Welcome to our campground 'find' of the season - Cedar Shores Resort in Oacoma, South Dakota. We had initially planned to spend several days at a Golf/RV Resort in Wentworth, SD, but unfortunately it didn't quite meet our expectations. So after 2 nights (at least Murray got in one game of golf), we made our way further West to the Missouri River, and found this gem of a campground right alongside the river. As well as the unbeatable location, the campground has full hook-ups, cable TV, internet throughout the campground and a laundry. All for $35 per night. The campground is part of a resort complex, and campers are welcome to use the resort facilities including indoor pool, hot tub, gym, office with computer and printer, bar and restaurant. So far we have made use of the bar (fabulous margaritas) and the restaurant (great steak)! There is a golf course nearby - the campground host dropped Murray at the golf course the day after we arrived, and picked him up afterwards. The resort also sells fishing licences, and fisherman catch our favourite Walleye right here on the banks, but sadly the weather has been a bit cold and windy apart from the day we arrived, the day Murray played golf, and Anzac Day, when it was a glorious 25 C/ 77 F. A few of you will have seen the photo (see left) of our RV at the current campsite on Facebook.
During the day I can sit at my laptop and look out over the Missouri River, and at night, we can see the night lights of the town of Chamberlain across on the opposite bank. Very pretty. The photo below was taken in the resort restaurant.
On the way to this campground we passed through the town of Mitchell, SD, home to what is advertised as the world's ONLY Corn Palace. The exterior of the building is covered by murals designed by a local artist, using corn and grains sourced locally. If you click on the photo and take a closer look at the two designs in the top left hand corner (one a wind farm and the other a man on a tractor), you can see that each item is constructed by corn cobs of various colours. Quite amazing really. The corn exterior is changed every year at the end of summer (except in 2006 due to a nasty drought), once the corn has been harvested and replaced with fresh corn and new designs. The palace attracts around half a million visitors a year. 
On Monday 28th April, my sister-in-law Joy celebrates her 70th birthday. On the weekend, her 7 children (all present in the photo) arranged a special dinner for her in Brisbane, Queensland. Happy Birthday Joy! Joy and my brother Tracy have raised one of the nicest families around - in competition with the Duffy and Ryall families of course. Perhaps I am biased, but I have got the best nieces and nephews in the world! In the photo, Joy is on the right hand side of the table, 4th up from the front of the photo.
This morning once again, the campground host helped us out by giving us a lift to Mass across the river in Chamberlain. At first I was a tad dismayed to realise it was a First Holy Communion Mass, where dozens of young boys and girls, around 7 years old, make their First Holy Communion. These Masses can be quite tedious and drag on for ages, however, we were pleasantly surprised as it was a very family-orientated, down to earth Mass. The priest gave a very well crafted homily addressed to the new communicants, and it was cute to see the girls all tizzied up with their dresses and veils, and many of the boys wore suits, but took off the jackets to reveal their smart white shirts underneath. I thought it was wonderful how the priest invited them all up to join him on the altar (see above) for the consecration of the bread and wine. I am sure it is a day they will never forget. After Mass, the campground host and his wife picked us up, and the four of us had coffee and warm apple pie (with cinnamon ice cream) at Al's Oasis. A neat place that has numerous shops (restaurant, saloon, grocery, gift, jewellery stores) all under the one roof. See photo below. It also has a campground at the back which doesn't open until 1 May. Interestingly Al's Oasis/Campground and the Cedar Shores Resort/Campground where we are staying are owned by the same Company. 
Today was a rare day in the history of the Catholic Church. Not only were two Popes canonised (made saints) during the same ceremony for the first time in history, but two living Popes were in attendance: Pope Francis, the current Pope, and the Emeritus Pope Benedict XV1. The photos below were sourced from the Guardian newspaper. The top photo shows Pope Benedict with the two Popes that were canonised: Pope Pope Paul 11 on the left, and John XX111 on the right of the photo. In the lower photo is Emeritus Pope Benedict with Pope Francis. Newspaper reports say that half a million people were in attendance in St Peter's Square in Rome, while an equal amount had also made their way to Rome, but were watching the ceremony on huge screens erected around the city centre.
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