The National Eagle Center, Larks (world famous) Toy Store, Corn Palace, Bible Land and The Badlands.

What a long strange list for this editions title!  What a strange week it's been!  Who knew the Eagle Center would be so amazing?  Who knew it even existed?  I was advised by the lady at check-in at our Wabasha, MN site to head over to it.  She was also the one who suggested the toy store.  So, a site that we planned on doing a whole lot of nothing at became quite an adventure.  Minnesota left a great impression on me.  It was a very clean state.  The farms were well maintained, the fields looked perfect, the homes were adorable and the RV park we were in was immaculate!  Then we hit the road, bound for SD.  What a thoroughly different drive.  This is the state I have been waiting for.  Finally some landscapes that are totally foreign to me.  Our first night in SD was at an okay place.  Glad it was only one night...but oh, what we saw.  The Amazing, world famous CORN PALACE!  Yes, it is what it sounds like...sort of.  The town hall's facade is decorated annually with nothing but corn.  This years theme was Willie Nelson (yup, made entirely of corn).  Across the street (a very dead street) was Bible Land.  Of course we had to investigate.  I do not recommend anyone else every doing this.  It was dark, and creepy inside.  Lots of mannequins and fake plants.  We are now at a far better campground in Wall, SD.  If curious...google "Wall Drug"  it is what the town is famous for.  But what we are loving is its proximity to "The Badlands".  We have hiked in there the past two days, and the wild landscape is something one can not possibly get used to.  We have seen prairie dogs, mountain sheep, little mouse things with long upright tails...  No bison yet, but hopefully at our next stop.  The pictures may give you a taste of this national park, but it's like the Grand Canyon...you have to stand in it to get the full effect, and it is awe inspiring.

This was the border to the Wabasha campground.

How regal?  

Fiona communing with eagle. (All captive eagles had been injured and depended on humans to survive.)

"Larks" toy store had the best cut out!

Before the carousel ride in the toy store!

All animals are hand carved.

As far as the eye can see!!!!! I love this!

Sunflower seeds are a big crop here in SD.  The fields are amazing.

Many of these along the drive.

All the decor behind us is corn!  

Playground?  Did someone say playground?

Ummm...I'll pass.

Make new friends, and keep the old.

These signs were plentiful in "The Badlands".  YIKES!

Sharp edged cliffs.

Close up of the harder stone.  Some parts of the hike were like walking on kitty litter...

Like we landed on Mars.

This is my kind of road.

We were so thrilled to see wildlife!

These guys were way up high!

Fiona is getting some close up shots of the prairie dogs.  See them?  All those holes?

Whose idea was it to hike at noon, in a desert, in the middle of August?  Oh yeah, Dad's.

So unreal.

This guy came out of the trail to say goodbye as we were leaving.