Mitchell Progeny Project: Day 5: Sioux Falls to Rapid City, South Dakota

Sunday was a very busy day despite the fact that somehow we are still in South Dakota. First we went to the eponymous Sioux Falls...

As we drove away from the park, we suddenly had a horrifying realization...DUCKIE WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND!!! (For anyone who doesn't know about Duckie, he has lived in Molly's crib since she came home from the hospital, and is now crucial to our family's well-being.)

NOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

We pulled over immediately and rifled through the luggage. Toni called the hotel and thank God (and St. Anthony, if you ask Toni) they found him! We explained to Molly that Duckie had decided to sleep in and was probably reading the paper and having his breakfast and just forgot to get in the car with us. She hadn't even missed him yet so she wasn't too fussed about it.

Reunited, and it feels so good.

After the Duckiegate, we headed to the town of Mitchell to see the famous Corn Palace, which is apparently remodeled every year (at a cost of ~ $130,000). It is the world's only corn palace, which is probably just as well.

Apparently lots of stuff is made of corn.

We went across the street to a local eaterie for a
corn-filled lunch of corn dogs and corn chowder.

Our visit to the Corn Palace coincided with Mitchell High School's graduation in the auditorium. Here's a clip of their choir warming up.

Next we set our GPS for Wall Drug in Wall, South Dakota. This is a major attraction in this state, and for which signs start appearing all the way back in Minnesota. (This is kind of like seeing South of the Border signs on your way south from Richmond.) Anyway, Wall Drug is a big deal. The proprietors weren't having much luck with their business back in the 1930s, so they put up signs offering free ice water and the customers started pouring in (get it?).