Day 73-August 6, 2016-Sioux Falls, SD
Another sunny, 82 degree day.
Campground cleared out this morning, it’s almost empty. Spent the morning catching up on phone calls and e-mails and looking at maps. I had to trade in my Northwest maps for Southeast, we must be headed home, in the general direction anyway. Then we both went to a nail salon to make ourselves a bit more presentable. Sioux Falls is the biggest city in S. Dakota. It’s really spread out but we focused on the falls area today. We went to Falls Park, a 123 acre park surrounding the falls, green cushy grass, three tiers, the upper, main and lower falls of the Big Sioux River. Saw a mama bird feeding her babies in a mud nest at the entrance of the restrooms, I love to see these nests. Lots of activity in the park today, two wedding parties taking pictures, people climbing on the rocks, eating at the café that used to be a hydroelectric plant built in 1908, fishing, picnicking, riding to the top of the 5 story observation tower in the visitor center or just enjoying a beautiful Saturday afternoon. There’s also the foundation of an 1887 mill and turbine house. They have free concerts some evenings on the grounds and they’re illuminated at night. The falls aren’t tall but seem to roll down the and over the rocks. I like how the city has built so much around them. Sometimes when we see falls that’s all there is and it’s often a hike to get to them. These are readily accessible to everybody. Some nice bronze artwork on the grounds, “An American Farmer” gazing out to the falls and two children saluting the flag and actually looking at the flag called “For Which It Stands”. Also the cement “Monarch of the Plains” buffalo statue that kids were climbing all over. Speaking of statues, we then went to another park, this one had no one in it, smaller, in the middle of the historic part of town but on the river where some kayakers were lolling by and saw “David”, a replica of the original. On some evenings they put up a big screen and show family movies, the latest was “Lady and the Tramp”. Getting hot, dry, hungry and thirsty we headed for West 12th St. Pourhouse Kitchen, a restaurant many people here told us was great. And it was, Harry and I split a burger and their signature pork osso buco. Both were great, the burger disappeared, the osso buco came home. Cheever’s Gambling Den is right next door, a “casino” with a few machines but we didn’t try our luck. We found out “casinos” here have to be attached to a restaurant and there are a lot popping up all over town. Lots to do here in Sioux Falls, a big zoo, butterfly gardens, museums, water parks and a whole lot more but we can only do so much. It’s seems to be an active city with something for everyone. Quite a few businesses had “Now Hiring” signs out and most of the people we spoke to love living here. The only complaints we heard were about the cold, snowy, icy winters. Stopped at Dairy Queen to top off the night, topped off the fuel then back to the campground which has filled up again. Had another great pink sunset.