It has only been one week since my last post but it was a busy week. I combined a variety of sightseeing opportunities with a little bit of work and some necessary personal business. Let me try to recap the week in South Dakota. You will have to forgive me if things are a little jumbled n this post.
Friday morning was the day for handling personal business. After collecting all the necessary paper work it was off to the State Patrol/Driver’s License office to become a resident of South Dakota. Why it takes more documentation to get a driver’s license than to enter the country I’ll never understand. Being forewarned I had everything in hand when I left the campground.
The hardest part was finding the office! The GPS navigator likes street names, while the DOT seems to prefer highway numbers. Combine that with an office that is not really on the street but up a long drive; that looks like a street. In any case I got there before the lunch rush and was able to walk out about 30 minutes later with a new South Dakota license. It even has a gold star to indicate I supplied all required information and won’t have to repeat the process in South Dakota.
Next stop was at the Americas Mailbox office in Box Elder to pick up my mail. I was in the neighborhood so why not take a look at the place. I nice looking building right off of I-90. Looks like Rapid City to me. Wasn’t much mail but the nice folks at the front desk provided directions for my stop; the county office to register the pickup truck. Didn’t take long to find the building and the wait wasn’t long at all. So by noon I had a driver’s license and license plates for the truck.
That done it was time to explore the area to the east of Rapid City; that is back the direction I came from on Thursday. Rather than explore the great outdoors I decided to visit “Wall Drug.” The home of free ice water and a 5 cent cup of coffee. From a simple drug store in 1931 to a vast complex that takes up the better part of one side of Main Street in Wall, South Dakota. They have a lot of everything, including a restaurant, rock shop, traveler chapel, books, candy and even a drug store. Only about 30 mile east of Rapid City but a lot easier to find parking for the truck than the RV.
After getting a bite to eat I drove further east to make the drive through the National Bad Lands park. Going through late in the day did provide some nice picture opportunities that you don’t get in the middle of the day. Could have taken some of the longer trails but even with a nice road the Bad Lands is not the place to be walking around in after dark. They do make a point of warning you about rattlesnakes every time you leave the parking lot. All I saw was a rabbit; not that I’m complaining.
As the sun sets I make my way back to I-90 just south of Wall and head back to the RV campground. There is a lot to see and it is spread out. Of course traveling at 80 mph does reduce travel time.
(Note: I’m trying to catch up)
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