June 5, 6, 2013

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Well, it was a big sticky bun and coffee at the famous Wall Drug Store for breakfast this morning!!   Not good for our diet, but it sure was good!!!

                                                                   Okay we did split it.

 

Then we hit the road in the car towards exit 116 to view the Delta-09 Minuteman II Missile Silo.   Got to see the missile in the ground through a glass window above ground.   Pretty neat that here this missile was in the middle of a rancher's field.

                                                                   The entry hatch.

 

The missile.

The glass is for this display, but the concrete top would be moved by a chain and rail system if it was to be launched.

 Further down the road at exit 131 off I-90, we filled up with gas and then went inside the Minuteman II Visitors Center.

 

We were not able to get tickets for the tour of the Launch Flight Facility right away, so we got tickets for the 3 pm tour. Watched a short movie about the missile and launch facility.   Didn't realize the actual tour was not at this sight but 4 miles west at exit 127.   So we got our tickets and headed for The Badlands which is a 35 mile loop back to Wall.   Amazing landscape here!!

Had lunch at the Cedar Pass Lodge.  Yes, a big ole fattening Buffalo Dog with Buffalo chili!!  Of course, I didn't get a picture of Dennis' big ole cheeseburger!!!!!

This recipe card was on the table - will try it when I get home.

 Then on to see more of The Badlands.  Here we found a trail, a pass that lead over some peaks, I went up a little but the sign said, "a rugged trail" so I chickened out. Dennis went all the way to the top, and said it was steep and hairy in spots.   Glad I didn't go!!

                                                            Should we go to the top?

                                                    Started here, following the blue stakes.

                                                         I think I will wait here until he returns.

 

 

                                            See me, Dennis is up top taking the picture.

                                                 Follow the stakes up and you are okay.

                                                                           Climbing.

                                          At the top of the pass, flat lands lead to other trails.

                                            Others came to the top edge from the flat side.

                                                            He made it to the top.

                                                            Proof is in the picture.

                                                        Scenery on the way down.

                                                               I think he needs oxygen.

                                      With a little CPR he was much better and back to normal.

We were now pushed for time so we had to "put the pedal to the metal" to get back to I-90 and then go 16 miles east to the Launch Facility tour.

Some quick sights near the end of Badlands.

Grasslands!!

                                                                     Mountain Goats

                                                      More grasslands

                                                                    Mountain Goats

Again out in the middle of nowhere.

                                                        Gravel road to a dirt road.

The above ground facility is manned by 8 personnel. Six enlisted men, a cook, and an officer for 3 days and then new personnel arrive. The capsule below ground is manned by 2 missileer's for 24 hours straight, then a new crew comes in. A very secure place even today. Notice the bottom line on the sign.

 Had a great tour guide named Butch Davis.   He had served in the Air Force for 10 years and is now a US Park Ranger.   Really made the tour personal to each of us.   Only a total of six people can go on the 30 minute tour because only that many can fit on the elevator underground.  Was really fascinating that this place could have launched an ICBM to the Soviet Union and it would have arrived there in 30 minutes!!!


                                                                         Bedrooms.

 

Copper communication cable linking all the sites together, 4-6 feet underground across the prairie.

                                             Re-bar that was use in the four foot concrete.

                                                                       Living quarters.

                                                                              Kitchen.

 

SAC motto was " Peace is our profession"

 

Desk to see the fenced area and for communication.

                                              A moral booster. Painted by one of the officers.

 

Keeping a sense of humor in their work.

 

This is a picture of the actual capsule when it was being placed in the ground.

 

Four foot thick vault door

                                                          The entrance to the capsule.

 

In control in the capsule.

                                       Park Ranger Butch Davis sharing information.

 

 
Robin at the key launch, one of two.

 

SAC radio speaker.

Strategic Air Command.

This is what Butch Curtis, Robin's brother was a part of when he was in the Air Force.

                                                   Where the two keys were located.

 

Well off to the camper for a glass of wine and some cheese.

 

 

 Then to the local restaurant for dinner.

After dinner we sat at the local corral in town and watched the cowboys and cowgirls practice their rodeo skills.

 As the sun went down we saw a crop duster plane and went to investigate. He was re-fueling so we decided to head back to the camper for ice cream, TV, and bed.

Night
Robin and Dennis.

Thursday June 6, 2013  

Up early and on the road today. Wanted to get south of Sioux Falls, SD and wanted to stop in Mitchell SD, the Corn Palace is located there. Each year the town re-covers the building with ears of corn and grain.  Was quite interesting, so we stayed a watched a movie of the history and bought some popcorn of course.   Thanks to Butch (my brother) for the suggestion!!

                                                           

Corn walls in the palace where high school and college basketball games are played.

                                                                     Corn lollypops.

                                                        Robin just loves corn on the cob.

 

                                                               

                                                           Its all corn and grain.

Back on the road towards St Louis MO.  Stopped at a campground called "On-Ur-Wa (On Your Way) RV Park in Iowa. Perfect for the night because it was right behind the DQ, Dairy Queen.

SO after dinner Dennis walked me over to get my soft serve cone. The only problem was when we got back neither one of us could fit in the door!!   Not really, but if we keep this up a serious diet will be on tap when we arrive home.

Dennis got an Oreo Blizzard - imagine that!

 

                                         

Night
Robin and Dennis.