Day 26 On to the Corn Palace

Today was a short, hot and windy ride to Mitchell, SD.  Home of the world famous Corn Palace.  We knew we were getting close because of all the planted corn.  Miles and miles of corn fields.  Sort of like free publicity for the Corn Palace.

The wind was supposed to be "breeze level" that is in the 15 -17mph range.  But alas it was back in the 20's and in our face for the whole ride.  Really takes the fun out of riding for miles in corn fields.

At about mile 50, I stopped in local store for a "pop".  Not soda - pop.  This is really rural SD and their humor is too much.  Check out the sign in the store (relevant for you Truro folks).

We have our Great Whites - they have their Brown and Whites!

Again not a lot to take pictures of until the Corn Palace.  Signs lead you directly there from about mile ten in.  Corn Palace Parking,  Corn Palace Ice Cream, Corn Palace Builders.  Everything has a Corn Palace in it.  

So behold the Corn Palace....

And what is a stop at the Corn Palace without a personal picture for historical purposes.

So what the hell is the Corn Palace.  It was built in 1892 and every year they glue corn up on the outside.  Everything you see is made out of corn (of course the building is made out of wood).  But they change the murals every year.  Every year they have a new theme and change the murals during - you guessed it - the Corn Palace Festival in August.

I took a shot of one of the murals...

and then a close up....

When you go inside all you smell is pop corn and corn dogs (would you expect anything else?).

Inside is a big basketball court surrounded with corn murals.  

I tried to find out the name of the basketball team that plays there - but I bet it has the name corn or husker or "the kernels" or something similar in the name.

Pretty hooky - but damn if it was not better and bigger than Wall Drug.  If you want to learn more about the Corn Palace (for your next trip West), here is a link...

http://www.cornpalace.org/index.php

Everything you ever wanted to know about the Corn Palace.  Just a click away.

Tomorrow we head to Sioux City then we get another rest day.  I have no idea what you can do in Sioux City (no Corn Palace) but I am praying for a washer and dryer.  Not for me - but my roommate - enough said.  

Then it will be on the Minnesota - birthplace of Steve G.  Can't wait.