July 14th, Sunday

From 3am on it rained and thundered - so hard to get out of bed when it is dark and dreary out. Up, coffee on and headed to downtown Mitchell, SD to the world's only Corn Palace. This is the 3rd built since 1892. Each year a theme is chosen and artisans decorate the outside walls of the building with corn and grains. Roughly 3,000 bushels of rye, oats and sour dock are tied in bundles and attached. Over 275 thousand ears of 6-8 different colours of corn are used in the murals. The building holds concerts, basketball games, graduations, etc. Very interesting.

Then it was a day driving thru the rest of South Dakota, thru Minnesota and into Wisconsin. Corn and more corn and more corn. A field of hay, some cattle, racoons and long straight roads broke up the miles of corn. Pulled into the area around Menomonie to a Good Sam campground. Did not stay long. Just a bit spooky. Off to find another campground (Walmart parking lot was the last option)which we did and it gave us both a comfortable feeling. Had picked up dinner at the grocery store so cooking was easy :-)