July 16, 2025 (Wed.) - Travel Day, CT, Diginity statue
The day kicked off early—Lynn was up at 6:15 AM, and Kirk followed at 7:30, ready to tackle travel day. With the Badlands soaked in rain and mud, and Wall Drug already checked off, there wasn’t much left to do but pack up and move on.
Boondocking made for a quick departure—no hookups to disconnect, just the truck and RV to wrangle. Lynn and Otis stayed dry inside while Kirk braved the muck to hitch up. Wheel chocks earned their keep, holding the RV steady after it had shifted slightly in the mud. Even the truck had slipped around during yesterday’s downpour. The sticky, clingy mud made every step a mess, so we kept outdoor movement to a minimum. Thankfully, the two neighboring rigs had already pulled out, giving us space to maneuver—a huge relief, as it would’ve been a tight squeeze otherwise.
By 10:00 AM, we were on the road to Mitchell, SD, heading for R&R Campgrounds. The drive was smooth — ~230 miles in about 3.5 hours. We made a scenic stop at the Chamberlain rest area, where we admired the Dignity of Earth & Sky statue and explored the Lewis & Clark exhibit. A perfect leg-stretch and a dose of history.
Crossing the Missouri River brought a surprise: a time zone change! We’re now in Central Time, officially two hours ahead of California. We arrived at the campground mid-afternoon, though finding it was a bit tricky—our aging eyes missed the signs. It’s tucked behind a Super 8 Motel right off the freeway—not the most picturesque spot, but it had shade and space, which we’ll gladly take.
The weather here is a sharp contrast to Custer—hot, humid, and allergy-triggering. Lynn’s sinuses weren’t thrilled.
Dinner was at El Columpio Mexican Restaurant. Overall, it was pretty good, but Lynn’s quest for the perfect crispy taco continues. Why is it so hard to find one that hits the mark?
The day wrapped with a beautiful sunset, but with temps dropping and darkness not arriving until 10:30 PM, Lynn chose warm blankets over photo ops. Sometimes, sleep wins.
Weather in Mitchell – High 70*, Low 60*. Winds up to 21 mph.
Traffic – None.
Food – El Columpio – very good except the crispy taco shells.
Notable – Dignity of Earth & Sky Statue, Crossing Time Zones to Central Time (CT)
