When you own an RV, you know that those big expensive tires are going to need to be replaced long before the tread gets thin. We had planned to replace our six big motor home tires when they were seven years old--the normal recommended replacement time. But after our two-month stay in Kansas City, Mark noticed some serious cracks around the lettering in the side walls of our front tires.
Doing some research, Mark found that cracks up to 2/32 of an inch deep can be safe. When ours were measured, they had suddenly blossomed to 6/32 deep! There were cracks on some of the other tires as well, so it looked like it was time to buy new tires. Mark did hours of tire research, looking for the best tires for our situation. He also had to find a good place to have the new tires mounted. This was a big investment and Denisa is so glad he took on this big task (while she lay on the couch with her sprained ankle elevated). As the side-wall cracks were expanding, so was her ankle.
We were lucky to find a well-reviewed big tire shop in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After Mark made phone calls to Michelin's customer service department, they agreed to help with the cost of the early replacement because of the severe cracking issues.
After the rain on the Fourth of July, we are finally getting some cool weather. But because of Denisa's sprained ankle and the appointment for new tires, we spent the lovely weather sitting inside a tire shop. Notice that the only shoes that will fit on Denisa's swollen foot are those stylish crocs. Also notice that her hiking pole has now become a much-needed cane.
After a long day at Allied Oil and Tire Center our billfold is much lighter. But we feel much safer with the new tires, and they even seem to ride a little quieter. As we pulled onto the highway, we were directly behind a very shiny truck. That's our motor home in the reflection of the truck in front of us! We're happy to be back safely on the road with our new tires. (Now if Denisa could only get a new ankle so easily.)
Just a few miles outside of the city, we crossed the state line into another state--Minnesota. We're pretty excited about this state line, as this has been our destination for the summer. We were so excited that we pulled into the Minnesota welcome center for future touring information, and that caused us to by-pass the state line sign on the highway. Denisa was really disappointed that she didn't get a picture of the Minnesota sign for the blog! So the announcement on the phone GPS has to be our best pictorial proof that we have in fact entered a new state.
After a tire-ing day for all of us, we rolled into a campground in Pipestone, Minnesota. This is officially our fifth campground in a row in five different states. In the past five camping stops we have stayed in Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and now Minnesota. But we're planning to stay in Minnesota for a while now, exploring some of those 10,000 lakes they brag about.
Full-time RVers know that finding camp sites on a holiday can be tough. The 4th of July is the worst, as we struggle to share the limited number of sites with the rest of the country celebrating our nation's Independence Day. This year we decided to spend this holiday at the fairgrounds in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for several reasons.
First, this is our chance to stay in the state of South Dakota. If you're keeping track, this is our fourth different state in four stops. We came from Missouri, and made one stop in Iowa, Nebraska, and now South Dakota as we have been hopscotching along the Missouri River basin. So we saw another state sign through the windshield.
Secondly, the Lyon Fairgrounds has over 200 camp sites, and they rarely completely fill up. We were a little bummed to find that our site backed up to a railroad track. But the camp host calmed our fears when he let us know those tracks only had traffic from a little shuttle train from the granite quarry in our backyard.
Our third (and main) reason to be in Sioux Falls, was to attend the city's Fourth of July celebration. It started in the morning with the parade downtown. We were excited to see the cloudy skies, that gave us a break from the sweltering temperatures as we waited for the parade to begin.
It was a good parade, with emphasis on the American flag, our military heroes, and red, white, and blue.
We enjoy a good marching band, but this was an interesting twist. The Sioux Falls Municipal Band was divided into brass quintets and woodwind groups that rode in the back of pickups while entertaining us with very well-done patriotic tunes.
We enjoyed a number of the floats, but this was our favorite. It included a pickup pulling a ski boat on a trailer. Walking behind the boat were 15 "skiers" holding onto their ski ropes. At each intersection the pickup would stop so the performers could form the pyramids they normally make in the ski show.
As an added bonus, people were walking along the parade route, giving away free tickets to this afternoon's Catfish Bay ski performance. We scored two free tickets and that looks like it will be a fun way to spend our Fourth of July afternoon!
This parade also gets the award for the best free food sample ever! The Stensland Creamery had a nice float, and walkers were giving away free cups full of cheese curds. Delicious!
We thought it was a great Fourth of July parade! Afterwards, we made the walk towards Falls Park, adjacent to the parade route. The upper part of the park looks like we are wandering through a natural forest with a rushing river. But in fact, we are in the center of the city of Sioux Falls.
Later we would climb to the top of the observation tower to get a better view of more of the park, including the main falls.
But for now we're in a hurry to get into this very long line. We read that the city of Sioux Falls provides a free lunch to the first 5,000 people in line after the parade, and we fully intended to be in that group. We had a nice sliced pork sandwich, a bag of chips, bottle of water, and an ice cream bar. It was all done quickly and deliciously. Good job Sioux Falls!
We ate under the trees in the park while being entertained by the entire Sioux Falls Community Band playing patriotic medleys and other melodies.
Then we moved to another location in Falls Park to listen to a popular local band. They were so entertaining that we sat on the front row until the end of their concert.
We made one more stop by the falls for a picture of the happy couple enjoying a great Fourth of July. Notice that we are both smiling and standing up on both feet, because that won't be happening again for a while.
Yes, it had been a great Fourth of July UNTIL . . . We were hurrying back to the car, as we were heading to that ski show with our free tickets. When a young volunteer offered us a golf cart ride back to our car, we accepted. When Denisa stepped off that tall curb to get into the golf cart, IT happened. The area next to the curb actually had a steep angle towards a drain. Not looking down, Denisa hit that angle with one foot, and managed to tear up her ankle. She fell to the pavement in a heap! Mark got her loaded onto the golf cart, because there was no way she could walk to the car now. In fact, it looks like she won't be walking anywhere for a while. This is the way she spent the rest of the Fourth of July--leg elevated with ice on that ankle.
Mark thought we should go to the emergency room, but we were pretty sure nothing was broken. It's definitely the worst sprained ankle of Denisa's life, and she spent the rest of the evening with it elevated and icing every hour. What a bummer!
We had sprung for the more expensive camping spot at the fairgrounds, because that was where the fireworks show would be that evening. It was a great plan to be able to watch the fireworks through the windshield, and then not have to battle the traffic after the late night show. Without being able to walk, this was the perfect place for us to be this evening. Mark even cleaned the windshield so we could watch the show without the bug splatters. So we were very sad when the rain started around 7:00, and stayed for the rest of the evening. We saw a few private fireworks shot off in the rain, but this was our sad view from our camp site.
It started as a great Fourth of July celebration, UNTIL things (like Denisa and the rain) fell.
We are camped along the Missouri River in Sioux City. But we came to find out that there are three different towns known as Sioux City--and they are in three different states. We started our day early where we are camped in South Sioux City, Nebraska. There is a walking/biking trail that goes through the campground, so we decided to ride it to see where it would take us. We found ourselves riding along fields of soy beans and corn . . .
on our way to Freedom Park. So close to the 4th of July, this seemed to be a fitting park to visit. They have a one-half-scale replica of the Vietnam Memorial, which includes all of the names of the fallen soldiers inscribed in the same black granite as the memorial in Washington DC.
We had already checked google maps, which showed a two-mile trail in our area. But as evidence that google doesn't know everything, we found ourselves on a trail that we didn't know existed. We biked through the less-picturesque parts of South Sioux Falls on a wide paved trail.
Our four-mile before-breakfast trail has turned into twelve miles, so we stopped for breakfast at a Burger King that we passed. We continued on to the end of the trail at Crystal Cove Park, for a photographic end to our longer-than-expected bike ride here in South Sioux City, Nebraska.
After we pedaled back to the campground, it was time to head across the Missouri River to the second state of the day--Sioux City, Iowa. When the visitor center recommends a stop at a historic candy store, we're not going to argue. The sign above the door proclaims, "Making Life Sweeter Since 1878."
We had been told that this company is most famous for the candy they invented. We had never heard of the Twin Bing, but of course we had to buy one.
Inside the package was two pieces of chocolate candy with a cherry center. We have to say that this sounds very similar to the Cherry Mash. It's crazy, but we happened to have a cherry mash on board the motor home, because it was invented in a recent town we explored--St. Joseph, Missouri.
But we have to say that the Twin Bing wins in our unbiased taste competition, since it has more nuts in a thicker chocolate layer. It's this tasty research that makes us big fans of eating our way across this country.
Speaking of which, we just happened to stop in at another Sioux City favorite--the Jolly Time Popcorn store. We can tell you that the caramel sea salt popcorn is addictive. Another stop by the local bread bakery outlet store, and we finished our sweets and carb shopping for the day.
Our next recommended stop was the County courthouse. Denisa likes these old buildings, and this one has made its way onto the list of National Historic Places. The outside views are pretty cool, but it is most known for its interior decorations. The center of the courthouse is covered with a nice stained glass dome.
But the lower levels have some of the most ornate detailing that we have ever seen in a county building.
The welcome center also sent us to the high point of Sioux City at Trinity Heights. This peaceful Catholic retreat is best known for a life-size carving of Jesus and the 12 disciples at the Last Supper. What da Vinci painted on a flat canvas, this artist brought to life in 3D.
If it wasn't so hot, we would have enjoyed the stroll around the grounds at Trinity Heights more. Even though we were sweating, we had to stroll to see the 30-foot-tall statue of Mary. We can report that the stainless steel metal is searing hot on this sunny day. She has her arms outstretched across the grounds towards . . .
the 33-foot-tall statue of Jesus. Some times the wonders we find as we wander are man-made, but are still heaven-inspired.
We have another statue to find, but this one is not nearly as peaceful and heavenly. We headed north to find the Chief War Eagle memorial. We can say that this native American was neither war-like or a chief, so he didn't seem to grow into his name. He was a friend to the white men, as evidenced by the fact that two of his daughters actually married one of the first white settlers. That family went on to be some of the founding members of Sioux City.
We are going to have to pick up the pace, because we still have one more state to visit on this Tri-state challenge. So we're heading to North Sioux City, South Dakota. Its best tourist stop is the Adam's Homestead and Nature Preserve. A century-old farm has become a state historic site, and includes a one-room school house built in 1908,
and the Stavenger Lutheran Church, built in 1902. Named after their homeland in Stavenger, Norway, only Norwegian was spoken inside this church during its early history.
The original old cabin is open to the public, as well as the animals that call it home.
Right now it is home to a nest of baby swallows. Our wildlife picture of the day is the four little birds, waiting patiently for their parents to return with more snacks.
Whoo! We biked around South Sioux City, Nebraska, toured Sioux City, Iowa, and finished up on the farm at North Sioux City, South Dakota. We enjoyed our quick stop in this tri-state area, but now it's time to head down the road to our next wonders.
We left our campground in Iowa, and we are once again on the road heading north. Just a couple miles from our new camp site we drove across the Missouri River bridge to enter the state of Nebraska. Even though we visited Omaha, Nebraska, in the car, this is officially the motor home's first time to cross into Nebraska . . . the good life.
Since we are following the Missouri River as we head north, we are also following in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark. So it is appropriate that we made our first stop at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. The front yard of the center has a bronze collection of the animals that this Corp of Discovery took note of on their journey.
That front yard also hosted one big U.S. flag. It's hard to grasp the size of that flag until you look at the base of the flag pole to find a very tiny Denisa.
Things are just bigger here in Nebraska. Mark is now the model, to give scale to this large statue of Lewis and Clark.
Their fearless dog, Seaman, was a larger-than-life companion for their journey across the country. It looks like Seaman is over six-feet-tall today.
Honest, we're going into the museum, but we have to look at this tree carving first. The grounds are surrounded by old cottonwood trees, but this one obviously didn't make it. The stump was left in the yard, and now gets more attention for the animals carved into it.
The museum was filled with information about the Lewis and Clark expedition as this hardy band of men made their way going north (that's upstream) on the Missouri River. Of all the difficulties with the weather, Indians, wild animals, mountains, and raging rivers, only one man died in their two-year adventure. Sargent Floyd died just a few miles from here. In their journals, the cause of death was listed as "bilious colic," but it was probably a ruptured appendix. He was buried with full military honors on the bluff over the river. In this reproduction of the scene inside the museum, the automated Lewis and Clark made kind remarks at the funeral.
Sergeant Floyd is not forgotten here in Sioux City. We took the Sergeant Floyd Parkway to get to the Sergeant Floyd Memorial overlooking I-29.
This is actually Sergeant Floyd's fourth resting place since his death in 1804. He has been moved around until the perfect permanent site could be found. His remains are at the base of this 100-foot monument built in 1901. It is now called the "Washington Monument of the West."
Back in town, we took this picture of the Sergeant Floyd boat. Launched in 1932, this boat served as a survey vessel, spending most of its time on the same waters that Lewis and Clark traveled. Now that the boat has been retired, it serves as the welcome center and a museum in Sioux City.
We are enjoying our short stay in Sioux City, parked at Scenic Park Campground. We are very glad to have shade--something that we have been missing during these hot days of summer. The national news reported that the entire country is under the same heat dome that we have here in Nebraska. We are also enjoying the views of the Missouri River from the trail that runs through the park.
A goose and gander are raising their family in the campground. They don't seem to mind the many campers that walk the trail beside the river, even when they stop to snap a picture.
The only complaint we could possibly have for this great campground, is the construction happening across the river. We noted the series of cranes as we pulled into our site. But it wasn't until 5:30 a.m. the next morning that we found they like to start work early. They are currently pile-driving large metal foundation posts into the ground. We can confirm that the constant pounding will echo across the river, waking everyone from a sound sleep.
We guess it's good to get an early start, as we only have one more day to explore this area around our new home town in Sioux City.
