Four States in Four Days

After leaving Kansas City at point A on the map above, we reached Lake Anita State Park in Iowa which I mentioned in the previous blog. After a pleasant 2 days there, we made tracks for the campground we have now arrived at in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. So we left the state of Missouri, stayed a few days in the state of Iowa, had lunch in Nebraska (Sioux City) and are now in South Dakota. The route north of Omaha travels along the edge of the Missouri River, which we crossed to get to our lunch stop in Nebraska, but it was only a few miles south of the South Dakota border. This area was all flooded when we passed through this region last year. When I tuned in our weather radio on arrival here yesterday I heard them saying that there were flood warnings in the area. You can never let your guard down when RV travelling in any country...For my Australian family and friends who may not be familiar with the location of the US states I have mentioned, the above map is for you. At this stage we are still at D, and move to E on Monday. We will spend a few days in the North Dakota capital, Bismarck, before setting up camp at Lake Audubon (F) where we go each year. 

Sioux Falls in the largest city (pop. 160,000) in South Dakota, although Pierre is the Capital. Before European settlement, many American Indian tribes lived here including Quapaw, Cheyenne and Dakotas attracted to the 10,000 year old Big Sioux River and the Big Sioux Falls. Many people of the Indian tribes still live here. The city has built a huge park- Fall's Park - just north of the Downtown area. You can see the city backdrop in the photo. We have not paid it a visit yet, but it looks wonderful. Entry is free and there are miles of hiking trails to enjoy (for you Eric and Marie) and of course the beauty of the falls and a cafe overlooking the falls appeals to others (like me).  Sioux Falls is also a regional health care centre, being home to 4 large hospitals. Interestingly, the city is a sister city to Potsdam, Germany, a city that Kim and I visited together in March last year as per the blog entry. 

Photo of Sioux Falls courtesy commons.wikimedia.org

As we drove along we passed a little Iowa town where Andy Williams was born. You may recall an earlier blog when we visited Branson, Missouri in April last year and saw his current home. On our travels we noted again how 99% of homes along the route have no fences around the houses. You may see play gyms and trampolines in the yard indicating kids live there, but no fences! We have heard of electric boundaries to keep in pets and animals, but kids? 

No fence

Lovely big home - no fence

While I was in a gift shop last week I saw a kitchen plaque that read "Chocolate makes your clothes shrink!" I was so relieved as I thought my tight clothes were a result of no exercise. Phew! Anyway, just to make sure, I started back walking and doing some light exercises with weights today. I want to be trim, taut and terrific before I get back home. Well, okay, okay, just a bit trimmer then...can't expect the impossible!

One huge omission from my blog occurred on Mother's Day while we were in Louisiana. Murray received the exciting news that his third grandson, Dane Jaxon had arrived very quickly into this world (mum made it to hospital with 10 minutes to spare). Dane is the first child of Murray's eldest son Jeremy and his wife Sarah. What a beautiful child to join the other 2 grandsons Blayke and Heath. On our return home we will be keen to meet Dane and to seeing how Blayke and Heath have grown.

Welcome to Dane Jaxon Warwarek

Blayke and Heath Warwarek