount Rushmore and, yes, it really is a “national shrine.” Watched a movie about the sculptor Borglum and the work that went into the memorial that features Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln. Walked the Presidential Trail to get a closer look at the sculpture, caught our breath, and went souvenir shopping.
After leaving Mount Rushmore, we wound through the Black Hills, historic gold country, and back to the Interstate. I was anxious to get to our next destination: Wall Drug. Wall Drug is probably the most famous tourist attraction outside the United States, known to people who have never even been to this country thanks to the Wall Drug bumper stickers spotted worldwide (and now on our RV)! Wall Drug lived up to the hype, a touristy, family-friendly stop where you can wander through gift stores, have your picture taken on a plaster jackalope, and have a cup of 5-cent coffee in the café. The story behind the place is inspirational: Bill Husted, the local pharmacist struggling to make it in the dusty town, started giving out free ice water to tired tourists. Before you know it, Wall was the town revitalized by the local drug store. It’s a tremendous American success story. The Legendary Hot Beef Sandwich served open face on squishy white bread with mashed potatoes and gravy was pretty good, too.
July 2 – Corn Palace, Mitchell, SD – On our push for home now, we decided to stop at the Pioneer Auto Museum in Murdo, SD, the only regretful decision of our trip. The 250 old and collectible cars were housed in shameful condition; even the draw of a genuine General Lee from the TV show wasn’t enough to make us glad we stopped. Most of the autos were sitting on wooden blocks or on rotting tires; many of them were housed in sheds with no climate control. Such a sad sight for someone who loves beautiful old cars! We left and moved on for a quick stop at the Corn Palace, the front of which is redecorated each summer with – you guessed it – multi-colored corn! After browsing a gift shop offering everything corn, we got some postcards and took a few pictures at this “most famous folk art building” in the country. Next time: I'd love to see the "Little House" homestead in DeSmet, SD.
We returned home late on July 5 . . . already talking and planning our next RV roadtrip!
posted by Melinda @ 4:25 PM
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