DAY 7

 Before leaving Canistota we took a ride down Main Street to get a shot of that great little bar in town.
The day started out kinda misty with a very slight drizzle now and then so we donned the rain gear and started our day. The skies stayed cloudy and a bit cool but the rains didn't come.

First stop of the day was at The Corn Palace in Mitchell SD. This is a tourist trap that keeps Mitchell on the map. It's been around since the 1800s and attracts a steady flow of travelers as they cruise down Interstate 90. We spent some time inside and even sat fro the 15 minute video about the origin of the palace.

 The murals are changed frequently and they are made entirely out of corn grown specifically for the Corn Palace.The corn is actually grown in the five colors that are used in the murals. The picture is sketched on building paper and then workers attach an ear at a time to make the mural.

And what would a tourist trap be if not for a mascot ???
So here is Faith posing for a photo op with Cornelius.
But again it was time to leave the fun and games behind and push on.
The ride from here was a combination of good and bad.
Good because the weather turned and it got sunny and warm. Perfect for riding. But there was a brisk wind from the north and when you hit those vast open spaces that wind can really knock you around and it was affecting the speed and the mileage of the trike. We both took a beating from the wind and it just takes a lot out of you. 

 Also, it seems that we were traveling right at the time that the grasshoppers in the area mature and it seems that they like to jump up and smash themselves into your motorcycle. we noticed just a few at one of our gas stops but by the time we had to stop again, they were all over the trike, some on our pants legs and even one that smashed into Faith's neck.
When we got to our hotel, it was quite a job scrubbing them off the fenders and fairings but Faith did a great job.

 We were able to get to our daily destination at a reasonable time thanks to gaining an hour in a different time zone. so a refreshing dip in the pool and then we washed the trike. Again on a suggestion of the hotel clerk, we walked a few blocked to Main Street for a nice dinner at the Cactus Cafe.

 We had planned to check out the famous Wall Drug in the morning but it was still early after dinner so we crossed the street and spent some time in this touristy spot that has become one of the more famous stops along the interstate in South Dakota. They still offer free water and 5cent coffee.
It's chock full of shops and you can buy just about anything you need in Wall Drug. The signs advertising Wall Drug start over 300 miles away along the highway and they tell you what you'll find at the store.

All in all, a nice day and the hotel is very comfy. Found this unique sign posted on the bathroom mirror. Thought it was rather interesting. It's not that the water comes out of the tap at 100 degrees but it does not get cold.

So a rather long ride at 328 miles but we're finished with the long days for a while and looking forward to a week in the Sturgis area to do some sightseeing and relaxing.

Check back again because I'm sure the posts will get longer with more pics and some great stories.