OnManeuvers: Sturgis, Mount Rushmore and Des Moines

I woke up very well rested and thankful I didn't have to put up the tent in the dark last night! I cleaned up and said goodbye to Ed before heading east on I90. I debated just heading on east, but I decided to take a detour a little south to see Mt. Rushmore, a little more man made national park.

I'm glad I did. It was pretty cool, especially after seeing the exhibits on what it took to carve the statues. I'll have to save Crazy Horse for the next trip though. Mt. Rushmore was full of families on road trips. One brother and sister waiting for Dad to take the picture reminded me of Ashley and I. She screamed like she'd been shot and yelled "HE'S HITTING ME!" Of course no one really reacted to it and Dad threatened to send her back to the car. Ah, America.

After Rushmore, I made my way back to the Interstate and barreled through the South Dakota plains. The monotony was broken up by a stop at Wall Drug in Wall, SD. All you folks who recommended I stop there, well, you were right. I could only take small doses of it, so after a milkshake and a breeze through of the different shops I turned east once again.On the way east I kept seeing these billboards with fire trucks on the other side advertising Firehouse Brewing Company back in Rapid City. Wish I had seen it, but I'll be sure to visit on the next trip. If you get there before I do, please let me know how it is.

At Sioux Falls, I turned south on I29 to catch I80 near Omaha. I had heard rumors of flooding closing the Interstates in the area and the closer I got to Sioux City, the more signs of flooding I saw. Parts of the Interstate were lined with rock filled sandbags to keep the roads dry. See the pics below.

I motored east again on I680/80 and yet again with the help of a smart phone and someone back home on the web, I found a spot at Timberline RV park just west of Des Moines. Lots of nice families were having Sunday parties before the Fourth and the park was really nice. I quickly set up my tent as I heard about a nearby fireworks show when I checked in. Just about three miles away is Jordan Creek Town Center, which wound up being very similar to any town center back here in Fairfax or Loudoun. I set up with a few thousand of my closest Des Moinans (?) and waited for the fireworks to begin. They began late and I made my daily donation of blood to the mosquito population, but they were pretty good! Unfortunately all of the local restaurants were closed by the time the show was over and I was finally able to get out of the parking lot. I had to settle for a Burger King sandwich and fries. Luckily tomorrow's dinner was a few steps above.