Day 3, July 12, 2007

Day 3

We got a nice early start from Muscatine and cruised across Iowa on I-80 without any problems. Sheila wanted to stop at Lemars, IA (the "Ice Cream Capital of the World") but we just kept on rolling. We stopped at a scenic overlook just North of Council Bluffs, IA to look out over the Missouri River valley. The landscape had changed from the usual rolling hills found in most of Iowa to a flat plain with bluffs running parallel to the river. The view was great as evidenced by this picture.

From there we headed up I-29 to Sioux City, IA where we stopped to eat and strolled and drove around a small bit of the town. Just outside of Sioux City we veered a bit West (following the river) and were soon in South Dakota. We stopped at a visitor's center where a very helpful woman gave us information about all kinds of things to see and do in South Dakota. They all sounded great -- if we had at least two weeks to spend just in this state. We did go into Sioux Falls and see the Sioux Falls. The Big Sioux river flows into the Missouri there, and it drops about 100 feet over a series of falls. Not quite the same as Great Falls on the Potomac, but still a very nice park and scenery. At Sioux Falls, we got onto I-90 to head West. The changing landscape was very interesting to see. You could really tell where the glaciers had carved out some interesting features such as deep gullies in the otherwise flat plains. The temperatures were moderate and the humidity was low so the air was quite clear and you could see quite a long way. The interstate was straight and flat and the speed limit is 75 (strictly enforced the signs say) with very light traffic. Soon we were in Mitchell -- our stopping place for the night. The only thing that is remarkable about Mitchell is the Corn Palace, and it is remarkable. We had actually seen a bit on the Sunday Morning show about the Corn Palace a few months ago. It is covered with murals that are made primarily of ears of corn along with other plant elements to create the pictures. They change the theme and the murals each year. This has been going on for over one hundred years. It is very corny, cheesy, touristy and American. But, it was actually started by a Native American who based it on traditional Indian crafts. We ate dinner at a Road House type restaurant just off I-90 near the hotel. The gals were not to sure about it, but I jumped right in. The food was hot, brown and good and the diners weren't all truckers! It was a dining adventure. So ends our 3rd day (Sheila's 1st) on the road. I suppose many people would consider a drive across Iowa and into South Dakota to be boring, but I was struck with the bounty and the beauty to be found in our heartland. It is hard to believe there can be hunger anywhere in the world when you see the miles and miles and acres and acres of corn, soybeans and wheat, not to mention the cattle ranches in South Dakota. I highly recommend the drive across Iowa on I-80 to everyone. Be sure to click on the picture above to see more photos from today. I took over 40 pictures today, so these 7 are just a small sampling.

pj