We departed Sioux Falls around 10 A.M. after a hearty breakfast at the Fryn’ pan.  Our destination, 341 miles away, via I-90 W is the Pine Tree Inn, Ellsworth Air Force Base, Rapid City, SD.  We will spend 3 nights there and it will be our base for day trips to the surrounding area.  Enroute we will be shifting to Mountain Time giving us an hour of slack time.

Shortly after noon just short of crossing the Missouri River we stopped at a rest area that overlooked the river.  The scenery was gorgeous and we spent nearly an hour there.

The enormous sculpture called “Dignity” at this site is overwhelming.  I have never seen anything like it before.  It is unforgettable.  You can imagine the size of this sculpture comparing to Jeanne who is sitting on the base of it.  The entire sculpture is stainless steel.  The 128 diamonds are 4 feet across and covered with 7 coats of paint.  LED lights within her highlight the diamonds on the quilt at night. Dignity is 50 feet tall, 32 feet wide and 27,000 pounds.

Soon after departure we crossed the Missouri River and continued westward.

Those of you who have travelled along I-95 between NC and GA are probably too familiar with the South of the Border signs and facility at the north end of SC.  Back in the day it was a lively place and attracted thousands of tourists.  Our children loved the place.  It has gotten tired & a bit on the seedy side.  We don’t see much business there when take that route north or south going to CT or FL.  The South Dakota version is Wall Drug.  The signs start long before you get there.

We stopped at Pedro’s the first time we went to SC on I-95 so there is a tradition to be followed and we went into Wall to see Wall Drug and have lunch.  Expectations were not very high and we were not disappointed.  Lunch followed that trend; Jeanne said her taco salad was “unlike anything I have ever had” i.e. awful.  Whatever I had, I put behind me and have to say Jeanne hit the nail on the head.   For safety reasons I did not do any after lunch pictures.

We arrived at Ellsworth Air Force Base before 4 P.M. and settled into our quarters.  Jeanne went to the commissary and exchange to pick up groceries and supplies.  After our lunch experience it was nice to dine in.