TOUR AMERICA 2022, BADLANDS INTERIOR CAMPGROUND AND MOTEL, INTERIOR, SD

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Temperature 74 Degrees, Abundant Sunshine with some clouds

Statue of Dignity

Badlands Interior Campground and Motel, Interior, SD

Time to get back on the road. We’re moving further west toward out ultimate goal in SD of Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore.

Today would be broken up into several stops. Per our normal routine we were on the road by 9 am with the first of two fuel stops within 20 minutes. I have a new app on my phone called Mudflap which offers discounts on diesel fuel. The problem is trying to find a truck stop that is part of the program. This morning’s fuel stop did belong to it and I ended up saving .42 cents per gallon for diesel fuel. Sweet.

Back on the road and the miles just rolled by. The road was in great shape, traffic was light as were the winds. We were now in search of the Statue of Dignity. According to what we had discovered the statue was supposed to be located in The Chamberlin Rest Stop off of Route 90. So that’s where we headed.

And in due time we found her.

A little bit of internet sleuthing and we discovered that: the stainless steel, 50-foot-tall statue was specifically designed by sculptor Dale Lamphere to honor the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota people. That’s why he used three Native American models ages 14, 29 and 55 to perfect the face of Dignity.

Representing the rich Native American culture of South Dakota, the 50-foot Native American woman gracefully wears a dress patterned after a two-hide dress of the 1850s. She holds outstretched a quilt featuring 128 stainless steel blue diamond shapes designed to flutter in the wind. During the day, her star quilt – a representation of respect, honor and admiration in Native American culture – glitters in the sun with color-changing pieces that move with the wind. At night, LED lights cause the diamond shapes to glow in the night sky, casting a peaceful presence easily visible from the Interstate.

She stands on a high bluff overlooking the Missouri River.

We were thrilled that we had the opportunity to see this magnificent work of art. Her quiet sense of grace just captivated us. If you are ever traveling Route 90 in the Chamberlain area do take the time to stop here. You will not be disappointed.

Time to go home, to our new home that is. And here is where the trip got really interesting. Our exit was 131 and according the GPS the RV park was about 10 miles south. OK. But imagine our surprise when we discovered that we had to go through Badlands National Park to get there. What incredible, jaw-dropping scenery. The road is noting to write home about and I had all I could do to navigate it what with wanting to take in all that was around me. My bad I did not have the camera up front. But trust me we will be going back to do the scenic loop and we’ll take pictures them.

Through the park and out the south gate and in minutes we were greeted by the entrance sign for our new home for the next week.

Check-in and registration.

Home sweet home for the next week. It’s a pull-through, gravel base, vary narrow and not quite long enough for the rig and car. But it is level and the utilities are easy to access.

And look at that view out the living room window! Breathtaking!

Well, time to call it a night. We moved into Mountain Time, meaning we lost another hour. The time change is throwing my internal clock for a loop.

Thanks again for spending the day with us.  It’s always great to be able to share our story with family and friends. Comments? Feel free to share them with me. And always remember, cherish every moment of every day that God gives you and live those moments to the fullest.

Our continuing mission remains the same: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before