Into Wisconsin

After we left St. Joseph we went to Sioux Falls, SD. That was really our only true destination when we headed out of Texas. Of course we have other hopes as to places that we want to go, but Sioux Falls was the only must go to destination. Erma was able to get her license on Saturday morning and that gave us the afternoon to see "sights." Just about fifty miles away in Minnesota was a place that I have wanted to visit for some time.

Pipestone National Monument is a place that the Native American has visited for over 600 years. It was a place that they quarried a fine red sandstone to carve into ceremonial "peace pipes" and other sacred objects. It was a location where all conflict was suspended between all the tribes. One of the tribal chiefs declared that it was a place to put away all war clubs and to hide the scalping knives. It is such a beautiful place that no battles should be fought anyway. While we visited it was so very tranquil and peaceful. The sun and the breeze even seemed to know that it was a place of peace and the temperature was so pleasant with just enough movement of the air so that it was pleasant. There is a 3/4 mile long mile trail that goes through the monument by a stream, a waterfall, the quarries, and an 1838 historical inscription. I could not help but think that today we have taggers that leave their mark on stone and buildings with cans of spray paint. In 1838 the tagging was done with hammer and chisel, thus the initials and names and dates were even more permanent. This is a place that man has left his mark in such a way that it will be there for thousands of years to come. Not only did those of 1838 carve their initials to show they had been there, but on another rock many others did it in later years also.


INSCRIPTIONS FROM 1890 AND OTHER TIMES

On the way back to Sioux Falls I saw the most impressive herd of buffalo that I have ever seen. There was a mixed herd of bulls, cows and calves that were on a ridge a ways from the road. they were silhouetted against the sky. I try to imagine what a thrill it must have been like for a Native American to have seen a sight like that of wild buffalo. I fail to know but I can tell you that it was a thrill to me. I could believe that there would be those who would call it a sacred experience.


A BUFFALO HERD AGAINST THE SKYLINE

When we stopped for the night in Austin, Minnesota it was about three o'clock so we had enough time to go visit the SPAM museum. It may actually be an odd place but it was also a fun place to visit. The make some SPAM products that they do not sell in the USA and others that they only sell in the southwest. I don't know what those products taste like but they said that if we decide that we have to have some they will ship directly from the factory. I like stern wheel paddle boats. We have gone to Cincinnati, Ohio twice to see the Tall Stacks Festival. We did not know then that there was another stern wheeler in Austin. It only runs on the weekends or we would have gone on another paddle boat tour.


THE SPAMTOWN BELLE STERN WHEEL PADDLE BOAT

We have gotten to the Wisconsin Dells this afternoon. We have a place in a very nice campground. There are also a couple of our winter friends from Mission that are coming tomorrow to meet us. The Swansons will stay for a couple days right next to us and the Wymans are coming for the afternoon and part of the evening. We are looking forward to a few good days here.

Till Later This is Uncle Duck