South Dakota 2012

We found a nice park in the shade while we went to Mass in the Cathedral

In the last blog I posted a photo of Sioux Falls Park in the Big Sioux River and said we hadn't yet visited the Falls. Well, on Sunday we rectified that with a delightful visit to the Falls Park. First of all we went to Mass at St Joseph's Cathedral, one of the largest Roman Catholic Cathedrals in the USA. Lots of young families were there to keep the faith alive in this area. 

Our Cafe overlooking the Falls

Outside the cafe at Sioux Falls Park

After Mass we had a short drive and parked the RV then walked up to the cafe overlooking the falls. As Mass had an 11am service which got out at 12md, the timing was perfect for lunch. After lunch we wandered through some of the grounds, read the history of the region and observed some wildlife scurrying around.

Another homestead taken over by the hungry lake

On Monday morning we drove out of Sioux Falls and headed NW to the pretty city of Aberdeen, still in South Dakota. It seems as though the area is still being affected by a backlog of the river system between USA and Canada, as we noted numerous homesteads evacuated due to flooding. 

Our Aberdeen RV park is part of a 200 acre complex that includes Storybook Land (a world of imagination inspired by nursery rhyme characters) and a small zoo. It was a warm 30 C (85 F) when we arrived around 3pm, so we turned on the aircon, had a cup of tea, then waited until our energy levels resumed. We headed off to do our 3km walk and found ourselves walking beside zoo enclosures and then into Storybook Land. Apparently there is no entrance fee and so we came face to face with Cinderella, the Yellow Brick Road, Jack and the Beanstalk and many other familiar faces without even meaning to. At the zoo enclosures we spent time watching the antics of two cute little deer fawns - twins. 

Cute fawn twins suckling their mum

Cinderella in her Pumpkin Carriage

Mother Goose on the left, and can you see Jack climbing the beanstalk?

Another glorious evening here today - the sun set at 9.20pm.  Sun rise is tipped to be at 5.50am tomorrow. Within a few hours of that, we will be driving 3.5 hrs north to Bismarck, the capital of North Dakota.