DIGNITY on the bluff

Today we moved 160 miles farther west along I-90 in South Dakota. We stopped at the Visitor Center at Chamberlain, which has an excellent Lewis & Clark Expedition exhibit. This is also the location of the 'Dignity' statue, which I have been anxious to see.

It was raining. So gray skies, but the view of the Missouri River is still spectacular. In the distance, note the old Chamberlain Bridge; it originally spanned the river, bank to bank, but after the dam projects of the 50s it was not long enough to span the newly-created lake. A causeway was built to reach the bridge, which was actually lowered on the west side. Interesting bit of trivia - or perhaps modern day folklore.

The Dignity sculpture is a stunning combination of art and history. Located on a bluff between exits 263 and 265 on Interstate 90 near Chamberlain, the stainless steel, 50-foot-tall statue was specifically designed by sculptor Dale Lamphere to honor the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota people. That’s why he used three Native American models ages 14, 29 and 55 to perfect the face of Dignity.

“Dignity represents the courage, perseverance and wisdom of the Lakota and Dakota culture in South Dakota,” Lamphere said. “My hope is that the sculpture might serve as a symbol of respect and promise for the future.”~~~~ from the Travel South Dakota website

Old church replica

This replica of the original church was built at 1/3 scale and donated to the church. It stands on the new church property.

Lunch in the churchyard

We sometimes pull into church parking lots when we travel; they often have nice big level lots that are easy in & out with our rig. Today, out in the middle of farmland, we pulled into a church that was such a delightful surprise.

Vestre Nidaros Kirke is Norwegian and translates to Western Nidaro Church. This is a Norwegian Lutheran church with a long and eventful history. It was especially interesting to me as my paternal grandmother, whose parents immigrated from Norway, grew up in this part of SD - and we are a bunch of Lutherans.

History lesson from Wikipedia:  Nidaros, Niðarós or Niðaróss was the medieval name of Trondheim when it was the capital of Norway's first Christian kings. It was named for its position at the mouth (Old Norse: óss) of the River Nid (the present-day Nidelva).

Although the capital was later moved to Oslo, Nidaros remained the centre of Norway's spiritual life until the Protestant Reformation. The Archdiocese of Nidaros was separated from Lund (in Scania) by the papal legate Nicholas Breakspeare in 1152, and the shrine to Saint Olaf in Nidaros Cathedral was Northern Europe's most important pilgrimage site during the Middle Ages. Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson led Norway in its attempted resistance against the Danish Reformation, and was forced into exile by King Christian III in 1537. The archdiocese was abolished and replaced with a Lutheran diocese.^[1]

When I was young

I grew up in southeast South Dakota, in Vermillion.
Today we traveled from Granite Falls MN to Mitchell SD, along secondary highways. It was great to drive through farm country, our Heartland - triggered some nostalgia.

I am concerned for the many small family farms that are planted mostly in soybeans and corn. Currently, there is no market for harvest. Even if the trade war with China is resolved in the near future, China has already contracted with suppliers elsewhere. Once you lose a customer it's darned hard to get them back.

I'm amazed at how green it still is this last week of August. There are humungous grain elevators and silos all along the route we traveled.

Heading for the Black Hills

Another move, west and south in Minnesota. We have a few days in Granite Falls. Another 'middle of nowhere'!

Lest I forget

We saw a bear cub today, dead along Hwy 53 in Wisconsin. 😥

Yah, sure, ya betcha!

We moved west & south today and are in yet another 'middle of nowhere' - this time in Minnesota.

FungusAmungus

It is definitely mushroom season here in the Bayfield Peninsula of Wisconsin. On our hike in the woods, we spotted numerous shrooms we had never seen before. Most are rather nondescript, but nonetheless interesting.

It's not just water . . .

We took a little hike to Lost Creek Falls, just a few miles from where we are  camped. Lovely little waterfall, refreshing on a toasty warm day!

Sailing Apostle Islands

Jamie & I both jump at the chance to sit 'up front' when we're on any boat. So of course that's exactly what we did when we went sailing on Lake Superior.

Bayfield Wisconsin

Bayfield is a tourist town on the east side of the peninsula. The main attractions are taking cruise boats to the Apostle Islands and visiting Madeline Island, the biggest of the islands, by ferry. Both are heavily used, lots of tourists. We chose to take a sailing trip on a smaller boat instead.

Port Wing shore

Here's something we hadn't seen on Lake Michigan or Superior: actual waves and driftwood!

Port Wing Wisconsin

Another charming, and tiny, village along the shores of Lake Superior. There is a really nice park and harbor here, and a bunch of high-end boats.

How sweet is this? A plain air festival that invites visitors to do a painting, and provides the necessary supplies! Nope, I didn't do a painting 🤪.

Cornucopia Wisconsin

This tiny village is quite charming. Still commercial fishing here, plus a plenty of 'sea' kayaking. And the General Store is really special. There are several arts & crafts shops along the harbor; of course we had to support the local artists!

Much of this Peninsula is Ojibwe Tribal land, except what was taken away from the Native Americans for the National Lakeshore.

Wisconsin: the other UP

Last Monday we left Michigan's Upper Peninsula and beautiful Pequaming. We were both sad to leave a place that was absolutely perfect for us, but it had to be.
We are now on the Bayfield Peninsula, Wisconsin's upper tongue into westernmost Lake Superior. There is very little RV camping here - not surprising since the tourist season is only a couple months. We did get a decent spot in an 8-space rv campground just outside Cornucopia. It has been a good location for exploring the area, and away from the masses of tourists at Bayfield (village of 497 which hosts over 100,000 visitors a year!

Loons in the Bay

Nothing is quite so delightful as the call of the loon, and we have finally been hearing lots of loon tunes here at Pequaming Bay. They've gotten accustomed to us and now come close to shore right behind our trailer.

Pequaming Bay

We get some lovely sunsets here.

Up North: in love with Pequaming

We lucked into a tiny 5-space rv park/marina right on Pequaming Bay - a beautiful calm bay within Keweenaw Bay on Lake Superior. The property was developed by Henry Ford; he milled lumber here to use in the construction of his original Model As and Model Ts. Pete & Lily bought the property over 40 years ago, now in their 90s they still keep it running!

We have enjoyed getting out in our Hobie pedal kayaks, and Jamie has done some fishing from his. These are a couple of the small-mouth bass he kept for yummy dining.

Up North: Welcome to Our Morning!

Late yesterday we moved a whopping 8 miles up the east coast of the Keweenaw Bay of Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
For the next week we are park at Pete's and Lily's rv park & marina. The have five huge rv spaces right on a sheltered bay where Henry Ford once had a mill. Pete & Lily have owned the property over 40 years; now in their 90s, Pete is not well and Lily is a feisty woman who is holding things together. The place has been for sale for a couple years and could be a great investment for commercial expansion. But ya gotta keep in mind that summer is only a couple months and the rest of the year can be intolerable for many people - us, for instance. I will post more about this historic place through the week.

We are the only campers now, hoping for a whole week of privacy. Also hoping to get out our kayaks and perhaps also do some fishing. We have heard that Coho salmon can be landed right from shore here and there are abundant walleye and lake trout.

Today we expect thunderstorms. The wind has picked up a bit and the water is not glassy smooth like it was last night.