Why Not Stop? stops

Today was my best day of traveling, seeing and chatting today. Driving out of Minneapolis to Chamberlain, SD I first stopped in Sleepy Eye, MI. I had just gotten on I-94 after a disappointing gas station bfast of watercoffee, a refrigerated banana and a muffin. However, things started looking up. Originally chosen on my map by name only, I wanted to see what Sleepy Eye was all about. Thus, the gateway into the regions of the West where historical landmarks are frequent , quaint, and sometimes skewed to the facts of history, making them everyone-friendly. I'm finding a lot of this altered misinformation, but more on that later. Now, back to the flashy historical finds.



Stop #1. Sleepy Eye: I found the city monument/museum tucked off the route-14 against the railroad tracks in an updated depot, after aimlessly turning down a few streets this way and that. Inside where collections of various things, including arrow heads, a weird plastic human conductor man, and corn cob lollipops for sale. Oh, and America's obsession with obelisks is peculiar, no? That's all I'll say.
First "Why Not?" stop/ Stop #2: Walnut Grove. And it seems I found age 9 again. At the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum (I know, I know...) I found evidence of the nation's first road trip. Also, the rent was cheaper back then, I'm sure, for this one-bedroom, airy, earthy apartment, with rooftop garden. I think this bodes well for me finding something a little higher-end in Missoula.



Packing for the road trip must have been a bear:













But the rent's cheap...













Hardy har har, I kill myself. Moving on...

Stop #2 1/2: WIND! Check this situation out. These windmills stretched for miles, could be seen from milesuponmiles away, and the lulling sweep of the blades were harmonious in a way. Watching their motion seemed to slow everything down. At this point I was listening to Bob Dylan, quintessential road trip/ solace/ ambling music, and being on the detour-y Route 14 I was away from everything but corn and the occasional swallows. A rare find.



"Why Not Stop?" Stop # 3: Pipestone and Fort Pipestone. The word "free" will get me everytime, so I rolled in to Pipestone. First, this gift shop charading as a pioneer fort. Walking up to the fort, I heard "pows" from children, finding small children with toys bows and arrows running around. But then...this beauty, painted on the side of a super market nearby, my favorite. Heck yes for peacepipes.





And that bring us to... Stop # 4: Buffalo Ridge, SD. On the way to what would become a fantastic choice of roadside stopping, I saw the very first of many, many Wall Drug billboards. This little, uncommerical signs were so sporadic and lowlying that you blink and you missed 'em. Pretty cool for I-90, though.








And AND! and... My very first South Dakotan I saw once over state lines was riding this behemouth of a statement on whels. Oh, SD, how you confuse me.
Apparently this "Millennium Edition" comes with the how-to-be-tacky add-on.



Buffalo Ridge stop -- Buffalo Herd / Rest Stop / Ghost Town: I'd just gotten back on 90 and ready to go, and on a whim I followed the signs for the "Live Buffalo Herd". Pulling in to the reststop, I parked beside the other 3 cars in the lot. Near me were NY plates. I rejoiced silently! Wow. I've been deprived of a NY plate buddy for some time now. Out back, down the path the buffalo corral were these two women from the NY car. I took a chance and inquired. Turns out one was from Buffalo (interestingly enough) and the other from Albany. Fantastic people. We stayed and watched a baby buffalo stumble around for a bit with its mother.

And oops, right ahead of the "live buffalo" barn was the board for Buffalo...steaks. Hmmm. Sorry little one.Moving on to inside the rest stop. The two men working there noticed my NY plates. Their immediate followup to my affirming my NY residency was "Are you Mormon?" And there it was. Welcome to South Dakota, Laurie. One of the men taught history for many years and told me about some Mormon history. Mistaking Elmira, NY for some other city possibly located in New York state, he told me that it was the city where the Mormon commandments were dictated to the founder of the church. The other talked to me for a bit about Montana winters and my skiing tendencies. Both men were friendly and didn't offer me any Buffalo steaks. All in all, interesting converstations in Buffalo Ridge, to say the least.

Then Stop numero 4 1/3: ---->
No joke. Right underneath this metal T-Rex was a pile of unidentifiable yellow and red metal tubes, all tangled. I believe it was the remains of the part-masticated metal prey killed by the metal dino. (See little photo for proof.) Roadside America, you keep amazing me.













"Why, of course! stop" Stop # 5: Corn Palace, Mitchell, SD:
This stop courtesy of another "free" sign, I walked in just in time for a brief "tour" history talk of the corn palaces of yore. And who did I run into right inside the door? The two ladies from the Buffalo Ridge reststop. Cool, huh? I said hello again, and we toured on our way.


Oh, and apparently Rodeo is the official sport of SD. Hence, the tribute. Also, the corn palace is remade each season with fresh, unpreserved corn, making it the world's largest bird feeder. During WWII, the palace was only partially restored with new corn, due to rationing, as well. Corn-tacular, I say.


Phew. Last stop, I promise: Chamberlain, SD:
Here, the supposed World Largest Buffalo right outside Al's Oasis. This was the last stop, beside a dinner of grilled shrimp, baked potato and beer at a local coffeehouse, between me and a bed. goodnight. Thanks for sticking with this long entry...













Today's Stats:
Miles traveled: 420
Price per gallon: $2.99

Thankyous: to everyone who has left comments on my blog. I've read them all, but haven't yet had a chance to respond. I'm so happy you've enjoyed reading this. It's been fun posting. See you tomorrow!