Second Stop- Mitchell, SD

Finny

Our final stop on Thursday night was in Mitchell, South Dakota at KOA (Kampgrounds of America).  We did rest for a few hours during the day at Myre-Big Island State Park in Minnesota, a lovely little scenic treasure. We hung out with the pelicans, hawks and beavers. Not many campers there, though, which seemed odd for a holiday weekend. Later the ranger told us that we had to get out by 4 p.m, because the government was shutting down. Of course it was. He petted the dogs for a bit, which must have softened him because he said we could stay as long as we remained outside the closed gate.

Wild parsnip-a beautiful umbrella shaped flower.  But if it touches you, watch out!  It can burn your skin, which I know from past experience.

A pelican on Myre-Big Island lake

A hawk soars upward before swooping down

Staff brushing doggies, leaving less fur in the trailer.

Bendy branches means wind.  Wind means time for Staff to kite surf!

At around 11 p.m. we arrived at the KOA in South Dakota, and, of course, the office was closed. Within 30 seconds of my filling out the self-registration form, a worker drove up in a golf cart and said he would show us to our spot. Well, my goodness. What service! A frog jumped right in front of me, and the worker said, "That's George, he lives here."  I loved this place. Although it irks my husband to pay so much for a campground in which we will only stay 8 to 10 hours tops, I love that there are flush toilets and hot showers waiting for us. No need to hook up all those hoses and whatnots.

Doggies loved the doggy play area at KOA, another bonus about this campground.

The only snag at this point was the occasional mosquito or fly that found its way into the trailer. Mosquitos love my husband. We need to have calamine lotion within arms reach at all times for him. They don't like me at all. I have nary a bite since our trip started.

The KOA had a large volume of tiny flies, which also found the holes in our trailer. I don't mind cohabitating with nature as long as it doesn't bite and have too many legs. But Staff is less accepting. Probably that's a more normal reaction. 

Though South Dakota is mostly flat along the interstate, further west it becomes mountainous with dramatic rocky cliffs.

Further west in South Dakota rocky cliffs and mountains start to appear.

You can see the start of the Badlands in the background.