Day 17 - Fargo & Superior

Meet John Bunyan, located at Akeley, Minnesota. He also presses wild flowers!!!!! (need to be a Monty Python fan to understand that one)

Minnesota is called the 10,000 lakes state. Leech Lake at Walker is one such oversized dam. The size of this lake requires a lighthouse

Surprisingly, we crossed the Mississippi River at a place called Jacobson in Minnesota - just a peaceful flow of water this far north

The town where Bob Dillon was born - Duluth in Minnesota. It is located at the far west of Lake Superior, a ship building city with a huge railroad junction.

A cold and windy Lake Superior at Duluth, Minnesota. This is about the furthest west ships can go on the Great Lakes waterway system.

Duluth is famous for its Aerial Lift Bridge. All fresh water flow under this and the bridge lifts to a great height.

Another view of the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge

For those inspiring engineers - the arrow shows the monstrous "bike" chain that lifts the bridge. I hate to see this break in operation

Once a railroad box car now a diner. Duluth, Minnesota

There are several bridges over the waterway between Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin. This is one of them on the windward side. The border is located in the centre of the bridge.

It was a bloody wet day. It didn't ease between Fargo and Duluth - a distance of 400 klms. In addition the temperature was freezing. Notwithstanding this we witnessed a local (a young fellow) jogging under extreme windy conditions at about 5 deg C temperature and in rain - he was only wearing running shoes and shorts!! He probably thought today was a heat wave........bbrrrrrrrrr! The journey today passed many lakes and birch forests. We had lunch at a place called Hill City at a local cafe and with warm tucker we made the trip to Duluth by 2 pm. Duluth is a decent size city that focuses on shipping and all things associated with Lake Superior. The lake is the world's largest and easily seen from space. When we arrived the rain did stop and gave us some respite for us to look over the main attractions - the Aerial Lift Bridge and lakeside park. We crossed over to Superior in Wisconsin and checked-in. Holiday Inn Hotel chains is the way to go in the US - clean, breakfast supplied, free WiFi and good reception staff. We recommend to anybody who visits the US to consider the Holiday Inn chain. Tomorrow we will continue to drive east to a place called Marquette. Located on the southern foreshore of Lake Superior and in Michigan state (pronounced Mish-shin-gin). We have made contact with one of the local ballroom organisers and she has invited us to her place for a social dance. Her house is a couple of miles from where we will be staying and "Marge" has invited all her social club members. This will be interesting - we think that she has a decent size dance floor in her home. Well she is a PhD Associate Dean at the Northern Michigan University. Hopefully the weather will turn better and give us some great views of Lake Superior and the temperature increases - Anne is rugged up in several cocoon type garments - so much for summer in the US. We heard on the news that Phoenix, Arizona is sweltering at 42 deg C at this moment. Cheers.   

Day 16 - Bismarck & Fargo

Between Bismarck and Fargo - a rest area along the I-94. The soft drink (soda) dispensers cater for all tastes!! These rest stops are fantastic, clean restrooms, tourist information for travellers and a great picnic area for lunches etc  

The historic Fargo Theatre - is the area's vintage movie palace fully restored to its 1926 art deco glory.

A Norwegian Stave Church in Moorehead, Minnesota. There are only 28 stave churches left in Norway (Viking places of worship built after they changed from paganism to Christianity in the 1100's). This is a replica from Hopperstad, Norway, completely built of timber and was a great experience in visiting this tourist site. Moorehead has a huge Scandinavian population and use this as an active place of worship

Inside the Stave Church at the Historical & Cultural Society of Clay County at the Hjemkomst Centre, Moorehead, Minnesota 

This Viking ship replica actually sailed from Norway to the US. It's huge and larger than the ones we seen in Oslo, Norway. The Oslo exhibits were restored after they removed them out of the fjord mud. This replica is located in the same tourist site as the Stave Church, Moorehead.

The Bonnie Haney Dance Studio in Moorehead, Minnesota. Small and not up to standard as our Ozzies floors.

The West Acres Mall - the region's largest shopping centre with four large department stores, Macy's, J.C. Penny, Sears and another store we can't pronounce. Coincidentally it's right across the road from our hotel.

It took us three hours to travel from Bismarck to Fargo in North Dakota. The road was all 75MPH along the I-94 and the scenery became more interesting than what we saw yesterday. The countryside had many lakes and waterways. The weather is still overcast and at times tried to rain. The temperature is about the same as it is in winter Sydney - the locals say this is normal! We hate to be here in their winter - minus 30 deg F we heard! On our arrival in Fargo (a large city) we drove directly to the West Acres Mall. This is a huge shopping complex and is directly across the road from our hotel. Since we arrived at Noon and after lunch we toured downtown Fargo (in North Dakota) and cross the Red River into Moorehead, Minnesota. As you can see from the photos we visited the Norwegian Cultural Centre where a wealthy American built a Stave Church. It was great and we had a private guide to tell us all about the construction and its namesake in Norway. The fresh timber smell inside is quite memorable. After this visit we went back to Fargo and checked into our hotel - guess what Neil did/ He drove on the wrong side of the road on the bridge dead middle of North Dakota and Minnesota. Luckily no cars we in site and a quick three point turn found Ralph facing the correct direction. So much for keeping your passenger in the gutter!! At 3:30 pm we had a private ballroom dancing lesson at the Bonnie Haney Dance Studio. We had a young chap named Eathan Rogers and showed us the American steps to the American Smooth - interesting it was it is a mixture of Slow Foxtrot, Modern Waltz and Tango steps. Three individual styles dancing ballroom steps but using International (an American creation) picture steps. A bit different from our style of dances. We returned to our hotel and walked across the West Acres Shopping Centre to browse - Anne purchased a warm overcoat to stem the cold from Fargo's weather. Well that's it for today. Tomorrow we drive to a place called Superior in Wisconsin on the far west side of Lake Superior - the largest lake in the world. Superior is next to a place called Duluth, Minnesota where Bob Dillon was born - so what Anne says! A man who wrote classic and excellent songs but can he sing??? Until tomorrow cheers.

Day 15 - Badlands & Bismarck

An old couple taken in those old days - arranged and composed in Deadwood, South Dakota

The State Capitol building, Pierre, South Dakota

There are many miles of this scenery, South and North Dakota prairies

The State Capitol building, Bismarck, North Dakota

Along the big "Mo" the Missouri River at Bismarck, North Dakota - an old paddle steamer now a static display 

Last week we viewed Saturn through a telescope outside Santa Fe - it wasn't like this however we had to put in another photo to impress! Taken in a restaurant called Alien Cafe - where earthlings are welcome

Nothing much to report today We drove six hours from the Badlands National Park into North Dakota to the capitol Bismarck. We did go pass Pierre which is the capitol of South Dakota. What we saw along the way (except for the capitols) was prairie and more prairies - basically it was boring. On top of that the weather was dismal, windy and cloudy all the way. In Bismarck the rain came and it felt like a Sydney winter. Nevertheless we did mange to drive around Pierre and Bismarck to enjoy its people and tourist sites. Bismarck is located along the Missouri River and even up this far from New Orleans is a huge waterway. We had dinner at the Alien Restaurant - great surroundings as if you are being visited by ETs. Thought we were in Roswell NM at one stage. We have captured our photo taken in Deadwood last Saturday with us dressed up as 19th century folk - hope you like it. We have a short three hour journey to Fargo tomorrow. This city is on the border of North Dakota and Minnesota. We may have a West Coast Swing dance lesson at a local dance studio. Until tomorrow cheers.

Day 14 - Rapid City & Badlands

The cafe at Wall, South Dakota - Wall Drug - free ice water!!!!

The Wall Drug at Wall, South Dakota - approaching this town there were many signs indicating what one can buy at Wall Dug - eg: free donuts for honeymooners at Wall Drug!

An actual Minuteman II missile with all its business parts removed near Cactus Flat, South Dakota

Missile site in South Dakota - the blast panel is ajar and a viewing glass is on top to clearly see the missile inside. The white pole on the left is the antenna for active operations

Scary information regarding the cold war

This is the 30 feet elevator shaft that leads into the control room to launch missiles. Only certain Air Force personnel were allowed entry

One of the "hot" seats" to launch missiles when commanded. The closest for any firings was during the Cuban Missile crisis.

The Missile Control location out in a farmer's prairie property. About one mile from the main Interstate Highway, Cactus Flat, South Dakota - Junction 147.

Inside the Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Another view inside the Badlands National Park

Taken at a viewing location, Badlands National Park

Visitors can climb over these rock formations - if they can avoid rattlesnakes!

The colours of the rock features are vivid - Badlands National Park

Who is the roofing nail waving to the cameraman?

Road heading east inside the Badlands National Park

"Ralph" in front of our lodge at Cedar Park, Badlands National Park

This view is just outside our lodge, Badlands National Park - waiting for a glorious sunset

Today started out a beautiful and a warm day – perfect for driving. We checked-out of the Holiday Inn Rapid City Hotel and gave back our $20 breakfast voucher they gave us last night. This was in view for the mistake the hotel made when we discovered our room was not serviced last night. We explored their breakfast and it was huge – so we decided not to take their kind offer. Also the cost for one breakfast per person was over $11 – so we would have paid the difference. The reception girls thought us Australians are a weird mob! Our destination today is the Badlands National Park in South Dakota – it is only 70 miles away from Rapid City. After we topped up our small esky at Walmart (lunch supplies etc) we headed east to a place called Wall. Now place this is world famous. In Wall there is the Wall Drug. In the 1930’s it started out as a respite for weary travelers (its location is within a prairie) and the owners offered free ice water. Over the years this became famous and now is a multi-complexed souvenir shop – they still serve free ice water! The shops that has expanded over the years is amazing – one can spend hours just browsing. From Wall we visited a Minuteman II missile launching site. Now defunct it is now a tourist visiting site – and it was free. We arranged a tour to go 30 feet below in the main control room and saw the way missile launchers would have press the button if the Ruskies were going for WWIII. Apparently there were over 1000 of these sites all over the northern USA countryside. Not oblivious to road travelers or alike, these sites could just be another small inconspicuous telephone exchange. The security was so tight that weapons would certainly have been used on any wayward individual that could have lost their way. Interestingly, there are still hundreds of these sites still located around northern USA with Minuteman III missiles. We wondered what targets have been preselected on those warheads? Actually visiting these sites were scary and imagined what could have happened during the cold war. Oh, by the way, the picture with the missile is real – only the propellant and warhead have been removed. What destruction can us homo-sapiens can do to each other is mind boggling. We had lunch in the Badlands National Park and in the afternoon travelled along the 20 or so miles that the park allows us to drive. As you can see with the photographs above there are many snaps of the Badlands rock features. Basically they are all the same but what makes it unusual is the location over the prairie district. It was called the Badlands by the Indians because there was nothing there for them and the name stuck. We are now in a lodge inside the National Park – nice and quiet and within most beautiful sunset scenery. Tomorrow we travel out of South Dakota to North Dakota. We will go through Pierre – the capitol of South Dakota and stay overnight at Bismarck – the capitol of North Dakota. We hope the weather continues to be warm and clear. Until tomorrow cheers.

Day 13 - Rapid City

If anybody knows the history of Deadwood in South Dakota and the demise of Wild Bill this is located along the Main Street in Deadwood.

The infamous Gem Hotel was located here - owned by that ruthless nefarious hotel owner "Al Swerington" along Main Street Deadwood

Ladie's of ill repute along Main Street, Deadwood

Here it was where Wild Bill Hickok was shot by Jack McCall in 1876. Will Bill was playing cards and had two aces and two eights when he was shot in the back of his head- today known as the dead man's hand.

Re-enactment of the shooting of  Wild Bill Hickok - our actor played a great role

Two lovely bimbo's of the No 10 Saloon - part of the scene of Wild Bill's murder, Deadwood, South Dakota

Anne and Wild Bill - his name is forever remembered in today's Deadwood - more so than in 1876.

Neil and Calamity Jane's grave on Mount Moriah Cemetery, Deadwood. 

Seth Bullock was a well known and famous sheriff of Deadwood and Marshal working for President Theodore Roosevelt. He was a "goodie" who rode a white horse and tipped his hat to the ladies. His grave site is located overlooking Deadwood in the Mount Moriah Cemetery

Calamity wanted to be buried next to her hero Wild Bill - something that Wild Bill wouldn't wish for if he had a chance. In real life Calamity was a chronic alcoholic, swore like a sailor and basically had a miserable life.

The four presidents - Mount Rushmore, Black Hills, South Dakota

Just to prove that we were actually there!

Remember the roller game back in the 60's? It's alive and well in Rapid City, South Dakota. Notice the fallen skater - she was deliberately pushed.

We want to know how the violators are towed - cruelty for sure?

We have two days in Rapid City, therefore we drove directly for Deadwood. It's about 40 miles or so away and we spent the majority of the day in the famous or infamous place. The weather returned to glorious sunshine however the temperature was not summer like - it was still cold. Deadwood lives on tourism and casinos. The city itself is small enough to walk around and there were plenty of gift shops. We did find a place where they dress you up in old period clothes and after a serious of photo shoots give you a sepia print. Well we dressed up in those 1870'ish attire and enjoyed the experience - we'll try and put the best photo on this blogspot once we know how. At 1 pm we watched the re-enactment of the slaying of Wild Bill Hickok. This was located in the new No. 10 Saloon about 100 metres from the actual site of the murder. If anybody has watched the TV series "Deadwood" they would know most of the incidences and sites of the photos we have posted. After the re-enactment we headed up in the hills to the Mount Moriah cemetery where Calamity Jane and Wild Bill are buried next to each other. In actual life they only crossed paths briefly however over the years many twisted stories arose - the most famous one is that they were married and they had a daughter - not true say the locals. From Deadwood we drove to Mount Rushmore and viewed the famous four presidents. As we said last year it is impressive however, the size is smaller than the pictures that are taken in the tourist magazines and books. We left Mount Rushmore and headed back to our accommodation in Rapid City When we arrived at 6 pm our room was not made up. After enquiring at reception and after many apologies the manager is giving us a free breakfast tomorrow - just not we really want. We are trying to avoid American hot breakfasts and keeping to the continental meals. Tomorrow we leave Rapid City and head east to the Badlands National Park. It is located about 90 minutes from Rapid City but there is lots to see. We will be staying in a lodge away from the bustle of a city environment. Cheers.