DAY #19 – JUNE 28, 2021- CRAWFORDSVILLE, IN – DAYTON, OHIO - IMS TOUR

 

It was a quiet night here at the Comfort Inn in Crawfordsville, Indiana but I think the daily grind of checking in and checking out of a hotel every morning is getting to me a little. I really struggled to get going this morning and didn’t get on the road until almost 9:30 a.m. I am back on Eastern Time so maybe that had a little something to do with it. It’s just 8:30 Central Time and Just a few days ago I was in the Mountain Time Zone where it is just 7:30 a.m.

Anyway, I’m getting a late start to the day and before leaving the hotel this morning I made a hotel reservation for the Comfort Suites in Dayton, Ohio. Basically, this will be just a play it by ear day as I have only one stop that is really planned. I have several others in my trip book and will probably get to some of them as I make my way east.

he only planned stop that I have for Today is at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  I visit the Speedway back in 2013. During that visit I took the track tour which consisted of driving around the track in a van. Because it was raining that day we not permitted to get out of the van. Today is a beautiful clear day and want to go back and do the track tour where we can get out and really experience the track.

I pulled out of the hotel parking lot at 9:30 and it took me exactly an hour to make the 45-mile drive to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Speedway Museum is on the inside of the track, near turn two. The Public entrance is through a tunnel that runs under the speedway.

While I was walking from the Parking lot to the Museum, I heard cars running around the track. This was a bad sign if I wanted to do the track tour. Sure, enough when I got to the admissions desk, I was told that track tour were not available because the track was in use.

So, I set about touring the museum. Even though I visited the museum back in 2013 I really enjoyed revisiting and seeing all the cars. There are a lot of the past winners’ cars here including the early winners.

It is a very interesting museum and I really enjoyed touring it again. I ended up spending a little over an hour at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. I pulled out of the parking lot and back under the tunnel at 11:45 a.m.

I had a couple of other stops noted in my travel took but before leaving the speedway, I checked Google Maps and there was a lot of traffic and red on the map. I considered my options and decided to just get the heck out of Indianapolis and head toward Ohio.

I had a few places listed in my travel book around the Cincinnati, Ohio area and decided to head toward the Queen City.

Traffic around Indianapolis was heavy, and several streets and exits were closed which made for slow going. I eventually found my way to Interstate 74 and headed toward Cincinnati a little over 100-miles away.

Due to the slow going around Indianapolis and some construction backups on Interstate 74 it took me just a few minutes less than two hours to make it to the Tomb of President William Henry Harrison.

I visited the Harrison Tomb back in 2013 but it was a cold day, and you could only walk around the grounds.  Today, the tomb was open which was a nice surprise.

William Henry Harrison was president for the shortest period in History, serving for only 30-days from March 4, 1841, to April 4, 1841. Vice President John Tyler became the first Vice President to ascend to the Office of President.

William Henry Harrison deliver a three hour long inaugural address on a cold damp day.  He almost immediately fell ill and died 30-days later.  He was entombed here on the banks of the Ohio River in the North Bend Community just outside of Cincinnati. This area was once the Harrison Family Home.

The tomb has 24-individual vaults containing the bodies of President Harrison, his wife Anna and their son Joh Scott Harrison who just happens to be the father of our 23 President Benjamin Harrison.

I spent about an hour here in North Bend, pulling out of the parking lot just a few minutes after 2 p.m. Once again, I checked Google Maps and evidently Cincinnati Rush Hour was beginning and just like in Indianapolis there was a lot of red on the map.

I checked my Travel Book and decided to start making my way toward Dayton, making a few stops along the way.

I made my way around the western edge of Cincinnati and 30-miles, and 50-minutes later I arrived at the Rose Hill Burial Park in Hamilton, Ohio. Here I paid my respects to Cincinnati Reds Player and long-time radio voice of the Reds, Joe Nuxhall.

Joe Nuxhall pitched for the Reds for 16-years from 1952 to 1966.  But he actually made his debut with the Reds on June 10, 1944, at the age of 15-years and 11-months, making him the youngest player in Major League History. He pitched that one game for the Reds in 1944 giving up 5-runs in just an inning.  He wouldn’t get back to the Major Leagues until 1952 when he rejoined the Reds.

After his playing career ended, Joe remained with the Reds becoming their long time radio voice joining such play-by-play broadcasters as Al Michaels and Marty Brenniman. Joe became one of the Reds Most Popular and enduring personalities.

I can remember listening to Joe and Al back during my High School Days and then to Marty and Joe as I drove around the south at night as I umpired baseball.  I can still hear Joe signing off the same way after every game, “This is the ole left-hander, rounding third and heading for home.”

Even though I am a Dodger fan, I loved listening to Joe and the Reds. I am really glad that I came here to pay my respects to him and relived a few fond memories.

Being a Dodger fan, I knew I had to make the 15-mile drive up to the tiny hamlet of Darrtown, Ohio. Why would I make a special trip to the small village in Rural Ohio? Well, you know I am a Dodger Fan and this tiny village was the home of long time Dodger Manager, Walter Alston.

My first stop is in a small hamlet is in a small park right next to the Hitching Post Saloon. Here is a monument commemorating Darrtown’s connection to the Dodger’s Hall of Fame Manager.  Walter served as the manager of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers from 1954-1976. He managed as total of 3,658 and winning 4-World Series in 1955, 1959, 1963 and 1965.

After finishing my quick stop at the Monument, I made my way a couple of miles west of town to the Darrtown Cemetery where Walter is resting.  I take a few minute and pay my respects to one of the great Dodgers of all time.

As I stand at his grave, I remember back to when my stepdad Bob Tweedy took me to Dodger Stadium for my first major league game. The Dodgers were playing the Houston Astros and we sat in the lower level down the third base line.  During the game the was a controversial play and Walter Alston. Walter came out to argue and was ejected. Now when you entered Dodger Stadium you had the opportunity to rent a seat cushion for your seat.  Many people did and when Walter was ejected, I remember the fans tossing those cushions onto the field.

Walter was one of the calmest men in Baseball and for him to get ejected was very rare. Oh, fond memories of the Dodgers and of on of my favorite Dodgers. Walter Alston was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983.

It was 4 p.m.  when I left the Darrtown Cemetery and started the 50-mile trip to the Comfort Inn near Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.

It took me over an hour to make the 50-miles drive, most of it across the back roads of Ohio through towns like Middletown and Franklin.  Finally, at 5:15, I arrived at the Comfort Inn Wright Patterson and quickly checked in.  

There is not a lot of restaurant Choices in this area. After getting settled in my room I used Yelp to find a near by restaurant only to arrive to find that it was closed. COVID had evidently found another business victim.  A few other restaurants in the immediate area were either closed or open only for takeout.

I finally settled on Wendy’s and was going to get it to go and take it back to the room but, I was ignored the employees both inside and at the drive thru. So, I left and went across the street to McDonalds. Service wasn’t much better but I finally after about 20-minutes I got my food and made my way back to the Hotel.

Back in my room I backed up all my files and photos and kicked back and relaxed. I didn’t have to plan much for tomorrow because my only planned stop was across the street at the Museum of the United States Air Force at the Wright Patterson Air Force Base.

If my visit to the Air Force Museum Takes all day, then so be it. If not, I will figure out what’s next when I finish my visit. We will see what happens tomorrow, as the Adventure Continues.

DAY #18 – JUNE 27, 2021- MT. VERNON, IOWA – CRAWFORDSVILLE, IN

 

For whatever reason I was really tired when I got to the Hotel last night. It wasn’t a particularly long or eventful day so it may be the totality of this adventure is catching up with me. Anyway, after getting finished with my nightly routine and loosely planning today journey I turned in a little earlier than normal.

While I was writing my end of the day blog last night, I discovered that I had pass the 5,000-mile mark on this journey. It looks like by the time this adventure ends in the next few days; I will be well over 6,000 miles.

I checked out of the Hotel at 8:30 a.m. and as usual, I skipped the hotel coffee and stopped at Casey’s Country Store on the way out of town. I had though about stopping in Iowa City and walking around the University of Iowa Campus. But I did that back in 2013 and decided just to return to Interstate 80 and Head east to my first stop of the day.

It was about 35-miles from Mount Vernon to the small town of West Branch, Iowa. West Branch is the Birthplace of President Herbert Hoover who was the first President born west of the Mississippi River.  His birthplace has been preserved as part of the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site which includes his Presidential Library and Museum along with the final resting place of President Hoover and first lady Lou Henry Hoover.

Today, the Birthplace site and related buildings are hope but unfortunately the Presidential Library and Museum is still closed due to COVID.  I had visited the Museum when I stopped here back in 2013 so I spent my time on this visit enjoying the National Park Service Visitors Center and Birthplace. 

I ended up spending about an hour walking around the Birthplace site and the very small town of West Branch which really hasn’t changed all that much over the years. This being a Sunday Morning none of the shops and stores were open and the few people that I did see were on their way to church.

Before leaving West Branch, I drove out past the Presidential Museum to the final resting place of President and Mrs. Hoover.  The are resting in a very quiet and peaceful spot on a hill just about a quarter mile from the Museum.

Once I finished my visit to West Branch, I was back to Interstate 80, and I continued eastbound toward the Mississippi River. Along the way I passed by the Iowa 80 Truckstop which bills itself as the World’s Largest Truckstop. I stopped there in 2013 and it is more like a small city than a truck stop. It has a movie theater, barber and beauty shops, a dentist and doctors office, a museum, and several restaurants.

Since I had stopped at the Iowa 80 before I continued this time and a few minutes later I arrived in the river town of LeClaire, Iowa. I hopped off the interstate and made my way along the banks of the Mississippi River for a quick stop at Antique Archology.

Antique Archology is the home base for the Popular TV Show American Pickers. I stopped here in 2013 when they were still in the old Blue Building. Since that time, they have built another larger building that basically houses a gift shop.

I arrived at Antique Archology right at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday Morning and it was crowded with tourists hoping to see Mike, Frank, Danielle, and some of the other stars of the show.  However, I found out that they are seldom here and when they are it is mostly for filming, and they close the site when they record footage for the show.

I snapped a few photos and bough a couple of souvenirs and spent only about 20-minutes here. I had wanted to visit the Buffalo Bill Museum just up the road from Antique Archology, but it didn’t open until later in the afternoon, so I just headed back to the Interstate.

A few minutes later I crossed the Mighty Mississippi River and was back in the State of Illinois. Soon after entering Illinois, I stopped at a Rest Area. After spending the last two weeks or so in states that had little or very limited COVID Restriction, I once again found out that Illinois was still basically on lock down and were imposing very strict COVID Restrictions.

Masks were required for entry into buildings and most of the restaurants were still operation either as a drive through or only taking online to go orders.

While here at this rest area I started looking are where I was going to spend the Night. Being that Illinois was still basically shut down, I decided to get out of Illinois as soon as possible make a bee line for Indiana. Before Leaving the rest area I had a reservation at the Comfort Inn in Crawfordsville, Indiana, some 250 miles away.

Since I had last fueled up in Winterset, Iowa, I considered topping of my tank but the gas prices here in Illinois was quiet a bit higher and Iowa, so I decided to move on and hope that the gas prices were less in Indiana.

After leaving the rest area it took me the better part of three hours to make the drive across the state of Illinois. I only stopped once for coffee at the Love’s in Knoxville, Illinois.

It was about 4:45 p.m. when I cross over into Indiana and crossed back into the Eastern Time Zone. About 40-minues later I arrived in Crawfordsville and decided to stop for Supper at my old standby Cracker Barrel before checking into the Hotel.

After supper it was just a short drive to the Comfort Inn here in Crawfordsville. I arrived at 6 p.m. and was quickly in my room.  Having already ate supper, I am in for tonight. Not many stops today as I made a quick trek across Illinois and into Indiana. It was a 336-mile driving day and with that I clicked over 5,500 miles. It is now a certainty that this adventure will be well over 6,000 miles by the time I get back home in a few days.

The reality that this trip is coming to an end set in when I crossed into the Eastern Time Zone. Here In Crawfordsville, I am now within a day’s drive to home should I drive straight through and take the most direct route.

But I still have some things that I want to see on this trip so stick around, the adventure continues.

DAY #17 – JUNE 26, 2021- FORT DODGE, IOWA – MT. VERNON, IOWA - RAPID ROBERT & THE DUKE

 

For some reason I did not want to get out of bed this morning. The Sleep Inn here in Fort Dodge was not really crowded and I did a load of laundry last night while I was backing up all my photos and videos.  I cost me $5.00 to wash and dry one load but because I am a Choice Privileges Member the hotel provided me with a pack of laundry detergent and fabric softener. I can’t remember when I last did laundry. Maybe it was back in Dickenson, North Dakota, but I got most of my stuff clean and repacked.

So, This Sleep Inn here in Fort Dodge was nice and comfortable and I slept in this morning. I didn’t get out of bed until 8:30 and it was another hour before I got checked out and on the road.

I have a loose plan for today but I am not really sure what’s going to happen or where I am going to end up. Depending on how things go I may leave Iowa today and cross the Mississippi into Illinois. But because I am getting a late start this morning, I may spend another night here in the Hawkeye State.

I was in Iowa back in March 2013 and tried to visit some of the sites around Winterset. But during that trip we had a big spring snow. Some of the areas around here got 8 to 10 inches and some of the road were still rather slick. I also found out that some of the attractions that I wanted to visit were seasonal and didn’t upon until up in April or the First of May.

So, this morning I have decided to make a return visit to Winterset, Iowa and see if I can visit some of the sites that I miss the last time. Before hitting the road, I made a quick coffee stop at McDonald and away I go.

It took me a full hour and a half to make the 75-mile drive down to my first stop of the day in Van Meter, Iowa. When I was in this area back in 2013 one of the places that I want to visit was the Bob Feller Museum.

Back in the 1982, I was umpiring Baseball in the Roanoke/Salem Area. Our Local Minor League Baseball Team at the time was the Salem Redbirds and every year they held and old timers’ game and often I was asked to umpire the game.

Well, one of those games that I umpired the guest of honor was the great Hall of Famer known as the Heater from Van Meter, Bob Feller. Man, what a great thrill to say that I actually called balls and strikes for Bob Feller.  He was a very nice man and even signed my lineup card.

So, when I found myself in the Hometown of Bob Feller back in 2013, I knew I had to visit the Bob Feller Museum. But back then it was closed so I had hoped to have better luck this time.  But I wasn’t thinking and this being a Saturday, the museum which is located in the Town Hall is only open during the week and closed on weekends. So, it looks like it is just not meant for me to visit this museum.

I had hoped to have better luck this but I wasn’t thinking and being here on Saturday, the town hall is not open on weekends. So, it looks like it is not meant for me to visit this Museum.

Just like before, I spent a few minutes taking a few Photos of the outside of the museum and then it was time for me to be on my way. It was just a short drive from Van Meter down to the Hogback Covered Bridge. 

Winterset is in Madison County Iowa, and it was here that the Popular movie The Bridges of Madison County, starring Clint Eastwood and Merle Streep was filmed. The Hogback Covered Bridge was one of several Madison County bridges that was featured in the Movie.

After a quick stop at the Hogback Covered Bridge, I made my way into the Town of Winterset.  There are several buildings including the Courthouse that were featured in the Movie. I spent some time walking around the town and got to see some of the place from the Movie, but the real reason for my visit was to visit the birthplace of my all-time favorite actor, John Wayne.

Yep, John Wayne was born right here in Winterset, Iowa, and the home that he was born in has been preserved as a museum. When I was here before it was seasonal, and I couldn’t take the tour. But today I am going to go inside and see where the Man that played Rooster Cogburn was born.

When I was here in 2013 there was only a large statue of John Wayne in a small park just up the street from the Birthplace.  Since then, a new museum and visitors center has been built. I purchased my ticket for the museum which also includes the house tour and set about exploring the exhibits in the Museum.

The museum is small but packed with memorabilia from all The Duke movies included a hat and eye patch from his Rooster Cogburn Character in True Grit, his shirt from The Cowboys and a rifle from The Searchers.  For such a small museum it really packed a punch and I enjoyed it tremendously.

After spending more than an hour in the museum I made my way down the street to the Birthplace. It a small house with period furnishing but it was awesome just being in the house where my favorite actor was born.

I spent more than two and a half hours visiting the John Wayne Birthplace and Museum. But all good thing must come to an end and it was time to head on down the road. Back in 2013 I made a quick stop in Des Moines and walked around the grounds of the Iowa Capitol.  This time I want to take more time and explore the city and maybe even tour the interior of the capitol building. So, off the Des Moines I go.

It was about 1:30 in the afternoon when I departed Winterset for the 40-mile trip to Iowa’s Capital City. When I got off Interstate 80 and started into Des Moines, I found that most of the streets in the downtown area were closed for some kind of huge street fair. I got caught up in traffic and it didn’t take me long to figure out I should get the hell out of town.

BIRTHPLACE OF JOHN WAYNE

I eventually found my way back to Interstate 80 and headed east. Shortly before 3 p.m. I came to the small town of Newton, Iowa.  Last night while looking through my Trip Book for this adventure, I remember seeing an entry for Union Cemetery. So off I went.

Google Maps took me through this small town of Newton, Iowa and I arrive at Union Cemetery where I had no trouble finding the final resting place of Frederick Maytag. If the name sounds familiar, you are right if you think of Maytag Washers and Dryers. 

Frederick Maytag was the founder and president of the Maytag Appliance Company. He was founded the company here in Newton and many of the buildings in this very small town still bears the Maytag Name.  Some of those buildings have been abandoned and are in disrepair but a I drove through town I had no trouble seeing the impact that the Frederick and his family had on this small town.

FEDERICK MAYTAG MAUSOLEUM

Frederick and other members of his family are entombed in the large family mausoleum near the entrance of the Cemetery.  I spend a little more than a half hour shooting footage for YouTube. Before moving on I took time to make a Hotel Reservation at the Sleep Inn & Suites in Mount Vernon, Iowa.  Mount Vernon is located several miles north of Iowa City. The Hotels in Iowa City were all well over $100. By driving a few miles north, I got a room at the Sleep Inn for $89. 

So I finished up at Union Cemetery and made 100 miles drive to Mount Vernon in a little less than an hour and a half. It was 6 p.m. when I pulled into the parking lot of the Sleep Inn & Suites. This Hotel was on the outskirts of town and nowhere to eat close by.

For some reason, I was tired tonight and didn’t want to drive around looking for a place to eat. Even Looking on Yelp and Trip Advisor there wasn’t anything in town that caught my attention. After getting settled in my room, I just drove across the street to Casey’s General Store and got a sandwich and some fries. That was supper.

Tomorrow I will more than likely cross the Mississippi River and leave Iowa. But before I do there are a couple of places that I want to stop at.  Depending on How long it takes me I will probably be spending tomorrow night somewhere near Bloomington, Illinois.

Anyway, I am getting closer and closer to home, and I will see how far I make it Tomorrow. The Adventure continues.

DAY #16 – JUNE 25, 2021- MITCHELL, SD – FORT DODGE, IOWA - A PALACE OF CORN

 

Well, last night I spent a long time coming up with a plan for today but about 11 p.m. I finally made a decision and if all goes according to plan when this day ends, I will be back in the State of Iowa. Yep, I decided to forgo traveling to Nebraska. I will save that for another adventure.

The Comfort Inn here in Mitchell, South Dakota as a good choice. The room was clean and there was lots of parking. But like most motels the coffee was horrible. I did tough it out and make a cup in the in-room coffee maker just to get me through until I can find something better.

I kind of piddled around and killed a little time this morning because there is something here in Mitchell that I wanted to see before leaving town. But it doesn’t open until 9 a.m. So, at 9 a.m. on the dot I pulled out of the hotel and made the 3-mile trek into downtown Mitchell.

Finding a parking spot was really easy and I only had a short walk to the “World Famous Corn Palace.” I have heard about this place for years and many of my traveling friends told me that I just had to stop and see it in person. So, here I am.

The Corn Palace is a multi-use venue right in downtown Mitchell. Each year the exterior design of the corn mural is replaced with a new theme.  The murals are created entirely of Corn and corn related materials.  Each year the city of Mitchell hosts its Corn Festival where the new design is revealed, then over the next several weeks or months the new design is created on the exterior of the building. I was talking to one of the ladies that works at the Palace, and she said that depending on the design it could cost up to $200,000 to create the new design.

The Corn Place is a multi-use arena that hosts everything from polka festivals, and crafts shows, to sporting events.  The Palace is home to the Dakota Wesleyan University and the Mitchell High.

After milling around the outside of the Corn Palace, I discovered it was open and it was hosting some kind of Craft Show or merchandise event. So, I went inside to check it out.  Surrounding the basketball court there are several small mural panel that are also created entirely out of corn. I milled around the floor where the vendors for the merchandise show were set up. I managed to purchase a few souvenirs before ending my visit and hitting the road.

After leaving the Corn Palace I made my way back toward Interstate 90. Only this time I am going to cross under the interstate and head due south to the town of Yankton, South Dakota. But first I stopped at the I-90 Travel Center and gassed up.  I have been really pleased with the gas mileage that My Honda Accord is getting. So far, I have traveled just over 4,5 00 miles and I’m getting just a little over 38-miles per gallon. Not Bad. After getting gas, I discarded the nasty hotel Coffee and got some decent Truckstop coffee. Now, it’s time to make some miles.

Traveling the back roads of South Dakota can be slow going at times but I really don’t mind. This is all new to me and I can enjoy “the road less traveled.” It took me almost 2-hours to travel the roughly 85 miles from Mitchell to Yankton.

Yankton is a small city on the north bank of the Missouri River. If I were to cross the Missouri River I would be in Nebraska. But I am going to save Nebraska for another Adventure. There is only one reason that I wanted to come to Yankton and that was to visit the Grave of Jack McCall.

This wasn’t part or any plan that I had for this adventure. But when I was back in at the Cemetery in Deadwood the lady at the entrance station told me the story about Jack McCall.  So, I knew, if possible, I wanted to come here and shoot footage for a YouTube Video.

Thanks, to Google Maps I arrived at Sacred Heat Cemetery in Yankton and set about trying to locate the grave of “Broken Nose” Jack McCall.  That turned out to be a little bit more difficult that I anticipated. There was no GPS Coordinates on the Find-A-Grave Site, and the only clue was his grave was in the Southwest Corner.

This is a large cemetery so walking the entire cemetery was not an option. I did walk two complete sections where I thought the grave might be but was unsuccessful. The was a guy on a lawn mower a few sections over and I thought, what the heck, let’s ask him if he knows where the grave is.

As I approached him it became obvious that he was a trustee prisoner from the local jail. I hesitated to approach him but finally said what the hell. As I approached him, he turned the mower off and said, “Let me guess, you are looking for Jack McCall’s Grave.” I said that I was and ask if he could point me in the right direction.

He walked over to a pickup truck parked about 50-yards away and told me to follow him.  I followed him all the way across the cemetery where he pointed out the small gravestone of Jack McCall.  My Jailhouse Guide was cool, and we spent a few minutes talking about some of the other people who he met while they were looking for Ole Jack’s Grave. 

Now who was Jack McCall and why did I come here just to visit his grave. Well, as I said when I was back at the Cemetery in Deadwood, the last at the entrance station told me an interesting story about Jack. 

Broken Nose Jack McCall was the man who shot Wild Bill Hickok in that Deadwood Saloon.  But the interesting part of the story was that Jack McCall was tried in a “miner’s court,” where he claimed that he kill Wild Bill because he had killed Jack brother earlier in Abilene, Kansas. The local Miners Jury took about two hours to acquit him and Ole Jack Walked way a free man. 

But the story doesn’t end there. Jack was hated and harassed and eventually forced to flee to Wyoming. While in Wyoming Jack continued to Boast that that he had killed Hickok in a fair fight. But it was widely known that Jack Shot Hickok in the Back. While in Wyoming Jack was arrested and again charged with the Murder of Hickok.  The federal court ruled that the so-called Deadwood court had no legal jurisdiction and was not a “legal trial.” So, for that reason double jeopardy did not apply and that McCall could be trail again for the Hickok Murder.

So, he was taken to Yankton and on December 4, 1876 Broken Nose Jack McCall went on trial for the Murder of Wild Bill Hickok. Two days later December 6, 1876, he was found guilty and sentenced to hang.

At 10:15 on the morning of March 1, 1877, Jack McCall was executed here in Yankton. If he had just kept his mouth shut in the days following the murder of Wild Bill Hickok, he would have escaped the hangman’s noose. But because as the lady in Deadwood said, Jack was stupid and liked to talk, and that cost him his life.

After, taking the time to record some YouTube Footage, it was time to leave Yankton and head toward Sioux City, Iowa some 70-miles away.

It took me about and hour and a half to make the 70-mile drive along the banks of the Missouri River. The first part of the drive was along South Dakota Highway 50 past Vermillion to Interstate 29.

Once on I-29, it was a quick trip down to Sioux Falls. It was a little after 1 p.m. when I arrived in Sioux City. During this adventure I have visited a bunch of sites relating to the Lewis and Clark Exposition of 1804-1806.  Before I leave Sioux City, there is one final Lewis and Clark Site that I want to visit.

At 1:30 p.m. I headed up to the top of a hill where a 100-foot-tall obelisk marks the grave of Sergeant Charles Floyd, who was the only man to die during the Lewis and Clark Exposition. Charles Floyd was one of the first people to join the exposition to explore the Louisiana Purchase.

As the exposition made their way up the Missouri River in July 1804, Sergeant Charles Floyd took ill. His condition continued to deteriorate and on August 20, 1804, while the party camped here on the banks of the Missouri River, Sergeant Floyd died. A brief Funeral Service was held and Floyd was buried on a Bluff overlooking the river. William Clark marked his grave with a solid cedar post but by 1857 erosion had damaged the grave and washed much of the area.

Much of Sergeant Floyd’s remains were collected and reburied about 500-feet east of the original Grave. The on August 20, 1895, 91-years after his death, Sergeant Charles Floyd was reinterred for the final time here high on a hill overlooking the Original Lewis and Clark Campsite, his original grave and the Missouri River.

Five Years later construction began this 100-foot-tall monument that marks his final resting place.

I had considered spending the night here in Sioux City, but it was still early afternoon and too early to stop. I wanted to drive another couple of Hours, so, while parked at the Sergeant Floyd Monument I began exploring options. 

It took me about 15-minutes before I settled on the Sleep Inn & Suites in Fort Dodge, Iowa.  I didn’t want to back track and eat the same ground twice.  Fort Dodge was about 150 miles away. If all goes well my trek out U. S. Highway 20 would take a little over 2-hours and a half.

In looking at my Travel Book that I saw a note about a couple of Famous Graves located in Union Cemetery in Humboldt, Iowa. It I had the time it would require about a 20-miles detour.  So off I went.

Some two hours later I left U. S. Route 20 and started north on Iowa Route 7 and U. S. 169.  About 30-minutes later, Google Maps led me right to Union Cemetery in Humboldt.  There are two notable people buried here and I want to record some YouTube footage of both graves.

But wouldn’t you know it just as I pulled into the cemetery, that black cloud that had been following me for the better part of the last hour caught up with me and the sky opened up. I checked the weather radar and hopefully the hardest rain would pass in about 20-minutes.

So, I waited. After about 40 minutes the rain slacked up enough for me to record some footage of the final resting place of Professional Wrestler Frank Gotch.

Frank Gotch is considered by many to be the greatest wrestler of all time. He was born here in Humboldt and trained by a professional Wrestler named Farmer Burns. Professional Wrestling back in the later 1800’s and early 1900’s was an actual sport. It wasn’t anything like the staged TV stuff we see today.  In 1904, Gotch who stood 6 feet tall and weight about 200 pounds won the American Heavyweight Champion and in 1908 he would become the World Heavyweight Champions.

He retired from Professional wrestling in 1913 but stayed active by joining the circus where he would offer to pay any man $250 who could last 15-minutes with him. He took on all comers and never had to pay.

A few years later he left the circus and moved back to Humboldt where his health began to fail. He died on December 17, 1917, and was entombed in the Family Mausoleum here in Union Cemetery.

Just as I was finishing up the Gotch Footage the rain picked up again and I had to wait another 20-minutes to visit the Final resting Place of Broadcast Journalist Harry Reasoner. I remember growing up watch Newman Harry Reasoner report on news stories for CBS and later for ABC News.  He later hosted the ABC Evening News with Howard K. Smith, but he is perhaps best known as a long-time contributor on CBS News show 60 Minutes.

Between Rain showers I recorded enough footage and snapped a few Picture. Now it’s time to head 20-miles south to the Sleep Inn in Fort Dodge.

At a little after 5:30 p.m. I pulled into the Sleep Inn & Suites in Fort Dodge, Iowa. As usual Check In was quick and in no time flat I was settled in my room.  There is not much around here and since I was tired, I opted for a McDonald Supper.

I got my supper to go and brought it back to my room and set about backing up the days photos, writing my daily blog and planning for tomorrow.  While I was planning tomorrow journey, it began to realize this wonderful adventure was just a few days from coming to an end.

But I still have a few days left so stick around. The adventure Continues.

DAY #15 – JUNE 24, 2021- RAPID CITY, SD – MITCHELL, SD - DIGNITY

 

Today begins my third week on the road and I have covered a little more than 4,000 miles for this little adventure. Even though I am peddling my way east, I anticipate being on the road for at least another week and close to 3,000 more miles.

I ended up sleeping in this morning and didn’t check out of the Main Stay Suites until 9 a.m. This was a very nice hotel. It was clean, the bed was comfortable, and I slept well.  Again, I opted to forgo the Hotel Coffee and stopped at a Nearby Loves before heading east.

After Getting my coffee I headed east on Interstate 90 and said goodbye to Rapid City.  I retraced my steps from Yesterday when I returned from my visit to the Badlands National Park.

Yesterday, while enroute to the Badlands I saw the Minuteman Missile Museum but didn’t have time to stop. So today, on the way east I plan to stop and learn a little about the cold war and the missiles.

About an hour later I arrived at the Visitor’s Center just off Interstate 90 at Exit 131. Here I found out that this was only the museum visitors center. The Delta 1 Launch Facility and Silo was several mile back west and was available by scheduled appointment.  The next tour opening was in the early afternoon. First, I didn’t really want to back track again and second, I didn’t want to wait around several hours for the next open tour.

So, I just set about exploring the small museum here at the Visitor’s Center. The museum was well laid out and the exhibits were quite informative.  It took me about 30-minutes to complete my visit and after picking up a few souvenirs it was time to continue my adventure.

Back on Interstate 90, I may my way east to exit 170 where I left the Interstate and headed north on South Dakota Highway 63. Along the way I stopped a small pullout where an old stage Station once stood.

The Plum Creek Stage Station was a stop on the Deadwood Stage Line. It was important because travelers could get fresh water for themselves and their horses. The station also had a telegraph line which was an important communication site for points east and west of here.  Nothing is left of the old station but there is a small monument and hand painted sign commemorating the history of the site.

After my brief Stop at the Plum Creek Station Site, I continue until I got to U. S. Highway 14, which would take me the South Dakota’s Capital City of Pierre. The entire 120-mile trip to Pierre form the Minuteman Museum took me a little over 2-hours. Along the way I crossed back into the Central Time Zone and lost an hour. So, it was close to 2 p.m. when I arrive at the South Dakota State Capitol Building.

Pierre is a small city, and it was easy to find street parking right in front of the Capitol Building.  After spending several Minutes walking around the Capitol Grounds, I quickly made my way through security and roamed the halls on my self-guided tour.

As capitols go the building has a traditional dome and I was able to visit both the House and Senate Chambers along with the waiting area for the Governors Office. I was able to tour at my own pace which my visit even more enjoyable.

After completing my visit to the Capitol, I was making my way out of town on U. S. Highway 83 when I passed the Casey Tibbs Rodeo Museum, so I decided to stop only to discover it was close. Too bad, I would have really like to have toured the museum. But in the days of COVID, you win some and you lose some.

It took me about 40-minutes to make the 35-mile drive back to Interstate 90 and continue my eastward journey. About 50-miles and 45-minutes later I cross the Missouri River at Chamberlain, South Dakota.  Just after crossing the river, I made a stop at the South Dakota Rest Area that is located on the hill overlooking the River. 

Most of the time when I stop at Rest Area’s it is a quick bathroom stop. Maybe 10-15 minutes at most and then back in the car and I’m on my way.  Well, not today. There was so much going on at this rest area, that my quick stop lasted more than an hour’s.

First, in addition to really clean rest rooms and information stand, this rest area features a small but really cool museum dedicated to Lewis and Clark who camped here first on the way out to the Pacific in 1804 and again on their return trip in 1806. As I walked around the museum I was treated to some amazing views of the Missouri River.

After finishing my Inside tour, I made my way outside and once again enjoy some wonderful views of Chamberlain and the River.  But this rest area is one that just keeps on giving.  On the lawn, overlooking the Interstate and the Missouri River is the beautiful and impressive Dignity Statue.

This wonderful statue of a Native American Woman with her robe spread in the wind. She stands 50-feet tall and is made of stainless steel.  They had to cut holes in the robe so that the strong Dakota winds would pass through and not topple her over.  This is without a doubt one of the most amazing statues that I have ever seen.

After spending a little more than an hour at the Chamberlain Rest Area, I was almost 4:30 Central Time when I got back on Interstate 90. My original Plan last night was to see if I could make my way all the way across South Dakota and Spend the Night in Sioux Fall. But that wasn’t going to happen so while I was at the rest area, I made a hotel reservation at a Comfort Inn in Mitchell, South Dakota.

Mitchell was still about 70-miles away, so it took me about an hour to make the drive. It was about 5:40 p.m. Central Time when I pulled into the Comfort Inn and got checked in. After getting settled, I walked across the parking lot to the Ruby Tuesday and had a very nice Supper.  This was one of the better Ruby Tuesday that I have visited. The service was great, and the foot seemed to be freshly prepared and served hot.

After supper I again settled into my nightly routine of backing up my photo and writing my blog before loosely planning my next day itinerary. Even though today was about 350 miles, the day was filled with some unexpected twists. Never would have I expected to find a museum and statue at a rest area. Or be walking around the site of an old stage station.

Even though I lost and hour when I crossed into the Central Time Zone, it was a full day, and I had a great time. Tonight, I come to another fork in the road and must decide which way the adventure will head tomorrow. I have a couple of Options.’

One is to Head directly south and end up in Nebraska and go from there. Option 2 is to head to Sioux City and then head south on the Interstate to Omaha and make a decision in Omaha. Option Three is to Head to Sioux City and to head east from there.

Time will tell which option I chose. Stick around as The Adventure Continues.

DAY #13 – JUNE 22, 2021- HILL CITY, SD – BELLE FOUCHE, SD - THE PRESIDENTS & DEVILS TOWER

 

I had a wonderful visit last night with my dear friends Gus and Kandace Necessary. Again, it amazes me that we live only 30-miles apart back in Virginia and we have to meet up 1,500 miles away in South Dakota to visit and catch up. Gus was born and raised in Tannersville worked for the Tazewell County Sheriffs Office before coming to work for the State Police. Gus became a dear friend, and it was great to catch up with him and Kandace.

I was up about 7:30 a.m. this morning and had a quick coffee and muffin at the Hotel. I wanted to get an early start and head to Mount Rushmore.  It a relative short drive over to another of my bucket list destination,. I know that Mount Rushmore  is extremely popular and gets really crowded. I want to get there and get parked as close to 9 a.m. as possible.

I checked out of the Comfort Inn at 8:35 a.m. headed over to the Mount Rushmore National Monument. The 15-mile drive took about 25 minutes and even though it was just 9:05 a.m. when I arrived, there was already a line of cars waiting to get in. 

Admission to Mount Rushmore is free, but there is a fee for parking.  The attendants at the entrance are not there to collect the parking fees, they only direct you to a parking lot or parking garage.  After only a 5-minute wait, I was directed to an available parking garage. 

Before leaving the garage, I paid my fee at the self-service kiosk and got my paid receipt that I would use later to exit the garage.

Once I had my parking receipt, I made my way to the plaza and got my first real look at the presidents. It was just 9:30 a.m. and the plaza was already crowded and there were lines to enter the gift shops.  Due to Covid, only a certain number of people were allowed into the gift shops and other indoor spaces at any given time.

As I walked up the plaza and through the arch and the Avenue of Flag, the view of the Presidents is amazing. It is truly a wonderful view. The photos that I have seen are beautiful but being here and seeing it in person is truly amazing.

When you get this many people in one place you are bound to encounter a few jerks and as I arrived at the west end of the Avenue of Flag and the view area, I encountered a couple of rude people. While most people (including me) were waiting patiently for our opportunity to take our selfies, there was these two women who more or less elbowed their way in front of every one else and began taking their photos. 

One man did say something to them and got a rude reply.  So, he didn’t say anything else to them but rather started photo bombing all their photos.  I dare say that the rude women tried to take maybe 15-20 photos and he photo bombed every one of them.  The two women finally got pissed off and started cursing at the guy who more or less ignored them which further pissed them off. Finally, they decided to move on but not before flipping off everyone who was now laughing at them.

We all finally got our classic photo of the presidents from the Avenue of Flags, and I moved on to some of the exhibits on display around the plaza. As I walked around, the plaza was getting more and more crowded, so I decided to take a walk around the Presidential Trail.

The Presidential Trail is a paved walkway a takes you around the base of Mount Rushmore and gives you some awesome opportunities for some great photos.  The trail is about a half mile loop trail and starts and ends on either side of the Plaza.

Even though it’s only a half mile loop, it took me the better part of an hour to make the walk. I figured that this would probably be the only time I would be here, so I took my time and stop at every opportunity to take photos and read the story boards.

I started out on the south side of the plaza and walked around ending up at the sculpture’s studio and a couple of exhibits on the north side of the Plaza. I really enjoyed the sculpture’s studio as there was a scale model of what the carvings would look like.  The original project was to feature a waste length sculpture of each president rather than only the heads that we see today.

As usual the Ranger Programs that were scattered throughout the park were excellent and I spent a lot of time listening to them.  I finally found a short line to get into the give shop and only had a bout a 10-minute wait.  I wasn’t going to leave here without some type of keepsake. 

After finishing in the gift shop, it was time to leave and continue my adventure. I must say that Mount Rushmore more than lived up to my expectations. I was a spectacular visit.

I exited the parking garage and made my way back to Route 244.  I did make one more stop just around the curve at a pullout to snap a few photos of the Icon Profile of George Washington. It to was grand photo.

It was about 12:30 p.m. when I arrived by in Rapid City. On the way drive back to Rapid City I decided that since I had all afternoon left, I was going to back track a hundred miles or so to Devils Tower. 

I had originally planned to visit Devils Tower a couple of days ago on the drive up from Gillette. But the Reoccurring Key Fob Problem caused me to drive directly from Gillette to the Honda Dealer here in Rapid City. I didn’t want to take the chance on getting stuck with a dead car in a remote area with no cell service.

So, once back in Rapid City, I hit Interstate 90 and headed back west toward Wyoming.  About and Hour and a half later, I left Interstate 90 at exit 142 and headed north on U. S. Highway 14. The drive up 14 was uneventful and very pretty.

About 15-miles south of the entrance to Devils Tower I got my first look at the massive formation rising more than 850-feet above the Wyoming Landscape. I stopped at several of the pullout along the way and snapped a few photos.

It was about 2:45 p.m. when I arrived at the Devils Tower Entrance Station. The was a line of cars waiting to enter the park and it took me almost 20 minutes to make it to the entrance station.  I once again used my National Park Senior Pass to waive the $25 per car entrance fee.  This Senior Pass has more than paid for itself and has been one of the best purchases that I have ever made.

The ranger at the entrance station told me that parking was very limited at the visitor’s center located at the base of the tower and advised me not to stop in the road and only park in the marker spaces in the lots.

Before I started the climb to the upper visitor’s center, I made a quick stop at the large prairie dog town. There were hundreds if not thousands of those little rodents sticking their head out of their holes.

I snapped a few photos of the Prairie Dogs and then made the climb up to the base of the Devils Tower.  The ranger was right, parking was limited and really crowded but I hit it lucky. As I was driving slowly through the parking lot the was car backing out and, bingo, I snagged the space.

Once parked I made my way over to the visitor’s center and gift shop. There was only 5 or 6 people in line, waiting to get in so I got in line.  About 5 minutes later, I was inside.  The gift shop was really small and crowded so I just picked up a map and a magnet and headed back outside.

Back at the car I grabbed my camera and headed up to the base of the tower.  It was a short walk up to the base where I took a few photos. While here, I looked at the park map and decided to take a walk around the base of the tower. 

It was an easy hike on a for the most part a paved trail that runs around the base of the 867-foot tower.  There are huge boulders on the side of the trail that have over the years fallen off the huge formation. 

In normal time during the summer, there would be people climbing the tower. But Covid has put a stop to that and climbing has been suspended.

It’s a little over a mile and a half walk around the base and because I stopped a lot to take photos, it took me the better part of an hour to make the trek. It was quite warm and by the time I got back to the car I was ready to hit the road. 

I made my way slowly back down the mountain and stopped at one of the private “trading post” located just outside the entrance.  I grabbed a couple of drinks and a couple of the knock off souvenirs. You know the two shirt for $10 deal. I ended up buying a cap and T-shirt combo for $10.

I didn’t have cell service her and I do not have hotel reservations for the night. It was about 4:30 when I pulled back onto Interstate 90 had headed back east. I made a stop in Sundance for a drink and while I was stopped here, I checked the hotels where I could spend the night. 

After several minutes of checking Choice and Holiday Inn Properties, I decided to make a reservation at and Econo Lodge in Belle Fouche, South Dakota.  I don’t usually stay at Econo Lodge as they are on the very low end of the Choice Hotel Chain.  But Both the Choice and Trip Advisor Websites have excellent reviews, which eased my mind a little bit.

My trip to Belle Fouche, took me close to the town of Sturgis, South Dakota. In just about 6-weeks or so more than a half a million people will jam into the small town for it’s annual Motorcycle Rally.  So, on the way to Belle Fouche, I made a little detour to Sturgis to see some of the more well-known sites before it got too crowded.

In Sturgis, I made my way out to the north side of town to probably the best known of the Motorcycle Rally Attractions and that is the Buffalo Chip.  He during the rally the bars are hopping, and the stages are filled with either strippers or some top name entertainment like ZZ Top.

Back in town I parked and took a walk up the street past the Iron Horse Saloon and down Main Street when in just a few weeks hundreds of motorcycles will be parked in the center of the street.

White it is fun to be here now, in quiet times, I don’t think there is enough money to make me want to come here during the Rally.

It was just a short drive from Sturgis up to Belle Fouche. I found the Econo Lodge and the clerk was friendly and quickly checked me in. My room was no frills and just a basic room with a desk and king size bed.

There are a couple of drawback to this hotel. The first being it is really a low-rate accommodation. With the lower rate you get a lower class of guests.  Most of the people staying here were construction workers who spent their evening sitting outside drinking there beverages and smoking.  This made me a little uneasy, but they were quiet and never caused any trouble.

The second drawback was Belle Fouche is a really small town and restaurants are scarce. There was nothing much located near the Econo Lodge except a Dairy Queen and a Subway.  For my evening meal, I opted for a sub from Subway.  I got it to go and brought it back to my room.

After making my run to Subway, I was in for the night and set about my nightly chores of downloading photos, and videos, and writing my daily blog.

This was a good day. I got to scratch two more bucket list destinations off my List. Bot Devils Tower and Mount Rushmore were on my bucket list and both more than lived up to my expectations.

Tomorrow, I am not sure what I am going to do. I am going to have to develop a plan and see where tomorrow takes me. The Adventure Continues.