Snow at Mount Rushmore

Hi All,
We got to Keystone, SD on Sunday afternoon (10/4), and we were in a lot of fog with weather threatening. We drove up to the gate at Mount Rushmore, but it was obvious we wouldn't be able to see anything. We went back down to the town and got a hotel room to wait out the weather until Monday. Rain turned to snow flurries that evening, but we went to bed hoping for the best. We awakened to a hotel room with no electricity (none in the whole hotel) and looked out to see 6-8" of snow. After digging our car out of the parking lot, we headed back to Rapid City for coffee and breakfast with plans to try Mount Rushmore on another visit.

As we drove across SD, we kept seeing signs for Wall Drug store and had to stop. Years ago the owners advertised free ice water on billboards to attract thirsty travelers crossing SD prairie. The store (in the middle of nowhere) now takes up more than a block with various shops and attractions. For winter visitors, they now also offer 5 cent coffee. All we bought was post cards and stamps for Pappy, but it was a worthwhile stop. The food choices looked good there too. It's not Wall Drug because of the name of the owners, it is the name of the town in SD. Named for a 9 mile "wall" of rock that borders the town on the edge of the "Badlands".

Spent Monday night in Mitchell, SD for obvious reasons. Plan to see the Corn Palace here. We stayed at a Kelly Inn. Denny thinks he should have gotten a discount for two reasons (a grandmother's maiden name was Kelly). After we see Mitchell today, we're heading back to Minneapolis. Hope to see Mike and Lisa Vogel and the Viklas again. We fly home Thursday.

Love to all,
Cindy