We’re on our way to Missoula, Montana, our first official city on the 12 Cities, 1 Year tour, but we’re taking our time getting there. After taking two days to cross Kansas on Highway 24 (which goes to Colorado Springs, by the way), we spent several days in Kansas City seeing some Partins. Then we headed up toward Mount Rushmore.

Not too much has been happening the past two days except a lot of driving along rivers near flood stage. We took a long detour on Friday and then I managed to get us off track. We ended up driving by Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant in Nebraska, which is not yet flooded but is surrounded by water. We spent 1 night in Norfolk, Nebraska, and then drove north to South Dakota. The first thing I noticed was that the South Dakota government likes to post signs. There were at least 7 signs right at the border.

I’ve never been to South Dakota before. It’s rather pretty up here and much, much cooler than in Kansas City.

One sign I saw later that I didn’t like: “Roundup Ready Alfalfa here.” It was close to the sign for the Tripp County Recycling Center, but the center was closed. I guess I’ll have to haul that glass Jarritos bottle around for a few days more.

One thing I did like: the juvenile upland sandpiper I saw standing on a fence post in Nebraska.

Another thing I liked: La Herradura Mexican restaurant in O’Neill, Nebraska. I had a tostada al pastor, which was yummy.

We’re spending tonight in a hotel in South Dakota along I-90. Tomorrow we’ll tour Buffalo Gap National Grasslands and Badlands National Park and then go find our campsite, where we’ll spend two nights. I’m looking forward to seeing Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse.