DAY 37...The last travelin' day

Wednesday, our final leg of the 5 week trek. We stayed in Jackson, SD which is not too far from Wall, SD. I, of course, was among the uninitiated...this is the town where the "famous" Wall Drug is located. We have been seeing signs starting as far out as Montana; the last hundred miles there have been a significant number of "Wall Drug" signs along the highway. I actually started to count them, but soon realized it was an impossible task...even for an ex-auditor! When I finally gave up, Chuck told me that if we were travelling in a westerly direction, there would have been even more signs...pretty amazing when you think about it.
Anyway, we did stop at Wall Drug, and it was quite a place. Anything you want, you can get it there; in the town of 813. I think 95% of the residents work for (one of the many) Wall Drug Stores!
One of the many signs along the highway, this was in Wyoming...I caught it as we were whizzing by...coffee 5 cents!

The sign in a boot store window...buy one get one free, with a twist!

Right away Chuck took up with one of the friendly ladies in the town...

Then he had to show how well he gets along with wildlife



In the very early days, Wall Drugs claim to fame was to offer FREE ICE WATER to the travelling public. It was a come-on to get people to stop; what a success story!



We continued on our journey and toured the Badlands National Park. Here is another section of the country that geologically is unique and beautiful in it's own way. Another very harsh environment and life for whatever lives here would be a daily struggle and yet peaceful and serene. Worth the visit and the atonement that one feels while here.




Lastly, in the City of Mitchell, South Dakota is a building called the Corn Palace. It is currently used as a gymnaisium as well as a convvention center and for hosting special events. The Palace is redecorated each year with naturally colored corn and other grains and native grasses to make it “the agricultural show-place of the world”. Currently 13 different colors or shades of corn are used to decorate the Corn Palace: red, brown, black, blue, white, orange, calico, yellow and now we have green corn! A different theme is chosen each year, and murals are designed to reflect that theme. Ear by ear the corn is nailed to the Corn Palace to create a scene. The decorating process usually starts in late May with the removal of the rye and dock. The corn murals are stripped at the end of August and the new ones are completed by the first of October. The following pictures do not do it justice so you'll just have to stop by and take a look for yourself should you evver be in the vicinity of Mitchell, South Dakota.