Badlands National Park, South Dakota
This place is a geologist's dream come true. Unique rock formations, coloured layers of volcanic ash deposited up to 30 million years ago. The terrain is constantly changing due to the weather. Walked the fossil trail and ended up at a first class Visitor Centre. The sunset was absolutely beautiful. The rocks look totally different every 5 minutes.
9.00pm we took part in the Night Sky Program at the Park ampitheatre. Approximately 200 visitors assembled to watch a slide show of planets/stars, sing songs and listen to stories. The Ranger, with the help of a laser light, pointed out the Northern Cross, Big Dipper, Milky Way and he named numerous other stars. Even saw the International Space Station fly over. 3 telescopes were set up for everyone to view the constellations, stars and planets. We were invited to stay with the Ranger until the early hours of the morning and star gaze.
Minuteman Missile
Visitor Centre. Read the history of the Cold War. During the early 60's South Dakota had 450 underground missile silos and 15 launch control centres. Each missile had the explosive equivalent of 1 million tons of dynamite. Scary stuff.
Finally arrived at Mitchell after driving
along the endless Highway 90!! During the journey Al kept mentioning the black cloud that was following us. "It's a strange shape and colour" he said. I totally ignored him as I hate storms. He was actually breaking the news of a tornado wall cloud. We reached the Campground and the Receptionist calmly announced that Mitchell was on tornado alert and that if we hear a siren we are required to take shelter in the Laundry Building. I don't want to hear this! The storm arrived later that evening and the hail stones pelted down on us and the wind rocked the RV for about 3 hours. Thankfully no siren 'cos I wasn't going out in that weather for anyone.
The Corn Palace, Mitchell
The outside walls of this unique Palace is decorated with corn and grain. Every year since 1892 the Palace walls are stripped and redecorated with a new theme. Over half a million ears of corn are nailed or stapled in place. The Palace is used as an entertainment venue for concerts, basketball games and trade shows.
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