Subject: Postcards from Mt Rushmore--#2

Sunday PM, September, 13, 2009

Weather update: Arrived in Mitchell, SD mid-afternoon and weather is 80 degrees with clear skies. A carbon copy of Saturday’s weather.

While driving on I-90 in Minnesota and South Dakota we encountered lots of bugs. They have completely covered the front of the van and windshield. There must be 10,000 bugs on the front of the van so I go to a wand wash and clean the front.

During the drive up we told the usual stories. I’m sure the women reading this think when a bunch of men go on a trip all we talk about are women. Not true. I’m not sure what younger men talk about as it’s been a few years since I was young. Perhaps they talk about women. When you get men our age on a trip we eventually get around to talking about bathroom stuff. I’ll spare you the details, but just say it’s pretty much what you would imagine bathroom stories to be like. We did discuss the merits of which brand commodes flush the best. I think I’ll be upgrading my commode with a replacement when I get back as I have a lazy flusher. Oh, and one member of the group wants to replace their toilet seat with one of those where the two sides don’t come together in the front. They saw these in the many restrooms on the interstate. Not really sure why they want that but hey it’s the second day and I’m not going to nit-pick everything that’s said (and The Barb thinks I can’t be laid back…). I’ll save the nit-picking for day 4 and beyond.

Mike H. started with only three or maybe four work stories. Then no more work stories. Well, almost. Earl had several and so did Carlos. I’m hoping they get this out of their systems soon so we can go back to bathroom stories, which I find WAY more fun.

In Blue Earth, MN we gassed up at a Sinclair (remember them? They have “Dino” the dinosaur as a mascot). We also stopped at the “Jolly Green Giant” to take our picture with the giant who must be at least 5 stories tall. There was a platform we were all on which was right under the giant’s crotch. I’m sure that picture turns out to be a beauty. Blue Earth is just a spot in the road so I’m not sure why the Giant was there. Carlos makes his first souvenir purchase at the gas station. I believe it’s an old “Look” magazine but not sure as I’m busy trying to get the 10,000 bugs off the windshield.

After arriving in Mitchell, we go check in at the Best Western and head downtown to see the Corn Palace. They redid the palace around 2004 and the interior now has stadium seating and a basketball court plus a stage for other events. Very nice. The outside is still being updated with this year’s grain harvest for the annual fall festival. It looks about 90% complete and we take lots of pictures.

The Best Western we are staying in is one of those old 1950’s style motor courts just off the main highway. It reminds us of some of those hotels off of Dixie Highway back home, only those now charge by the hour. Actually, the rooms have been updated and the place is pretty nice. Our rooms are next door to one another so after getting my bag in place I head over to check out Earl’s and Carlos’ room. I notice it is a little stuffy inside and Carlos points to the A/C unit which is high on the back wall over top of the bathroom vanity. He says it’s turned off and he’s not going to climb up there to turn it on. I assess the situation, walk over to the thermostat on the wall and turn on the A/C. He thanks me profusely saying I’m a mechanical genius. I told him to think nothing of it as that’s what friends are for.

While in the Corn Palace, I find some postcards and lapel pin souvenirs to purchase. Earl has also gotten into the spirit and finds some thimbles.

Next we head to the big Cabela’s outdoor/sporting goods store. I say big as back in the ‘90’s I remember it was the biggest of these type stores I’d ever seen. Now it doesn’t look so big and the Bass Pro over in Jeffersonville is much larger. However, they have a lot of trophy game mounted on the walls so we take lots of pictures. And they have the largest gun arsenal I’ve ever seen. We spend some time looking at all the guns. I’m wondering just when does hunting season start up here and I hope we are long gone when it does as I notice there are not a lot of trees so what’s going to stop those bullets from just flying across the interstate?

For dinner this night I again find a local place that is a nice steak house, complete with white linen table cloths and even a gigantic concrete steer outside in the corner of the parking lot. They do seem to like larger than life sculptures up here. However, after the less than favorable reviews from the prior night’s dining, the boys were not about to let me pick the place this time. Instead we ate at Ruby Tuesdays which I was aghast as it IS NOT local. At least we knew what we were getting and no surprises.