Well, today has been a day … which followed a night that was wild!
We had checked the weather forecast before going to bed and it predicted thunderstorms between 11:30 pm – 1:30 am. The forecast was right and thunder and lightening started around 11:45 and RAIN! The forecast, however, didn’t say that the winds would feel like a tornado! Our little RV rocked so hard I was sure we were going to tip over. I got down from the bed and tried to sleep on the sofa for a while but it was still scary. By 1:30 it was over and I went back to bed! We slept in until 8 and finally got on the road around 9.
From Sioux Falls we headed west to Mitchell to see the Corn Palace. “What is a Corn Palace?” you ask. It is a building that was established originally in 1892 as a way to prove to the world that South Dakota had a healthy agricultural climate. A fall festival is held every year as a gathering place for residents and rural neighbors. 
The current building (the third) has a basketball court and stage and they host world-renowned entertainers. Every year the outside is decorated with a different theme and the murals are all made from corn, grains and native grasses. The murals are stripped every year at the end of August and new ones are completed by the first of October. 
The sign and corn cob sculpture were donated by the Mitchell Lions Club as their 100 years of Lions Centennial project.
We enjoyed reading the displays inside telling all about the palace through the years. The pictures were great to see, as well. We even treated ourselves to a bag of popcorn before we left!
Our next stop was the Chamberlain rest stop for lunch. It was a beautiful stop with great views over the Missouri River. There is a museum there and this amazing sculpture “Dignity of the Earth and Sky.” We didn’t take the time to visit the museum, but enjoyed the view of the river. “Dignity” is a 50-foot tall stainless steel statue that honors South Dakota’s indigenous Lakota and Dakota peoples.
The train trestle over the Missouri was really cool.
You can see the museum building behind Tobey.
So back on the road we were heading to the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. We watched their 25 minute film which told the story of the missile development and the Cold War with the Soviets. It was informative and well done. We spent a little time looking at the displays but wanted to head on so we could drive through the Badlands National Park and go to Wall Drug.
We pulled out of the parking lot and the RV didn’t sound right. Well, it sounded right if you are okay with a flat tire on one of the rear duelly tires. We pulled over onto the shoulder and called our roadside service. That was at 3:00 this afternoon. Around 5:00 pm we drove about 3/4 mile to a gas station that said we could park in their lot so we would be off the road. Thank you, Conoco! We are about 75 miles from Rapid City and it has taken forever to get someone who can tow our RV on a trailer into Rapid City for a repair. The one mobile tire repair place could get to us tomorrow.
One the bright side, there is a prairie dog village and some cool buffalo statues next to the station. 
They are not the least bit afraid of people. We watched lots of folks feeding them so they came right up to you! I was more cautious than the other people!
AND, we did have a beautiful sunset. 
As I am writing this, it is almost 9:00 pm and we are waiting for a tow truck. We finally got the confirmation that they were on the way! We hope we arrive in Rapid City before midnight!
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