My OperaThe Wonders of SoDak, Day 2
Monday, June 19, 2006 5:17:47 AM
From: Mitchell, SD
To: The Badlands, SD
Miles: 321
MPG: 44.3
Free Belgian Waffles
After complimentary Belgian waffles at our oh-so-high-class motel, we hit the road heading west toward the Badlands.
Murdo Centennial
En route Jon spotted a sign for an antique (read: old) car museum including in its collection the General Lee from the Dukes of Hazard. We were too cheap to pay the cover charge to get into the museum (it turned out to be more expensive than one would think) but were thrilled to discover that we had arrived just in time for a parade celebrating the 100th birthday of the town of Murdo. We asked where it could watch the parade and were told “there are only four paved roads in town. Stand along any one and you’ll see it.” It put the Duxbury 4th of July parade to shame. Apparently each and every one of the 679 residents was in the parade. Some were in it twice.
Wall Drug
No one can cross the state of South Dakota and not stop in Wall Drug, and we were no exception. For hundreds of miles drivers see signs advertising FREE WATER, which were initially put up back in the 1930’s to attract passerby into the then struggling drugstore. Today Wall Drug is a shrine to all things tacky which, given the theme of our road trip, suited us just fine. And the free water was fabulous.
The Badlands
Our trip to the Badlands got off to a rocky start (no pun intended). First the camera, which Jessica had accidentally dropped prior to the trip, stopped working. Given Jon’s enthusiasm for documenting every step of our road trip – with the flamingo, of course – this did not bode well for marital harmony during the duration of the trip. An uneasy truce had just been declared when the next near disaster struck: Jon got pulled over for speeding. Apparently, not only was he busted by the patrolman we zoomed past, but there were also calls going out from other rangers about some maniac in a black Prius breaking all kinds of laws. Luckily we got off with a warning and discovered only a few minutes later that, with a new set of batteries, the camera was with us yet again, thus saving our trip and possibly our marriage. Happy again, we went for a few hikes through the Badlands, then came back to our camp site to set up the tent.
Note the look of fear and trepidation on Jessica’s face when confronted with a cartoon drawing of a snake warning sign. She would not even touch the sign, though she was ready to charge up to a buffalo.
Camping
“When your other alternative is staying at a Motel 6, camping isn’t so bad,” Jessica said, sipping Cabernet from a tin cup. Jon’s camping tip of the day – don’t store your toothbrush in a small bag next to perfume. While it may smell great, the taste is yuck-tastic.
To: The Badlands, SD
Miles: 321
MPG: 44.3
Free Belgian Waffles
After complimentary Belgian waffles at our oh-so-high-class motel, we hit the road heading west toward the Badlands.
Murdo Centennial
En route Jon spotted a sign for an antique (read: old) car museum including in its collection the General Lee from the Dukes of Hazard. We were too cheap to pay the cover charge to get into the museum (it turned out to be more expensive than one would think) but were thrilled to discover that we had arrived just in time for a parade celebrating the 100th birthday of the town of Murdo. We asked where it could watch the parade and were told “there are only four paved roads in town. Stand along any one and you’ll see it.” It put the Duxbury 4th of July parade to shame. Apparently each and every one of the 679 residents was in the parade. Some were in it twice.
Wall Drug
No one can cross the state of South Dakota and not stop in Wall Drug, and we were no exception. For hundreds of miles drivers see signs advertising FREE WATER, which were initially put up back in the 1930’s to attract passerby into the then struggling drugstore. Today Wall Drug is a shrine to all things tacky which, given the theme of our road trip, suited us just fine. And the free water was fabulous.
The Badlands
Our trip to the Badlands got off to a rocky start (no pun intended). First the camera, which Jessica had accidentally dropped prior to the trip, stopped working. Given Jon’s enthusiasm for documenting every step of our road trip – with the flamingo, of course – this did not bode well for marital harmony during the duration of the trip. An uneasy truce had just been declared when the next near disaster struck: Jon got pulled over for speeding. Apparently, not only was he busted by the patrolman we zoomed past, but there were also calls going out from other rangers about some maniac in a black Prius breaking all kinds of laws. Luckily we got off with a warning and discovered only a few minutes later that, with a new set of batteries, the camera was with us yet again, thus saving our trip and possibly our marriage. Happy again, we went for a few hikes through the Badlands, then came back to our camp site to set up the tent.
Note the look of fear and trepidation on Jessica’s face when confronted with a cartoon drawing of a snake warning sign. She would not even touch the sign, though she was ready to charge up to a buffalo.
Camping
“When your other alternative is staying at a Motel 6, camping isn’t so bad,” Jessica said, sipping Cabernet from a tin cup. Jon’s camping tip of the day – don’t store your toothbrush in a small bag next to perfume. While it may smell great, the taste is yuck-tastic.
