"T-Rex: Wall Drug!"
"5 cent Coffee: Wall Drug!"
"Free Ice Water: Wall Drug!"
"Gardenburgers: Wall Drug!"
The signs go on like that for over 300 miles. Since Wyoming, I have been subjected to reading every Wall Drug sign along the highway. "Kids Love Wall Drug!"
I finally made it to Wall Drug today. That was the highlight — a block long nick-nack superstore. Yes, there was a big fake T-Rex. It roars every twelve minutes. Also, there was all you would expect from a tourist trap in the middle of South Dakota. And, yes, five cent coffee.
I actually spent a bit of time in the book store, looking through all the great cowboy books. I walked away with the mid-length Lewis and Clark Diaries — not the tiny one, but not the 10 volume version — and a little biography on Doc Holliday. You know, Val Kilmer from Tombstone… not that Wyatt Erp nonsense with Kevin Costner. Doc, turns out, was, in fact, as much of a cool cat as played by Val. As cool as a self-absorbed killer can be. Also, he was a dentist. So maybe that's why he had to kill everyone to prove he was cool. Not sure yet, I'm only a few pages in.
In total, I spent a hour or two at Wall Drug, mostly to get out of the car. Driving the Midwest is like watching grass grow, but moving the whole time, so you don't actually get to see any of the growth.
I passed into Central Time, which divides the state down the middle, and lost another hour.
I almost made it out, though. Im only a couple hours from Wisconsin, which I think classifies as a Lake Sate, right? I hope so. However, I'm in Burke, South Dakota, tonight. Population 676, temperature somewhere around 30 or so. The woman at the hotel — too cold to camp, I'm not freezing to death — said she shouldn't let me stay after I told her about the tornadoes and the fact that I woke up to snow in the Black Hills. "What are you going to bring us?"
I sure hope its some sun. Because, right now, I can't wait to get to Florida.
Hi Andrew…it’s Monica, Ellyn’s old room-mate. I found your blog via Ellyn’s blog, gotta love the internet.
Anyway, I wanted to let you know that my grandparents own a great 27 acre forest reserve outside of Iowa City, Iowa that has tons of hiking, history, and swimming (if the weather permits, I see you aren’t having much luck with weather). I am sure they would love to have you, if you needed a place to stay or stop. They are quite fun and quirky:)
Let me know if you are interested.
And Florida can’t wait for you to get here.
Seriously, I speak for the state.
we have more than enough sun. I’m a huge fan of sharing it with likewise pasty skin. spread the death around, you know?
also, thank you for the postcard. a snake! from anyone other than yourself, I’d have cut ties. snakes scare me to the death and I can’t have friends push that button. however, you’re nealon. so let’s continue to keep in touch.