Two'fer number 1: two days worth of updates

Here we go.  In some sense of order:  Bozo at Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, crossing the Missouri, at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD, at the actual Sioux Falls and at the Mississippi.  From Rapid City to Eau Claire, WI via Sioux Falls, SD. in 2 days.  Due to the side trips to Rushmore and Crazy Horse we didn't arrive in Sioux Falls till 10:30, after dinner in Mitchell.  Once again we avoided the severe weather until just before the Mississippi valley and about 1/2 way to Eau Claire once we crossed the river.  It rained like a cow pissing on a flat rock.  Traffic had to slow to 30 MPH on the freeway because visibility was so poor.

In Rapid City we met two guys from Germany.  Both on motorcycles.  One was 3 1/2 years into a globe circling trip on his BMW.  His friend had taken a 2 week vacation to ride with him through part of the US on a rented Harley.  The world-traveler had been through Europe, Russia, Japan, SE Asia, 4 months in India, Australia, then Argentina, Terre, Del Fuego & Patagonia, Chile, up the Pacific coast of South America, through Central America and into the US.  They were on their way to the Great White North where the vacationing one was headed home while the traveler was headed across Canada to the East Coast to return to Germany.  

travel notes:

Stayed at Days Inns in Rapid City and Sioux Falls.    If you're looking for a good breakfast in Rapid City try Ron's Cafe in the west side of town.  Great food at good prices, only breakfast and lunch served.  In Mitchell we had limited choices due to our late arrival.  We chose Chef Louie's steak house.  Old style, locally owned, white tablecloths and a large wine list.  We didn't have any wine last night.  Too tired and didn't want to have a whole bottle. 
Great service and food was done well.  Meat properly cooked but no small steaks except for filet at filet prices. 

Tonight we're at the Eau Claire EconoLodge on the south side of town.  No time to check out little home-run places and we hadn't done a BBQ yet so we went to Famous Dave's.  The motel is nice.  Clean and appears to be fairly new.  It's a bargain for what they charge.  Dave's is Dave's.  Food's good at a reasonable price.  We had salad and appetizers since the standard meals are usually too large and carb-filled for us. 

Tomorrow, Appleton till after Memorial Day.

Ciao