Day 2- Minneapolis to Wall (554 Miles)

Our first day on the road brought a mere ten hour jaunt west as we chased the sun toward Wyoming.

The journey took us through South Dakota a state with one of the smallest state capitals in the US that takes rural to a new level. Eager to find our first kodak moment we ventured along the I-90 and took a slight de-tour around lunch time to "Devil's Gulch" a spot that Jesse James allegedly jumped on attempting to escape a chasing "posse". However, it being October we were met by a closed visitors centre, some abandoned picnic tables, and a rather lovely waterfall


So back on the road and a long afternoon drive. On the long drives we are able to pick where we stop and stay, and looking at the guide books and maps only one place stood out. Ever since leaving Minneapolis our journey had been blighted with large billboards beckoning us toward an oasis some 500 miles down the road. They promised plenty for the hardened traveller, 5c coffee, free ice water, and so as we passed the umpteenth sign we gave in and settled on the town of Wall- home to WALL DRUG

Wall Drug was a normal drug store opened in the 1930s that was in danger of closing as the traffic from the interstate zoomed on by. Then its owner came up with the idea of offering free ice water to the stopping motorist, and began displaying this promise on ad boards all the way back to Minneapolis. Now it has become a huge store, offering everything you could possibly need and a whole lot more beside that.

We got to wall around 7pm (We thought it was 8 but had just passed into mountain time and so gained an hour which is very confusing). At this time WALL DRUG was closed so we checked into a motel, wandered down the 1 street of Wall, had a few beers and pizza in a bar which came straight out of the wild west and then settled in for the night.

For me Day number 1 was topped off as we closed in on Wall, a setting sun dead ahead, thousands of dead flies on the wind screen and House of The Rising Sun playing on 101 FM The Eagle.

Today its Mount Rushmore and then onto Sheridan, Wyoming and show number 1.

But first we're off to WALL DRUG to buy some tat!

Alan

State lines crossed 1
Time Zones crossed 1

35 Days to Election

Bumper sticker count:
Obama 1
McCain 1