Eye of the Storm - July 3rd

I would just like to say that this was not my fault. Today started well with the girls taking over driving from me. We found a Wal-Mart just after we stopped for breakfast, at last phone and more food for the road. Junk food is easy to find but healthy stuff takes some time and luck. We continued through Wisc. which was pretty but uneventful but it was starting to heat up outside, hot and humid. Not a good combination. Passing into and through Minnesota we found that even if the town is named after a lake or river, it is not necessarily near a body of water; agony for a car of girls desperate for a swim. The only water we saw were cow ponds and it didn't look as if the cows would like to share. We didn't really want to share with them either as it was a little smelly, we definitely knew we were in cow country. Passing into South Dakota weather was still hot but ok, we had some cloud cover and wind building though. When we stopped at the tourist info booth the sweet old man gave us tons of advice on where to stop for the night, we smiled and said thanks. Meanwhile our plan was still to get as close to Rapid City as we could before stopping so we would be close to MT Rushmore in the morning. Pulled off in MItchell to see the famous Corn Palace. It is a kinda neat old building that they have been covering with corn for the last 100+ years. We were also trying to find a KFC or something to pick up some chicken for a picnic tomorrow. Unfortunately the nice lady at the palace told us that the man who owned the KFC had just finished building it when he died of cancer, ouch, poor guy, and slightly awkward conversation for us. Interesting artwork on the palace though, they put a new design up every year.

Continuing through SD that wind was still very strong, and the humidity level was rising. We all felt as if we were melting in our seats, we were resisting putting the air conditioner on until we hit the really hot states. Watching the clouds darken we were trying to figure out which way they were travelling but not having a lot of luck. Then the lightening started to flash and I was not comfortable driving with that. It looked as if were were following a storm but we going to meet up with it very soon. There was a state rest stop just before a town called Vivian that we decided to stop at to wait and see which way the storm would go and give it a chance to pass. Good thing we did! Just after we pulled into the rest area the clouds started to swirl a bit together and it got very dark. It was just starting to spit a little rain as we grabbed our essentials and ran for the shelter. When we jojned the people inside they told us that a severe thunder storm, bordering on tornado warning had just been issued. K had stayed out side a minute longer to get some pics of the clouds but ran in just as the wind really started to howl. Then the rain hit. It was like a wall of water and wind has hit the shelter. Everyone moved into the cement alcove close to the rest rooms and away from the windows. The lights quickly went out leaving us making new friends and chatting about the storm. It was such a surreal feeling, to be in the heart of the storm like that. Dark in out corner, with muted light coming from the windows and doors, with water being forced in. As few of the truckers who had stopped with us were following the storm with their cells. All we had to so was wait it out and decide if we would continue if and when it let up. We kept peaking out to see if the car was still there and if anything had blown away. We were safe and in pretty good shape. Various travellers kept coming in from the storm, at one point a trucker ran in who said he had just passed two bikers whose bikes had been blown into the ditch. He offered to bring them to the rest area but they didn't want to leave their bikes. It just goes to show how kind strangers can be when there is an emergency, towels and blankets were being readily shared as people made chitchat to pass the time. Finally it seemed as if the storm was passing and the truckers said that we were in the safe zone and they were going to try and make the next town. We decided to follow them and pray. We finally found a radio station that was giving regular storm updates and the rain had eased so we followed the truckers out. Slow driving but we were ok. The storm warning said the storm was moving northeast of us and out of our county. The sky was gorgeous as the rain slowly came to a stop and the sunset became visible. There were still some very dark clouds to our right as we followed the highway west. K was continually checking the storm warning against out map and it showed that the storm was behind us and we were well out of it's path. We decided to press on to Rapid City and despite the construction we made pretty good time.

Finally pulling into a Flying J about 11pm; shower time. I love Flying J's and truck stops in general. They are a fantastic oasis filled with everything a traveller could need, including private showers complete with towels. We got cleaned up, it was bliss to have a hot shower. We got out the sleeping bags and bunked down in the van, to tired to travel any farther today. Tomorrow is July 4th, can't wait to see how the USA really celebrates it at one of their national monuments. And we will continue our search for the elusive Sonic, where one can get the world's best cherry limeaide.


Lessons learned: When your gut says pull off because the clouds and lightening are looking scary, listen to it.

Quotes: "I think I saw a turtle trying to cross the road back there" K "Good luck with that" C