Roaming South Dakota

Hello ZigZaggers Yesterday was a combo get farther West day / don't miss the sites. Eastern South Dakota is quite flat and there is no law against billboards so the scenery was marred from Oacoma all the way to Wall with ads for Firehouse Brewery and the worst of the worst tourist traps--Wall Drug. Ugh. Nevertheless we managcceded to enjoy the country spreading wide before us and to each side of I 90. Our destination, Deadwood for the night with stops at anything that caught our attention. The breeze was quite strong and everytime we left the car our coiffure was rearrange by Monsieur Louis DuVent--a very famous and highly sought after hair designer. In time we came to a sign that promised TWO National installations from one exit--oh, how my fingers itch to place the stamps in my newest and third National Parks Passport. The first stop was the Minuteman Missile Visitor Center. The greeter, Ron, was simply a delight. Great sense of humor and very interested in knowing from whence we came and to whence we were going. We watched the video about the development of the MM program, its implementation and the parallel missile program in the USSR. The narrators were many, including Khrushev's son and a Russian high ranking officer who, though the alarm indicating American missiles had been launched against Russia went with his gut, not believing we would do such a thing and face severe lose of life in the strike and the retaliation if not annihilation. He opted not to notify his superiors and was relieved when it was found that the alarm had been a false alarm. His military career was over at that point, of course. Apparently there had been at least 6 or more false alarms to both powers through the course of the program. Interestingly, one of the interviewees was the Park Ranger with whom we had also spoken. He and Ron urged us to go to the missile site just up the road near Wall. I told them I'd rather see it than the Drug Store which I had seen when we brought Betsy out to college. They feigned surprise that we would skip the chance to see the jackalopes. They told us that some traveler had placed a giant unicorn on top of the jackalope and took a picture. I said when you've seen one jackalope,,,,,,and same with unicorns. Plus there were no side-hill wampuses there so what a waste. Capt Benson, ret said perhaps they couldn't afford one. Anyway, Capt Benson had been a commander of one of the silo centers. After the movie I asked what that duty was like.How long they were on duty each time. He said it was 24 hours at a clip but that each person had time to sleep--it being a two person assignment. That they had it three times a week. He said it wasn't hard duty at all. I asked if it was stressful. He said in the beginning but like any assignment once you were used to the procedure it became routine. He said he worried more about the growth of crabgrass and how his kids were doing in school than about a nuclear attack. He was so self assured and matter of fact, I felt we were safe with him and others like him manning the controls. After looking over the exhibit and buying a post card with the warning signs that were posted about the silos--with Capt telling us that the bottom line about violators being threatened with bodily harm did not work with children and grandchildren--we headed over to the loop road in the Badlands National Park. We were quite amused, actually became very giddy with all kinds of comments about the name of the town at the entrance to the park--Cactus Flat. Where is the landscape NOT flat? But okay--tell the next wagon train to take a left when they come to the cactus on the flat--there is only one all the way across the territory--cactus, that is. Of course, we searched in every direction--not a cactus in sight--so where did the name originate? A story lost in time. The pictures tell the story--we were in the park for two hours--each turn brought a more jaw-dropping vista. We walked out to the edge of the eroded mesas and plateaux so many times. And each time we were speechless at the expanse and incredible beauty. My favorites were the ones toward the western edge of the park==the sherbet colors of the yellow hills. The mountain sheep were exciting and the prairie dogs adorable--though ranchers love them about as much as dairy farmers love groundhogs. We had planned on going to the missile site and tour the underground launch control center and view a missile minus its warhead etc in its silo but the site closes at 3. By the time we got through the Badlands we missed the closing by 15 minutes. SIGH! During the Cold War there were 150 nuclear Minutemen missiles in Western South Dakota. They were part of a 1000 missile force of Minutemen spread over the Great Plains. Apparently, there are still some there as well as others on ships and planes. So we went to the Grasslands visitor center, where the Ranger was impressed by our knowledge of the supposed extinction of the black-footed ferret and its rediscovery in Metetse Wyoming. Good heavens we were there 18 years ago and sat in the little part commemorating the happy occasion. He gave us each two laminated ferret bookmarks. Then we watched the video on the Grasslands, the history of their destruction and the resulting Dust Bowl and the efforts to restore at least sections of it. Beautiful photography in these videos as well as interesting history and other info. This particular video was very long and evolved into a recruitment tool-sort of--for the various government services involved in the work. We did go into Wall but only for Barb to stop at the Harley store to get a tee shirt for Charlie. Then we were on our way once more--on toward Rapid City the home of Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Having been to both several times we opted to by-pass them this trip. I did, however, take a picture of one of the signs warning of flashing lights indicating a road closure and immediately following the railroad crossing bar that is lowered to make sure you do as told and exit right now. Many of our friends back home do not believe us when we tell them the roads are literally closed with bars. Barb and I experienced this for ourselves when the bar to the road leaving Metetse came down right behind us as we pulled into town. We were stuck there for three days in Sept.2000 We came to love Joe's Bar and the locals who patronized it. No way out--all road barred and if found on them, a $1000 fine, period. Next we stopped in Sturgis for another shirt but we missed the shop closing by 10 minutes so we continued on to Deadwood and our motel. We climbed up into the Black Hills with the sun in our eyes. By-passed the historic Main Street. When we presented ourselves to the desk clerk he told us that I had immediately upon reserving our room been upgraded to a suite. Another mini-apartment. So nice to spread out--I always hate that we only spend one night. Barb found a rubber ducky in the bathroom. His name is Duey and the motel would like the guests to take him with them on their travels , photograph him wherever he goes and post the pix on their website. Barb wanted her picture taken and with the mirror right there a fun shot was formed. Having walked a lot and having been out in the fresh air we were too tired to figure out what to eat and did not want to sit in a restaurant. There is a small lounge in the motel and they provide a complimentary drink. So down we went to have a glass of wine, and a frozen pizza, which wasn't gourmet but was better than most frozen pies. Visited with the barmaid who is a native Deadwoodian--born and raised. She now lives in Lead--pronounced --let me lead you to the door and NOT there is lead in those sinkers. While we were having our third and last drink a lady came to the bar to pick up some nachos--I engaged her in conversation, though I'm not sure she was really interested since she and her friends were in the midst of playing a hot game of 7-up. Well, we had to pass by their table on the way to our room and we stopped to chat, since they were taking a break to eat. Well, before you know it we were all talking and laughing and comparing travels and who we travel with and God knows what else. But, the game was pretty much set aside. We wanted to get a picture of our new friend circle and some poor unsuspecting man who was just passing through and minding his own business was enlisted to do the honors. So, here we are--new friends on FB,too--Christyl, Sherry, Jean ( from Indiana ) Barb and Me. We headed upstairs and the ladies said they were going to resume their game. And so our day ended with beautiful pictures in our heads and new fun friends added to our collection of fellow travelers. As we were turning out the light I said to Barb, you know with such a magnificently beautiful country filled with such wonderful people, it really doesn't much matter who is president. We'll be okay. Good night on that note, BarbZig and KatZag