We were officially on our way to Alaska. The road that winds and turns for thousands of miles stretched before us. It was 8 AM as we towed our rig southward on Hwy 11W. Our first stop would be Memphis, Tn. Staying a couple of days to visit family and wait out bad weather that was along our route. We had decided to take the route not offered by our trip planning service. For some reason I couldn't get away from certain states and cities that I had no interest in. We opted to make our route thru Tn, Mo, Ia, Sd, Wy, Mt. Our last stop on the US side would be Sweet Grass Mt. Our return trip would be down the western coast of the US. More about our return at a later date, for now we were eager to get the going there done.
We arrived Memphis/Germantown area about 4:30 PM. We had drove a distance of 468 miles. The Dodge 3500 towed the small trailer like it wasn't even there. Several times I had to step on the brake and slow the roll. I was a shanty shaker and not a freight hauler. I didn't want the contents of our little home scattered all over the place. We had made reservations for our stay prior to getting there. Our campsite was to be the Agricenter just off Germantown Rd. It was thought to be the most secure for the area. There was also a farmer's market located there as well. It was a chance to grab some fresh fruits and veggies for our trip.
Our first meal in Memphis was at Corkey's bar-b-que. Barbeque comes in all different flavors, depending on the origin and region. I like the vinegar flavor over the more traditional sweet honey or molasses mixture. My brother Herbert and his wife Kathy are always eager to show us visitors a great time in their city. I think he also believed the rumor that Dutch didn't eat pork. I fooled him, haha. So brother feel free to ship me some FedEx anytime.
Memphis is the home of Elvis Presley as well. You will see a lot of his pictures and posters. He is spotted every now and then, but he was a no show on our trip. I didn't find that unusual as he's been dead since August 16th 1977. What I do find unusual is the number of reasonable minded people who claim to see him everywhere. Maybe there is life after death and the deceased just travel from place to place. Perhaps the reason I haven't seen him is I'm never in the right place at the right time?
After dinner we said good night, it had been a long day and we were tired. It was time to return to our digs at the Agricenter. The agi campground was a large area, with small spaces, mostly gravel and some with grass. I had never camped in a lay out like this before. The camping spaces are set up so as to have the campers face one another. You step out into your neighbors space and vise-a-versa. If you put you awning out it will be covering the rig next to you. The amenities were limited and the cost high for what was offered. Still it was a convenient and safe place to spend several days. That more than makes up for the short comings.
The following day, Friday May the 2nd we stayed around camp. Kathy wanted to take us on a tour of Memphis but we declined. There were several big events going on and the Royals were in town. Plus Herbert and Kathy were leaving on Sunday for Destin, Fl. I felt Kathy needed time to get her things packed and surly didn't need to entertain us. We were fine hanging out and having a restful day. It was in the 80's and we stayed in the shade and comfort of our little house. My girl curled up on the couch and took a nap. Don't tell her I posted this picture, she won't like it haha.
Friday night Herbert grilled steaks and we again were present with our tongues hanging out. I took along the store bought shine I had been saving. We ate too much, drank plenty and stayed too long. It was after the witching hour by the time we got back to agi center and our camper. Tomorrow we would visit the farmers market. Herbert and Kathy had been so accommodating and such great hosts we felt it necessary to return the favor. Saturday night would be our treat for dinner. The time came and went, much too fast. Sunday morning, May the 4th we were up and making preparations to hit the road. It was a little after 8 AM when we crossed the river into West Memphis, Ar. Making a quick stop for breakfast we were crossing the Missouri state line a couple minutes after 10 AM.
It was another hot day. The tempts were in the low 80's but before the day was over it would climb to 92 by the time we reached ST. Louis around 3:30 PM. The traffic in St Louis was heavy for a Sunday. From our roads of travel we couldn't see the arches or the river. It was getting late when we rolled thru Kansas City and ended our day in Platte City Mo. We drove a distance of 572 miles and we were both tired by the time we pulled into the Basswood RV Resort. The site was a large pull thru, level and we didn't have the need to drop the trailer. We would be over night guests only. Tomorrow we would be on the road and headed north on I-29.
The Basswood RV Resort was a very large facility. It was acres and acres of camping, lakes for fishing and a large section of rental cabins. The interior roads were all paved and the sites nice and level. The park wasn't crowded this time of year. The camping season was still several weeks away and those of us who were camping were on the move. We slept in and were on the road by 10 AM. Our plan was to follow I-29 to Sioux Falls Sd. and then west on I-90 to Mitchell, Sd. It was now May the 5th, we had been on the road for 5 days and by days end we would travel another 425 miles to our destination. We were out of Iowa before we knew it. The temp was again in our favor. It was a pleasant 72 with a light wind. We were in South Dakota, the roads straight and long.
We made it to Mitchell around 5:30 PM. There was still plenty of good natural light left. The campground chosen was the R&R located behind the Super 8 motel complex. We set up camp and settled in. We decided to hang out here for a couple of days. The campground was nice and very affordable with full hook-ups. There was several restaurants within a short walk and several convenience type stores as well.
The R&R campground has 44 sites. It's a very clean and well maintained little campground. The sites are all level gravel and plenty of shade and nice grass. We quickly found us a spot not to close to others and set up. The park doesn't officially open until May the 15th. Several of us nomadic wonderers have taken advantage of the low rate of $15.00 a night. It has a clean laundry facility and a pool which will open in the nicer weather.
The way I see it. I have to stay somewhere and why not here? I'm all about the cheaper rate. Excuse me, the more affordable rates. There is a corn palace in the area I'm hankering to see as well. I hear it's the largest bird feeder in the world and the only one as well. Can you imagine a big building with several levels and it's built out of corn? I think someone is trying to pull the shucks over my eyes. I'll see it stalks and all pretty soon. Sounds like some lop eared farmers field of dreams.
May the 6th and we are off to see the Corn Palace. We have decided to stay over and see this modern marvel of the corn. I have to admit I'm excited to be exploring the local attractions. We have a few on our list of things to do for today, first up is the Corn Palace. It's not hard to find, located in the center of town. We are only a few blocks away, just follow the crows, they are headed there for breakfast. As we turned the corner off 1st ave. onto main street, there it is. The most corny place you will ever see.
What we may think is an eye sore or just plain gaudy, the locals are very proud of. I was willing to take the time to discover why this building existed to start with.
So sit back and let me share with you in a few lines and some pictures. The facts as I know them and some brief history.
It all starts with the corn. Big yellow, blue, green and white just to mention a few of the colors. The corn can be dyed to just about any color in the rainbow.
That's the wife getting friendly as she try's to shuck that big ear and get it ready for the process. Since the building is built out of all corn and corn products it does fall victim to the large bird populations in the area. I'm told that the birds eat plenty but from looking at the building and all the murals that decorate the walls, you'd never notice the missing corn or even the cobs that fall from their placement.
Lets start with some history. The concept all started back in 1892. This was the first corn palace and how it looked. The why is simple. The founding fathers of Mitchell wanted something that would make their town stand out from all the rest. Since that time there has been only three Corn Palaces built. The last one where it stands today.
The second Corn Palace was built in 1905. It was located at the corner of 5th ave. and main street. This photo was taken in 1913.
The present Corn Palace stands at the corner of 7th ave. and main street. Right beside the city hall building. It is the largest structure downtown and is truly the corniest thing you have ever seen. What makes this a labor of love is the constant work and changes it goes thru each year. The corn committee picks a theme and gives it to the artist who design's and choses the colors. Each year the theme is different. It takes all summer to complete the change at a cost of $150,000.00. The money is raised thru private donations and renting out the building for special events. All the high school basket ball games are played inside the large dome, other special shows and guest appearances are also a big part of the over all events hosted at the Corn Palace.
Remember the themes are always different each year. The murals and entire look of the building is changed. Here are some different themes over the years. Notice the entire appearance of the murals change.
I took lots of pictures of the different years. I'm sure you have the whole concept of the many changes. There are other facts that I want to share with you as well. For example do you know how many products in your household is made from corn?
I sure didn't know any of that. Also did you know there are 800 kernels of corn arranged in 16 rows on a cob? Gee the things we don't know. One of the most amazing facts I found about the Corn Palace, one farmer has the contract to provide all the corn needed to redo the Palace every year, year after year.
Our lady of the corn Doris, shared many interesting facts about the history of the Corn Palace.
There are lots of facts I could share with you about corn. Just too much to cover in a short blog story. We could be talking corn forever I'm afraid. It's a source of building materials that need to continue growing year after year. Todays baby nubbin is tomorrows corn mural in the one and only Corn Palace in downtown Mitchell, Sd.
So next time you think corn, think about all the products that corn is part of. From the gas in your automobile to the aspirin you take for that hang over due to the corn liquor you drank too much of.
The admission to the Corn Palace is free and so is the parking. Bring your car, truck, bus or camper. Plenty of RV parking. Lots of campgrounds in the area.
We checked out a small campground out by Lake Mitchell. It's a nice park along the shoreline, and is owned by the city of Mitchell.
The balance of the afternoon was spent at an Indian dig site. Better known to the locals as " Prehistoric Indian Village." Long before there was a Corn Palace, even long before the French fur traders. There was a small village of about 200 people living along the James River. The village sat on a bluff over looking a small creek that was called Fire Creek. The inhabitants of the small village grew corn, beans, squash, sunflowers and amaranth. They hunted deer, rabbit, buffalo and other game of the day.
A thousand years later, the village and it's people are long gone. Fire Creek is now below the waters of the man made lake which is Lake Mitchell. For over a thousand years that site had gone untouched. A student from Dakota Wesleyan University uncovered artifacts in 1910. In 1975 the site was noted and in 1982 the Boehner Museum was dedicated. In 1992 the Thomsen Center Archeodome was built and dedicated.
The dig site is open to the public. It's the only archaeological site in South Dakota that is open to the public. The dome protects the site and allows for year round work.
Piles of animal bones lay undisturbed, layer after layer in the earth. This was believed to have been the slaughter site.
The circular patterns in the earth is believed to have been food caches. They buried corn and seeds.
The picture above shows what a common cache of corn would have looked like. The new placed in the same hole as the old. Notice the older corn would have molded and rodents would have been eating it as well.
We learned the village was believed to have been the home of the Mandan Indians. They were peaceful farmers and lived off the land in a large community. It was common for their lodges to house large numbers of the same family members.
There was much to see at the site. We spent a couple of hours learning about those who once lived in this area. We learned facts that you don't get while watching cowboys and Indian movies on the screen. At the end of our time we walked away with a much greater understanding of the people and their lives.
At the end of the day we returned to our campground. It was necessary for us modern day travelers to make some decisions about our next move. The weather in Rapid City wasn't looking good. Snow was predicted and low tempts below freezing. If we stayed where we were in Mitchell it wouldn't affect us. The forecast for Friday looked great, tempts back in the 70's. We had a great site at a low rate and great weather. The decision wasn't a hard one to make. We will hold in place until Friday, then move to Rapid City.
Until then we will enjoy the great weather where we are, cooking up some of that Memphis produce and enjoying our life of freedom. There is no where we have to be at any certain time.
Why go Dutch, if you don't have to :)
******* Just a reminder. The current contest will close 6-1-14 ********
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